Friendship Baptist Church
Organization Charge
The Purpose of the Church
Acts 16:6-10
6 Now when they [Paul, Silas, and Timothy] had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we [Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke] sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. [NKJV]
INTRODUCTION
.. Several months ago –
. A few of you began to meet with Brother John | Sandy at their home for Bible study.
. Expanding - need of a more accessible location was found in the New Albany - Main Street area.
. Today – God has brought you here = to the corner of Thomas and Shelby.
.. Friendship BC is now at a juncture as a “pastor and a church” – today you are facing a new beginning.
. Consequently – this now raises two questions:
1. What is God’s Purpose for Friendship BC?
2. Where does Friendship BC go from here?
I. What is God’s Purpose for Friendship BC?
.. It is a Threefold Aspect:
. Worship
. Fellowship
. Discipleship
A. First Aspect:
It is to “Worship God” – John 4:23 – worship Him in Spirit & Truth.
1. Realize that you are a church (ekklesia) of Jesus Christ – Matthew 16:18.
. Not a political club
. Not a social club
. Are a local assembly brought together to bring glory to God
. Where – here at Thomas | Shelby – the Lord has called you here (cf. text-v. 10).
2. As a church (house of God) you are the pillar and the ground of the truth – 1 Timothy 3:15.
. Study to know the truth – Church at Berea searched the Scriptures daily – Acts 17:11.
. Stand firm for the truth – Church at Philadelphia was found to be strong in their service, diligent in upholding the word, and faithful to their Savior – Revelation 3:8.
CHARGE:
Friendship BC – “Glorify God” whenever you gather together to Pray, to Preach, & to Praise His Son – The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior!
B. Second Aspect:
It is to “Love One Another” – John 13:34-35 – by this all men will know you are my disciples.
.. Realize what it means to love – Gk. Agape = Unconditional – w/o a need to act.
. Members: Friendship BC
. Pray for one another – but especially for your pastor – Philippians 4:6 – be anxious for nothing but make all your prayer/supplications known to God.
. Listen to one another – no high/low status | no special standing – just “Bear one another’s burdens and … fulfill the law of Christ – Galatians 6:2.
. Forgive one another – Love covers a multitude of sins – James 5:19-20 | 1 Peter 4:8.
. Help one another – become a Barnabas – “Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul” – Acts 11:25.
. Pastor: John Knuckles
. Study – rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15.
. Stand – Preach the word in season | out of season – 2 Timothy 4:2.
. Share – “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” – 1 Corinthians 9:16.
. Supplicate – Pray, Pray, Pray and then Pray some more for your members – 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
CHARGE:
Friendship BC & Pastor Knuckles – Unconditionally love each other – because Christ first loved you – 1 John 4:19.
C. Third Aspect:
It is to Make Disciples - Go, reach out to others – Acts 1:8.
.. Remember the old AT&T commercial – “Reach out and touch someone!”
Matthew 28:18-20
18 … Jesus … spoke … saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age." [NASB]
. Jesus was about to leave and return to His Father in heaven. Just before His ascension He gathered His disciples together and issues to them their marching orders during this age until He returns for them.
.. Examining the commission verses - we can observe that we are to:
. Matthew 28:18-20 - Go, baptize, and teach
. Mark 16:15 - Go and preach
. Luke 24:44-49 - Proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins
. John 20:21 - Sent by Christ (as the Father sent Him)
. Acts 1:8 - Witness (to all)
CHARGE:
Friendship BC – Thomas | Shelby – New Albany, IN: Your mission as a NT Church is not a difficult thing to determine. It seems quite evident you are to be a church that is to – “go, baptize, and teach” – as sent by Christ to all – beginning in Jerusalem (New Albany), Judea (Indiana), Samaria (United States) and to the end of the earth (Nations) – witness until Christ returns. For then and only then will the church’s marching orders be rescinded!
II. Where does Friendship BC go from here?”
.. Forget the Past – “I count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 3:8
.. Go Forward – “concluding that God has called you to preach the gospel to them.” – v. 9-10
v. 9-10 (Text)
A vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
.. What is your vision for Friendship BC?
Psalm 145:1-6
I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness.
. This Psalm by David illustrates to us two things –
1. That God is worthy to be proclaimed.
2. That God should be proclaimed.
THEREFORE:
God is worthy to be known – those of us who know Christ, let us make Him known to others – May Friendship BC vision be to begin “reaching out” and telling others of the saving grace of God towards sinners that is found in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
.. Friendship BC – you are composed of people redeemed by the Son of God, brought together by the will of God to live together as the family of God, in order to do the work of God in the power of the Spirit of God, all for the Glory of God – here at Thomas | Shelby.
FINAL CHARGE:
Friendship BC & Pastor John Knuckles – Be About God’s Work!
INVITATION
Lost – If you have never seen a need for Jesus Christ as your Savior – you cannot know any true worship of God. For all who worship the Lord must be born again. I urge you to recognize today your sinfulness before God, turn from it and look to the crucified and resurrected Christ in faith as your only hope for salvation.
Believer/Church – I urge you too to run to Jesus Christ today and cast yourself upon Him and plead unto Him to show you how to practice Godly worship in a way that brings honor and glory to His Father. May the Holy Spirit guide and lead you in these matters.
.. Our Invitation is open to all –
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Friendship Baptist Church
Corner Thomas | Shelby Street
New Albany, IN 47150
bea0210@hotmail.com
June 03, 2007
