Quality Products From the Past Ford: Quality is Job One Ford: Quality is Job One Zenith: Quality goes in before the name goes on. Zenith: Quality goes in before the name goes on. Maytag: The very lonely Service Tech. Maytag: The very lonely Service Tech. Pepsi: Taste that beats the others cold. Pepsi: Taste that beats the others cold. Each Product makes a claim then makes a product that must backup that claim! Each Product makes a claim then makes a product that must backup that claim!

Quality Products Evolve as Expectations Change Reel to Reel Reel to Reel 8 Track 8 Track Black & White TV Black & White TV HDTV HDTV VCR VCR Station Wagon Station Wagon The Customer The Customer Cassette Cassette CD CD Color TV Color TV Plasma TV Plasma TV DVD DVD SUV SUV Is always right Is always right

Similarities in the Church Eph 2:10 Parable Eph 2:10 Parable We are His Workmanship (Product) We are His Workmanship (Product) Created in Christ Jesus (Factory) Created in Christ Jesus (Factory) For Good Works (Expectations) For Good Works (Expectations) God prepared beforehand (Engineering) God prepared beforehand (Engineering) That we should walk in them. (Quality) That we should walk in them. (Quality)

A Successful Church Walks in the good works God Prepared! Walks in the good works God Prepared! Evangelism – Mk 16:15-16; Col 4:5-6 Evangelism – Mk 16:15-16; Col 4:5-6 Edification – Eph 4:11-16; Acts 2-4; 19 Edification – Eph 4:11-16; Acts 2-4; 19 Benevolence to Needy Saints I Cor 16:1-2; II Cor 8-9; Rom 15:25-33 Benevolence to Needy Saints I Cor 16:1-2; II Cor 8-9; Rom 15:25-33 These Reflect God’s Wisdom Eph 3:10-11 These Reflect God’s Wisdom Eph 3:10-11 When a Church fulfills the will of God it is meeting God’s expectations! When a Church fulfills the will of God it is meeting God’s expectations! God’s Will must be done! God’s Will must be done!

A Successful Church The Problem: In our changing world these works no longer meet the expectations of some. The Problem: In our changing world these works no longer meet the expectations of some. The Scriptures reveal: The Scriptures reveal: Evangelism Edification Benevolence Evangelism Edification Benevolence There is a strong push to change them. There is a strong push to change them. Many already have. Many already have.

A Successful Church? Churches are now involved in secular education of children, day care, recreation, entertainment, etc. Churches are now involved in secular education of children, day care, recreation, entertainment, etc. Churches are no more than institutions to fulfill all the wishes and desires of man. Churches are no more than institutions to fulfill all the wishes and desires of man. Churches operate hospitals; orphan homes and old folks homes. Churches operate hospitals; orphan homes and old folks homes. They build gymnasiums and weight rooms, offer baseball, scouting & sports activities; They have banquets and parties; They build gymnasiums and weight rooms, offer baseball, scouting & sports activities; They have banquets and parties;

A Successful Church Has reasons to resist these changes. Has reasons to resist these changes. We will consider two men tonight. We will consider two men tonight. One who dedicated his entire life to doing God’s will even if no one else agreed. One who dedicated his entire life to doing God’s will even if no one else agreed. The second who changed his plans to accomplish what seemed the best at the time. The second who changed his plans to accomplish what seemed the best at the time.

Jesus came to do God’s Will when He comes into the world, He says, “I have come to do Thy will, O God.’” Heb 10:5,7 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. Jn 4:34 I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Jn 5:30 I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 6:38 whosoever shall do the will of my Father he is my brother, and sister, and mother Mt 12:50 Not every one that calls me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Mt 7:21

King Saul o God’s Will: I will utterly blot out the memory of Amelek Ex 17:8-16 I will utterly blot out the memory of Amelek Ex 17:8-16 You shall blot out the memory don’t forget Dt 25:17-19 You shall blot out the memory don’t forget Dt 25:17-19 o Go utterly destroy Amelek II Sam 15:1-3 o What would Jesus have done with this command? o I have come to do thy will! o Not My Will but thine be done o Did not come to do my will but will of him that sent me o What did Saul do? o Saul & People spared King Agag o Spared the best of the sheep oxen, fatlings lambs and all that was good. 15:9

o God regrets he made Saul King 15:10-11 He has turned back from following Me He has not carried out my commands. o How Saul feels about his efforts 15:13 Saul: I have carried out the command. 15:13 Saul: I have carried out the command. 15:13 o Samuel: Why do I hear bleating & lowing 15:14 o Saul: People spared the best to sacrifice. 15:15 o Can you see the parallel today in the church? o Many today serve God as Saul did.

Samuel explained God’s feelings to Saul I S. 15:16-19  God told you to utterly destroy the Amelekites.  Why did you not obey the voice of Jehovah?  You did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. Saul’s Defense: I Sam 15:20-21  I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah  I brought Agag the king of Amalek  The people took the spoil to sacrifice unto Jehovah Can you see this same reasoning in the changes made to the work, worship and mission of the Lord’s church?  We liked it so we thought God would like it.

Samuel’s Final Revelation: I Sam 15:22-23  Jehovah’s delight is in obedience  To obey is better than sacrifice.  Rebellion is as witchcraft.  Stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim.  You have rejected the word of Jehovah.  He has rejected you from being king. God’s Ways are not our Ways Isa 55:10-11  It is not possible for us to guess what God might want. He thoughts and ways are not ours.

Who are we really following? If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10 This people honors me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, teaching (as their) doctrines the precepts of men. Mt 15:8-9 If the church today does what it did in the first century it is the Lord’s church if is does what Saul would lead it to do then it is a church of men.

Christians are God’s Product Eph 2:10 Eph 2:10 We are His Workmanship (Product) We are His Workmanship (Product) Created in Christ Jesus (Factory) Created in Christ Jesus (Factory) For Good Works (Claim) For Good Works (Claim) God prepared beforehand (Expectations) God prepared beforehand (Expectations) That we should walk in them. (Quality) That we should walk in them. (Quality)

A Successful Church Walks in the good works God Prepared! Walks in the good works God Prepared! Evangelism – Mk 16:15-16; Col 4:5-6 Evangelism – Mk 16:15-16; Col 4:5-6 Edification – Eph 4:11-16; Acts 2-4; 19 Edification – Eph 4:11-16; Acts 2-4; 19 Benevolence to Needy Saints I Cor 16:1-2; II Cor 8-9; Rom 15:25-33 Benevolence to Needy Saints I Cor 16:1-2; II Cor 8-9; Rom 15:25-33 Reflects God’s Wisdom Eph 3:10-11 Reflects God’s Wisdom Eph 3:10-11 Only when a Church is fulfilling the will of God is it meeting God’s expectations! Only when a Church is fulfilling the will of God is it meeting God’s expectations! God’s Will must be done! God’s Will must be done!