How can this church move forward

1

• How can this church move forward?
• A series of sermons

2
The Series

• Challenges to Accept
• Enemies to Defeat
• Dangers to Avoid
• Opportunities to Take
• Attitudes to Have

3
Introduction

• Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.
  It is our best friend and our worst enemy. It is
  more honest and more consistent than our words.

4
Introduction

• It is the librarian of our past the speaker of
  our present prophet of our future. What is it?
  Its our attitude.

5
Why is Attitude Important?

• Definition A persons tendency to respond
  favorably or unfavorably to an object, person,
  group or event.
• Most common Positive or Negative

6
How is Attitude Expressed?

• Facial Expressions
• Voice tone, inflection, volume
• Behavior how we perform, energy we put into it
• Interest we have in the person or activity

7
How is Attitude Expressed?

• General Douglas McArthur, on his 75th birthday
• In the central place of every heart there is a
  recording chamber so long as it receives
  messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage, so
  long you are young.

8
How is Attitude Expressed?

• When the wires are all down and your heart is
  covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice
  of cynicism, then, and then only are you grown
  old.

9
How is Attitude Expressed?

• I would hate to wear glasses.
• Not if they are like grandma wears. She can see
  nice things to do on rainy days.

10
How is Attitude Expressed?

• Two Frogs in a Can of Cream
• Two frogs fell into a can of cream or so Ive
  been told
• The sides of the can were shiny and steep, The
  cream was deep and cold.
• Oh, whats the use? said No. 1, tis fate no
  helps around - -

11
How is Attitude Expressed?

• Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world! And
  weeps till he drowned.
• But No. 2 of sterner stuff, dog paddled in
  surprise,
• The while he wiped his creamy eyes.

12
How is Attitude Expressed?

• Ill swim awhile, at least, he said, - or so it
  has been said - -
• It wouldnt really help the world if one more
  frog was dead.

13
How is Attitude Expressed?

• An hour or two he kicked and swam - - not once he
  stopped to mutter,
• But kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, then he
  hopped out, via butter.

14
What is Power of Attitude?

• It reflects what we believe
• It shows what we are, will do, are willing to
  sacrifice
• It demonstrates how hard we will work, how much
  of ourselves we will give
• It is a major factor in success

15
Attitude in the Bible

• Look for these words - -
• Mind
• Heart
• Countenance

16
Attitude in the Bible

• Genesis 312 Laban was not friendly toward
  Jacob
• Philippians 25 Have the mind (attitude) of
  Christ
• 1 Kings 1111 Attitude of Solomon cost him his
  kingdom

17
Attitude in the Bible

• Ezra 622 God changed the attitude of the king
  of Assyria
• Ephesians 422-23 Put off old self, have a new
  attitude
• 1 Peter 41 Since Christ suffered for us, we
  should have the same attitude

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Attitudes Toward What?

• God
• How interested are you?
• Are you willing to grow?
• Church
• Do you talk up, promote?
• Do you love the people?
• Do you support the work?

19
Attitudes Toward What?

• Assemblies
• Is attendance important to you?
• Do you bring visitors?
• Being Different
• We are a peculiar people
• We are different from world

20
Attitudes Toward What?

• Life
• Problem overcome them or they will overcome you
• Life gives us an opportunity to serve others

21
Concluding Thoughts

• Your attitude is not a secret
• It is all over your face and your actions
• How you feel toward something will show

22
Concluding Thoughts

• Moving Forward requires a church with a positive
  attitude