Hope Covenant Church
It Takes Risks
IT
"IT Takes Risks"
Pastor Duane Cross | 03.22.09
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
(Matthew 25:26-30 NIV)
QUALITIES OF A SAFE CHURCH
1. Strive to keep members happy
2. Avoid controversial issues
3. Guard the status-quo
I. PAIN
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
(John 15:18-19 NIV)
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
(Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)
II. FAILURE
RISK-FAILURE-LEARN-ADJUST-RISK
III. LOSS
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."
(Matthew 16:24-25 NIV)
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