CONVERSION: CONTINUING GROWTH AND DISCIPLINE

THs AURMATIC PILOT IN MODERN AIRPLANYS IS A FASCINATING DEVICE. ONCE THE
AIRPLANE IS ALOFT AND DIRBCTED TOWARD ITS DESTINATLON, THE AUTOMATIC PILOT IS PUT
INTO ACILON, THB CONTROLS SHI, AND THE HUMAN PILOT CAN SIT BACK AND R&LAX WHILE
THe Puan’ CONTINUES PERFUCTLY ON ITS COURSH, GUARANTTZED TO KEEP ON THE BEAM,

MANY CHURCH PEOPLE HaVE AN "AUTOMATIC PILOT" CONCEPT OF THE CHRISTIAN
PAL TH. | Wi THINK THAT ONCE oxi SIGHTS ARE LIFTED, ONCE WE'VE TAKZN TH STEP OF
JOINING A CHURCH Wi CAN SET THE CONTROLS TO AUTOMATIC PILOT AND 4VARYTHING wILL
XxK#@ TAKE CARH OF ITSALF/ THeRe'S ONLY ONS FLAW IN THE AUTOMATIC PILOT TYPE OF
CHRISITANITY--IT DOSSN'T WORK. | THE REASON IS THAT THERE 1S NOTHING AUTOMATIC ABOUT
TH# CHRISTIAN LIF. /IN DISCUSSING THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF CONVERSION LAST WEEK
wicSiw THAT CHRISTIANITY IS A MATTER OF DECISION AND THAT A CHRISTIAN DECISION
IS NsaVii MavZ ONCE AND FOR AuL./ TH CONCLUSION OF [HAT SERMON WAS THis EVERYDAY
BRINGS THE NeCwoSITY OF CHRISTIAN DECISLON, THAT CONVERSION IS MORS OF A NEVER
ENDING PROCHSS THAN A ONE-SHOT AFFAIR, THIS MORNING I WISH TO CONTINUE, THE SAME
DISCUSSION, SHING IN WHAT WAYS CONVERSION IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS: AND WHAT
RESPONSE BILITL43 OBLONG TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS CLAIMED CHRIST AS HIS LORD.

We CAN GO A STP FURTHER THAN W2 WENT LAST WEEK AND BEGIN BY SAYING THAT

CONVERSION 15 NeVoR AN INITIaL ACT./ NO ONE 15 aVER FULLY, TOTALLY CONVERTED TO CHRISTE

2»

ALONG WITH COURAGEOUS AFFIRMATIONS THERZ &RE DENIAL AND BETRAYALS IN EVERY MAN.
AGAIN REMEMBER PETER, TH& FIRST OF THE DISCIPLES, WHO PERSISTED IN DOUBTING,
QUESTIONING AND FINALLY DaNEAL JESUS,

PAUL, THE GR#ATEST EVANGELIST OF THEM ALL WROTE TO THE CHRISTIANS AT
CORINTH "BUT I, BRETHREN, COULD NOT ADDR#SS YOU AS SPIRITUAL MEN, BUT AS “5 ‘!\
IN es L FED YOU WITH MILK, NOT SOLID FOOD: FOR YOU WHR NOT READY FOR IT: AD
EVEN YET YOU ARé NOT READY."

PAUL, FROM HIS OWN SXPERIENCE, KNEW THAT LT TAKES TIME TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.

H% HAD SPAN THR&E FULL YEARS IN DAMASCUS, AFTER HIS CONVERSION SXPaRIENCE, BEFORE
HZ HMBARKED ON HIS MINISTRY--SEEKING 10 UNDSRSPAND WHAT HAD HAPPEND TO HIM AND
TH’ MISSLON H& WAS CALLED TO FULFILL. THE SAME IS TRUZ FOR US:/ CONCERNING CONVERSION,
HARRY MMARSON FOSDICK WROTE MSUCH TRANSFORMATLON OF LIFE DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A
MOMANT: LT TAKES MORZ THAN INSTANTANEOUS EXPOSURZ TO TAKE THE LORD'S PICTURS ON
A HUMAN HaART: BUT THE TIME EXPOSURZ WILL DO 17." |

WZ ARB SkTREMBLY URLTICAL OF THE TRAVELING #VANGELISTS WHO TURN THE

SINGLE

PROCESS OF CONVERSLON INTO a SEXZWRE EXPERIENCE, WHO SAVE PAOPLE'S SOULS AND THIN

FORGST THe. | AND YET TO BE TRUTHFUL THE CHURCH DOES VERY LITTLE MOR# THAN

THIS) ALL TH KMPHASIS IS ON NUMBERS, NEW MEMBERS, ALL TOO FREQUENTLY JOINING THE

360

TH# WAY IS ALL DOWN HILL. THE EXACT OPPOSITE SHOULD BE THE CASE./ TO DOCUMENT THIS

/

ARGUMENT I CIT# STaTISTLCS PROVIDED BY TH BOARD OF NATIONAL MISSIONS/FOR EVERY

/
TEN PERSONS WHO JOIN THE U.P. CHURCH IN THE USA SIX ARS PUT ON THE INACTIVE ROLL. ON
A NATION wibs SCALH THAT MANS THAT ONLY FOUR OUT OF EVERY (EN NiW MEMBERS ARE
EXPACTAD TO SiR LTOUSLY APPLY THEMSELVES TO THe FALTH THE OTHER SIX CAN BE EXPECTED

TO GRADUALLY FaLL AwaAY.

IF CONVERSION IS A CONTINUING PROCESS THESE STATISTICS SHOW A GRAVE

JA GING IN THe CHURCH | HITHER NGW PROPLi ARE NOT FULLY AWARH OF THE IMPLICATIONS

OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP OR SLSE THe CHURCH ITSELF IS TO BLAM# FOR FAILING TO NUTURE

AND SUIbTAIN ITS NOVICES. THs CHURCH MUST BE BOTH EVANGELIST AND o> BOTH

OBSTETRICIAN AND PEDIATRITION.) IT MUST NEVER ALLOW ITS MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN THE

FRIVOLOUS COMFORT THAT IDENTIFIZS CHRSITIANY TY MATURITY WITH CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

THE GROWING PALNS OF CHRISTIANITY AR# SUCCINCTLY SUMMED UP IN THAT PHRASE
FROM OUR LOaD'S PRAYSR IN B&THSEMANE "NOT MY WILL BUT THINS BE DONE." MANY THINGS
IN(HRPehoe WITH OUR DEVOTION TO CHRIST: THE SURSUIT OF WEALTH AND PRESTIGE, OUR
PHURSONAL HATREDS AND DISLIKKS: ‘SOME FHEL THAT ALCOHOL ANY TOBACCO INTERFERE WITH
A PERSONS RuulGLOUS COMMITMENT. BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS GRANTED THE LIMITED

VALIDITY OF ALL THESH ARGUMENT: WHAT Wi ARE TO DO IS TO DECIDE FOR CHRIST AND

B.

AGAINST OURSELVES. / THIS NATURALLY, IS THE RaAL SOURCE OF GROWTH PAINS. / BY NATURE

we WANT TO DO OUR Whi. AND NO ONH ELSHS'S.) WE SIMPLY DON'T WANT TO TAKk# UP A CROSS
IF Wi CAN AT ALL AVOID IT. EVEN AS wE DO GROW IN THE FAITH, APPLYING OURSELVES

WHOLE H&sARTEDLY WE FIND THAT We ARZ STL LL ENSLAVED BY OUR TYRANNICAL SHLF-will, THIS IS

NOT Naw BITHER: OUT OF AN AGONIZING STRUGGLE TO DO GOD'S WILL PAUL WROTE TO THE

ROMANS:| "I DO NOP UNDERSTAND MY OWN sCTLONS. FOR I DO NOT DO wHAT I WANT, BUT THE
\

VERY THING I HATa...1 CAN WILL WHAT IS RIGHT, BUTI CANNOT DO IT. FOR I DO NOT DO
THa GOOD I WANT, BUT TH KVIL I DO NOT WANT 1S WHAT I DO....WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WI

DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DZATH?" | ROM. 7) THLS COMING FROM THs MAN wHO KNEW THE

|
t

WORDS SACRLFICS AND OBsDIENUE MORE THAN ANY OTHER, "WRETCHED M.N THAT I ANY"

THERE 1S MUCH TO BE i#aRNED HERS. / IT IS ON# OF THE DEEP AND BEAUTIFUL

PARADOAES OF THH CHRISTIAN FAITH THAT PRECISELY WHEN wk THINK WE ARE GROWING LEAST WE ARE G

GROWING MOST. ("WHO WILL OBLIVER MB FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH PAUL ASK#D. WHO WILL
RaSOLVE THIS INTERMINABLE CONFLICT BETWEEN MY OWN WILL AND THE WILL OF GOD? PAUL
KNiW THE ANWR. CHRIST WOULD DELIVER HIMg HE HAD OBEYED GOD'S CALL WITHOUT RESER¥a-
sda THRE WAS NO MORE Hi CUULD DO. WHEN WE FE#L, OPPOSITE, HOWEVER: WHEN WE

THINK We'Vi ARRIVED WHEN Wit Anu PROUD OF OUR PERSONAL PIETY WE AR® ACTUALLY AT

A SPIRITUAL STAND SITLL. THIS 1S PSRHAPS THE MOST CRUCIAL PROBLA&M FACING CON-

de

TaMPORARY CHRIS TLANITY. / WH AR# SO CONVINCED THAT ALL GOD WANTS OF US IS SPORADIC
CHURCH aTTSNDANCH THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO WALLOW IN CUMPLACENCY AND
SATISFACTION. Wi NikbD TO BE JARRSD OUT OF THIS STAT# BY REALIZING THAT CHRISTIANITY
is N#VAR FULFILLED; THAT TO BE A CHRISTIAN MANS TO CONSCIOUSLY, WILL TO OBEY
CHRIST IN EVERY MINUTZ OF #VZRYWAY./ IT M@ANS THE HARSH RECOGNITION THAT WB ARE
ALWAYS Pau LING SHORT, AND THAT WLTHOUT HIS GRACE AND FORGIVENESS WE WOULD WWEVa
DARK Taku Tis NAME CHRISTIAN ON OUR LIPS.

SINCZ CONVSRSLON IS A PROCESS OF GROWTH, TH@ GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Is MATURITY iN CHRIST. / PAUL DELVES INTO CHRISTIAN MATURITY IN LENGTH IN HIS

LeTTskS TO TH GALATIANS AND COLLOSIANS. / AND IN TH# LATTER HZ CONCLUDES BY SAYING

ff

/
( tte YOU DO, IN WORD OR DHED, DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAM OF THE LORD JESUS,

GIVING THANKS TO GOD THROUGH HIM." WHATHVER YOU DO! DO EVERYTHING IN THE

NAH OF J&SUS CHRIST! THERY IS NO SUNDAY CHRISTIANITY HERE: THER@ IS NO IMPLICA~
TION OF THaT POPULAR CONCEPT OF KwPING R&LIGION IN ITs PLACE, ALi BOXED UP ON SUNDAY
MORNING. IT 15 A CLWAR STATSMENT THAT BEING CHRISTIAN MEANS OPENING ALL THE DOORS

OF OUR LIVES TO JeSUS CHRIST, WITHHOLDING NUTHING, DOING EVERYTHING IN HIS NAME,

THIS IS AS IMPORTANT TO THE ACCOUNTANT AS IT IS THE MINISTER: TO THE HOUSEWIFE, LABORER AND

|

MISSIONARY sian | BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS THAT WE WILL LIVE, NOT FOR OURSELVES, BUT

6.

FOR GQ). / IT MweaANS TO Sit THe WORLD THROUGH "CHRIST--COLORED GLASS#S: IT IS TO ASK,
IN sVuRY New SITUATION, "WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR Mii HitRE AND NOW?"

I TRULY WANDER HOW MANY OF US TAKE OUR FAITH AND OUR LOD THAT S&RIOUSLY.
IT Sais PaTHSITCALLY OBVIOUS THAT WE HAVE SO WARPED AND ALTERED THE CHRISTIAN FAITH TO KK
CORR&SPOND TO OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES, THAT IT BARELY RESEMBLES THE ABSULUTE OBEDIANCE
DISPLAY#D BY THe apostuns. / ie HAVE LOST SOMETHING INTEGRAL Hite, Wie HAVE RE~
PLaC#kD CONVERSION WITH JOINING A CHURCH: WE HAVE SUBSTITUTED POPULAR RELIGION FOR
CHRISTLAN GROWTH.

AND 50 wit NakD TO IG EVEN Di@PaR, TURNING TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE
SikMON TLITL--THAT CONVERSION ENDURES IN DISCIPLINE, ‘1 A LIBERAL PROTESTANT
CONGREGATION Tils LS ABOUT AS DISTASTSFUL A STaT#MeNT AS CAN BE MADE. THE WORD
CONVeitS ION RoMINDS OF FUNDAMENTALIST R&VIVAL MEETINGS AND DISCIPLINE CARRIES
WITH IT VISLONS OF THé SPANISH INQUISITION. AND SO WE OF THE LIE&RAL PROT. TRADITION
HaVis ACCOMMODATED OUR FAITH, AS TH#SE OTHER TWO BRANCHES HAVE NOT, TO THE CULTURA
CLifaTis OF THs FRoE AND #ASY. / THERE IS NO LONGER ANY MARKED DIF PARENCE IN BSHAVIOR
OR OUTLOOK UPON LIVE BETWEEN THE AVGRAGS CHURCH MesBak AND HIS UNCHURCHED NS&TGHBOR.

WHY? BuCAUSE LIBERAL PROTHSTANTS aR# NOTORLOUSLY UNDISCIPLINSD CHRISTIANS. I

WOULD HWaNTUns Tdi GUESS THAT A M&MBER OF ET TH&R BAPTIST CHURCH IN DYER, OR OF

THs ROMaN CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHO 15 IRRSGULAR IN ATT“NDANCH, SARVICK AN) GIVING, WOULD

Te
SUON Haak ALOQUT IT, TH RATIONALIZATION IS THAT WE ARS PROTMSTANTS WH ARE FREE.
WE'RE .O0T LIKE THs FUNUAMMN ALTSTS OR TH CATHOLICS NOBODY CAN TELL US WHAT TO DO
AND Wi-Adid RIGHT , FRSOM 1S THE GLORLOUS AND BIBLICAL BASIS OF THE R#FORMED
TRaDITION./ BUT, ANUITIS a BIG BUT, THIS FRWEDOM DOS NOT MHAN IRR&SPONSIBILITY:
CARE

IT DQISN'IT HeaN wi DON'T GOK ABOUT WORSHIPPING RaGULARLY OR GIVING GENEROUSLY.
THE PROT. DOCTRING OF FRaidvOM IS BULLT SOLeLY ON TH& ASSUMPTION THAT CHRISTIAN
MeN wilt SHARCH THs SCRIPTURS, Takes A LONG LOOK AT THELR LIVES AND THEN IMPOSE
UPON THSMSSLVES AN INTERNAL DISCIPLING AND AUTHORITY./ UNFURTUNATHLY THE PEOPLE
THOSE WHO ARE LEAST DISCLPLING) IN THEIR OWN RELIGIOUS HABITS.) THE PRESENT DANGER
IN TH& PROT. CHURCH IS NOT TOO MUCH AUTHORITY BUT LAXITY, S&LF INDULGENCE AND TH
Ri] SCTLON OF ALL AUTHORITY aND DISCLPLING.

IN HIS BOOK "WIINHSS," whittsaker chambers describes the DISCIPLINS) LIFE
OF AN DMDERGROUND COMMUNI ST PARTY HeM3 ut. MUNDERGROUND WORKERS WR ABSOLUTELY
FORBIDDEN TO DRINK....AFTan TH FASHION OF COMMUNIST FRIANDS wi ALL SHARED OUR
LODGINGS, OUR FOOD, OUR MONEY, #VaN OUR CLOTHES. TYPlCsLLY UNDERGROUND WORKENS
BSLONGHY TOA STUDY GHOUP THAT MaT ONC A Wak, AND IT was NOT UNUSUAL FOR Midi3ahs
OF SUCH GROUPS TO GIVs TEN Per CHNT OF THWIR INCOM? TO THE PaRTY." DOES THIS SOUND

AMAZING? DOSN'T IT SOUND LIK® SOMETHING OUT OF TH SECOND CHAPTER OF ACTs? DOESN'T IT

8.

Mahé A CBRTAIN POLNT UNC OnFORTABLY CLEAR? THIRTY MILLION COMMUNISTS ARE GRADUALLY
SEIZING WORLD LHAU-RSATP “ROM STGHT HUNDRED ME LION CHRISTIANS, “S4C.I/sg (TH&Y ARs
LIsULPuL 3 PUP «LY COMMITTED, AND WE ARE NOT.

HOW MAN Y MEMBERS ala BB LEFT IN THE PROT. CHURCH LF SUWWOENLY THESE
RULES Woh Havd MeaMBSRSHLP ReQUINGMENTS? HOW MANY WOULD iidMAIN IN THIS CHURCH? I
DON'T KNOW, BUT 1 WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD 3%. IF NOT TH VERDICT I5 CLEAR.
COMMUNISM MBaNS MORE TO THe COMMUNIST, THAN GHRISTIANITY TO THH CHRISTIAN. IF THIS
IS TRUZ—THERE IS NOT MUCH HOPE FOR TH WORLD. THIS MAY SOUND OVURLY DRAMATIC BUT
IT1S THE Cidak aND BOVEOUS TRUTH.

IN THe waAhLY HOURS OF TH# REFCRMaATION, CoRISTIAN MEN waR NOT SO HESITANT

/

TO pIsclrilNa. / IN GaN aVA, JOHN CALVIN, WAS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAN SORMATION
OF A BAnBAnlaAN AWD IMMORAL CITY INTO A CITADEL OF THE REFORMED FAITH. AND Hi DID
IT THROUGH OLSSIFLINE, | IF A PERSON TRANSGRESSED AGAINST TH STANDARD OF MORALITY
SSTAnLISHED BY THE CHURCH HE WAS EJECTED.) IF HE PERSISTED Ha WAS PUNISHED. NOW I'M
NOT 50 NAIVE AS TO RECOMMIND THE SUP ERIMPOSI TI ON OF 16 CENTURY PRACTICES ON MODERN SOCIETY
BECAUSE THOSE aSSOCLaTiév wiTd IT WERE DISCIPLINED AND COMMITTED TO CHRIST s*ABSOLUTELY

AND COMPLETELY, WITHOUT FEAR OR RUSERVATLON.

Jeo
IN ENGLAND JOHN WESLEY WAS AWARE OF THE VeRY SAM# IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINE,

ON# OCCASLON HE REDUCKD THE SOCLsTY OF 800 IN HALF,

ONCE AGAIN I AM NOT sila rca A YEARLY PURGE OF THE ROLL: ALTHOUGH THIS,
UNFORTUNATELY, DORKS BECOME NECESSARY./ MY POINT Is SIMPLY THAT CHRISTIANITY ENDURES
AND GROwS THROUGH DISCIPLING: THAT THE CHURCH IN ITS PRESuNT STATE HAS Red eCTED DIS-
CLPLING OF ANY SunT aN» SO Has Hi ASC ULATED ITSsaéLF: UNTIL ITS MiMBERS REGARD IT AS JUST

ON# aXTRA AND TIiMdé CONSUMING ACTIVITY OUT OF MANY.

LET US FACE THIS THING SQUARELY, LOOKING TO THE NEW TESTAMHNT AND TO OUR

CIPLIN“kS IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: AND THAT WITHOUT THESE DISCIPLINES IT VukY
SLMP..Y CHASHS TO BE maEEGION, THER Ans MAN Y WAYS OF DHSURIBING THESE DISCIPLINES,
BUT I THINK THe AR’ FOUR MAJOR CATEGORIES THAT WILL GIVs US A START, EACH OF

THESE IS iMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE DISCUSSED IN LENGTH: BUT TIM# PROHIBITS AND SO I

HOPE €Y BRIEF DISCUSSION WILL AGL TATE YOUR THINKING: ANJ HOPEFULLY PROMPT YOU

1 TAKS THIS MATTER OF PEASUNAL DISCIPLINE Sul OUSLY.
THs FIRST INHRwNT DISCIPLINE LS CORPORATS WORSHIP. / TH# FIAST OBLIGATION
OF THE CHRISTIAN AS A MEMBER OF THE BELIEVING COMMUNITY, IS TO WORSHLP GOD./ I HAVE

MENT. OND THLS BEFORw: AND IT GALLS Mi JUST ENOUGH THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION IT:

10,

THaT IN TALKING WITH PROPLE ABOUT CHURCH MMMBERSHIP I ENCOUNTER THE REPLY TIME AND

TIME aGAIN, "I CaN Be A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT JOINING 4 CHURCH. AS LONG AS I K#=P THE
THN COMMANDMANTS AND LdaD A GOOD LIFE. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT." THIS SOUNDS GOOD BUT

wHal IT COMES FROM K'LL NaVaR KNOW. ~CERTAINLY NOT FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT.

NOw OBVLOUSLY THIS IS NOT TH# CASE WITH MOST OF YOU. BUT IT IS PERTINENT TO YOU
MALKMEN «THE MEMBERS OF THE écdnon ¥ i ANYONE WHO REGARDS HIS ATTENDANCE AT

SUNUaAY WURSHLP AS AN OPTIONAL MaTiRR, DEPENDING ON WHIM, FaNCY OR Pa&RsONAL CONVENIENCE,
IS NOT SHELOUGLE ANTERES [aD IN BEING A CHRISTIAN P#RSON." THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF

CHilS?, “STABLISHED BY HiM AS HIS SERVANT. ) iT IS FIRST OF ALL A BODY OF WORSHIPPING
j

SE ever. /wiin Wi 2 CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIANS THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO

EXPRESS THAT FalTH IN R&GULAR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP,

THis SHOOUND INH#RaNT DISCIPLINE IS FRASER /Prave, TOO, IS A SUBJECT

THAT WARRANTS MOR THAN THIS SHORT RSSUME; IT TUO LIES AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR FAITHS THERE
Cal Ba NO TRU fALTH WITHOUT RHGULAR AND CONSTANT COMMUNLO N WITH GOD./ IT Ig REX

MARKab..i HOW GOOD CHURCH MEMBERS R#ACT WHEN ASKED TO PRAY#R. THE SIMPLE TASK

OF THANKING GoD FOR FOOD APPBARS TO BE MORd THAN MOST OF US CAN YANDLE. PRAYSR MUST
BECOME A D ISCLELINE, A HABIT YOU ACQUIRE DAY BY DAY. IT NED NOT BE LONG, OR SHORT,

VOCaL OK SLisNT, STANULNG UP OR IN BED, BUT A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF THE POWER AND

PH ASENCE OF GOD COMES ONLY WHEN WE KNGAGH IN THX DISCIPLINE oF PRAYER.

iy

THis THIRD MAJOR DISCLPLINS I$ BIBLE RZADING/ IN MY SHORT EXPERIENCE IN THE
MINISTRY, COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY DON'T READ THE BIBL BECAUSE THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND LT./ Hake AGAIN THIS REMARK IS USUALLY INDICATIVE OF A HALF HEARTED ATTEMPT,
THERN Akdé HUNDREDS OF COMMENTARL#S AND HELPS TO Ré@adIN. THE BIBLE. BUT MORZ IMPORTANT
THAN STUDYING 1T IS THE DISCIPLINED ACT OF RESERVING A PERIOD OF IVERYDAY TO READING
If. ITIsS THé WORD OF GOD. GOD HAS USKD IT TO SPEAK TO MEN OF EVERY GENERATION. we
ARE NO D1 FERENT.

FOURTHLY AND LASTLY, WE COME TO SACRIFICE AND SSRVICE, / THIS MEANS, VARY
BuUNTLY, GIVING OUR MONEY TO GOD THROUGH THE CHUKCH./ WE WILL BE LAUNCHING OUR STE-
WARDSHIP COMMIIMEN, PROGRAM IN A Fw WEEKS AND SO I WILL NOT BELABOR THE POINT NOW.
BUT L&T US #COGNIZE THAT REGULAR, PROPROTLONATE GIVING, IS NOT OPTIONAL TO
CHRISTIANITY EITHUR. / IF WE ARE TD ALLOW GOD TO BB OUR AUTHORLTY IF WE ARE 10 BE
PERFHCTLY HUNAST, TTHING, GIVING 10% OF OUR 1NCOMs 13 WHT IS IMPLICIT IN THE BIBLE.
BUT MOR IMPORTANT THAN THE AMOUNT 1S THE INTERNAL AND PHRSONAL REALIZAYION THAT
GIVING TO TH CHURCH IS A PARSONAL & SSPUNSZ, AN ACT OF FAITH.) THE LENGTHS WE
ARé TO GO IN SERVICE ARB CLEARLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT THE N.T. IN PARABLES SUCH
A> THe GUOD SAMARITAN AND ULTIMATELY BY OUR LORD WHEN HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE TASK

OF WASHING THs FET OF HIS FIRNEDS AFTER A LONG AND DUSTY JOURNEY,

12.
THIS FOUR-FOiW) DISCEPLIN® MAY SOUND QUITE HARSH, AND YET IT IS ONLY THE

BEGINNING OF THE LIFE wa ARH® TOLD TO L#AD BY OUR LORD. / AND THE REASON IT SOUNDS SO

HaRSH IS THaT FAR TOO LONG THE PROT. CHURCH HAS FAILED TO INFORM ITS MEMBERS AND THE

WORLD THAT CHRISTIANITY IS N&ITHER ENTERTAINING, NOR ALBAYS SATISFYING, IT IS NOT A

Hz a elie | |
@oou PaTRiOTIC VIRTUs, IT IS COMPLET: COMMITMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO THE VERY SON OF GOD.

GCONVERSLON AND GROWTH IN THIS FAITH PROCEEDS BY DISCIPLINE. / WE KhOW, FROM
MindY TALKING aBOUT IT THATITIS A ROW WE CANNOT WALK ALONE. LT US LISTZN IN
FAGT TO THe WORDS OF TH AUTHOR OF HiBREWS WHEN HE SAID:

"LET US RUN WITH PERSERVERANCE, TH# RACE THAT IS SET BZFORS US, LOOKING

TO JeSUS, THe PLON#ER AND Pu RPSCTORER OF OUR FAITH.