I should really make a stronger attempt at sharing the [crappy] notes I’ve made during sermons this year, and so I shall start today! I should actually begin with the topics at Winter Retreat, but whatever…same difference yo’. I’m just going to write these notes as I have them…

Today’s sermon was from Pastor Rick Baker, over at Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa. The sermon is also available on the website.

How Does An Old Church GOBIG?

(Jos. 14:1-15 [show] These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. [2]Their inheritance was by lot, just as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. [3]For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. [4]For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance. [5]The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land. [6]Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. [7]I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. [8]But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. [9]And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' [10]And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. [11]I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. [12]So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said." [13]Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. [14]Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. [15]Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war. (ESV)
)

- young churches are more aggressive; Ps.92 = types of people staying fresh, renewed
- “never too late to change, but effectiveness over time is a result of the patterns we have while young”

3 Principles for staying effective rather than growing old:

1. See everything from above – what do things look like to God?
   
   • huge things to us are minuscule to God!
   • Jos 14:7-8 [show] [7]I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. [8]But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. (ESV)
     [#s 13:30, 14:7-9; Heb 11:13 [show] [13]These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (ESV)
     ]
   • Jos 14:8 [show] [8]But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. (ESV)
     [Ps 36:1-4 [show] Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. [2]For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. [3]The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. [4]He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
     ]; Caleb is basically saying “Let’s go do it! Don’t just read the scriptures and sit on your ass…”
   • our faith is not passive (or shouldn’t be!)
   • curse of chronology is lowering your sights; ground up vs up-down perspective
2. Stay active – Jos 14:10-11 [show] [10]And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. [11]I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. (ESV)
   ; Ps 92:12-14 [show] [12]The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. [13]They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. [14]They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
   
   
   • if you’re alive, you are still active in God’s work
   • Rick’s grandfather was still writing evangelistic sermons as he was dying
3. Stay aggressive – Jos 14:12-15, 15 [show] [12]So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said." [13]Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. [14]Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. [15]Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war. (ESV) [15]Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war. (ESV)
   :13-15
   
   • Caleb, “GIVE THIS LAND TO ME AND FULFILL GOD’S PROMISE!!!111ONE”; renamed to Hebron
   • Rick was@seminar stating Toronto East = statistically hardest place in North America to evangelize; T/F??
   • Caleb did not rest until God’s promise was fulfilled
   • “Is God in this?”; if yes, pursue aggressively; maybe not so aggressively on certain topics?
   • welcome challenges, face them…
   • GOBIG ppl are stayBIG ppl and opt for the tough assignments
   • This is what the redemptive journey entails in general (Mt 25:34)
   • build life on God’s promises; seek them

And later in Sunday school, Graydon and the Zambia team shared their experience, as well as a praise called Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe (There Is No God Like You).