Lots of Alabama/Auburn ribbing took place throughout the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 16–17. Some even yelled out an occasional “Roll Tide” or “War Eagle” in the sanctuary of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, where the meeting took place.
But stirring up the team spirit among conventiongoers was not the only purpose of talking football. A sermon analogy also showed up here and there, such as Travis Coleman’s Tim Tebow example of finishing strong even though his final regular season game with the University of Florida didn’t turn out to be a win.
“Alabama Baptists, let’s finish strong,” urged Coleman, who preached the convention sermon at the conclusion of the meeting.
Coleman, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Prattville, and newly elected second vice president of the convention, preached from Acts 13:36 on the theme “Serving God in Our Generation.”
“Look at our lives and ministries,” he said. “In years to come, what are they going to think about us? Your life, your ministry, your church, Alabama Baptists, the Southern Baptist Convention? “We are writing it now but what will it be?” he asked.
Pointing to David and how long he had to wait before taking the position of king, Coleman challenged Alabama Baptists to possess a servant mind-set.
- “We are to serve,” he said. “David … served the nation as servant, warrior and king.”
But David is not the only model servant, Coleman noted. There is also Jesus Christ. “In John 13, it says that right before the Lord’s Supper, He washes the feet of His disciples … and tells them, ‘I want you to go and serve; do the very same thing.’ “Jesus said those who are going to be great among us have to be our servants. “We have David as an example and Jesus as an example,” Coleman said. “God has called us to be servants as well, not to be lazy. Are you truly being the servant God wants you to be?”
- “We are also to serve God’s purposes,” Coleman explained.
“When God called David and anointed him for the throne, He had high expectations for this man. It is not just to serve anybody or anything. It had to be God,” Coleman said. “We are going to serve our God and serve His purposes.”
David understood. Jesus understood.
“What’s your mission? Your purpose?” Coleman asked. “It’s not about us. It’s all about God,” he said. “We have been called to love Him with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves. We are to follow after Him. “We have to stop and make sure we are not letting ego and pride get in our way but that we are submitting to whatever purpose He has called us in life and ministry, to be sure. It’s easy to get distracted in this day or just be spread thin with our work … but we have to be sure we are serving with our focus on Him … and serving God with our best,” Coleman said. “The time is over for a mediocre performance,” he said. “God desires it and He deserves our best.”
- “We are to serve God’s purpose in this generation,” Coleman said.
“Paul made sure [his listeners] understood redemption. He brought the message into [the] first century. He related to them all that … forgiveness only comes through Christ. Everywhere he went, he tried to develop that message to the city. “Paul was willing to become all things to all people. He understood something about serving God in his generation. “But how do we serve God in our generation?” Coleman asked.
By living an authentic Christian life and being students of “our generation,” he said.
“The world is watching us. … They need to see authenticity in your life. People need to know it works. “We need to understand the people and have courage to do what we need to do in reaching the people out there,” Coleman said, noting this does not mean Christians and churches are to attempt to stay up with the latest fads. “We need to be seeking God in His wisdom for our culture in our city, in our ministry, understanding the people and having the courage to do it,” he said. “We’ve got a challenge.”
- “We are to serve God’s purpose in this generation, then die,” Coleman said.
“Jesus served God’s purpose, then died with a satisfaction that He had accomplished God’s will. “Paul had won the course, finished the race, fought the good fight, accomplished God’s purpose. “Same with David; same with Simeon. He finished God’s purpose for his life,” Coleman said. “Alabama Baptists, I think God wants us to serve Him in this generation for His purposes and then we will die,” he added. “Until that time comes, I pray we will be doing exactly what He wants us to do.”
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