“Commitment”


June 3, 2012

Kennard Friends Church

Bob Lines



Drop a dollar bill on the way to the sanctuary… Ask, what would you do if you saw money drop from the person ahead of you? Tell them? Pick it up and play the lottery? Place it in the offering at church? Give it to your favorite charity? Or look around to see whose watching, and then put it in your pocket? So what do you think Jesus would do? If that is what you would do, you have already made a commitment to follow Him. If you are not sure what you would do, your commitment may be “on the fence” or “lukewarm”.

You see, the stronger our commitment to be like Jesus, the more our decisions about how to handle situations, people, temptations, blessings, etc. are already decided upon.


Do you know the difference between commitment and involvement? A bacon and egg breakfast is a good example. The chicken was involved. The pig was committed.

What are you committed to? There are likely hundreds of examples.

• Marriage

• Children and grandchildren

• Job

• Care for someone else

• Hobby

• Facebook

• iPhone games

• Church

• Bible

• Christ

• Etc.

How can you tell the difference between commitment and involvement with these activities? It may be the time you spend, the money you spend, the magnetic-like pull, the reward, the joy, your dedication, your priorities, etc.

On Wednesday nights we are discussing what the Bible says about commitment by using a book by Kyle Idleman called Not a Fan. The book helps us to answer the question “Am I a fan of Jesus or am I a follower?” We ultimately want to be a follower. We want to be in a committed relationship with Jesus. That commitment is a journey that lasts a lifetime. Yet at certain points in our lives, our level of commitment comes to a crossroads. It is at these crossroads where we prove (to God and to ourselves) our level of commitment.

What are some of these crossroads?

• Seeing someone ahead of us drop money

• A very sick child without much hope of improvement

• A failed marriage… maybe for the second time

• Loss of our health

• A wayward son or daughter

• Loss of our job

• Being diagnosed with cancer

• Giving to God in our tithes and offerings

• And in many places around the world… calling yourself a Christian, or attending church, or possessing a Bible

At these crossroads is where our commitment is tested. When your child is severely sick and there is no cure, how to you respond? Are you angry and resentful of God? Do you pull away from reading His Word and worshiping with other believers?

There is a true story about three Jewish boys who came to a major crossroad, but they had already decided how they would handle a situation. They made a commitment and stuck to it… no matter the consequences. You might remember their names “Meshach, Shadrach and ___________ (Abednego), right!

(Tell the story from the book of Daniel – Chapters 2 & 3)



Sing “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” (Pg 602)

"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" is a Christian hymn originating from India.

The lyrics are based on the last words of an man in Assam, north-east India, who along with his family was converted to Christianity in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of a Welsh missionary. Called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus." In response to threats to his family, he continued, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow." His wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, "The cross before me, the world behind me."



This display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village.



Our display of commitment… being a follower of Jesus is not just something we do for us. I mean that IS important. But it is also a witness to others, which could ultimately draw them to Christ.

It is possible, that only in Heaven will we know if our lifestyle of commitment drew others to salvation. I can certainly imagine people wanting what you folks have. I imagine people can see Jesus living in you by the way you conduct yourselves daily… especially when no one is looking.



That’s commitment!!!!