Effective and Efficient
Introduction:
A. There is a restaraunt called Steak and Shake that ran
an advertisement recently about their shakes.
1. They were comparing their shakes (that they make
by hand) with shakes that other restaruants make
with a machine that does it automatically.
2. In the commercial they point out how the shakes
the other restaraunts make are made with efficiency,
but they feel that taste is more important.
3. If I were buying a shake, I would have to agree that
I would rather have a good tasting shake than an
efficiently made shake.
B. But, there are things that need to be both effective, and
efficient.
1. Effective, so the end result will be as good as possible.
2. Efficient, so that the time, and effort used will give the
maximum results.
We need to be as effective and efficient as we can be in the
work the Lord has given us to do as well. But, how do we go
about being effective and efficient?
I. We need to use our time as efficiently as possible.
A. Jesus used His time efficiently by training 12 men
for 3 years to carry on the work.
1. We need to teach others also - II Timothy 2:2.
b. The more we teach the more workers there are,
and the more work that will get done.
c. We need to teach others to: do evangelism;
preach; teach classes; so there will be more
laborers for the work.
2. Jesus told His disciples the fields were white unto
harvest, but the laborers were few, and they should
pray the Lord would send forth laborers (Mt.9:37-38).
a. Evidently they did, and He did, for in about 30 to 40
years the gospel had been preached to every
creature (Colossians 1:23).
b. Twelve men would have been hard pressed to
preach the gospel to every creature in 40yrs.
B. Jesus used His time efficiently by reaching the most
people He could at any given time.
1. The N.T. records that He fed 4,000 and 5,000, but
before He fed them physically, He was feeding them
spiritually.
2. One time He was in a house, and so many people had
come to hear Him that men who had brought a lame
man to Him to be healed, had to tear the roof off the
house to let him down to Jesus.
3. When it is possible, we need to reach as many people as
we can as quickly as we can.
a. Newspaper.
b. Internet.
c. Handing out tracts.
d. Maybe some day radio, or t.v.
II. We need to be as effective as possible.
A. If we are doing evangelism.
1. We need to use material that will be as effective as
possible.
a. It may be material that we make up ourselves, or
it may be material that we buy, but it needs to be
as effective as possible.
b. Effective material needs to be simple, and thorough.
c. What will be effective may differ from one person
to another depending on their background.
1) Paul taught the Jews by using O.T.
2) He taught the Stoics and Epicurians by using
their altar to the unknown god, to teach them about
the true and living God.
3) We may have to teach a person who has a denom.
background differently from someone who has no
religious background at all.
2. We need to be as effective teachers as possible.
a. Some of that is going to come from trial and error,
and some of it can be learned.
b. The better Bible knowledge we have the more
effective we are going to be, so that ought to
motivate us to study (II Timothy 2:15).
B. If we are teaching a Bible class.
1. To be as effective as possible we have to be prepared.
a. Teaching is an awesome responsibility - James 3;1.
b. That does not mean that we ought to avoid teaching,
but that we need to take it seriously, and give the
appropriate time to preparing to teach.
2. We need to be careful if we use Bible class material.
a. We should not want to teach anything that is false,
and I don't think we would do so intentionally, but
some of the material sold by brotherhood bookstores
have false teaching in them.
b. Don't let Bible class material become a crutch. You
still need to be prepared!
III. We need to use our talents as effectively, and efficiently
as possible.
A. We all have talents, and we need to use them.
1. We all make up the one body, but we are different parts
of the same body (I Corinthians 12).
a. Some are feet, some are eyes, and some are ears.
b. Each of us need to do our part.
2. We need to use our abilities for the good of the whole
body (Ephesians 4:11-12).
a. Those who can lead singing need to lead singing.
b. Those who are good at preaching, and teaching need
to preach and teach.
c. Those who are good at personal evangelism need to
do personal evangelism.
3. Don't be guilty of burying your talents (Mt.25:15-30).
a. The servant who did was punished.
b. And, we shall give account if we do.
B. If everyone does their part everyone will be able to do a
better job.
1. The apostles quickly learned they couldn't do it all (Acts 6).
a. They were trying to preach, teach, and take care of
all the needy widows.
b. But, it got to the point to where they needed help,
so they appointed certain men to see to the needs
of the widows.
c. In so doing they were able to give themselves
"continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word"
(Acts 6:4).
2. Each of us...
a. Need to learn what we can do.
b. Develope our abilities.
c. And, do our part!
d. If we do, then the church will be more effective, and
more efficient.
Conclusion:
A. The effectiveness and efficiency of the church can have a
major impact on how many people go to heaven, for the
Lord has left it up to us to preach the gospel, which is able
to save them that believe, and obey.
B. We need to make sure we are doing all we can do, and we
need to provoke each other to do the best we can do.