A CALL TO COMMITMENT

Part 1 of 6

Text- Mark 2:13-17

INTRODUCTION

Since last Sunday was the last Sunday of 1996 I preached on the need for us to ask ourselves two questions from Genesis 16:8.

In the same way that the angel of the Lord asked Hagar where she had come from and where she was going, we need to consider where we have come from in 1996 and where we are going in 1997.

In order to help us understand where we need to be going each New Year our church establishes a theme or motto to keep us focused on one main goal.

The theme which we set for 1997 is, “The Committed Church” and our theme verse is found in Psalm 37:5 which says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him, and he will do it.”

For some people the very thought of commitment send chills up their spines.

Ours is an uncommitted society.

Whether it is marriage, a mortgage or a move, some people never make a commitment unless they are absolutely forced into it.

The fear of making a commitment to something is running rampant through our culture.

Students wait longer to make a choice concerning their major in college.

Couples enter marriage tentatively either with an easy escape clause in their pre-nuptial agreement or with the idea that they can get a divorce any time they want.

Employees take a job while exhibiting little to know loyalty or commitment to the company and always keep their eyes open for something better.

Couples these days are postpone having children until they are in their mid to late 30s in order to retain their personal freedom.

One of the major reasons for this is because many people these days are selfish.

Today this same sin has infiltrated into many of the Lord’s churches and is now affecting the lives of Christians as well as the ministry of the Lord’s churches.

Today many people’s concept of commitment is like that of the chicken who told the pig in the barn yard, "Hey, let's open a restaurant featuring ham and eggs.  We could make a fortune."  The pig replied,  "That's easy for you to get enthused about.  For you it would only involve a contribution; but for me it would take a total commitment!"

Lou Holtz, the famous Notre Dame football coach once said that some people’s concept of commitment is like “the kamikaze pilot who flew 50 missions.  He was involved, but never committed.”

This morning our text is found in Mark 2:13-17 and the title of my message is, “A call to commitment.”

As we consider this passage I would like us to notice why God calls us and what real commitment means.