Whats in Your Tool bag?
When I was a teenager  I had a good friend
Don Sheibley I rode motorcycles with,
he was also my neighbor.
We went many places and did alot together.
What I admired about him, he was a contractor and I always wanted to be in construction for some silly reason.
I always enjoyed watching "This Old House on PBS"
So one day I got my chance to work with him.
He told me to bring some basic tools-
Hammer, combination square, nail bag and a pencil.
I learned how to build the foundation, lay out walls, build them, put floor joist, subfloor, trusses, roof sheating, paper, shingles. Then I wanted to learn more, I had the oppurtunity to learn the plumbing trade. 
As I was learning different trades my tool bag was getting bigger.
I am a hands on learner I need to be in there in the dirt dust of things, try to listen to those who are wiser more experienced (done that  been there type) of people.
I had Matthew 25:14-18 read for us to see how we look at ourselves. What are you doing with your talents?
When you became a Christian how full was your tool bag? 
Did you come with a full tool bag?
 or did you do what they did in Acts 2:37-38
 You had the basics, Jesus is the Son of God and he died for me and he washed my Sins away.
Are we filling our tool bag with knowledge of the scripture or are we happy with where we are?
Are we complaisent and happy with the way things are?
Are we are ok with shaking the handle on the toilet  for it to work, or put a bucket under to catch the drip.
How about if we ask ourselves some questions
What are we suppose to be doing? 
or
How well are we doing it?
Occasionally, we need to be reminded of the main purpose for which we exist. 
We need to catch anew that vision Jesus placed before his followers long ago. 
The church does not need a new purpose or mission.
It doesn't need a new doctrine, nor a new Gospel.
We need to go back to the old pupose, the original one given by Jesus. We need to see it clearly and vividly and have it impressed upon our minds and hearts.
Do as they did in the old testament but with Jesus
Deuteronomy 6:7 (You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.)
We then need to zealously pursue the fulfillment of that purpose. We need to focus on it and eat, sleep, and envision how we can fulfill it properly.
The original purpose
Jesus gave the marching orders to His Apostles and they gave the same purpose to the church:
Matt.28: 18-20 (And Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I cammanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.")
This is what we refer to as the "great commission." This is an imperative command and not an option for us. God intended for us to clearly see and understand our responsibility and find ways to fulfill it. The following is a brief analysis of this commission
"GO" -- In my daily activities of life to the lost in a pre-determined effort to reach out to lost people.
"Teach, Preach the Gospel" - With the intent of making them devoted followers of Jesus. To help them become learners of the Word of Life so they may receive eternal life. To give them oppurtunity to hear the Good News.
"All Nations"- Teach all peoples, nations, groups, countries. Not just in my own backyard, but everywhere there are people. The Lord allowed the early church to be persecuted in order to scatter them and spread the Gospel message everywhere the went (Acts 8:4).
Do we need that to happen to us for us to spread Gods word, hopefully not.
"Baptizing them"- This act of submission brings a person into the Covenant relatiohship with God. It is an act of faith that brings remission of sins. It is an act necessary in order to become a part of the family of God.
"Continue to teach"- To nurture, mature, equip, edify the new disciples. Help them to become obedient in all things. Help them to take their place in the work and mission of the church.
Our mission is really a two-fold one:
1. To evangelize: To reach out and impact the world about us. This is primarily dealig with Salvation, Reconcilation, and the kingdom of God. Evangilism is leading one into the kingdom of God.
2. To nurture: It is then to show a concern for "our own." It is to stress the quality of life that the Christian should live. It is to help them in making application of the teachings of Jesus so that they can mature and be equipped to serve in the kingdom.
Christiananity is more than just being saved from past sins. It is to take a lost person and transform them into the image of Christ. It is a process of learning to rethink everything in the light of God's truth. It is learning how to get along with other Christians, as well as other people. Andat the same time, we live as God's agents in the world to represent God at home, at work, at school, and in the community.
2Cor 5:20 (Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.)
Fulfilling our Mission
There is something very basic that we must understand about our mission-salvation is a Divine/Human effort!
1.The Divine part- It is to realize that Salvation has been provided to mankind at a great cost to God. It is summed up in this one verse.
2 Cor. 5:21 (He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.)
2. The Human part- It is to realize also that man must appropriate this salvation to himself. Man plays a part in this great drama of life. God does not force salvation upon man, it is something that he must desire from God.
Acts 2:36-38 (Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified."
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 
Peter said to them
"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

We also need to realize that fulfilling our mission is a cooperative effort on the part of God and man.
1Cor. 3:9 (For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building)
John 17:18 (As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.)
2Cor. 4:7 (But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;)
 God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present! He is neither helpless nor weak. But, He has made Himself dependent upon His people to take the Gospel to the lost. He relies upon us to undertake His affairs in the world. God wants committed people:
	a) Whose lips He can use to speak through;
	b) Whose hands He can use to serve through;
	c) Whose resources He can use to build up His Kingdom.
Salvation through Christ DOES depend greatly upon human effort!
Roman 10:14 (How then will they call on Him in whom they have not beleived? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?)
We are God's tools are we filling his tool bag?
God expects of us to be good builders and not shoddy builders. He wants the best workmanship of which we are capable.
1Cor.3:10 (According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder  I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.)
We need to be people of great faith in God, who are committed to the task to be done, and who will let God's Word direct our activities. We need to be a people that God can work through to bring the lost into His Kingdom. Are we this kind of people?