OceanSide church of Christ




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OCEANSIDE GOALS FOR 2020

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    We have entered into the second week of 2020.

1.        Last Sunday, we had our Kick-of Sunday.

2.       We examined The Great Commission as recorded in Mark 16:15-16.

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

3.       The looked at three points:

1)       The Charge:  go into all the world

2)      The Communication:  the gospel

3)      The Conditions:  he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

 

B.      This Sunday, we want to focus on the Goals of the OceanSide church of Christ for 2020.

1.        These goals have been approved by the elders.

2.       Some of these goals come from our Catch-A-Vision Day.

3.       They involve different aspects of the work at Oceanside.

4.       Some of them involve our theme for this year:  “We Will Go…I Will Go!”

 

I.             THE BASICS OF GOALS

 

A.    Definition: 

1.        The result or achievement toward which effort is directed

2.       It comes from a word, “gole,” which means the finishing point of a race, finish line.

a.       The runner directs all of his/her energy toward a certain point.

b.      Paul uses this type of analogy in describing his goal in life (Phil. 3:13-14).

 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

1)       I press:  Paul effort directed toward an end.

2)      The mark for the prize:  this was the finish line.

 

B.      Goals need to be SMART.

 

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II.           GOALS SET IN SCRIPTURE

 

A.    Noah’s goal was to build an ark according to God’s specifications (Gen. 6:14).

 

B.      Moses had a goal of leading God’s people out of Egyptian bondage (Exo. 3:10).

 

C.     Joshua had a goal of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land (Josh. 1:2).

 

D.    Solomon had a goal of erecting a house for God (I Kings 5:5)

 

E.      Nehemiah had a goal of rebuilding the walls of the city of Jerusalem (Neh. 2:5, 17).

 

F.      God had a goal of reconciling man unto Himself in one body by the cross of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:16).

 

G.    Jesus had a goal of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10).

 

H.    The apostles had the goal of carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus (Acts 4:19-20).

 

I.        Paul had a goal of living like Jesus (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21).

 

III.         THE ULTIMATE GOAL

 

A.    Our heavenly Father has set a goal for each of us.  That goal is to receive our reward in heaven.  This should be set steadfastly in our minds every day of our lives.

 

B.      The word “reward” is found 36 times in 35 verses of the New Testament.

1.        Nineteen of these refer to our eternal reward in the hereafter.

2.       Reward:

a.       Strong (3405):  requital

b.      Thayer:  payment of wages due, recompense

c.       Vine:  wages, hire, then reward

3.       Two verses:

a.       Hebrews 10:35

 

Cast now away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

 

b.      II John 8

 

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we may receive a full reward.

 

C.     Our reward consists of many things.

1.        A crown of victory

2.       Robes of white

3.       A glorified body

4.       A heavenly city

5.       No sorrow, tears, or pain

6.       Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

7.       Fellowship with all the redeemed

8.       Eternal life

 

IV.        GOALS FOR OCEANSIDE IN 2020

 

A.    Bible studies and Conversions

1.        Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

 

2.       Our theme for 2020 is “We Will Go…I Will Go!”  In other words, we are committing ourselves to continue to carry out the Great Commission.

3.       To do this, we must study the Bible with others. 

a.       We have set a goal of 25. 

b.      This could involve just one study with a person or multiple studies.

c.       This is a low number if we are going to reach our goal of conversions.

4.       We have a goal of 12 conversions.

a.       This is just one a month.

b.      This is low if each Christian were really committed to converting one person this year.  Then, we would have 73 conversions.

5.       Another evangelist effort that will be attempted is a 4-week seminar this summer on the subject of Socialism. 

a.       It is a very relevant subject.

b.      However, it is a subject that very few really know every much about.  They certainly do not know its opposition to religion.

c.       We hope this subject will spark some interest in our community.  This in turn will give us additional contacts for possible Bible studies.

 

B.      Attendance Goals

1.        Acts 2:42

 

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

a.       The apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers involve the worship of the first century church.

b.      They did this “steadfastly,” that is on a regular, continuous basis.

2.       We have set three goals

a.       100 for our A.M. Worship

b.      85 for our P.M. Worship

c.       85 for our Wednesday Bible School

3.       These will be challenging goals for us.

a.       We only have 73 or so on our roll who have the ability to attend.  Sadly, not all who are on the role have the will to attend every service.

b.      Visitors will contribute to some increase.

c.       We, however, will have to work to get the 10 to 15 more to meet our goals each week.

 

C.     Contribution Goal

1.        II Corinthians 9:6-8

 

But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always have all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

 

2.       Our weekly contribution to meet all of our budgeted needs is $3,014.00 per week.  (NOTE:  this is a significant cut from last year’s budget).

3.       If we have 73 Christians on the role, the amount needed to meet the weekly budget would be just a little over $41.00 per person each week.

a.       Not all those on the role will be present.

b.      Not all who are present will give liberally.

c.       Fortunately, there are some who will be very generous in their giving. 

4.       REALITY:  If every member first gave themselves to the Lord (See II Cor. 8:5), we would never have to be concerned about our budget for the year.  We would be like the churches of Macedonia which Paul describes in II Corinthians 8:3.

 

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves.

 

D.    Works Goals

 

1.        Titus 3:8

 

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These are good and profitable unto men.

 

2.       There are several good works in which we will be involved this year.

a.       We will continue our support of two Children’s Homes.

b.      We will continue the Clothing Giveaway. 

1)       This work is both benevolent and evangelistic.  We can easily see 20 to 30 people month through this effort.

2)      We are in need of a few more people who will commit themselves to working with June Cameron.

c.       We want to do the Food Box program again as well.

1)       We have been in contact with a school.

2)      We are going to keep the number of boxes to about 12.

3)      This will be completely voluntary.  Hopefully, we can have contact with 12 families for at least four more times during the school year.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Goals things made up in the minds of man.

Goals are things written down on a piece of paper.

Goals are simply the finish line.

 

B.      Goals mean absolutely nothing if there are not people who are committed to carrying them out.

 

C.     Why should we commit?

1.        We are God’s people who have been blessed with redemption through Jesus’ blood.  In essence, we labor abundantly because of the grace of God in our lives.

2.       We are individuals who love God supremely.

3.       We are members of this congregation and want to see it thrive for a long time.

4.       We will be judged by God for our commitment to His cause which He has attached to our commitment to the local congregation.