CONSIDER THE COST OF CHRISTIANITY (7 OF 8)
by Steve Wagers
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-10
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Consider the Cost of Christianity (7 of 8)
Series: For Your Consideration
Steve Wagers
2 Timothy 4: 1-10
1. The Courage we must Exhibit!
A) We Stand in Grace
B) We Serve by Grace
2. The Conflict we must Expect!
A) Immense Troubles
B) Intense Trials
3. The Cost we must Examine!
A) The Pursuit that Demands our Focus
B) The Prize that Defines our Focus
The words of Helen Keller are fitting, ''I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble...for the world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.''
As one reads the writings of the apostle Paul, it is easy to see that he looked at the Christian life not from the standpoint of a frolic, but of a fight. To Paul, the life of a believer was not a rest, but a rest. It was not a moment, it was a marathon. Simply put, it involved far more than just wearing a uniform.
I have always been a fan of the Andy Griffith Show. One of my favorite episodes involved a man who only appeared in a handful of shows, Ernest T. Bass. In this particular episode, Ernest T. Bass is bound and determined to join the army. The only problem was that he was too short, too skinny, and too unskilled to be a soldier.
Andy and Barney begin to work with him. Finally, after a couple of weeks, he goes to the recruiter's office to take the exam. They had put him on a stretching machine, but he was still too short. They put a heavy farm chain around his neck, but he was still too skinny. They had taught several trades, but he was still too unskilled. Simply put, he failed the test to get into the army.
Andy and Barney attempt to console Ernest T. Bass, but he seemed unaffected by the outcome. After several minutes, Ernest T. Bass looks to Andy and Barney and says, ''Fellers, I really didn't want to get into the army; I just wanted a un-e-form!''
Sad to say th ...
Series: For Your Consideration
Steve Wagers
2 Timothy 4: 1-10
1. The Courage we must Exhibit!
A) We Stand in Grace
B) We Serve by Grace
2. The Conflict we must Expect!
A) Immense Troubles
B) Intense Trials
3. The Cost we must Examine!
A) The Pursuit that Demands our Focus
B) The Prize that Defines our Focus
The words of Helen Keller are fitting, ''I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble...for the world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.''
As one reads the writings of the apostle Paul, it is easy to see that he looked at the Christian life not from the standpoint of a frolic, but of a fight. To Paul, the life of a believer was not a rest, but a rest. It was not a moment, it was a marathon. Simply put, it involved far more than just wearing a uniform.
I have always been a fan of the Andy Griffith Show. One of my favorite episodes involved a man who only appeared in a handful of shows, Ernest T. Bass. In this particular episode, Ernest T. Bass is bound and determined to join the army. The only problem was that he was too short, too skinny, and too unskilled to be a soldier.
Andy and Barney begin to work with him. Finally, after a couple of weeks, he goes to the recruiter's office to take the exam. They had put him on a stretching machine, but he was still too short. They put a heavy farm chain around his neck, but he was still too skinny. They had taught several trades, but he was still too unskilled. Simply put, he failed the test to get into the army.
Andy and Barney attempt to console Ernest T. Bass, but he seemed unaffected by the outcome. After several minutes, Ernest T. Bass looks to Andy and Barney and says, ''Fellers, I really didn't want to get into the army; I just wanted a un-e-form!''
Sad to say th ...
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