OceanSide’s THEME FOR 2024:

Doing What I Can Do

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   For the past several years, the OceanSide congregation has had a theme for the year.

 

B.   One definition of the word “theme’ is:  “a unifying or dominate idea.”

1.    In other words, it is a thought that keeps us focused throughout the year.

2.    It is intended to help us grow, get better, and become something we may not be at the present time.

3.    Sometimes themes work.  Sometimes they do not.  It depends on whether the congregation accepts the theme and labors to fulfill it.

 

C.   Our theme for 2024 is very simple:  “Doing What I Can Do.”

1.    Today we want to kick this theme off.

2.    Both of the sermons today will revolve around the theme. 

3.    The title for this lesson is the theme itself:  “Doing What I Can Do.”

 

I.             WHAT THE THEME DOES NOT SAY

 

A.   Doing whatever I want to do.

 

B.   Doing as little as I can do.

 

C.   Doing only what I think I can do.

 

D.   Doing less than I can do.

 

E.   Doing nothing at all.

 

F.    Doing exactly what I have always done.

 

G.   Doing just enough to ease my conscience.

 

II.           DOING…WHAT…I…CAN…DO

 

A.   Doing

1.    Definition:  action, performance, execution

2.    Christianity is supposed to be a life full of action, effort, toil, performance, and execution on the part of the child of God.

a.    Matthew 7:21

 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

b.    Matthew 12:50

 

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

 

c.    Matthew 24:46

 

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

d.    Romans 2:7

 

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.

 

e.    Revelation 22:14

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 

3.    As I was thinking about this point, this thought crossed my mind. 

a.    Every major character in the pages of God’s Word was a doer. 

b.    Name one faithful character in Scripture who was not a doer. 

 

B.   What

1.    The word “what” indicates an area of work in which a person can labor.

2.    Individuals sometimes ask:  “What can I do?”

3.    In every congregation, there is usually plenty a person can do if he desires.

a.    Some things require skills, teaching; and others do not, picking up trash.

b.    Some things are geared toward the man, leadership roles in worship; and some things are geared toward the women, teaching children’s classes.

c.    Some things require creativity, decorations; and some things require hard labor, cleaning the building.

d.    Some things require care and concern, being part of involvement group or being involves with the clothing closet; and some very little thinking or caring, setting up tables and chairs, washing table clothes.

e.    Some things require meeting requirements for the position, elders and deacons; and other positions require only that a person tries, prayer, leading singing, or waiting on the Lord’s table.

f.     Some things are required of God, attending worship; and some involve a willing service, Anthem Lakes or VBS preparation meetings.

g.    Some things involve an organized effort, door knocking; and other things we can do on our on at any time, teach the gospel to another.

h.    Some things require time and discipline, Bible study; and other thing might just require our time, fellowship meals and congregational get-togethers.

4.    One of the “whats” that the church has done well over the past two years is support various mission efforts.

a.    sThis “what” centers around our giving.

1)    Paul writes:  “…how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...” (Rom. 10:14-15).

2)    In the very next chapter, Paul writes about various gifts within the church.  He lists seven gifts. One of the gifts he mentions is giving.  “…he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity…” (Rom. 12:8).

b.    Since this has been an area that the church here has excelled in, the elders want to continue to challenge the congregation. 

1)    We will be supporting 12 works this year like we did 2 years ago. 

2)    All the funds over budget for the month dedicated to a work will be sent to it. 

a)    January:  House to House Mailing

b)    February:  Philippines, Michael Stock

c)    March:  The Prison Ministry

d)    April:  Georgia School of Theology

e)    May:  Georgia Bible Camp

f)     June:  Miscellaneous

g)    July:  Chimala Mission

h)    August:  Latin American Missions

i)     September:  Raintree Village Children’s Home

j)     October:  Nigeria (overseen by the Arlington church of Christ)

k)    November:  Spiritual Sword, GBN, Apologetics Press

l)     December:  Mt. Dora Children’s Home

c.    Past performance

1)    The Oceanside congregation contributed over $100,000.00 to mission work.

2)    Last year, we supported three different works.  We gave $24,000.00 over budget for those works.

d.    If you ask:  “What can I do?”  You can contribute liberally and cheerfully to the mission works that are scheduled for this year.

 

C.   I

1.    The word “I” is a personal pronoun that refers solely to me.

2.    Sometimes we have a tendency to forget that Christianity is an individual matter, as well as, a collective or group matter.

a.    God is concerned about what “I” am doing in His service.

b.    When we stand before Him in the last day, He will judge me by my works.  He will judge you by your works (Rev. 20:12).

 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

c.    I must be doing.

I must be working.

I must be active.

I must be participating.

I must be executing.

I must be involved.

3.    NOTE:  When we say:  “Doing what I can do,” we are not looking around to see what others are doing. 

a.    Others can be doing nothing at all, but I am supposed to be doing.

b.    When we stand before God in judgment, we will not stand as a congregation before Him. 

1)    We will stand as individuals.

2)    In the Parable of the Talents, three servants of a master were given talents.  When the lord returned, they were not judged as a group of three.  They were judged one by one by one (Matt. 25:19-20a)

 

 

After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 

a)    “And so he that had received give talents came…” (v. 20).

b)    “He also that had received two talents came…” (v. 22)

c)    “Then he which had received the one talent came…” (v. 24).

 

D.   Can

1.    Definition:  to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to

2.    Let’ note again what is not said:

a.    Doing what I think I can.

b.    Doing what I want to.

c.    Doing less than I can.

d.    Doing only what I have always done.

e.    Doing just enough to ease my conscience.

3.    It states doing what I have the ability, power, and skill to do.

a.    God provides us with a mind to get knowledge.

b.    God provides us with talents by which we can use out knowledge.

c.    God provides us opportunities to put our knowledge and skills to work in His service.

d.    God provides us with time to do His will.

4.    The only thing that will keep us from doing what we can is our personal will.

5.    There have been many individuals whom God has used who did not believe they could do what God initially called them to do.

a.    Moses was not sure he could lead Israel out of Egypt (Exo. 4:10).

 

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant:  but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

 

b.    Yet, what Moses thought he could not do he did.

1)    Hebrews 3:5a

 

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant…

 

2)    Hebrews 11:29

 

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land:  which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

 

6.    Questions:

a.    Does God know what we can do?

b.    If we can do something that He desires for us to do and refuse, how does God view such a decision?

 

E.   Do

1.    Our theme ends with the word “do.”

2.    It begins with action and it ends with action.

3.    James 1:22

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves.

 

III.          ONLY DOERS ARE BLESSED (James 1:25)

 

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

IV.         Example:  Jesus

 

A.   John 20:30

 

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

 

B.   Acts 1:1

 

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   I looked up some of the antonyms of the word “doer.”

1.    Failure

2.    Loser

3.    Bum

4.    Deadbeat

5.    Freeloader

6.    Idler

7.    Layabout

8.    Loafer

9.    Ne’er-do-well

 

B.   A synonym for a doer is a faithful, obedient servant of God.

 

C.   If there were a verse that I would choose to represent our theme for this year, it would be Matthew 24:46

 

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.