INTRODUCTION

1. Songs that may be used to introduce this lesson.
   1. "Throw Out The Lifeline"
   2. "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"
   3. "Send The Light"
2. As Jesus often taught in parables, we begin our study with one, called.

"The Parable Of The Lifesaving Station"

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding areas, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some of the new members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it as a sort of club. Less of the members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The mission of lifesaving was still given lip-service but most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the lifesaving activities personally. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, some had skin of a different color, some spoke a strange language, and the beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal pattern of the club. But some members insisted that lifesaving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the life of all various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did. As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. They evolved into a club and yet another lifesaving station was founded. If you visit the seacoast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but now most of the people drown! -- Taken from Personal Evangelism 101, by Brent Hunter @ Florida College.

3. As the songs and the parable point out, the mission of the church is similar to that of a lifesaving station; unfortunately, with the passing of time many churches...
   1. Lose sight of their original mission
   2. Gradually evolve into something different than what Christ intended when He said: "I will build my church. "
      (Mat 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
      [Lest we forget and succumb to the dangers that can befall a growing church, let's review. ]

I.  THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

1. TO BRING TO LIGHT THE GOSPEL OF GOD.
   1. This was Paul's mission as an apostle - Ep 3:8-9
      (Eph 3:8-9 KJV) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; {9} And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
   2. This he did as a functioning member of the church
      1. Which has as a primary purpose to make known the wisdom of God - Ep 3:10
         (Eph 3:10 KJV) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
      2. A purpose planned by God for the church from eternity - Ep 3:11
         (Eph 3:11 KJV) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
   3. The mission of the church is no different than was the mission of Christ
      1. Christ came to save sinners - 1 Ti 1:15
         (1 Tim 1:15 KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
      2. He came preaching the gospel to lost and dying sinners - Mk 1:14-15
         (Mark 1:14-15 KJV) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
      • Therefore Jesus wants the gospel made known to every person
        (Mark 16:15 KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
2. TO PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF GOD.
   (1 Pet 2:9-10 KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {10} Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
   1. God has made us a holy nation, His own special people - 1 Pe 2:9a
      But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
   2. Our purpose? To proclaim the praises of God - 1 Pe 2:9b
      that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you
   3. What are the praises of God we are to proclaim?
      1. How we were called from darkness into His marvelous light - 1 Pe 2:9c; him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
         (Col 1:12-14 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
      2. How we have become the people of God - 1 Pe 2:10a Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:
      3. How we have obtained mercy - 1 Pe 2:10b : which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
      • How do we proclaim this?
      • By proclaiming the gospel of Christ!
      • [Our mission as the church, as the people of God, is a glorious mission! To proclaim the praises of God, which we do by bringing to light the gospel of God! But consider. ]

II. HOW WE CAN FAIL OUR MISSION

1. THROUGH MISPLACED EMPHASIS.
   1. By placing emphasis on the material rather than spiritual aspects of the church
   2. A problem experience by the church in Laodicea - cf. Re 3:14-19
      (Rev 3:14-19 KJV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; {15} I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. {17} Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: {18} I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. {19} As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
   3. A problem often experienced by churches today
      1. Evidenced by the time and energy spent.
         1. On the physical aspects of the church (e.g. , the building)
         2. Compared to fulfilling the true mission of the church
      2. Not that physical needs shouldn't be met
         1. But the emphasis should be on getting the message out
         2. Rather than on the upkeep of the facilities
      3. Something is wrong if.
         1. We get more worked up over the lack of air-conditioning than lost souls
         2. The "business meeting" of the church spends more time over physical matters than spiritual matters (what is the true "business" of the church anyway?)
         • Are we like the church in Laodicea?
         • If so, we would be better off materially poor and spiritually rich like the church in Smyrna - (Rev 2:8-9 KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; {9} I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
           
2. THROUGH SHOWING PREFERENCE.
   1. By showing preference in our efforts to saving souls
   2. God wants all to be saved - 1 Ti 2:3-6
      (1 Tim 2:3-6 KJV) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; {4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. {5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; {6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
   3. God is no respecter of persons, not should we be - cf. Ac 10: 28-29,34-35 (Acts 10:28-29 KJV) And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. {29} Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
      (Acts 10:34-35 KJV) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: {35} But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
   4. We should not show preference...
      1. On the basis of social distinctions - cf. Ja 2:1-9
         (James 2:1-9 KJV) My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. {2} For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; {3} And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: {4} Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? {5} Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? {6} But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? {7} Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? {8} If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: {9} But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
      2. On the basis of racial distinctions - cf. Co 3:10-11
         (Col 3:10-11 KJV) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: {11} Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
      • Are we selective in sharing of the gospel?
      • Or do we try to preach the gospel to every creature? - Mk 16:15
        (Mark 16:15 KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

CONCLUSION

1. What kind of "lifesaving station" are we?
   1. One that is faithfully fulfilling its mission?
   2. One that is basking in its heritage and former reputation?
   • May the parable of the lifesaving station remind us of the folly of being the latter
2. We have been given a noble mission...
   1. One that warrants a frequent reminder
   2. One worthy of being "stirred up" from time to time
      (Heb 10:24 KJV) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
3. Sadly, many do not feel compelled to proclaim the mercy of God.
   1. Perhaps it is for the same reason many do not grow
   2. They have forgotten they were purged from their sins
      (2 Pet 1:9 KJV) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.