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)

– 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:

See everything from above – what do things look like to God?
- huge things to us are minuscule to God!
- Jos 14:7-8 [#s 13:30, 14:7-9; Heb 11:13]
- Jos 14:8 [Ps 36:1-4]; 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
Stay active – Jos 14:10-11; Ps 92:12-14
- if you’re alive, you are still active in God’s work
- Rick’s grandfather was still writing evangelistic sermons as he was dying
Stay aggressive – Jos 14:12-15, 15:13-15
- 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).