BUILDING BLOCKS
ACTS 6:1-7
Disclaimer: This sermon was gleaned from sources from sermon central and private study
INTRO-
THERE IS A BOOK CALLED “WHAT’S A PASTOR TO DO” - IT COVERS THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT IN MINISTRY. (ONLY 140 PAGES) IT DIDN’T COVER EVERYTHING.
1. PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERSONAL AGENDAS
2. PASTORAL HEALTH
3. PASTORAL IDENTITY
4. PASTORAL INTEGRITY
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE BOOK AFTER READING...IT TELLS ME WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR AS A PASTOR. IT TELLS ME WHAT TO DO TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY, HEALTH, AND IDENTITY.
WE HAVE A BOOK LIKE THAT GIVEN TO US BY GOD ALMIGHTY...AND IT IS CALLED THE BIBLE.
SO MANY PEOPLE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE, DIRECTION, THE WILL FOR THEIR LIFE...ANSWERS FOR THEIR QUESTIONS THEY NEED ANSWERED. THE BIBLE GIVES US THOSE ANSWERS AND FOR MOST , THEY DON’T EVEN CONSIDER IT.
GOD IS THE LAST RESORT LIKE CALLING THE AAA DRIVER WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAK DOWN.
80 % OF ALL PEOPLE IN THE U.S. CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS
WE KNOW THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE-THEIR LIVES TELL US DIFFERENT
60% OF ALL AMERICANS ATTEND CHURCH AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH
12% OF AMERICANS READ THEIR BIBLE
23% NEVER READ THEIR BIBLE
25% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER PRAY
60 % NEVER GIVE TO MISSIONS
70% NEVER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CHURCH
85 % NEVER INVITE ANYONE TO CHURCH
95% NEVER WIN ANYONE TO CHRIST
STATISTICS TELL US THAT WE NEED A SERVANTS HEART IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST...AND WE NEED TO CHOOSE WHAT SIDE OF THE FENCE WE ARE ON
WE ARE BEING BLESSED AS A CHURCH RIGHT NOW. WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME NEW LIFE.
THE VINE HAS NEW LIFE. WE ARE SEEING FRUIT FROM OUR LABOR.
WE HAVE A GREAT EXPECTATION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SERVICE.
THOUGHT- IF THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL IS WINNING SOULS AND THEN DISCIPLING THEM INTO MATURE CHRISTIANS, THEN THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE.
85% NEVER INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH
95% NEVER WINNING A SOUL FOR JESUS
25% NEVER PRAY
THAT’S NOT PASTORAL STUFF...THAT IS BELIEVER’S STUFF. THINGS TOLD THE BELIEVER THAT HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE DOING
IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO SEE GOD MOVE, WE NEED TO BE THE EXCEPTION TO THE STATISTICS I JUST READ.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE THE CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION..”WHICH IS OKAY”
“WE DON’T MIND POTHOLES BEING FIXED, BUT THE ROAD CANNOT BE CLOSED FOR YEARS TO DO IT”
THE EARLY CHURCH FACED THE SAME PROBLEMS WE FACE AND THE LORD IN HIS WORD GIVES US SOME EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW.
READ ACTS 6:1-7
THE CHURCH OF TEN CANNOT THINK LIKE A CHURCH OF TEN IF THEY WANT TO GROW.
THE CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT WHO IS IN THE CHURCH, IT IS ABOUT THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH YOU WANT TO REACH.
THE CHURCH NURTURES THOSE IN THE CHURCH AND GOES AFTER OTHERS WITH THE MENTALITY OF LIFE SAVING....THROWING A LIFE PRESERVER TO THOSE THAT ARE DROWNING.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WHENEVER GOD HAS NEEDED SOMEONE TO INITIATE, ORGANIZE, AND CARRY OUT AN IMPORTANT PROJECT, HE HAS CALLED A LEADER.
LEADERS ARE GOD’S SERVANTS, EQUIPPED BY HIM TO FULFILL A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
THE BIBLE SHOWS US GOOD ONES, BAD ONES ...AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD ONES AND BAD ONES IN OUR LIFE.
I AM NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND THOSE IN LEADERSHIP.
EVERYONE ON OUR BOARD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY, EVERYONE HAS A SPECIFIC JOB TO DO. “NOBODY JUST GOVERNS THE KINGDOM’
THEY ALL KNOW THAT THEIR FEET WOULD BE HELD TO THE FIRE IF NEED BE.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLED OUT TO BE THE HELP MATES OF THE CHURCH.
THE HELPERS, THE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY PEOPLE, THE BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE,
THE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT GOD HAD NO JOB IN THE KINGDOM FOR THEM.
THIS PASSAGE IS ABOUT THE FIRST CHURCH BOARD, ABOUT GETTING THE PEOPLE MOVING.
THEY BUILT THE CHURCH AND UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL OF US PLAY A PART IN THE KINGDOM AND THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.
WE NEED BORN LEADERS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING WE MAKE MISTAKES, WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, AND WE MOVE FORWARD.
THE CHURCH WENT THROUGH A GROWTH PROCESS, IT WAS FIRST THE TWELVE, THEY HUNG OUT, THEY FEED OFF OF WHAT JESUS WAS GIVING THEM.
THE GOSPEL WOULD NEVER GET PREACHED, THE SPIRITUAL MATURITY WOULD NEVER HAVE GROWN, AND OTHERS WOULD NOT HAVE COME INTO THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE IF IT WOULD OF REMAINED THE ORIGINAL GROUP.
OH PASTOR..ARE YOU TELLING ME I HAVE TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS YES
ARE YOU TELLING ME WE HAVE TO OPEN OUR ARMS TO MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL GROUP...YES
ARE YOU TELLING ME I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE MY TALENTS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD...YES
ARE YOU SAYING IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT IS ABOUT THOSE OUTSIDE OF THESE WALLS...YES
2 TIMOTHY 2:15- “STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
THERE COMES A POINT IN EVERY BELIEVERS LIFE THAT THEY HAVE TO MOVE FROM THE SPIRITUAL SMORGESBOARD AND GIVE BACK TO THOSE AROUND US.
COME OFF THE BOTTLE AND BEGIN TO DESIRE THE MEAT OF THE WORD.
IF YOU ARE ALWAYS FEEDING, YOU BECOME DEPENDENT ON EVERYONE ELSE TO DO YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FOR YOU.
TO EFFECTIVELY BE DOING WHAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD IS REACHING OUT OT OTHERS.
QUESTION- HOW MANY OF YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE OF SOMEONE REACHING OUT TO YOU.
BECAUSE SOMEONE (SCARED) WENT AND BEFRIENDED YOU AND TOLD YOU THERE WAS A BETTER WAY.
EVERYONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE A JOB IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD....EXCLUDING NONE OF YOU
I BELIEVE WE MAKE A MISTAKE IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE WE EXPECT SINGLE BULLET PEOPLE TO PERFORM SIX SHOOTER TASKS.
THAT IS NO EXCUSE FOR SOMEONE NOT TO DO NOTHING
I BELIEVE PEOPLE THINK THAT IF THEY TAKE ON A JOB IN THE CHURCH THEY NEED TO DO IT TILL JESUS COMES.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE PEOPLE DOING THE WRONG JOBS BECAUSE NOBODY STEPS UP TO THE PLATE TO THEM.
GOD HAS THE RESOURCES AND THE PEOPLE TO DO THESE THINGS...ARE WE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK AND BE OBEDIENT TO HELP THE KINGDOM.
WE WANT TO CRITICIZE SOMETIMES THE CATHOLICS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO FOR THE CHURCH.
“WE CANNOT EARN OUR WAY TO HEAVEN” THAT IS TRUE
BUT JESUS LOVES THE CHURCH AND IF WE WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS, THEN WE SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CHURCH.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE THIS MORNING CAN BE A PART OF THE CHURCH THAT REACHES LIVES.
WE SAY OUR VISION IS TO REACH THOSE AROUND US. WE CAN DO IT BY 3 WAYS.
HOSPITALITY-
THE BOOK OF ACTS RECORDS “THEY DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE APOSTLES TEACHINGS AND TO THE FELLOWSHIP , TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND TO PRAYS (ACTS 2:42)
TODAY WE LIVE IN AVERY BUSY WORLD. I REALIZE THAT
BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT , WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TIME.
EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED FAST...DRIVE THRU’S, FAST FOODS, DON’T FEEL LIKE GETTING IT, SOMEONE WILL DELIVER
WE NEED TO MAKE TIME FOR THE THINGS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AND FOR THOSE AROUND US.
2. ENCOURAGEMENT
PURPOSELY LOOKING FOR THOSE WE CAN HELP.
NOT SITTING THERE WONDERING WHY NO ONE HAS COME AND DID ANYTHING FOR ME., BUT LOOKING WHO WE CAN BE A BLESSING TOO.
ACTS 6- THE GREEK JEWS WERE MAD AT THE HEBREW JEWS, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEIR NEEDS WERE NOT BEING MEET.
THE TWELVE (LEADERS) APPOINTED SOME TO TAKE CARE OF THESE NEEDS (TO BE THE HELPERS)
THEY WERE MEN AND WOMEN FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF THE LORD AND LOOKING WHO THEY CAN HELP
THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE –SO THAT THE LEADERS COULD DO THE THINGS OF THE CHURCH LIKE PRAYING, PREACHING, TEACHING
AM I ABOVE MOWING THE GRASS OR OTHER MANUAL LABOR...NO , BUT THERE HAS TO BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE SET ASIDE FOR THE THINGS OF PRAYER, TEACHING, PREACHING
I THINK THAT IS WHY BI-VOCATIONAL PASTORS STRUGGLE TO BUILD A CHURCH...
YOU NEED PEOPLE DEVOTED TO THE THINGS OF GOD...AND YOU NEED PEOPLE TO HELP KEEP THE FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH GOING
THE PASTOR IS EXPECTED TO VISIT...BUT WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE DOES IT ALSO..IT IS A BLESSING TO THAT PERSON.
THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR SERVANTS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THOSE WHO WILL DO THE WORK OF THE LORD AND MINISTER TO PEOPLE.
TREES DIE FROM THE TOP DOWN...BUT THEY GROW AND NURTURE FROM THE ROOTS UP
BEFORE WE CLOSE CHURCHES, WE SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THE CHURCHES ARE NOT JUST NEEDING SOME MIRACLE GLOW AND FRESH POTTING SOIL THAT COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GOD FEARING BELIEVERS WHO DECIDE IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY WILL BE A PART OF THE RESURRECTING A BODY OF BELIEVERS ON FIRE
STIR UP THE FLAME AND PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE
ILLUSTRATION-
JOHN WANNAMAKER WAS ASKED WHAT THE SECRET WAS TO GROWTH OF THE WANNAMAKER STORES IN PHILADELPHIA. HIS REPLY “I NEVER FORGET A CUSTOMER, AND I NEVER LET THE CUSTOMER FORGET ME”
CHRIST MESSAGE OF HOLINESS WAS PREACHED FACE TO FACE, WITH SHOE LEATHER TO PAVEMENT IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL TO MINISTRY.
THIS EXAMPLE OF EVANGELISM WILL REVITALIZE A DYING WORLD THAT NEEDS JESUS SO BAD
IT IS PUTTING THE LIVING ORGANISM OF GOD’S LOVE BACK INTO THE ORGANIZATION.
IT WILL MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO ACTION AND DEVELOP HARMONY
I AM A PRACTICAL PREACHER, THERE IS NO PROBLEM THAT CAN’T BE SOLVES AND TURNED INTO AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, KEEPING HARMONY AND A VISION TO REACH THE COMMUNITY IN FOCUS.
IF WE WANT TO GROW AND BE ACCEPTED BY THE COMMUNITY, WE MUST GET INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PERSONALIZE THE MINISTRY.
I THINK I HAVE THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD AS YOUR PASTOR, I ALSO THINK I HAVE A AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I SAID “YES’
I THINK ALSO A CALL TO MINISTRY INCLUDES EVERYONE. IT IS A CALL TO SERVE THE PURPOSES OF GOD IN THE PLACE WHERE HE HAS YOU.
ARE PEOPLE BETTER OFF BECAUSE THEY MEET YOU?
BECAUSE YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THEIR LIFE?
WILL SOMEONE THANK YOU IN HEAVEN BECAUSE YOU CARED TO BE A PART OF THEIR LIFE?
I AM ASKING YOU TO SEARCH YOUR HEART AND SEE WHERE THE LORD MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE YOU
PRAYER.....
