Amen. You can be seated.
I want to introduce to you Matt Tyler. Many of you already know him, and if not, then hopefully you'll have a chance to get to know him this evening.
You all know that First Baptist Church has been such an integral part of the story of this congregation from the very beginning.
So First Baptist planted this church as First Baptist Allendahl, Allendahl Baptist Church.
When it became the church at Seaweed Bay, that was First Baptist doing. They were behind that work.
And then when the elders at First Baptist discussed how to best serve this congregation and decided this needs to be an autonomous church,
the elders at First Baptist Church got behind this work.
And so you may not know all of the work that they've been doing behind the scenes, all the many ways that they've been praying for us,
praying for you, seeking the Lord's guidance as we've moved forward, all the ways that Matt in particular has been an encouragement to me.
I still remember one of the first conversations I had when I heard about Seaweed Bay.
It was with Matt and some of the other guys from the Pillar Network, and I left that conversation saying,
I have no idea what an Allendahl is, what a Seaweed is, but I couldn't shake the thought of coming here from my mind.
And I believe that that's an answer to the Lord answering the prayers of these elders at First Baptist Mount Pleasant.
And so I asked Matt to come and to speak to us tonight, just to give a charge to the church as we get established this evening,
a charge to the pastors as well as the leaders of this flock.
And we're just excited to hear from him.
So, Matt, if you would come up and bring the word to us tonight.
Yes, sir.
Well, it is a joy to be with you guys tonight.
And I'm so thankful to that conversation that Jonathan and I were able to have.
And it's been a couple of years ago now when we first met.
But on behalf of the members of First Baptist Mount Pleasant, the elders, the deacons there,
just want to say greetings.
They're having we're having a service right now and they're praying for you and they're thankful for you.
And we are excited for what God is doing out here.
And several years ago, I could I think Trey could speak to this.
We were in an elder meeting discussing how to best serve this church in this community.
And we just ran around the room in an elder meeting and asked the question, OK, does there need to be a church in all and all?
And the answer was obviously yes.
Does there need to be a Baptist church in all and all?
And the answer was yes.
Is Siwi Bay that church?
And as we talked and considered and prayed and went before the Lord about that, the answer was yes.
And we're so thankful that God has allowed us to play a very small part in his eternal plan.
It didn't start just a few years ago.
It started a long time ago, really in eternity past.
As God the Father and God the Son were working things out in what we call the covenant of redemption.
They had a plan for all and all.
They had a plan for you.
They had a plan for those who don't know it yet, who live in this community, who are going to be impacted by the gospel that this church shares, but that you share.
And so tonight, I want us to look to a passage of scripture.
I'm not going to keep you long.
There's food out in the lobby.
And that would be dangerous.
But I felt led this week to look to a passage of scripture I can honestly say is my favorite in all of the Bible.
But we're going to look a little bit broader than just my favorite verses.
We're going to look to Colossians 1, verses 15 through 20.
So if you have a Bible, I want to encourage you to turn there.
Colossians 1.
Verses 15 through 20.
I've entitled this, All Things to the Glory of Christ.
Let's read God's Holy Word.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things.
And in him, all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning.
The firstborn from the dead.
That in everything, he might be preeminent.
For in him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
And through him, to reconcile to himself all things.
Whether on earth or in heaven.
Making peace by the blood of his cross.
This is the word of the Lord.
Would you pray?
Let's ask for the Spirit's help.
Oh God, we praise you for this night.
But not just for this night.
We praise you for all that you have been doing in the hearts and the lives of your people in this church up to this point.
And we praise you for all that you are going to continue to do in the hearts and the lives of your people in this church.
And in this community.
And around the world.
Through the efforts and the ministries of Seawee Bay Baptist Church.
We ask now, though, that you help us in our weakness.
That you would keep us focused upon you.
That our eyes would be open to see your beauty.
That our ears would be open to hear the glorious goodness of your grace.
And, oh God, that you would bend our wills.
That we might be conformed to the image of Christ.
It's in his name that I pray.
Amen.
In 1914, on December 24th, in the middle of the Great War.
There was much loss.
There were many who were dying.
On that Christmas Eve, two opposing sides laid down their arms.
And they met in the neutral ground in between the two fighting forces.
Or you would call that, actually, the deadly ground between the two fighting forces.
And they came together.
And they began to sing hymns.
And Christmas carols.
And to fellowship together.
Those who were enemies, at one point, came together to spend time together.
To acknowledge this day.
Both pagan and Christian alike.
To acknowledge this day as something special.
Now, I can't prove it.
But I believe that that moment in human history, that probably will never be reproduced.
I mean, think about that.
But that moment in history, I believe, was led by some Christian individuals.
In the throes of war.
Who decided, we're going to lay down our arms.
And we're going to glorify God on this day.
Now, we know the war raged.
And things were horrible.
But for that moment, the people of God drew the masses together for a time of peace.
In this text that we look at tonight.
In this charge, to you as church members.
And to you who are elders in this church.
Pastors in this church.
I want to remind you that all things.
All things.
Not some things.
But all things.
Are held together.
They're being sustained.
All things.
Are being redeemed.
All things are working together, as Paul wrote.
For the glory and for the good.
Of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
And so, if we look at these five verses.
It's interesting.
And important to point out.
That five times in five verses.
The two words, all things, are used.
Five times.
In so many verses.
The two words, all things.
Are used.
And they're used.
To show that God.
Chose.
To use his son.
To send his son.
To redeem.
All things.
And so, we look first.
It says, by him, all things were created.
Now, this doesn't mean that Christ.
Was created.
That's heresy.
But, Christ is eternal.
And in Christ.
All things were created.
By Christ.
All things were created.
When you look back to the creation account.
You see the Trinity present there.
And so, I think it's important for us to look at the history.
Just briefly.
Of this church.
You see.
By him, all things were created.
It wasn't by First Baptist Mount Pleasant.
That the Baptist Church was created here so many years ago.
It was by Christ.
You see.
It was Christ who moved in the hearts of his people.
To draw them together.
To form what is his bride.
It wasn't the works of men or women.
It was the work of God.
And some individuals got to play a part in that.
You see.
Because by him, all things were created.
You see.
Christ had a plan.
For this particular church.
And for this particular community.
Long ago.
Long before the world was created.
God had planned in Christ.
To gather you together.
In this place.
And so, we praise him.
That he brought people along.
In the way.
That through Sea Wee Bay.
And through it being the church that it was.
Many years ago.
And along the way.
And by God's grace.
Where we are today.
We praise him for that.
But let us not settle for where we are today.
Church.
Let me remind you.
That all things were created by him.
But we will see in just a moment.
All things are being held together by him.
And all things are being reconciled.
Unto him.
And so, yes.
We celebrate today.
But today is not the ending point.
Today is merely a diving board.
Into the pool, if you will.
Of what God has planned for you.
And for this community to come.
You see.
All things would be reconciled to Christ.
But first.
All things were created.
And what a joy it is.
To be a part of his created order.
Second thing that we see in this text.
As we look at this idea of all things.
We see through him.
And for him.
All things were created.
So, he created all things.
And yet through him.
And for him.
All of these things.
Were created.
The eternal son of God.
Through whom God.
Made heaven and earth.
According to John.
Or first John 1.
3.
All of these things.
Were created for him.
For his glory.
For his enjoyment.
And so.
When we think about.
This community.
Let us not.
Think about this community.
As just.
People living out in homes.
In different areas.
Of all in all.
McClellanville.
And in.
In.
has been created for the glory of God in Christ.
I hope you are stirred on this evening that as you drive from this place
and as you leave from this place, members of this church,
that you begin to see all in all, not just as a place where you live
and where you come to worship, but as a place that has been included
in these all things, the all things of Christ.
And do you know what he allows us to do?
He allows you to play a part in going and finding it.
I think about little kids on Easter.
Now, I know this illustration breaks down, okay?
All illustrations do, right?
This one really breaks down, but it helps me.
Think about kids on Easter.
You know, we put out the eggs.
And let's just say you've got some eggs out here in the nice grass,
and, you know, adults, we go out and we hide the eggs,
and you let the kids loose to go run after the eggs.
What do the kids do?
They run.
They tear.
And they start finding eggs, and they're throwing them in their basket,
and they're so excited about what they're finding.
But before long, the obvious eggs are gone.
What do the kids do at that point?
They begin to look back at the adults,
because they know that some of you guys hide them in the hard places.
And they start looking, and what do you start doing?
You start pointing.
Look under the tire.
Look under the bush.
And you start helping them find the eggs,
because you know where they are.
You see, friends, God has given us a role in his kingdom,
in the all-thingsness of Christ,
that we get to play this role of going out and displaying his beauty
and finding his children and sharing the gospel with them.
And many times we run out of moments like this really excited.
And we're going, and we're telling them about the new church.
We're telling them about Christ.
And we're telling our neighbors and our coworkers and our family
all of the wonderful things of God.
But a few years from now,
the romantic side of being part of a church wears off.
And things get hard.
Not every Sunday is an up Sunday.
Not every month is an exciting month.
Sometimes the numbers go up.
Sometimes the numbers go down.
Sometimes we don't sing your favorite song
or don't study your favorite book of the Bible.
But it's in those moments.
Where do you look when things get hard?
I hope we, like the little kids in the Easter egg hunt,
begin to look back not to an adult,
but to our Savior.
We begin to look to him and we begin to say,
what do we do now?
How do we glorify you now?
Where are your people now?
How do we worship you now?
We don't look around to other things.
We look back to the one who has created all things
and to whom all things were created for.
All things were created through.
In him it goes on to say,
all things are held together.
So he's the creator of all things.
All things were made through him and for him,
but he's also the sustainer of all things.
Do you know right now there's not one atom
in all of the universe that is in chaos
or that is out of order?
Because if there were one,
all of existence would cease to exist
in that moment except for the Trinity.
But you see, God in Christ is sustaining all things.
He's keeping all things together
for the glory of his Son right now.
He's doing that in your life and in my life.
And do you know he's done that through this church?
There have been seasons that were difficult in this church.
There have been seasons that have been great celebration in this church.
But in all things and in all times,
Christ the sustainer has ruled and reigned.
And so Jonathan,
Trey,
what is it that you will turn to
when things are difficult in this church?
Where will you look?
Where will you look for the foundation
and for the propping up of that
which will sustain this church?
Friends, it is just Christ.
There's nowhere else to look.
There will be many things that will tempt you
to turn to them.
Many strategies,
many helps,
many opportunities will be offered.
But the only one
who has all things
in his hands
is Christ.
Because you see,
it goes on to say that he is before all things.
He is the head of the church.
He is the Son of the living God.
In 1 Corinthians 12
and in other places in Scripture,
we see that this idea
that Christ is the head of the body.
That we as his church
are the body.
And he is the head.
He is moving and shaping
and working every part.
And every part is equally as important.
Some of us don't like being the toe,
but the toe is important.
You know,
I had a friend in high school.
She cut her big toe off.
Cutting grass.
She was quite the athlete.
After she cut her big toe off,
she had to learn to walk again.
And for that year,
her athletic career
was on pause.
And so if you feel sometimes,
church member,
that, man, you know,
I don't have a place.
I don't have a role.
Let me tell you,
yes, you do.
Because when I look at
the fruit of the Spirit,
when I look at those attributes,
the love, the joy,
the peace,
the patience,
the kindness,
and self-control,
all of those things,
those are roles to play
in the church.
You know,
a smile across a room
can be the role that you play.
A card sent to someone
on their birthday,
just letting them know
that you know about them
and that you care for them,
that could be the role
that you play.
A kind word,
even when you know
that you are right
and the person you're talking to
is wrong,
you show a little bit
of self-control and kindness,
that could be the role
that you play in the church.
And all of those roles
are important.
And so it's not just
to be up here on the stage
or to be in a Sunday school
class leading.
Those are important.
But you have a role to play
and that role
has been secured
in the work of God
through Christ
for his church
and all of that
is being held together
by the finished work
of Christ.
It says he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
that in everything
he might be preeminent.
We don't have time
to go into that.
So we're just going
to move on.
The third thing
I want you to see
tonight,
first we've seen
that through him
all things were created.
Second,
we've seen through him
and for him
all things were created.
The third point
and maybe the most important
or the one we're going
to spend the most time on
is through him
all things are reconciled.
through him
all things
are reconciled.
You know,
it's
an interesting thing
to think about reconciliation.
Like,
what does reconciliation mean?
It means to be made right.
It means that
that which was wrong
at one point
is no longer wrong,
it's now right.
And so through him
all things
are reconciled.
but what we can see
from this text
is nothing,
now hear that,
nothing
will be made right
apart from Christ.
Nothing.
There's no making
anything right
apart from
the love
and the heart
and the grace
of Christ.
Listen to verse 19.
For in him,
this is my favorite,
I love this.
For in him
all the fullness
of God
was pleased
to dwell.
What Paul's writing there
is in Christ
all the fullness
of the Trinity,
God the Son,
God the Father,
God the Spirit,
were pleased
to dwell.
Now later
in Colossians,
do you know what Paul says?
And in him
you are made complete.
Think about that
for a moment.
In Christ
the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell
and in him,
dear Christian,
you are complete.
There's nothing
that you lack.
You have been made right.
You have been reconciled.
You are
experiencing
a life
of completeness
that you could never
cultivate
on your own.
And so nothing
can be made right
apart from Christ.
And so many of us
try and spend our lives
making our lives right
or making other people's
lives right
by helping them
live moral lives
or to do good things,
which is fine.
But to do that
apart from Christ
leads to nothing.
So members,
can I challenge you?
Can I charge you?
Don't settle
for anything
less than Christ.
Settle for nothing
less than Jesus.
Demand him
and him alone
and don't demand
anything more
because to add to
or to take away
from Christ
is not to get Christ.
It's to get it wrong.
And so members,
as this church
moves ahead,
don't demand anything
more from your
pastors,
from your elders
than Christ.
Christ.
And if they're
giving you Christ,
feast upon him
because he is a bread
that will always satisfy.
He is a well
of springing water
that will always nourish.
And all of these
other things,
they will let you down.
So demand Christ.
Cry out for Christ.
Look for Christ.
And when you find him,
when you hear of him,
and I know Jonathan
is preaching Christ,
I know Treg preaches Christ,
they give you Christ,
feast upon him.
Allow the other things
of the world
to wash away
and allow Christ
to become that
which you gaze upon,
that which you meditate on,
that which you think
deeply upon.
You see,
it's in him
that your neighbors,
that your family,
and your friends
will be reconciled to God.
I know if we went
around the room
and I said,
do you have loved ones
or neighbors or friends
that you think
need to come to church
and need to know Christ?
All of us would,
absolutely.
We could take a list,
we could take some time
of prayer,
and we would all
identify those people.
but all too often,
I know in my own life,
I do a lot better job
telling those people
how they can make
their lives better
than I do
in telling them
about Christ.
But friends,
when you're part of a church
that gives you Christ
at every turn,
when you're at a church
where you demand Christ
at every turn,
it's then that you are
prepared to give Christ,
to share Christ,
to show Christ.
And then,
as you pray for your neighbors,
your family,
and your friends,
it's then
that God is pleased to work.
It's then that God
begins to draw
those for whom Christ died,
and it's then
that those folks
will be reconciled.
The peace of God
that surpasses
all understanding
will begin to rule
and reign in their hearts
as it does in yours.
Because
we love our neighbors.
You love this community.
You wouldn't be here.
I think God has great plans
for this community.
And I love to think
that it pleases God
to provide his peace
for all who are cleansed
by the blood of the cross.
It pleases him
to cleanse all
who come by the blood
of the cross.
Have you ever thought
about that?
Like,
it's pleasing to God
to save,
to sanctify,
to glorify,
to sustain,
to build,
to cultivate
that which is glorious
in Christ.
Christ.
That's what God
loves to do.
And the main means
in which he has chosen
to do that
is through the church.
It's through you guys.
It's through your lives.
Yes,
you gather here
to worship on Sundays,
and we love that.
We elevate that.
That is a necessity
in your lives.
But what do we do
with the other
six days
or however many hours?
How is it,
church,
that we plan
to display
the all things
are Christ
in this community?
how will you
love them?
How will you
point them
to the reconciliation
of the cross?
Well,
it's by giving them Christ.
It's a simple concept.
When you have a conversation
with someone,
give them Christ.
You pray for them
in the name of Christ.
You invite them
into your home.
You invite them out
to lunch.
You spend time
with them.
You live with them
for the glory
of God in Christ.
And as you're
discipling them,
you bring them
into this church.
And it's here,
members,
remember what I said.
You demand Christ
of your elders.
And elders,
what do you do?
You give them Christ.
And it's this
beautiful cycle.
It's quite simple,
really.
You know,
I've heard it said
that the gospel
is simply complex.
I think that's true.
So as we think about
this passage here,
for in him
all the fullness
of God
was pleased to dwell.
And through him
to reconcile
to himself
all things.
You see, church,
there's a day coming
when all things
will be made right.
And Christ will return,
new heaven
and new earth,
and all things
will be reconciled.
Every knee will bow,
every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ
is Lord.
all that sin
has tainted
and darkened
in your lives
and the lives
of my family
and your families
and throughout
human history
will all be made right.
It will be reconciled.
Through Christ
will be reconciled
to God
whether on earth
or in heaven.
Now that's a fantastic
thing to think about.
There's not a
cosmic power
that will not be reconciled.
God
making peace
by the blood
of his cross.
All things.
And so the beauty
of tonight,
in my opinion,
is that we get
to play a small part
in the all things
work of God.
You see,
it's a complete work
but it's a not yet work.
It's kind of like
I was preaching
this morning
in Galatians
and this idea
that our flesh
has been crucified.
Well,
our flesh
has been crucified
with Christ
on the cross
but it's also
being crucified
daily
as I reject sin.
It's a verb form
that we don't really
have a good explanation
for in English.
It's happened
and it's continually
happening.
It's the same thing here.
All things
have been reconciled
in your life
and in my life
but all things
are being reconciled
as we show
and as we display
and as we share Christ
with his community.
We get to play a part
in that
and then one day
fully and finally
it will all be complete
because of the finished
work of Christ.
So elders,
preach Christ.
elders,
rest in Christ.
Share
the peace
of Christ.
Faith comes by hearing
and hearing
by the word
of Christ.
Give them Christ.
Members,
delight in Christ.
Abide
in Christ.
Share
the love
of Christ.
Jesus said,
I am the vine.
You are the branches.
Whoever abides
in me
and I in him,
he it is
that bears
much fruit.
For apart
from me
you can do
nothing.
Paul said,
for in him
was the fullness
of the Godhead bodily
and you
have been made
complete
in him.
This church,
it's complete.
Not because of
what's happening
tonight,
but because of
Christ.
Let us keep
our eyes
upon Christ.
Would you pray
with me?
God,
I thank you
that in him
is the fullness
of the Trinitarian
God,
Father,
Son,
and Spirit.
I pray
tonight for
this church,
for Siwi
Baptist Church,
O God,
that she
would be
a beautiful
bride,
that she
would display
a glorious
goodness
that this
community
has not yet
seen
of the person
and work
of Jesus Christ,
that this
church would
display the
all thingsness
of Jesus,
that he
is the
beginning,
that he
is the
sustainer,
that he
is preeminent,
that he
is the
reconciler.
And so,
God,
start with
us.
May our
hearts be
pure,
may our
hearts be
set upon
the beauty
of Christ.
And then,
God,
I pray
that you
would begin
a great
awakening
in this
community.
God,
those who
are far
from you
but close
to us,
would you
draw them
to your
son by
your spirit
and by
your word.
And may
you use
the members
of this
church and
this church
proper in
this community
that your
glory might
rain down,
that your
goodness
might be on
display in
this community
as it is in
heaven.
it's in
Christ's name
that I
pray.
Amen.