Don McClain W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 20061.

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 1

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 2

Many want to just Many want to just SQUEAK by in their SQUEAK by in their service to God!!service to God!!

God does NOT Accept God does NOT Accept minimal effort and minimal effort and service – Mat 25:14-30service – Mat 25:14-30

What are some things What are some things we CAN do to rise above we CAN do to rise above mediocrity? mediocrity?

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 3

Philip. 1:9 (NKJV) Philip. 1:9 (NKJV)

And this I pray, that your And this I pray, that your love may abound still more love may abound still more

and more in knowledge and all and more in knowledge and all discernment, discernment,

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 4

1 Thes. 3:12 (NKJV) 1 Thes. 3:12 (NKJV)

And may the Lord make you And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as one another and to all, just as

we do to you, we do to you,

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 5

2 Thes. 1:3 (NKJV) 2 Thes. 1:3 (NKJV)

We are bound to thank God We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, abounds toward each other,

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 6

Col. 2:6-7 (NKJV) Col. 2:6-7 (NKJV)

As you have therefore As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, [7] rooted and so walk in Him, [7] rooted and built up in Him and established built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with taught, abounding in it with

thanksgiving. thanksgiving.

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 7

1 Thes. 4:1 (NKJV) 1 Thes. 4:1 (NKJV)

Finally then, brethren, we urge Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more that you should abound more and more, just as you received and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk from us how you ought to walk

and to please God; and to please God;

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 8

2 Cor. 8:3-7 (NKJV) 2 Cor. 8:3-7 (NKJV)

[3] . . according to their ability, [3] . . according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, . . . they were freely willing, . . . [5] And not only as we had [5] And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave hoped, but they first gave

themselves to the Lord, and themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of then to us by the will of

God. . . . God. . . .

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 9

2 Cor. 8:3-7 (NKJV) 2 Cor. 8:3-7 (NKJV)

[7] But as you abound in [7] But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, in knowledge, in all diligence,

and in your love for us--see and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace that you abound in this grace

also. also.

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 10

1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV) 1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, brethren, be steadfast,

immovable, always abounding immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, in the work of the Lord,

knowing that your labor is not knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. in vain in the Lord.

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 11

Titus 2:14 (NKJV) Titus 2:14 (NKJV)

who gave Himself for us, that who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from He might redeem us from

every lawless deed and purify every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special for Himself His own special

people, zealous for good people, zealous for good works. works.

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 12

Seek God – (8-13)Seek God – (8-13) Submit To God – (14-19)Submit To God – (14-19) Trust God – (20-24)Trust God – (20-24) Respect God – (25-27)Respect God – (25-27) Worship God – (28-30)Worship God – (28-30) Rejoice In God – (31-33)Rejoice In God – (31-33) Give Thanks To God – Give Thanks To God –

(34,35)(34,35)

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 13

We have control over our We have control over our belief’s, attitudes, and belief’s, attitudes, and actions!!actions!!

Our effort to “abound” in the Our effort to “abound” in the things God has given us to do things God has given us to do is directly related to our love, is directly related to our love, (or lack thereof) for Him, ((or lack thereof) for Him, (1 1 John 5:2John 5:2)!)!

The amount of success and The amount of success and growth achieved is related to growth achieved is related to the combined, cooperative the combined, cooperative efforts of those who seek to efforts of those who seek to excel!excel!

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 14

Let us ALL determine to rise Let us ALL determine to rise above “minimal” service and above “minimal” service and ABOUND in our work for the ABOUND in our work for the Lord!! (2 Pt. 1:5-10; 2 Cor. Lord!! (2 Pt. 1:5-10; 2 Cor. 15:58)15:58)

Have you ever yielded Have you ever yielded yourself to God, to serve Him yourself to God, to serve Him from the heart? (Rom 6:16-from the heart? (Rom 6:16-18)18)

Have you yielded to the Have you yielded to the temptation of minimal temptation of minimal service? (Mat 25:14-30) service? (Mat 25:14-30)

Don McClain

W 65th St church of Christ – May, 14, 2006 15