<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE PARABLE OF THE LIFESAVING STATION" INTRODUCTION 1. Songs that may be used to introduce this lesson... a. "Throw Out The Lifeline" b. "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning" c. "Send The Light" 2. As Jesus often taught in parables, we begin our study with one, called... "The Parable Of The Lifesaving Station" On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding areas, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some of the new members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it as a sort of club. Less of the members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The mission of lifesaving was still given lip-service but most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the lifesaving activities personally. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, some had skin of a different color, some spoke a strange language, and the beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal pattern of the club. But some members insisted that lifesaving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the life of all various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did. As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. They evolved into a club and yet another lifesaving station was founded. If you visit the seacoast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but now most of the people drown! -- Taken from Personal Evangelism 101, by Brent Hunter 3. As the songs and the parable point out, the mission of the church is similar to that of a lifesaving station; unfortunately, with the passing of time many churches... a. Lose sight of their original mission b. Gradually evolve into something different than what Christ intended when He said: "I will build my church..." - Mt 16:18 [Lest we forget and succumb to the dangers that can befall a growing church, let's review...] I. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH A. TO BRING TO LIGHT THE GOSPEL OF GOD... 1. This was Paul's mission as an apostle - Ep 3:8-9 2. This he did as a functioning member of the church a. Which has as a primary purpose to make known the wisdom of God - Ep 3:10 b. A purpose planned by God for the church from eternity - Ep 3:11 3. The mission of the church is no different than was the mission of Christ a. Christ came to save sinners - 1 Ti 1:15 b. He came preaching the gospel to lost and dying sinners - Mk 1:14-15 -- Therefore Jesus wants the gospel made known to every person - Mk 16:15 B. TO PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF GOD... 1. God has made us a holy nation, His own special people - 1 Pe 2:9a 2. Our purpose? To proclaim the praises of God - 1 Pe 2:9b 3. What are the praises of God we are to proclaim? a. How we were called from darkness into His marvelous light - 1 Pe 2:9c; Co 1:12-14 b. How we have become the people of God - 1 Pe 2:10a c. How we have obtained mercy - 1 Pe 2:10b -- How do we proclaim this? By proclaiming the gospel of Christ! [Our mission as the church, as the people of God, is a glorious mission! To proclaim the praises of God, which we do by bringing to light the gospel of God! But consider...] II. HOW WE CAN FAIL OUR MISSION A. THROUGH MISPLACED EMPHASIS... 1. By placing emphasis on the material rather than spiritual aspects of the church 2. A problem experience by the church in Laodicea - cf. Re 3:14-19 3. A problem often experienced by churches today a. Evidenced by the time and energy spent... 1) On the physical aspects of the church (e.g., the building) 2) Compared to fulfilling the true mission of the church b. Not that physical needs shouldn't be met 1) But the emphasis should be on getting the message out 2) Rather than on the upkeep of the facilities c. Something is wrong if... 1) We get more worked up over the lack of air-conditioning than lost souls 2) The "business meeting" of the church spends more time over physical matters than spiritual matters (what is the true "business" of the church anyway?) -- Are we like the church in Laodicea? If so, we would be better off materially poor and spiritually rich like the church in Smyrna - cf. Re 2:8-9 B. THROUGH SHOWING PREFERENCE... 1. By showing preference in our efforts to saving souls 2. God wants all to be saved - 1 Ti 2:3-6 3. God is no respecter of persons, not should we be - cf. Ac 10: 28-29,34-35 4. We should not show preference... a. On the basis of social distinctions - cf. Ja 2:1-9 b. On the basis of racial distinctions - cf. Co 3:10-11 -- Are we selective in sharing of the gospel? Or do we try to preach the gospel to every creature? - Mk 16:15 CONCLUSION 1. What kind of "lifesaving station" are we? a. One that is faithfully fulfilling its mission? b. One that is basking in its heritage and former reputation? -- May the parable of the lifesaving station remind us of the folly of being the latter 2. We have been given a noble mission... a. One that warrants a frequent reminder b. One worthy of being "stirred up" from time to time - cf. He 10:24 3. Sadly, many do not feel compelled to proclaim the mercy of God... a. Perhaps it is for the same reason many do not grow b. They have forgotten they were purged from their sins - cf. 2 Pe 1:9 May God's grace and mercy shown toward us compel us to be active in sharing the same grace and mercy to others. This we can do by proclaiming the gospel of Christ! - cf. Mk 16:15-16<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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