The Next Chapter In The West Side Story
Steve W. Reeves
stevesermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A. This
past July the West Side church turned sixty years old. We have several people who were among the original members of this congregation. I sometimes wonder
“What did they envision?”
1. Did they imagine a church of 600 to 700 members with a budget approaching one
million dollars a year?
2. Did they envision a church that would have the world-wide outreach West Side has
had for many years?
3. What were they thinking when they considered the need for a congregation in
(what was then) the west side of Searcy?
B. All of us are a part of the West Side story. Whether you are a life-long member or
have only been here a few weeks you are a part of this story. If you are a guest you
are still a part of our story. This story has been written by thousands of people and
blessed by God.
C. In this message I want us to consider the next chapter in the West Side story.
What is West Side going to look like in the year 2020 and beyond?
1 Assumptions to avoid:
a. Do not assume, if you are an older adult or a college student that you do not
play a role in the future of this church.
b. Do not assume that this church will be here in another sixty years.
1.) Peter reminded the believers of his day, “But the day of the Lord will come
like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements
will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of
people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.”
2.) During the Harding Lectureship this past week, David Young from
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, gave the statistic that a church of Christ in the
United States closes its doors every six days.
3.) As a young man I preached for a church in southeast Arkansas that had
over 200 members when I left. Within fifteen years that congregation had
closed itss doors and sold the building. That scenario is being repeated over
and over.
4.) May we never assume that this church will always be here.
2. We are leaving a legacy for future generations. The things we do now will have an
impact on the future. We are writing the next chapter in the West Side story.
D. From the Old Testament, the story of Nehemiah provides us with insight as we write
the next chapter of our story.
I. BE ATTENTIVE
A. Nehemiah lived 450 years before Christ. Prior to Nehemiah’s birth the kingdoms of
Israel and Judah had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
In Nehemiah’s time it was the Persians who had come into power. The Persian
king Cyrus began allowing the Jewish people to return to their homes. They began
rebuilding the desolate city of Jerusalem. A man named Zerubbabel led the people
in rebuilding the temple. No one, however, rebuilt the defensive walls of the city. It
remained vulnerable to attack from enemies.
1. Nehemiah was a servant for King Artaxerxes. He was troubled when he heard
that Jerusalem lay defenseless before its enemies.
2. Nehemiah could have been complacent. He had a great position in the king’s
palace. His life was comfortable. No one was urging him to leave.
3. When he heard this distressing news, Nehemiah was attentive. He had to so
something. He went to the king and asked for permission and provision to go to
Jerusalem with the intention of rebuilding the walls.
B. When you see or hear of some type of need what do you do?
1. Do you ignore it by saying, “It’s not my responsibility.”
2. Do you think, “Somebody else will do it.” Someone has written, “This is a little
story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody
would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry
about that because it was Everybody's job Everybody thought that Anybody
ould do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that
Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have
done.”
C. Nehemiah was attentive to the need presented to him.
II. BE ASSERTIVE
A. Nehemiah set out for Jerusalem. When he arrived he went out at night and
surveyed the situation. The walls were in shambles.
1. Nehemiah stepped out and called the people togerther.
2. He did not tell them “they” needed to fic the problem.
3. He offered a solution and took the lead in rebuilding the walls.
B. God needs people like Nehemiah who see a need and strive to fulfill it.
1. I heard a teenage girl recently tell about a program she began sending shoe
boxes filled with items of clothing and personal hygiene to children in third world
nations. She began with just a few friends, spread to her entire school and soon
enlisted the help of every school in her county. Now these boxes are collected
across the nation.
2. So many of the mission efforts, benevolent organizations and educational
institutions we are familiar with began because someone saw a need and set
out to fill it. Over one hundred years ago two gospel preachers,, David Lipscomb
and James A. Harding saw a need for students to receive training in Bioble as
well as secular subjects. The result was the establishment of Nashville Bible
School which later became Lipscomb University. In 1924 Arkansas Christian
College became Harding College,. It all began with someone who asserted
themselves and determined to make a difference.
C. West Side has flourished for sixty years because its members have asserted
themselves. When the members of any congregation cease to do the work and
rely on others to do what is their job the church will die. .
III. BE ADAMENT
A. God needed a man like Nehemiah who would not quit when he was met by
opposition. Not everyone was happy with Nehemiah’s efforts. There were enemies
who sought to discourage him.
1. Some of them criticized the Jews.
2. Others threatened them with violence.
B. Nehemiah was adamant. “We built the wall.” They did not stop. In any
endeavor,family or organization there must be people who are adamant enough
to keep going when times get tough.
C. The result of Nehemiah’s efforts was that the walls were rebuilt in just fifty-two
days! What a testimony to a man who was attentive, assertive and adamant.
CONCLUSION:
A. As we write the next chapter in the West Side story I want to tell you about some
important opportunities.
1. This past summer the elders and staff began a process of prayerfully establishing
a vision for West Side in the years 2020 and beyond.
2. We have discussed goals in evangelism, education, eq1uipping and edification.
3. We have been considering our strengths and our needs for improvement.
4. During the month of October we want to invite every member at West Side to
participate in this process by completing a survey. The survey is brief. It is
available in two forms - online or on paper. Those who receive West Side emails
will be sent an email with this link at 11:15 this morning. For those who prefer to ill
it out on paper there will be copies available at the welcome desk. You will have
the month of October to complete the survey. The results will be compiled and
used as we seek to be attentive, assertive and adamant in writing the next chapter
West Side story.
B. What is the next chapter of your story? Will God be the One around whom your story
tten? Will you come to H
