Aug5’07
THE TIM HORTON’S GOSPEL MESSAGE
Everybody is an evangelist. Every company is trying to give to you their good news.
Leonard Sweet aptly points out: “The best and brightest in the corporate world are proud to be known as evangelists. Why do you think the business world plugged into the power evangelism just as the church seems to have lost the vision?” (The Gospel According to Starbucks p. 15)
He goes on to tell his readers to listen to the following:
• Japan’s hottest phone vendor, Yasumitsu Shgeta, calls himself a “phone evangelist.”
• Larry Gibson is a former West Virginia mining maintenance worker who has done a turnaround. He calls himself an “evangelist of the environmental cause.”
• John Bates, cofounder of BIGWORDS.com and Redioner has a calling card that reads: “John Bates, Evangelist.”
• Karen Allen of the Recording Industry Association of America is known as “Internet Evangelist.”
• One of six questions asked by Russell Reynolds Associates to determine whether you have “Web DNA” is this: “Are you more evangelical than Matthew, Mark, Luke or John?”
• Business Week magazine selected as one of the greatest innovator managers of the past 75 years was John F. Welch of General Electric and bestowed him with the title “Management Evangelist.”
(Ibid., pp. 15-16)
There’s something terribly wrong when the business world recognizes something that someone else is supposed to be doing, but aren’t so they take the idea and make money off of it. They have hijacked our terminology and, yes, our very livelihoods as the Church to use for personal gain. At the center of what they do is not the living and holy Savior Jesus Christ, but the idea of making profit.
But rather than be distracted with what they are doing we need to take notice so that we can be doing what we are supposed to be doing Each one of you here is an evangelist. Your life is sharing some kind of so-called “good news.” The message of your life tells other people what is at the center of who you are and what is the most important aspect your life.
One of my favorite watering holes in Canada is a place you have heard me speak of time and again: Tim Horton’s. There is something special about their coffee and donuts on an early morning heading out to the lake to catch a full limit of bluegills. Who is Tim Hortons?
Tim Horton’s is what some might be tempted to call the Canadian Dunkin Donuts. Yes they sell coffee and yes they sell donuts. But don’t get them confused. After that, the comparisons fall apart. Tim Horton’s prides themselves on 20 minute coffee and one of the widest varieties of sweets you’ll find anywhere.
Let me share the a brief history about Tim Horton’s. Whether you have heard of them or not, I think you will see some important parallels for us as a church.
The Tim Hortons chain was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario by a hockey player named- well, you guessed it- Tim Horton. The chain’s focus is on top quality, always fresh product, value, great service and community leadership. This has allowed it to grow into the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada specializing in always fresh coffee, baked goods and homestyle lunches.
The first Tim Hortons stores offered only two products – coffee and donuts. The selection of donuts to enjoy was highlighted by two original Tim Hortons creations, the Apple Fritter and the Dutchie. They became the most popular donut choices in the 60’s, and remain two of the most popular today.
But as consumer tastes grew, so did the choices at Tim Hortons. The biggest change in the chain’s product focus took place in 1976 with the introduction of the phenomenally successful Timbit (bite-sized donut hole), today available in over 35 different varieties. The chain’s growth into the 1980’s brought about a whole series of new product introductions: muffins (1981), cakes (1981), pies (1982), croissants (1983), cookies (1984), and soups & chili (1985). Sandwiches, which were originally introduced in 1993, were re-introduced as a new and improved line-up of 6 varieties, called “Tim’s Own”, in 1998. Also, in the 1990’s, bagels (1996), flavored cappuccino (1997), Café Mocha (1999) and Iced Cappuccino (1999) were introduced. In 2003, the Turkey Bacon Club sandwich and Maple Pecan Danish were successful menu additions. In 2005 Tim Hortons introduced, Yogurt & Berries, Cinnamon Roll and Hot Smoothee to the menu. Many new great products were added to the menu in 2006 such as the Chicken Salad Wrap and the hot Breakfast Sandwich (eggs, sausage or bacon, processed cheese on a toasted homestyle biscuit).
The chain’s biggest drawing card remains its legendary Tim Hortons coffee. They throw away their left over coffee every 20 minutes. You are always guaranteed a fresh cup of coffee every time.
In 1995, Tim Hortons merged with Wendy’s International, Inc. Tim Hortons locations can presently be found in Michigan, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, with responsible expansion continuing in these core markets. Currently, there are more than 2,723 stores across Canada, and over 339 locations in the United States.
As I have compared the Tim Horton’s message of top quality, fresh product, value, great service and community leadership to 2 John I have seen some very important aspects of the Gospel Message for us as a church this morning. I pray that I have not stretched the scriptures where it should not be stretched or fall short of what the scriptures say to us in our 21st century padded pew church.
God wants our Church- Shelby Wesleyan Church- to all that it can be for the glory of Jesus Christ. He desires to see us have a grande passion for Jesus Christ in our everyday life, a grande passion for those around us and a grande passion for our community and world. So what is it about the Tim Horton’s gospel message that should shake us awake this morning?
1. Significant Qualities of the Gospel Message.
(Top Quality)
Stamping a seal on products is very important to any food item in the marketplace. When you get your cup of coffee in a Starbucks coffee cup, that cup is the seal that guarantees your coffee drink satisfaction. If you are not satisfied you can return it for another or get your money back.
Top quality is a goal for every company that is worth its salt in the marketplace. How much more crucial is it, then, for the Church to have top quality as its goal.
But there is something different about the Church. The difference isn’t that we make ourselves into being something- as though we were a Tim Hortons restaurant. The difference is what God the Father through Jesus Christ has already done in us.
The significant aspects of the gospel message includes these three key components that the Apostle John opens his letter with:
a. The Church. (1-2)
“To the elect lady and her children…” This is the church. John was not likely writing to another Christian lady with a family but to a church. The Church is key to the gospel message.
b. The Truth
He then goes on to speak about truth five times. He emphasizing the very fact that as Christians and as a Church the truth resides in our hearts. Jesus Christ is the very source of this truth. Every Church ministry must operate in truth and be accountable to that truth. Every Christian must likewise be held accountable for the truth that we are supposed to know and understand and live by.
Another component is referred to by way of the grace, mercy and peace that are found through Jesus Christ.
c. The Cross.
These three elements come only from God and they are evident in our lives when we live a life that is immersed in truth and love.
2. A Fresh Product found in the Gospel Message.
(Fresh product)
When I used to work at Publix Supermarket in Florida, I loved coming into our store early in the morning and smelling the bakery in full swing. Ahhh! What a wonderful way to start the day- a fresh baked donut.
As a Christian every day of your life must be lived liked the fragrance of a bakery- early in the morning. Unfortunately, too many of us let our morning breath get the better of day.
But God’s word calls us to something greater than ourselves because there is supposed to be someone greater who lives within us.
Christianity needs to be fresh everyday. But too often we would rather keep passing our day-old message rather than pray up a new message for today. Again, the Apostle John sets us up with some factors that effect the fresh product of our gospel message.
a. Walking in the Truth.
b. Loving One Another.
c. Obeying God’s Commandments.
How much simpler can this get? Walk in the truth- that is, tell the truth and let the truth lead your life; love others- not with a love that is of yourself but the love that God filled your heart with when he saved you from your death of sins; and then simply obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.
3. The Value of the Gospel Message.
(Value)
We need to beware of deceivers who bark their wares from all parts of the world. I appreciate those of you who come to me with questions about books you’re reading or a television preacher’s comments. We need to constantly be aware of how Satan strives to trip us up with
In the days of the early Church there were a group of people who moved in and out of churches spreading dissension through false teachings. These were called Gnostics.
Gnostics were not simply an off-shoot of Christianity, but were around before Christ. They sought to undermine Christianity by just what John writes: “They do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” They deny the very essence of who God is, the truth of Jesus Christ and the real working of the Holy Spirit. They perceive themselves as religious people who receive mysterious and transcendent spiritual because they are open to truth coming from any source. But yet they reject the realities of Jesus Christ.
The core value of the gospel message is found first of all in Jesus Christ.
a. Jesus Christ as our Core Value.
At the very heart of who we are as Christians and the Church is Jesus Christ. We cannot get away from this. Jesus is our core value. And from this core value of Christ must emanate the whole ministry of the Church.
b. The Church representing that Core Value.
We represent Jesus Christ. When you as a Wesleyan pump gas at Wesco or Clarke’s or BP, you represent this church. The things your do and say in the restaurant represent this church- not just you.
Our message has value not because we are Wesleyans but because we are Christians. We represent the greater local church of Jesus Christ here in Shelby.
4. Christian Service is the Gospel Message.
(Great Service)
a. The Church as a Safeguard:
Keeping what we have worked for.
b. The Church as a Mission:
Teaching what our lives are all about.
5. The Impact of the Gospel Message.
(Community Leadership)
Let’s not kid ourselves about this gospel message that every Christian carries within their heart. That message must have some kind of impact in the world around us.
There is a key phrase found in verse 12: “our joy may be full.” The Apostle John writes to the church that he desires to meet them face to face so that they can both enjoy full impact of what Jesus Christ is doing.
Let me make clear that there is no room in this church ministry for jealousy of any other church ministry. It is not our place to become conceited about what we do nor is it our place to become bitter over what someone else is doing. We should glorify our Father in heaven for how God uses others to reach and touch lives.
There is something that is fulfilling to any church that is impacting its world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. What kind of impact is this supposed to have?
a. We influence our community.
If we don’t who will? God is calling on us to have an influence of holiness in our community. Last year during a meeting with other local pastors, one of them looked across the table at me and said these words: “Rob, your church has a history of holiness. Our community needs the holiness message that your church offers.”
The Holy Spirit spoke to me that moment. We have a rich heritage of holiness that most of us have a hard time grasping and yet it is the message that we have traditionally believed sets a person free from the tentacles of sin, the bondages of alcohol and drugs, and frees the sinner not only from the guilt of their sins, but frees them from their sinfulness and sets them free to serve the living God.
b. We inspire other believers.
Notice in verse 13: “The children of your elect sister greet you.” These words tells the church that John is writing to that they are not in the boat all alone. There is another church doing the gospel message through their lives just like them.
I firmly believe that we must recognize the importance of being in the same boat with other Christians. I love our times together with other Christians. At the crusade this week we have an opportunity to mingle with other Wesleyan type people like us. You need this. Our church needs this.
Conclusion.
Businesses such as Tim Hortons have figured out how to make coffee and donuts into money. Their good news is that fresh coffee and donuts are the very thing you need. And if your wife doesn’t think so, then she can have a bowl of chili and tea biscuit You see, their good news is a gospel message that they have something for everybody.
What is our gospel message?
Our role as a church in sharing the gospel message that Jesus saves. And this message is shared when we live this message.
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