But, I Filled Out The Card!

September 21st, 2009Commitment, decisions 14 Comments

Hey Friends,

I hope you read Thursday’s blog. If not, please skip back and read it quickly because today’s piggybacks off of it. We talked about making decisions versus managing decisions. Leaders, we need to know this because at the end of the day we must help the followers manage or follow through with their decisions. Years ago my only concern was how many people found their way down the aisle and to the altar during an invitation. Slowly it dawned on me (I’m not the fastest car on the track) that the number of people at the altar didn’t mean much because most did not follow through on commitments made.

Last weekend we talked about the importance of small group community in personal growth. 250 people signed up for “grouplink” on the following Wednesday night. When Wednesday night came 3 or 4 days after “signing the card” to attend, 150 showed up. Praise God for those who showed up and are connecting in community. What about the other 100 that said they would come?  Making decisions is easy, following through is not.

 As leaders we must understand the concept or risk being discouraged and depressed on a regular basis. It is our job to help people manage the things they really want to do. We are leading people down the “narrow road” and calling them to do what is not easy. So as we are called to make disciples we must help them. We will all fail! We will all drop the ball with the decisions we have made, but we must pick it back up and “run the race that is set before us.”

Am I discouraged because of the 100 that did not show up? NO WAY! They will come next time. We will continue to help people manage spiritual decisions and help grow them to be more like Jesus. As I recall, Jesus had some difficult times with His disciples, didn’t He?  Just a thought.

Yours to count on,

Pastor

P.S. At the end of  the journey it is not about decisions, but about disciples. It is not about how many cards were filled out, but how many Christ- followers we make.

Share with Others:
  • TwitThis
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us

14 Responses to “But, I Filled Out The Card!”

  1. September 21st, 2009 at 6:03 am
    Betty Says:

    Does anyone have written notes from the weekend’s sermon? I couldn’t go to FPC because of a delightful family wedding. Missed going, it is such an important part of my week.

  2. September 21st, 2009 at 7:08 am
    Chris S Says:

    It is something I like to call the “Sunday School Answer”. People know what they are to do. They are in church and are convicted to fill out the card. So the do the God thing & forget on Monday.

    As a group leader, I see the exact same thing in my group. When I send out something for the group to prepare for they either forget at home ornever do it.

    It is frustrating, but I will keep on pressing forward and promoting our spiritual growth. I can relate. Love ya Pastor.

  3. September 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
    Jennifer Pence Says:

    Okay- so after the weekend service and your options, I chose #2 (to add reading a daily blog as my fertilizer). So here I am on day 1 :o ) Pastor Chris- thank you for always challenging us to move forward in our walk with the Lord. I have spent years in churches that don’t mind it if you are stagnant. Now, every week I am really pushed to think (and ACT) in a different way than before and I am truly grateful!

  4. September 21st, 2009 at 9:18 am
    Tracy Says:

    This is so relieving to have a sermon series and blogs about managing our decisions… I am a constant roller coaster of planning and then life gets in my way, I dont get things done or put the time or effort I should into things and then I get very discouraged with myself. My husband and I have been attending FPC since February as often as we can and love it… our lives are busy and often challenging schedules but we have really felt blessed to find FPC and put spiritual growth as a priority… he took notes yesterday (he is better than I, haha) and we have committed to the blogs and daily devotions every day (as of course, as I mentioned earlier, I have done, but not consistently) and spending at least 30 minutes to an hour each night reading the bible together… he has a much more spiritually structured background than myself and can explain alot of things to me that tend to be overwhelming to me… we are very excited to keep this promise and add to it as well, THANK YOU for putting these challenges before us and reminding us of where our priorities should be.

  5. September 21st, 2009 at 10:12 am
    Robbie DeJarnette Says:

    It’s like the Silver Ring Thing from last night. Almost 1300 students packed FPC for this event (it was awesome). If only 750 of them commit was it a waste? Certainly not. The SRT group brought awareness to our youth that everybody is not ‘doing it’ and that they are not alone. As a parent I would like nothing more than for my daughters to wait until marriage to have sex (I have 3 daughters and I’m cleaning my shotgun as I write this). But I don’t want this to just be a cool idea for them; I want this to be a conviction. I would love nothing more than to see them become examples rather than the exception. I want them to be looked up at and admired for their strength and convictions rather than look down upon for their ‘religion’. That’s why my wife and I also bought and wear the same rings that she and her friends now wear. Not to be ‘cool’ or ‘hip’, but to show our support in the incredible decision that they made last night. We also wear them to remind us to continue to pray for all of our youth. I don’t want our kids to buy into the lies that everything will be easy once they give themselves to God. But I want them to know that we will always be there for them and support them through whatever journey God has planned for them. Thank you Pastor and Leadership team for bringing the SRT to FPC. I know God is pleased with our efforts because He continues to bless us time after time.

  6. September 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
    sabrina Says:

    I am a newcomer to FP and am delighted to hear a heart for the Bride of Christ in this pastor. As it is my soapbox,too. I remember the first time I became aware that other Christians did not make a choice to listen to Christian music. I use this example as the tip of the iceburg, for we are counciled in the word to redeem the time,because the days are evil.[Eph.5:16] Going even further,this scripture is sandwiched between an admonishment to not be foolish but to understand what the will of the Lord is. We cannot afford in our daily lives to neglect understanding. That said,we all have choices before us all day long, why not fill each available second with words of Life?[John 6:68]
    Making the choice as Mary,to choose the One needful thing and thereby bless everything else we do because Jesus said it will not be taken from her. That is joy unspeakable and sure ground to stand on, as far as I see it.[Lk.10:41-42]
    Yes,Pastor Chris is asking for radical behavior,but Jesus asked first. Our we a people who will hear?
    My Hope is yes. Thank you Pastor for hearing Jesus’ Heart and responding as well as urging those entrusted to your care to do the same.

  7. September 21st, 2009 at 10:38 am
    Steph Says:

    This is a great message and for me it has been on my mind for much of the last 24 hours since I first heard it on the online campus..which for ME means God is convicting me. He is trying to tell me something. If I am not disciplined enough to plan IN DETAIL a growth plan, I will not stick with it. Life gets in the way and I don’t even mean to..but I forget my original intentions. It is pretty scary that amongst the things I am forgetting is my cultivation of a relationship with God. Thanks Pastor, as always, for sending out a message of accountability for our own walk with God. We can’t sit and wait to be spoon fed. We have to actively plan and execute what we want to happen..or it won’t happen. Have a great day!

  8. September 21st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
    Josh Says:

    Fantastic worship on Sunday, and a fantastic message that I needed to hear. Like Jennifer posted above, my wife and I are new to FPC and have really enjoyed the call to action. I feel like being held accountable is a large part of why some of us as Christians have become stuck in the mud. I know that’s true for me, at least. My “next step” is to read the blog daily and study the Bible on a more consistent basis. So thank you, pastor, for accountability and for asking for action from us.

  9. September 21st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
    Donnie Malone Says:

    Pastor Chris,
    As I read this, I started to think how you are much like Jesus. Taking all our lack as church members and placing them onto your shoulders. I, a Faith Promise member, must take it upon myself to talk more to the people around me at church. Try to talk to them and ask them to small group. I want to apologize for my lack of helping the 100 who did not attend group link. I pray for God’s strength in talking to those “100″ about attending small group.

  10. September 21st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
    Pastor Chris Says:

    @ Betty you can get the sermon online faithpromise.org

    @ Betty yo can get the message @ faithpromise.org

    @ Chris I know, it is a process not an event.

    @ Jennifer thanks and keep it up

    @ Tracy awesome to hear all God is doing.

    @ Robbie love you man you have a big job with those beautiful girls.

    @ Sabrina, thanks great word keep praying for God to move.

    @ Steph stand strong brother.

    @ Josh you and the Spirit can do it

    @ Donnie love your heart and keep it up

  11. September 21st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
    Kelly Says:

    Thank you Pastor for teaching the importance of small groups. My husband and I have been in ours for about a year now. I can’t begin to list the blessings that we have discovered since joining. It took a couple of different groups before we felt as though we are home. I keep trying to encourage everyone to go. If you go and are not comfortable, try a different group. There are so many diverse people at FPC everyone fits in somewhere. Since going, we now have better friends then we ever had in our 17 yrs. Of marriage. My small group is like family!

  12. September 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
    Pastor Chris Says:

    Kelly, thanks so much for your heart and comments, keep it up

  13. September 21st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
    Cathey Summitt Says:

    I know it’s a little late, but still thought Betty might want to get the notes from a listener that took handwritten notes on Sunday. These are the Bible verses I copied down: Deut. 4:1, John 3:36, 2John 1:9, 2Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 14:12, John 15:4, Heb. 6:1, Eph. 4:15, 2Tim. 4:3 and James 1:22. Also, I wrote in my notes: We are measured by the gifts God gave us, against what we actually do. (Meaning to me personally we seldom live up to all the wonderful gifts He gives us to use for His glory.) More: Charles Spurgeon on the internet Pastor said was awesome to check out. And finally…. that Phillippians was a great book for encouragement when you need it. I hope that helps, and maybe it’s a little more helpful than a CD. God be with you all!!

  14. September 22nd, 2009 at 6:28 am
    Betty Says:

    Cathey! Thank you for your notes! I’m one of the regular Sat. night deaf worshippers (missed last weekend) so listening to a podcast or on-kline sermon isn’t an option for me.

Leave a Reply