Because He Got Up- “I Must Work”

Total Commitment to God's Mission

Sermon Summary: This sermon challenges believers to examine whether they are truly committed to God's work or merely giving from their surplus—offering only what is convenient and comfortable. Using the account of the widow's mite from Mark 12:41-44, bro. Shun confronts the congregation about superficial Christianity that prioritizes activities over the gospel mission. The message emphasizes that many Christians are spiritually bankrupt despite material prosperity, giving money instead of themselves, and failing to maximize their talents for God's kingdom. The sermon calls for radical commitment that mirrors Christ's total sacrifice, urging believers to invest in spiritual wealth, evangelize their communities, raise godly children, and stop compromising their faith for worldly pursuits. The preacher stresses that true discipleship requires more than Sunday attendance—it demands a lifestyle of sacrificial service, active evangelism, and complete surrender to God's mission, recognizing that Christ gave everything, not just His surplus.

This powerful message confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: many of us are giving God our leftovers rather than our best. Drawing from Mark 12:41-44, we encounter the widow who gave two small copper coins—everything she had—while the wealthy gave large sums from their surplus. Jesus declared that she gave more than all the others combined. This isn't about the amount; it's about the heart and the sacrifice. We're challenged to examine our own giving—not just financially, but with our time, talents, and spiritual commitment. Are we truly invested in the mission of the church, or are we merely showing up when convenient? The message pushes us to consider whether our spiritual resume would impress God or leave us standing before Him with nothing but our name and a questionable reference. We're called to move beyond activities and programs to genuine gospel work—visiting the sick, reaching the lost, and investing in the next generation. The question isn't whether we're busy; it's whether we're busy with what matters eternally. This teaching urges us to stop giving out of convenience and start giving sacrificially, just as Christ gave everything for us on the cross.

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Danger of a Dying Church

We examine what truly defines a living church versus a dying one, emphasizing that activity without gospel mission means spiritual death.

Chapter 2: The Biblical Call to Support Ministry and Family

We learn our biblical responsibility to honor and support those who labor in ministry and to care for our own families, especially elderly parents.

Chapter 3: Examining Our Spiritual Resume

We are challenged to consider what our spiritual resume looks like before God and whether we are truly using our talents for His kingdom.

Chapter 4: The Widow's Demonstration of Sacrificial Giving

We explore what the widow's offering teaches us about obedience, spirituality, and sacrifice, challenging us to give beyond our comfort zone.

Chapter 5: The Cross: Our Motivation for Total Commitment

We are confronted with the horrific reality of Christ's suffering on the cross, which should motivate us to give Him everything rather than just our leftovers.

Key Points:

- The power of the church lies in the gospel of Jesus Christ, not in activities and programs

- Many Christians give out of their surplus rather than sacrificial giving like the widow who gave all she had

- Congregations are dying because members prioritize convenience over commitment to the mission

- Parents must teach their children about God consistently, not just pursue academic achievements while their children "flunk in Christ"

- Believers should honor and support their ministers who labor diligently for the Lord

- True commitment means using your talents, time, and resources fully for God's kingdom, not just writing checks

- Many Christians are spiritually lukewarm, posing no threat to Satan's kingdom

- Visiting the sick, imprisoned, and needy is every Christian's responsibility, not just the preacher's

- Believers must examine their spiritual resume—what will follow them into eternity

- Christians should be willing to use vacation time for gospel meetings, mission trips, and helping others

- Strong churches are built from strong homes where parents raise godly children

- Obedience to the gospel requires belief, repentance, confession, and baptism for remission of sins

- Christ's sacrifice was total—covered in spit, flesh torn from His bones, crucified for our sins

Scripture Reference:

- Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow's Offering)

- Galatians 6:3-10 (Sharing with those who teach the Word)

- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (Appreciating those who labor among you)

- 1 Timothy 5:1-8 (Honoring widows and caring for family)

- Revelation 2:2-5 (The Church at Ephesus losing its first love)

- Revelation 14:13 (Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord)

- Matthew 25:31-46 (Judgment scene—feeding, clothing, visiting)

- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (Macedonian church giving from poverty)

- Deuteronomy 6:4 (The Great Shema—teaching children)

- 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (The body of Christ and spiritual gifts)

- Colossians 2:11-12 (Circumcision not made with hands through baptism)

- John 3:3-5 (Born again of water and Spirit)

Stories:

- The preacher's experience teaching young people whose Wednesday night Bible class grew from 15 to 35 students, filling the building

- Personal testimony of driving 1 hour 30 minutes to church each Sunday and Wednesday

- The story of Forest Church of Christ closing 22 miles away without seeking help

- Account of visiting a 6'5" tattooed man on death row who initially wanted to throw soap but eventually asked for a Bible

- The preacher's practice of farming—tilling, planting, and caring for crops as an illustration of spiritual labor

- Story of Chris Bosh and Norris Cole, professional athletes who were members of the Lord's Church

- The thief on the cross who changed his mind and asked Jesus to remember him

- Simon of Cyrene from the land of the blacks who helped Jesus carry His cross

- The detailed account of Christ's suffering—being spit upon by 200-600 soldiers, scourged until near death, and crucified