OceanSide church of Christ




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WOULD YOU BE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE…

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     There are many things that individuals are extremely proud to announce to the world.

1.        I am proud to announce that I am going to be a father.

2.       I am proud to announce that I am officially a Registered Nurse.

3.        I am proud to announce that after today, I am a retiree.

4.       I am proud to announce that I am the President of the United States.

5.        I am proud to announce that I am officially a citizen of the United States.

 

B.      When we say we are proud to announce such things, we mean:

1.        We are not ashamed.

2.       We have feelings of pleasure and satisfaction about this.

3.        We are honored and gratified by the distinction.

 

C.     As I thought about the phrase, “I am proud to announce that I am…” another thought came to my mind.  Would you be proud to announce…

 

I.             THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN?

 

A.     A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ (John 8:31).

 

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

 

B.      As a follower of Jesus, we must make some very bold claims about Him.

1.        He was born of a virgin.

2.       He is the Son of God.

3.        He is deity.

4.       He committed no sin while He lived.

5.        He died for the sins of the world.

6.       He was raised from the dead on the third day.

7.       He ascended to the right hand of God and rules over His kingdom as King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

C.     Many people in the world reject His claims.

Many people in the world make fun of His claims.

Many people in the world ridicule those who believe His claims.

 

D.     If opposition really came, would be proud to announce that you are a Christian?

 

E.      I am reminded of a passage written by Peter about Christians (1 Pet. 4:16).

 

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

 

II.           THAT YOU ARE A SAINT?

 

A.     There is a lot of confusion about the word “saint,” even in the religious world, even within the church.

1.        Some see a saint as one who holds a special position in the church after death.

2.       Others see a saint as one who is living an almost perfect life.

 

B.      In six of his epistles, addresses the saints in his salutation.

1.        Romans 1:7

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…

 

2.       1 Corinthians 1:2

3.        2 Corinthians 1:1

4.       Ephesians 1:1

5.        Philippians 1:1

6.       Colossians 1:2

 

C.     The word “saint” stands in opposition to the word “sinner.”

1.        The saint has been freed from the bondage of sin.  The sinner is still in bondage to sin.

2.       The saint no longer serves sin.  The sinner is the slave to sin.

3.        The saint no longer habitually practices sin.  The sinner lives every day engaged in sin.

 

D.     The word “saint” in the Bible simply indicates a person who has

1.        Rejected the wickedness and carnality of the world (1 John 5:4).

2.       Been purified by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5).

3.        Been set apart for a special purpose in the service of God (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).

 

E.      A saint lives on a higher plane of moral purity than does the world (Eph. 5:3).

 

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.

 

F.      QUESTION:  What shame should there be in any of these things?

 

III.         THAT YOU ARE A WORSHIPPER OF GOD?

 

A.     A worshipper of God does several things.

1.        He adores the majestic nature of God.

2.       He praises God for all the wonderful works He has performed.

3.        He gives thanks to God for His bounty.

4.       He manifests that He is dependent upon God for all.

5.        He submits himself to the will of the God of heaven.

 

B.      God wants His people to be true worshippers (John 4:23-24).

 

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

C.     Many people ridicule those who worship God.

1.        They see us as people who are weak.

2.       They see us as people who are fearful.

3.        They see us as people who are confused.

4.       They see us as people who reject reason and science.

5.        They see us as people who are dependent instead of independent.

6.       They see us as people who live in the darkness of hundreds of years ago.

 

D.     Are you proud to call yourself a worshipper of God?

 

IV.         THAT YOU ARE A SOUL-WINNER

 

A.     Proverbs 11:30

 

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

 

B.      This seems to be the one responsibility most Christians have a tendency to shy away from.

1.        It requires a love for souls.

2.       It requires a mouth that is willing to talk to others.

3.        It requires a head of knowledge.

4.       It requires a heart of courage.

5.        It requires schedule that devotes time to teaching others.

6.       It requires a skin that can withstand attacks.

7.       It requires an endurance that can persist after disappointments.

 

C.     The apostle Paul was a soul-winner.

1.        When he wrote to the church at Corinth, he noted that he was “a wise masterbuilder” (1 Cor. 3:10).

 

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder…

 

2.       When he addressed the saints in Rome, he said he longed to bear fruit among them (Rom. 1:13).

 

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

 

D.     The people who I know who are truly soul-winners are extremely proud of what they do.  They have conquered fears, acquired knowledge, developed skills, and have born enough fruit to be able to proudly say to others:  “I am soul-winner for Jesus.”

 

E.      This might be one that all of us need to devote a little more time toward.  Before you completely reject that thought, keep in mind the words of Jesus in John 15:8.

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

V.           THAT YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE OCEANSIDE CONGREGATION?

 

A.     When some individuals view OceanSide, all they can see are the negatives.

1.        We are small.

2.       We are an older group.

3.        There are not many young people here.

4.       The preacher preaches out of the King James Version of the Bible.

5.        We do not have a huge budget.

6.       We don’t have a variety of adult classes.

7.       Our song service does not include the most recent hymns of the church.

 

B.      Unfortunately, they do not look with honesty and with enthusiasm on what OceanSide does offer.

1.        The truth of the gospel is respected, preached, and practiced.

2.       We have an eldership that is concerned about shepherding.  The seek to do the Lord’s will.  They listen to the desires of the congregation.  And, they seek the sheep that have wondered from the flock.

3.        We have two deacons who diligently labor in the areas of work assigned to them.

4.       We have very good teachers in our children’s classes.

5.        We have a wonderful gospel meeting and a fantastic VBS each year.

6.       We have supported works such as preacher training schools, children’s homes, the prison ministry, and missionaries.

7.       We send out House-to-House and Life Matters on a regular basis.

8.       We have a clothing closet that is serving our community every month.

9.       This year we are going to try to reach out to twelve different works and give them financial support.

C.     Here are the problems that many have with the local church.

1.        People are looking for hotels for rest instead of hospitals that care for the sick.

2.       People are looking for social clubs instead of schools for learning God’s Word.

3.        People are looking for fine dining instead of a field of labor.

4.       People are looking for retirement homes instead of recruitment centers for soldiers.

5.        People are looking for concert halls instead of a congregation that worship in spirit and in truth.

6.       People are looking for a place to be served rather than a place to serve.

7.       People are looking for the big, exciting, and extravagant instead of the bold, earnest and essential.

                                                                

D.     Here are some things that we can be proud of as a church:  soundness, unity, love, leadership, service, sacrifice, education, redemption, forgiveness, and hope.

                                                                                                                          

CONCLUSION

 

A.     An elderly individual will stand and say:  “I am proud to announce that I am 100 years old today.”

 

B.      A young married couple will stand and say:  “We are proud to announce we are going to be parents.”

 

C.     Leaders in the country will stand and say:  “I am proud to announce I am the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.”

 

D.     As children of God, each one of us should be able to arise and say:

1.        I am proud to announce I am a Christian.

2.       I am proud to announce I am a saint.

3.        I am proud to announce I am a worshipper of God.

4.       I am proud to announce I am a soul-winner for Jesus.

5.        I am proud to announce I am a member of the OceanSide church of Christ.

 

E.      Again, this is not an arrogant attitude.  It is an expression of pleasure, satisfaction, and gratitude.  Our pride in these things tells the world that we are not ashamed of these things.