Introduction:

As we begin 2007, I would like to challenge us to consider our ministry together here in our Adel Church. We have shared a great Advent and Christmas season together with many delightful celebrations. Last Fall many of you shared some valuable ideas in our brainstorming session as were seeking to continue to be the church God wants us to be. This past week we had a wonderful group of people gather to make preparations for the exciting 40 Days of Purpose Campaign that we hope will energize us to further fulfill God’s purposes as a congregation. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was not just God's idea so that we would have a wonderful yearly holiday to observe. His plan was to redeem humankind.

Some well intentioned Christians may try to justify the fact that their church is not reaching very many people with the life changing message with the statement, "God has not called us to be successful. He has called us to be faithful." I have often heard similar statements. But, I believe, my friends, that God expects us to be both, when successful and faithful are understood from a Biblical perspective.

Pastor Rick Warren, founder of the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign that we are planning to launch during Lent wrote: "The sticking point is how you define the terms successful and faithful. I define successful as fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus has given the church a job to do. We will either succeed or fail at it. Using this definition, every church should want to be successful! What is the alternative? The opposite of success is not faithfulness, but failure. Right? Any church that is not obeying the Great Commission is failing in its purpose, no matter what else it does.

I. Faithful

With this in mind, let us think about what it means to be faithful. Often faithfulness is defined in terms of believing in typical orthodox Christian teachings. I hope we see ourselves as wanting to be defenders of the faith. However, Jesus taught that when we really believe in Him, that our behavior is changed, too. Faithfulness involves more than mental and intellectual assent to Christian teaching.

Consider the parable of the talents that Jesus told, recorded in Matthew's gospel. A man called his servants together before going off on an extended trip. He entrusted his property to them according to their abilities. Two of them went to work with the property and doubled what was entrusted to them. When the master returned he commended them for being "Good and faithful." What about the servant who did nothing except bury his talent in the ground? The master called him "wicked and lazy."

In this parable those who are faithful are those who are also fruitful.

II. Fruitful

The faithful servants demonstrated their faithfulness by working to produce fruit. They were successful at that task and rewarded by their master. The wicked servant was not regarded as faithful or fruitful. He did nothing with the talent God gave to him that would produce any results.

It seems that the point that Jesus was making in using this story was that God expects to have His servant produce fruit. If we are really faithful, we will be fruitful. Some individuals and some churches may bear more or less fruit than others. With all the talents and resources that God gives to us we are to bear fruit by His power within us.

In Matthew 21 we have an account of Jesus cursing a fig tree because it was not bearing fruit. He found nothing on it but leaves. He said, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. Again, Jesus was making the point, He expects fruitfulness.

Our Lord has called us to bear fruit. John records these words of Jesus. "You did not choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit." A few verses earlier Christ said, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples." We do this as we abide in Christ.

The theme of fruit is repeated many times in the New Testament. In God's eyes fruit includes repentance, practicing the truth, answered prayer, Christlike character, and especially the conversion of unbelievers to genuine faith in Christ.

Conclusion

My friends, I really believe that God has called us to be faithful. When we are indeed faithful, we will also be fruitful. Together God is calling us to be faithful and fruitful for Him in this New Year.

Vance Havner used to say, "A church can be as straight as a gun barrel doctrinally and just as empty spiritually." Are we willing to commit ourselves to do whatever it takes to reach people for Christ, to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord to us?

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