Intro: Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been examining the challenges of CHANGE:
o In our life
o Our physical conditions
o Our Spiritual levels & issues
o Our personal preferences
o The political climate
o Social interactions
o The financial picture
o The Weather is changing
Everything is Changing — In fact, Eccl. 3 tells us there is a time for all this change.
In the midst of all this rapid change, and while the world seems at times to spin out of control,
We need to experience some “Islands of Stability”
• something that never changes
• These islands of stability are things we can depend on
• Things on which we can hang our heart and mind
God’s Love for us will never change
God’s Word will never change- It can be trusted as a firm foundation for life
God’s Purpose for our Lives will never change
Today, I want to close this series of messages by addressing one more of these “islands of stability”
This island of stability is something God initiated to protect and provide for His promised
people who are called according to His purpose
The Church…His Church…The Bride of Christ…The Community of the Faithful
The Church for which Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, came and died.
The Church: The Body of Christ, of which He is the head Eph. 5
The Body of Believers into which Jesus pours His Spirit;
And to which he
o Enables
o Empowers
o Indwells us with spiritual gifts—so that His body can be
Healthy, strong and vibrant --- full of light & salt in a
dark, hurting, confused world.
THAT CHURCH!! Are You A Member of THAT Church?
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The New Testament word for Church is “ekklesia” – the “called out”
• People who are “called out” of darkness – I Peter 2:9 -- into His marvelous light - to be the light of the world
• People who are “called out” of the world in order to GO to a world with Good News -- Mt. 28:19-20 “…Go to the world and make disciples…”
The Great Commission
• People who are “called out” of disobedience to a walk of love and holiness. John 13:34 says this will be the way people will know who we follow. It’s the Great Commandment.
• People who are “called out” generic legalism to experience His all encompassing Grace – so that they will be gracious people
• People who are “called out” of secular individualism into a Community of the Humble & Faithful…dependent and inseparably connected to each other.
Praying for One another
Forgiving One another
Preferring each other
Honoring One another YOU KNOW…THAT CHURCH!!
Bearing One another’s burdens The Called Out
Devoted to One another
Forgiving One another
• People who are “called out” of a life of despair and meaninglessness - - to Hope, Victory and a Divine Purpose
• People who are “called out” of Death and destruction to experience the Abundant Life of Resurrection and Power
• People who are “called out” from their worldly resident to a heavenly citizenship
THE EKKLESIA - The Called Out - The Redeemed -- The Church
• People who are “called out” of suspicion, fear & hate – to a place of grace where…
They passionately love each other
They desire the very best for each other
They keep no record of wrongs
They mutually encourage one another -- Are you Part of that church???
Is That You? Is that your church? That’s How the Bible describes His Church
That certainly can’t be a description of a building… could it? NO WAY!
So, when we say, “We’re going to Church” or “Let’s go to Church”
We don’t mean the building…do we?
Because, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t dwell in buildings,
But He dwells in the hearts of His people – the CHURCH, the “Called Out”
I’m sure this is not a shocking revelation to anyone here this morning, but
YOU ARE THE CHURCH
• When you go to the Wal-Mart / K-Mart or Kroger, the people at the store experience the church
• When you go to work on Monday morning, the Church goes to work
• When you get in a wreck, everyone involved in that tragedy experiences the church
• When you are in a discussion at school or at work or with a neighbor, those people who hear your words, hear the church – the ekklesia – the called out
Therefore, because the church is made up of people, not Brick, Wood or Stone,
People from all over the world, different races & cultures and climates,
Then the church is subject to change. WHY???
Because people are different!
People change
Cultures around the world are different
You say, “Wait a minute, if Jesus is the head of the church,
And Jesus never changes— “He’s the same yesterday, today and forever”
Then, How can the church – His body—be subject to change? GREAT QUESTION!
The theological, and practical answer to that is; IT’S GROWING
However, because people are different and they do things in different ways throughout history, some of which is based on what we call “progress” or technological advances…
METHODS CHANGE
Did you hear that? Let me be clear... Don’t misunderstand –
Methods of doing things change
Can you perform a task many different ways and still be correct? Certainly!
-- unless someone in charge has specified only ONE way.
Now, even though Methods change…The Message and Mission never will.
The Message and the Mission of the Church is still the same.
-- God’s Principles remain as solid as a rock
However, Methods do change -- There’s an old cliché’ that goes like this,
“Methods are many, principles are few; methods change often, principles never do”
How Has Farming changed through the years?
SO, on the one hand, The Methods of the church change because Cultures, Races, People are Different. BUT,
The Message and Mission of the church never change –
because Jesus is the message and the mission – and He does not change.
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Bob Russell is the preacher at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY
In his book, “When God Builds a Church” he tells the wonderful story of that strong, healthy, growing congregation of over 18,000 believers – the ekklesia- called out
Even though he tells the story of how the church started and grew through the years,
the book is really about the 10 principles God uses to build and grow His church.
Allow me to simply list these 10 principles and then we’ll wrap it up.
** However, take note, for these 10 principles will be the foundational building blocks
on which a future series of messages are constructed.
You may want to get the book and study up for this series of messages.
Today, I’m just giving you a sneak preview – a commercial about an upcoming event.
Here are the 10 principles God uses to build and grow His “ekklesia” His church:
1. Proclaim Truth:
• Proclaim God’s Word as Truth
Believe it
Teach it
Apply it
Are there any specific methods we must use to proclaim truth?
2. Worship
• Our worship is to be in spirit and truth – John 4
• Therefore, worship is reserved for God, and God alone.
Are there any specific methods we must use to worship God?
There are 3 questions we should ask:
1) Does it honor God?
2) Does it inspire, uplift and transform the worshiper?
3) Is it powerful enough to draw visitors closer to an encounter with Jesus Christ?
3. Leadership
• Every local body of believers needs to develop Christ-centered leaders who lead by example
• Every leader needs to have a vision of what the church should be
4. Excellence
• Col. 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”
• Strive for excellence in your service: one Southeast slogan is “If it bears His Name, it’s worth our best.”
5. Faith
• Be willing to step up and step out with a bold faith and take risks
that may look crazy to some – that’s okay!
It may feel uncomfortable – but how do you thgink God grows us?
It may sound overwhelming – but He is the God of impossibilities
One man said it this way: “We’re going to try something so big that if God isn’t in it,
It will surely fail.”
6. Harmony
• Phil. 2:12 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
Any comfort from His Love?
Any fellowship together in the spirit?
Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?
Then, make m e truly happy by agreeing whole-heartedly with
one another, and work together with one heart and purpose.”
7. Participation
• Every member of the body of Christ is not only needed but useful as you participate in a ministry in the church.
• The Great commission and Great commandment is given to each of us.
8. Fellowship
• This is not about Church Dinners. It’s about building lasting, loving and dynamic relationships which providers the strength and health needed to grow.
9. Stewardship
• The Bible speaks more about stewardship than any other principle.
• Jesus nailed it when he said, “Where you put your treasure is where people will find your heart.”
10. Evangelism (save the best to last)
• This is the primary mission of the church
• Michael Green, “Not until we burn with a passion, which is almost a pain, to reach people with the gospel, will they be likely to take the matter seriously.”
So, WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
1. We must not confuse Methods and the Message.
God has allowed us the freedom to change methods - and in some cases, we should in order to get a hearing from the younger generation – That calls for flexibility.
One man said it this way,
“If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll be what we’ve always been.”
2. We need to passionately pray for a vision of what God wants this body of believers to be – this is not about us and our comfort or our preferences –
It’s all about Him
We can’t afford to live in the past or on past accomplishments or failures.
We need to catch a glimpse of not only what it SHOULD be, but what it COULD be with God help and power.
We need to stop putting God in our own little box…
We serve a God who specializes in the impossibilities and performs the improbable and certainly has the ability and willingness to go far beyond our imagination.
3. We need to Fall in Love with God’s Glorious Church again.
Are You part of THAT church?
What about today?
