RESPONSIBILITY

(Integrity, Obedience, Trustworthiness)

October 3, 2004

Introduction

 

            What are the qualities of a responsible person?

So David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly." (1 Chr 21:8) 

 

Responsible people admit their wrongs. When David realized his sin, he took full responsibility, admitted he was wrong, and asked God to forgive him. Like David, we must take full responsibility for our actions and confess them to God before we can expect him to forgive us and continue his work in us.

 

On our questionnaire, this request was turned in, “Believers, Church, Fellowship Responsibilities: What we as Christians are responsibility to each other”

 

Body

 

I.        What are my responsibilities to the church and my fellow Christians?

 

1. We are to be a part and to do what we can do.

 

1.      We are a part of the body of Christ.

 

(Eph 4:16 NKJV)  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

2. We are to do our part. “by which every part does its share”

 

1.      Our work is to be effective work:.  “according to the effective working”

2.      Part of our work is to carry out the great commission.

 

(Mat 28:19-20 NKJV)  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

 

3.      What is your part?  Your share?

 

a.       Making the building presentable on the outside.

b.      Making the building clean and presentable inside.

c.       Teaching a class that it interesting, related to life and the Bible.

d.      Being a “greeter,” or a “grinner.”  Making people feel welcome.

e.       Encouraging others with phone calls or cards or notes.

 

f.        We are to make disciples of all nations.

 

1)      We are to teach as many as we can and lead them to Christ.

2)      Start with those with whom you can visit comfortably.

3)      Which is easier, to lead one person to Christ, or 1/50^th of a person?

4)      When we have opportunity, let us work together in the saving of souls.

 

g.       We are to teach them to observe all things.

 

1)      We need to lead, guide, and encourage one another.

2)      We need to guide them so that they can take our place.

 

3. We are to help a weak brother.

 

1.  This is Paul’s teaching to the churches of Galatia.

 

(Gal 6:1 NKJV)  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

 

2.      It is also the teaching of James.

 

(James 5:19-20 NKJV)  Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, {20} let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

 

II.     What do we do when we fail?

 

1. Are we failing because we do not know where to begin?

 

1.      A church in Pennsylvania started with a “Biblical Eating” program.

 

Visitors sometimes outnumbered regular members 3 to 1.

The church literally lost a ton – 2,000 pounds.  – We brought the program home if any are interested in it.

At least one came to church and was baptized because of  what a visitor said about the program.

 

2.      Do you have a friend that you can talk to?

 

a.       We can listen to Brother Flavil Yeakley.

b.      He recommends a “grinner” and a teacher approach.

 

2. We can also talk to God about the problem.

 

(Mat 9:37-38 NKJV)  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. {38} "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

 

3. What do we do when we fail because we have done nothing?

 

1. James has a practical answer.

 

(James 5:16 NKJV)  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

III.   What is going on around the brotherhood?

 

1. The brotherhood is staffing hospitals and clinics in 3^rd world countries.

 

1.      A younger man had taken over the work.  He resigned, and it is not being headed up by a 75 year old doctor.

2.      After the Tuesday evening service, Carolyn and I were walking back to our room at a somewhat relaxed pace because most of the people were old like us.  I was a little surprised when Glenn Boyd and his wife passed us up like we were standing still.  Glenn is the 75 year old doctor!

 

2. Preachers are still preaching.

 

1.      We didn’t get in the line soon enough to get a ticket to the elders and preachers luncheon.

2.      I wouldn’t have won the prize for longevity in preaching anyway.  That was won by the man who has been preaching 69 years.  He was asked when he was going to retire and said he wasn’t sure, he was just getting the hang of it.

 

3. Somehow the church has lost its luster for many of our young people.

 

1.      It is a problem that concerns me.

2.      May it concern all of us, and may we pray for the church and our youth.

 

Conclusion

 

(1 Pet 4:5 NKJV)  They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

 

I.        May we all help those whom we can to be ready to meet God.

II.     Are you ready to stand before the judge of all the earth?

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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