What Kind of “Tator” Are You?
[Slide #1: What Kind of “Tator” Are You?]
Introduction:
Tonight I want to talk to you about “tators.” If you grew up on a farm or ever worked around produce,
you know that there are many different kinds of potatoes. There are sweet potatoes, new potatoes,
Irish potatoes, russet potatoes—the list goes on and on. Did you know there are five kinds of “tators”
in the Church? What kind are you?
[Slide #2: Ephesians 5:1]
Scripture—Ephesians 5:1, NIV
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children...”
[Slide #3: Spectator]
1. Spectator
• Sits on the sidelines and never gets involved in the game.
• Has an excuse why he or she can’t play.
• Yells and complains at the referee.
• Knows how to play the game but never actually does.
• God doesn’t want us to be spectators. He wants us to be involved in the action by giving our
input and making a difference.
[Slide #4: Commentator]
2. Commentator
• Is an authority on everything and can tell you how everything should be done.
• Must have the last word. Makes all kinds of excuses as to why something cannot be done or as
to why he or she is not involved.
• Have you ever wanted to look at one of those people and just say, “You have no idea what you
are talking about”?
[Slide #5: Agitator]
3. Agitator
• Stirs up trouble.
• Is a hindrance rather than a help and blessing.
• Keeps good things from getting done.
• Agitates the kingdom of God rather than the strongholds of Satan.
[Slide #6: Hesitator]
4. Hesitator
• He who hesitates, loses. Paul said to “be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2,
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®; NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
STL_Digisource
© 2009 Gospel Publishing House. Permission to duplicate for local church use only.
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What Kind of “Tator” Are You?
NIV). Be ready all the time to do something for God.
• Don’t be a hesitator when it comes to God’s kingdom. If you wait, you miss out. Hesitators sit
back and say, “I can’t afford to give to missions.” When in reality, you can’t afford not to give to
missions!
• Example: Tiki Barber of the New York Giants was a backup running back. But when the starter
got injured, Tiki stepped in and played his heart out. Do you think he hesitated when the coach
told him to take the field? No. He was ready to do what was asked of him, and he made history.
• We have a chance to make eternal history with STL. Join me and raise the bar. Raise your
personal level of commitment.
[Slide #7: Imitator]
5. Imitator
• Paul challenged the Ephesian church to be imitators of Christ.
• If Jesus were physically here on earth right now, He would certainly give to missions. He would
not make excuses as to why He couldn’t be involved.
• I challenge you to be an imitator of Christ. Don’t be just a plain old “tator”—be an imitator!
• Make an impact on your world: touch a life, witness to a lost friend, give to missions. Do your
part to make a difference in your world.
• One of the ways you can do that is through giving to STL. Every dollar given to STL directly
impacts a missionary’s ability to reach the lost.
• “Your money will go where you can’t!”
• Our missionaries are counting on us to provide transportation and communication equipment for
them. We can’t let them down! Ask God to stretch your faith and vision for missions.
Conclusion:
[Distribute Speed the Light faith promise cards, and ask the students to prayerfully consider what
they could give to Speed the Light over the next (give them a specific time period such as 60 days,
6 months, etc.). Collect the faith promise cards at the end. Be sure to provide the students a regular
opportunity to give to Speed the Light for their faith promise.]
STL_Digisource
© 2009 Gospel Publishing House. Permission to duplicate for local church use only.
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