Commitment to Faith: Nurturing Our Children and Community

Devotional

Day 1: Commitment to Nurturing Young Souls

The dedication of children to the Lord is a profound commitment that involves both parents and the church community. It emphasizes the importance of teaching children the Scriptures from an early age, fostering a lifelong relationship with God. This dedication is a reminder of our collective responsibility to support families in nurturing their children's spiritual growth. As a community, we are called to be active participants in this journey, providing guidance, love, and support to both the children and their parents. This commitment is not just a one-time event but a continuous effort to ensure that the young ones grow in the knowledge and love of God. [13:58]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you actively support a family in your community in nurturing their child's spiritual growth this week?

Day 2: Celebrating Long-term Faithful Service

Celebrating milestones, such as Pastor James and Jenny's 20th anniversary, highlights the value of long-term commitment and service in ministry. Their dedication serves as an inspiration for us to remain steadfast in our own callings, trusting that God will use our efforts for His glory. Long-term service in any capacity requires perseverance, faith, and a deep sense of purpose. It is a testament to the impact that consistent and faithful service can have on a community. As we celebrate such milestones, we are reminded of the importance of honoring those who have dedicated their lives to serving others and the kingdom of God. [17:14]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Reflection: Who in your life has demonstrated long-term faithfulness in their service to God? How can you express your appreciation to them this week?

Day 3: The Power of Intentional Prayer

Engaging in intentional prayer, like the Pray 34 initiative, is crucial for seeking God's guidance and blessings. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful means of aligning our hearts with God's will, preparing us to expect and attempt great things for His kingdom. Through prayer, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's presence, allowing Him to work in and through us. It is a time to seek His wisdom, strength, and direction for our lives and the lives of those around us. As we commit to intentional prayer, we are reminded of the importance of being persistent and expectant, trusting that God hears and answers our prayers. [22:45]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to bring before God in prayer today? How can you make intentional prayer a regular part of your daily routine?

Day 4: Expanding Our Mission

Our primary task is to proclaim the gospel to all nations. This involves expanding our efforts in missions, outreach, and discipleship. By stepping out in faith and being willing to be stretched, we can reach more people with the message of Christ and help them grow in their faith. This mission requires us to be proactive and intentional in our efforts, seeking opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us. It is a call to action, challenging us to move beyond our comfort zones and engage with the world in meaningful ways. As we expand our mission, we are reminded of the importance of being faithful stewards of the gospel, sharing it with boldness and compassion. [01:02:31]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to share the gospel with someone in your community?

Day 5: Faith in Action

True faith is demonstrated through action. We are called to enlarge our tents, to spare not, and to act in obedience to God's call. This requires us to trust in His promises and to be willing to take bold steps, knowing that He will provide and guide us in our endeavors. Faith in action is about living out our beliefs in tangible ways, allowing our faith to influence our decisions, actions, and interactions with others. It is a call to live boldly and courageously, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. As we put our faith into action, we are reminded of the power of God's promises and His faithfulness to fulfill them. [01:10:23]

James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? What specific action can you take today to respond to that call?

Sermon Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we gathered to celebrate a beautiful baby dedication, a moment that reminds us of the precious gift of life and the responsibility we have as a community to nurture these young souls in the knowledge and love of God. As we dedicate Adeline and Waylon to the Lord, we are reminded of the importance of teaching our children the Holy Scriptures from an early age, just as Timothy was taught. This dedication is not just a commitment by the parents, Zach and Allison Jacobs, but also a commitment by our church family to support them in this journey.

We also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pastor James and Jenny's service at Central Baptist Church. Their dedication and hard work have been a blessing to our community, and we look forward to many more years of fruitful ministry with them.

As we embark on a new year, we are reminded of the importance of prayer and the power it holds in our lives. Our Pray 34 initiative is an opportunity for us to come together as a church and seek God's guidance and blessings for the year ahead. We are called to expect great things from God and to attempt great things for His glory. This requires us to step out in faith, to expand our borders, and to be willing to be stretched beyond our comfort zones.

The foundation of our task is the gospel, and our mission is to proclaim it to all nations. We are called to expand our declaration of the gospel, to develop discipleship opportunities, and to deepen our devotion to God. This year, let us commit to being a part of this mission, whether through personal witness, giving, or participating in outreach and mission trips.

God has given us everything we need to accomplish His work, and He promises to be with us every step of the way. As we look to the future, let us trust in His promises and be willing to act in faith, knowing that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Key Takeaways

1. Dedication and Community Support: The dedication of children to the Lord is a profound commitment by both parents and the church community. It emphasizes the importance of teaching children the Scriptures from an early age, fostering a lifelong relationship with God. This dedication is a reminder of our collective responsibility to support families in nurturing their children's spiritual growth. [13:58]
2. Celebrating Faithful Service: Celebrating milestones, such as Pastor James and Jenny's 20th anniversary, highlights the value of long-term commitment and service in ministry. Their dedication serves as an inspiration for us to remain steadfast in our own callings, trusting that God will use our efforts for His glory. [17:14]
3. Prayer as a Foundation: Engaging in intentional prayer, like the Pray 34 initiative, is crucial for seeking God's guidance and blessings. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful means of aligning our hearts with God's will, preparing us to expect and attempt great things for His kingdom. [22:45]
4. Expanding Our Mission: Our primary task is to proclaim the gospel to all nations. This involves expanding our efforts in missions, outreach, and discipleship. By stepping out in faith and being willing to be stretched, we can reach more people with the message of Christ and help them grow in their faith. [62:31]
5. Faith in Action: True faith is demonstrated through action. We are called to enlarge our tents, to spare not, and to act in obedience to God's call. This requires us to trust in His promises and to be willing to take bold steps, knowing that He will provide and guide us in our endeavors. [70:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Baby Dedication
[13:58] - Teaching Children the Scriptures
[17:14] - Celebrating 20 Years of Service
[21:27] - Welcoming Newcomers
[22:45] - Prayer and Global Mission
[51:07] - Embracing God's Promises
[52:12] - Living for Christ's Glory
[54:15] - Attempting Great Things
[55:43] - The Foundation of the Gospel
[57:13] - Trusting in Christ
[58:57] - Proclaiming the Gospel
[62:31] - Expanding Our Mission
[70:23] - Faith in Action
[79:15] - Invitation to Commit

Sermon Clips

"Helping them, you want to help them to know God. That's really what this dedication is about, is you dedicating them to the Lord, surrendering them to His will, dedicating yourselves to the task of raising them to know God, to walk with Him all their lives. And our church family is dedicating ourselves to helping you in that. I'm reminded of a verse of Scripture from 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15. Paul says to Timothy, from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures. The word for child there is really an infant. So even now, beginning to help them to know the Word of God and know about Jesus. But it's able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." [00:13:58]

"So teaching them to know the Bible, to know Jesus, to know the gospel, and to live a life for God, to know Him at an early age. And to walk with Him all the days of their life. That's our prayer this morning. And that's what we as a church commit to helping them and being a part of assisting them in this task. It's a challenging task, but it is one that by God's grace can be done. If you commit to joining with them in prayer and encouragement, will you say amen this morning?" [00:14:39]

"Grant us, Lord, a deepened passion today for that glory and a desire to share your gospel throughout the earth. Lord, your word has assured us that one day we will stand in your presence with the redeemed of every tribe and every nation and every language. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of accomplishing that purpose in the world. Open our eyes to those around us who need to experience your grace. Lord, give us courage to share Christ with them and empower our witness to be effective far beyond our human abilities." [00:22:45]

"Give us a burden to engage in the gospel work here and around the world. Lord, bless and protect those in other nations who are proclaiming your glory. Amen. your gospel through the work of missions. Give grace to those who are persecuted for their faith that Christ may be magnified in them either by life or by death. And with John, Lord, our prayer this morning is, even so come, Lord Jesus. And in that name, we ask that these petitions be granted. Amen. Let's stand together as we take a time to fellowship and choir, come on up and lead us in worship." [00:23:19]

"We already have everything that we need. In William Carey's day, they wondered, are we waiting on some special endowment of the Spirit? There's be some kind of special equipping for this? And Carey believed, and this text teaches us, that we already have everything that we need. We have the power of God. When he sent his disciples out with the Great Commission, he said, all power, all authority is given me in heaven and in earth. We have all the power that we need to accomplish what God has called for us to do, the church at large and the church local. And so we have all the power that we need. We have the presence with us. We have his presence. Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world, even to the end of the age." [00:54:15]

"So we have everything that we need. We have everything that we need to do this, to attempt great things, to attempt great things for God and for his glory. The power of the indwelling Christ for the mission of the gospel is not limited. The power for God to work in you. It is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. So all that I'm talking about this morning, attempting great things in all the areas that we'll think about, it can and will be done, but it must be done through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the power of God." [00:54:55]

"There's a lot of great things we can do as a church, but our primary task is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to get it to all. Why? Because Jesus died for all. Isaiah 53, he died for all. He suffered for all. And in fact, it speaks about his inheritance. He speaks about the portion. Because of what Christ did, verse 12, God says, I will divide him a portion with the great and divide the spoil with the strong. What is the inheritance? The scriptures tell us that God has given the heathen to him for an inheritance. He has given the nations to him for an inheritance." [01:00:04]

"So these nations that are going to come into the tent in Isaiah, verse 12, God says, I will divide him a portion with the great and divide the spoil Isaiah 54 are the ones that were died for in Isaiah 53. So for us to understand attempting great things, it's a great task when you begin to think about getting the gospel to all. You could become overwhelmed by it. You could say, well, what's the use? There's so many. God's message is to be proclaimed. So the foundation of attempting great things is in the gospel." [01:00:40]

"Let me give you three things about this. One, it's our declaration of the gospel. This year, by God's grace, we will expand our declaration of the message of the gospel. We're already involved in a number of ways. We do this through missions. We do this through personal witness. We do this through outreach events. We do this through evangelistic ministries. And we want to expand these so that more may hear. We want to expand our mission partnerships. I mentioned one of those just a moment ago. We want to expand our mission trips. We want to expand our mission trips. We want to expand our mission trips. We've got this year, and I don't want to take too much away from a few weeks, but our Palooza team, first time going out of the country, going to Canada." [01:01:13]

"God has brought the nations to this city where these churches are, and we can go and we can help them. We can help them and share the gospel with their children and with the adults that come. That's a way for us to expand what we're doing. We're not just trying to say we're busy. Look at this trip and look at this trip and these pictures. No, we want to help take the gospel to those places. The Good News Clubs, CEF, our Kid Life, and all the outreach opportunities that we do, Judgment House, and the Easter programs and the Thanksgiving programs. Why do we do this? Why? Because we want to share the gospel. So we want to get the gospel, to more people. We've shared the gospel. We've proclaimed the gospel, but we want to continue to do that, and we want to do it to more. We want God to stretch out our borders and expand what we're doing." [01:02:31]

"God may burden your heart to be a part this year. He may stretch you. Some of you experienced stretching last year when you went on the mission trip to London, and God put you on the street having to talk to people face to face, and you love God and you love Jesus, but man, that's a stretching experience. God may not put you on the street in London. God may cause you to cross the street and done to share the gospel. So God, extend our borders, stretch us out, get us out of our comfort zones. Lord, help us to do more. Yes, we've done a lot, and we praise God for the work he has done. He's the one that gets the glory, but God, expand our borders, our declaration of the gospel. Will you be a part of that, expanding our borders? Will you be the part of that? Is our giving. We'll have a Missions Emphasis Sunday, Lord willing, in just a few months and have the opportunity to expand what we give. I want to give more to missions. I want to share the gospel with more people this year than I have in any year before." [01:03:31]

"God often mixes the good with the bad. Don't wait for the bad to end to start enjoying the good. God mixes barrenness with blessing. He mix and can mix sorrow with our joy. He mixes our pain with, at the same time, healing, our loss with gain, our despair with hope, our emptiness, with bounty, our lament with worship. You can worship God in the midst of your greatest sorrow. He mixes our weakness with strength, our doubt with assurance, our guilt with forgiveness, our fallenness with redemption, and our shame with glory." [01:17:39]

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