Are We Ready To GO?
Romans 15:1-6
A. I couldn’t help but think about this message all day yesterday.
1. Car Care Clinic.
a. Tire pressures were checked,
b. Anti-freeze levels checked.
c. Oil levels checked.
d. Transmission fluid levels checked.
e. Windshield washer levels checked.
f. Hoses inspected.
g. Air filters inspected.
h. Belts inspected.
i. Tread wear and tread depth inspected.
j. Windshield wiper blades inspected for wear.
2. All of this was done for one reason…
a. So that when the time came to perform…no matter what the weather, the owners could expect their vehicles to perform as expected.
b. When we run out and jump into our vehicles in the middle of winter…
c. We expect them to start…
d. We expect the heater to work…
e. We expect them to take us safely to our destination and back agin.
f. But we can only expect them to perform in such a manner if we have taken care of them.
g. There is an old axiom in management that says “Inspect what you Expect”.
h. In other words, if we expect performance, we need to inspect the machinery required to perform.
3. It’s like if you decided to go to California tomorrow, what’s the first thing you would do?
a. Ask directions?
b. Pack too many clothes.
c. Map quest the address?
d. Sooner or later, your attention would turn to the vehicle you were going to take.
e. You would probably check everything we did on the vehicles we looked at yesterday.
f. Why??? Because you want to make sure you get there safely…with no trouble.
g. Because it make’s GOOD SENSE!
4. That’s what we are going to do this morning…something that makes good sense…something that’s the right thing to do.
a. A couple of moths ago we as a church decided to go somewhere.
b. We decided to go outside of our walls into the community of Holland and win people to the Lord.
c. And we have done some of the obvious things we nneded to do.
d. We have started some new Sunday School Classes.
e. We have burdened our hearts for our neighbors.
f. We have started working on an outreach program…
g. We are working on the Bus Ministry…
h. Now we need to make sure we are ready to go!
i. Is our church ready to grow?
j. God’s Word provides us with the self-test that we need to ensure that we are ready.
5. If we are going to make an effort to reach others, we first need to make sure we are ready to receive them.
a. In the 15th chapter of Romans the Apostle Paul gives us five marks of a spiritually healthy church.
b. As we look into these attributes this morning, let’s ask ourselves two questions on each and every point…
c. Number one…Is my church like that?
d. Number two…what can I do to get it that way?
(Rom 15:1 KJV) We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
BODY
A. Mark #1. We then that are strong out to bear the infirmities of the weak…
1. In a strong church…the strong bear the weaknesses of the weak…
a. Who are the weak???
b. Chapter 14 tells us they are those who..
> judge, grumble, complain, murmur, and criticize…
> those who still trust in a legalistic behavior…
> those who know better yet still live a life displeasing to God…
> those who are living in direct disobedience to God’s word.
c. There are a word that is interesting in this passage.
2. The word is “ought” or opheilo…meaning this is our obligation or duty!!
a. This does not mean we are to merely put up with them…
b. It means we are to “pick them up” and carry them lovingly as a parent does a child!!!
c. But note this…the more a child grows, the less the parent should have to carry them!!
d. In other words we are to be strong for them while God’s Holy Spirit deals with the issues in their lives.
e. Some of us are more hard headed than others!!!
f. Some of us have harder hearts than others.
g. For some of us it takes longer for Go’s words to penetrate our hearts and especially to the point that it will produce life-altering change.
h. Some folks need to soak in grace longer than others.
i. We who are strong are to bear them up.
3. Now you may be asking yourselves…WHY should I do that???
a. Look at the last part of verse 1 and all of verse two…
and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
b. We are to (every one of us) live to please or edify our neighbor.
c. Instead of asking ourselves…is the the right thing to do…we should be asking ourselves…would this be right for my neighbor!
d. We are to live for our neighbors edification!
e. It doesn’t matter:
where we want to go.
The food we want to eat.
what we want to drink.
The film we want to see.
The things we want to buy.
f. If it is going to be a stumbling block to a brother…we simply don’t need to do it!
g. We please, help, support, and live for the good of our brothers and sisters, so that they may be edified and built up in the faith.
4. Verse 3 shows us the pattern for this lifestyle…Jesus…pleased not Himself.
a. Jesus’ entire life was lived for our good.
5. What a glorious spirit would prevail in our church if this was practiced like verse two says by “every one of us”.
6. Think how life-changing this one point would be if we would begin to put this in place.
We live in an age of special spiritual danger. Never perhaps since the world began was there such an immense amount of mere outward profession of religion as there is in the present day. A painfully large proportion of all the congregations in the land consists of unconverted people, who know nothing of heart-religion, never come to the Lord's Table, and never confess Christ in their daily lives. Myriads of those who are always running after preachers, and crowding to hear special sermons, are nothing better than empty tubs, and tinkling cymbals, without a bit of real vital Christianity at home.
B. Mark # 2 In a strong church, everyone studies the Scriptures.
1. This is a great verse on the reson for studying the scriptures.
a. In very simple terms it tells us why we have the Bible.
b. God gave us this revelation of Himself for our instruction, our learning, direction, and guidance.
c. We are to study all of God’s Word, not just the NT.
d. Many in the religious world today want to discredit the OT.
e. They say we are not under the law anymore, and the OT is concerned with the law.
f. I encourage you to look at verse 4…
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
g. These things written aforetime were the books of the OT.
h. The OT is just as good for our learning and direction as the new.
i. Everything in the OT points us toward the Savior.
(2 Tim 3:16 KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
j. ALL SCRIPTURE. PERIOD
(2 Pet 1:21 KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2. The Word of God was written to stir three things in the hearts of the believer.
a. Paitencce.
b. Comfort
encouragement
consolation
solace
help
exhortation
supplication
Whatever is need to bring comfort to the reader is found in these pages.
c. This is for free…the paper is not sacred…write notes…underline…highlight…whatever it takes to commit these wonderful truths to your heart and mind.
d. Hope.
3. God’s Word is the living Word…what does that mean???
a. It means it will come alive in your heart as you study it.
b. Many people don’t read God’s word because they are afraid of the changes they will be convicted to make in their every day lives.
c. If God’s Word tells you to change something, you’d better believe…you’ll be better off with it changed.
d. We need to study God’s word with a pre-determined determination!
e. We will do ALL that we understand to do!
C. Third Mark…In a strong church…there is unity among the brethren.
1. In a strong church, everyone accepts one another.
a. There is no discrimination whatsoever.
b. Who you are should not matter to theis church.
c. How much worldly possessions you have should not matter to this church.
d. Your history should not matter to this church.
e. Your color should not matter to this church.
f. Your marital status should not matter to this church.
g. Your station in life should not matter to this church.
h. What should matter to this church is your spiritual well being and growth.
2. Story of Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at Park Place.
a. Homeless man froze to death two months later ΒΌ mile from that new facility!
b. This shouldn’t be!
c. God’s house should be a place of refuge…
d. A place of rest…
e. A place of peace…
f. My vision…it will be a safe place for all!
D. Mark 4…In a strong church…the people glorify God.
1. I am convinced that the # 1 priority of the church is to worship God.
a. Above all else.
b. Before all the programs.
c. Before all the fellowship.
d. Even before outreach…
e. Our #1 priority is to worship.
f. If we do not worship, there will not be the heart for programs, fellowship, or reaching the lost.
g. If we do not worship there will be no getting our heart right.
h. If we do not worship we will not put God on the thrones of our lives.
The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles present the very early Christians, then still very much a part of the Jewish scene, as frequenting both the Temple and synagogues, as well as worshipping in private homes, frequently to "break bread," a term which connotes both the sharing of a meal and, within that context, celebrating the Eucharist. Acts 2:42 presents the very early Church of Jerusalem as "continuing in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship [or "communion], the breaking of bread, and the prayers."
2. The bible also tells us the spirit by which they worshipped.
(Acts 1:14 KJV) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
(Acts 2:46 KJV) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
(Phil 2:2 KJV) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
a. They worshipped together!!!
b. They worshipped united…of one accord.
c. They had FOCUS.
3. Sometime I get tickled (but most of the time just plain ol’ aggravated) when people tell me they don’t have to come to church to wordhip God!
a. I want to tell them yes you do, because you won’t worship Him on your on!!!
b. I don’t know how anyone can love God and not love His church!
c. Worshiping God is salve for the soul.
d. It is comfort for the broken hearted…and it is rest for the weary.
e. It is elation for the joyful…
f. It is blessed for the prayerful…
g. And it is heavenly for the healed…
h. It is VITAL for the health of the church be be involved in worship.
E. The 5th Mark…A strong church receives one another.
1. This word receive means to “take unto ones self”.
a. To receive as a good friend.
b. To take under ones wing.
c. To teach and instruct in the ways of the communal body.
d. There are many we are hoping to reach in this community who were not raised in church.
e. They don’t know the simple things about reverence and good order.
f. There kids do not know not to run or shout or fight at church.
g. Someone has to teach them.
h. Someone has to show them.
i. Someone has to love them enough to spend time with them!!!
2. We are to receive one another as Christ received us…just as they are!!!!
a. No person is too poor.
b. No person is weak.
c. No person is too big a sinner.
d. Jesus walked and talked and witnessed among the vilest offenders there were in His day.
e. Why should we be any different?
(Luke 14:23 KJV) And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
3. We are to receive each other for the glory of God!
a. That is to be our motive.
b. That is to be our goal.
c. That the lost be reached so that God may be glorified through it.
d. A strong church receives sinners…just as they are!!!!
CONCLUSION
A. Five Marks of a strong church that is ready to reach it’s community.
1. A church where the strong bear the weaknesses of the weakest member.
2. A church where everyone studies the Scriptures.
3. A church where there is unity among the brethren.
4. A church where the people glorify and worship God together…in unity.
5. A church where lost sinners are received…just as they are.
