Lesson Goal
I hope to encourage giving an annual sermon about the local church.
Lesson Intro
We can easily become like the Samaritans who focused more on worshiping God in a certain place than worshiping God who rules the universe. Denominationalism and provincialism can all be forms of idolatry. Yet, there are times when we need to discuss the local church.
Lesson Plan
The local church, its administration, annual reporting, future plans, programs, difficulties and finances need to be addressed occasionally in a sermon. This chapter introduces preachers to techniques for preaching on this sometimes delicate and sensitive subject matter by analyzing, reporting or visioning about the church.
Lesson Body
This is sometimes called the church program sermon, but there are more reasons to talk about the local church than merely its programs, as we will see.
Analyzing
A modern form of the church sermon is the church analysis. It may take the form of a professional analysis from one of the many groups that do such things for a fee, or it may be something that a church's local leaders or denominational leaders have put together. The following points for congregational input and discussion come from the book Twelve Keys to an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan (1987, Harper and Rowe) and serve as an example. Each topic can be examined for its strengths and one area of improvement, with the congregation asked to fill in a survey, and a church sermon given on the results: -
mission goals
visitation
corporate worship
small groups
leadership resources
decision making
programs
accessibility
visibility
parking, land and landscaping
space and facilities
financial resources
This can sometimes be a delicate topic, and so tact and diplomacy are essential. Remember the maxim, to give none offense.
Reporting
Many churches have an annual general meeting of some kind. Every pastor or priest ought to consider giving an annual "state of the church" sermon. Those churches which do so, often pick either January or July as the time to give this message, or any other time of year that fits their financial year, climate or attendance estimates. This can be similar to a chairman of the board's address and as such can include the elements found in an annual report of any kind, such as: -
Annual Highlights - e.g. evangelism, advertising, church camps, church picnics, conferences.
Pastor's or Priest's Report - e.g. preaching, Sunday school, Bible Studies, counseling, elders, deacons, volunteers, attendance
Ministry Reports - e.g. music & media ministries, children's ministries, youth ministries, family & elderly ministries, small groups, pastoral care & visitation, buildings & grounds
Financial Report - e.g. income, major expenses, salaries, missionary support
Visioning
Plans: This may be a broad sermon encompassing a variety of corresponding visions, combining them into an overall vision for the local church. This kind of sermon could be very business-like, but may also contain emotional and motivational elements. Church plans may cover evangelism, building projects, developing ministries and a host of other items.
Dreams: A visionary sermon may not necessarily go into great detail. It may be more of a motivational sermon, or a Marin Luther King style "I have a dream" sermon.
Whose Vision: For a church's plans and dreams to be appropriate, they must be in line with Jesus' vision for the Christian Church. If it is just a local pastor or priest building his personal empire, rather than building a small piece of the kingdom of God, then it becomes a glaringly fruitless endeavor, a worthless white elephant. God is not concerned as much about the size of a church as its health. Size does not necessarily mean God's blessing. We could be just building a large congregation which worships the idiotic theories of a mere man, unless we intentionally follow Jesus as the head of the Church and ask for heaven's guidance of our every effort.
Proverbs 29:18 - Many people love to misquote this verse when speaking about vision. The word vision in this verse means something slightly different than hopes and dreams, or having big goals. Yet, that is too often how it is misused. It actually means that without a prophecy or revelation, the people cast off restraint. Now of course, when our dreams for the church match any prophecy or revelation from God, it genuinely is God's vision for the church, not just our human lusts or desires for big things. We usually pray that God would lead us, but then too often just go about doing things our way, acting like our prayers were just a form. God gives us plenty of his vision in the Scriptures and also by direct personal revelation that harmonizes with and does not contradict the Bible.
Example Sermon
Title: "Let's Dare to Dream"
Goal
Let’s give the church vision for the Gospel.
Intro
Nothing exists until we dare to dream. Every great enterprise that was ever built, every great building, every great church, existed first in the heart of a single individual long before it ever existed in reality. Nothing exists until we dare to dream. The temple existed in David's heart long before anyone began to build. The great churches in Asia Minor and Greece existed in Paul's mind long before they happened. Paul dreamed and churches were planted. Nothing exists until we dare to dream.
How did the Bible come to exist in your hands? It is because over 40 authors during more than 1500 years, from every walk of life - politicians, peasants, poets, and philosophers dreamed of something bigger than their own small lives. They were willing to dream of what God could do through one yielded life.
Plan
Let's just let our imaginations go wild today and dare to dream big dreams, looking at visionary faith.
Body
1. Big Dreams
Can we dream of the number of Christians in our town doubling in size - churches that are obeying Christ's command to make disciples? I dream of churches where God is worshipped, lives are changed, people love each other, they come to bless the Lord and each other, and are so switched on that they readily invite their friends. Nothing exists until we dare to dream.
I dream of churches conducting services at various times of the week that will reach new disciples. I dream of churches that place the Great Commandments and the Great Commission ahead of tradition. I dream of the people of God telling the good news because they are excited and happy to tell about it. I dream of churches fulfilling the purpose for their existence - being fishers of men. I believe the human heart hungers for what only Christian churches can provide. I dream, because nothing will ever happen until we dare to dream.
2. According to Our Faith
When Jesus met two blind men who wanted to be healed, the first thing he asked them was if they believed he was able to do that (Matthew 9:28). What a strange way to begin a conversation! It seems that it all depended on whether they believed. Jesus told others that things would be done to them according to their faith. Was Jesus saying, "You make the call?" Was he saying, "If you want to be helped by God, you can be. But you must believe it to see it. It will be done for you according to your faith?"
The eyes of the Lord are moving back and forth across the whole earth (2 Chronicles 16:9) to find a people of faith, because nothing happens until someone believes. Is God also saying to his people in the churches, as he said to those two blind men, "It will be done for you according to your faith. You will see it when you believe it?"
Daring to dream big is a faith issue. Dreams are about seeing what is not yet in existence and believing it can become reality. Is God limited by our faith? No, his power is limitless. Then why does he allow his great power to be limited to our faith? Is it because he wants us to learn to live by faith? Why did Jesus not do many miracles in his hometown? It was because of their lack of faith (Matthew 13:58) The Bible does not say he could not do many miracles, just that he did not. He can do anything. God often chooses to do a Work only as large as our faith.
How large a Work will we allow him to do in the churches? Can we dare to dream great dreams for our fellowships? God will accomplish his Work with or without us. Whether or not he uses us, depends on whether or not he finds us to be people of faith.
3. Becoming a People of Visionary Faith
Romans 10 mentions that faith comes by hearing the word of God preached. There are other ways as well to refill our faith tanks. Regular refills are necessary. It's no use being a wonderful servant of the Lord, if you are not returning to the source on a regular basis for a refill. The dream is everything. Faith is everything.
If a pastor or priest was in his office, 100 hours a week, would the church say, "What a wonderful, hard-working fellow?" Frankly, he would burn out and end up being useless. If he took 40 days off to fast and pray, would the church complain that he took too much time off? Then might he just be the most effective pastor or priest we ever had?
Church pastors and priests who work 100 hours a week, make every hospital visit, every activity, and never let a need a person's needs go unfulfilled are the most popular people in the Christian Church. But they usually burn out within a very few years, suffer nervous breakdowns, and if they are married, have their marriages fall apart. If however, every church leader took time off regularly to be alone with God, and considered daily prayer and Bible study part of his job, spending a balanced amount of time in his other duties, might brethren still complain? Might these then really be the most effective pastors or priests in the Christian Church?
If every church's lay members spent 40 hours on the job, and another 60 serving the needs of the church, then people would heap praise on the churches for their service. Christians would surely be the most serving people in the community. However, how long would it last? If every church's members spent regular time alone with God, and then a balanced amount of time in Christian service, might they just really become the most effective members of the community?
What about you? When was the last time you took time off to fast and pray? I don't mean missing three meals and continuing to work. I mean a spiritual vacation, a spiritual retreat.
So many Christians are such wonderful servants - prepared, well-spoken, eager, creative, diligent, and full of wit and charm. All these things are pleasing, but without faith, without a dream, it's all in vain.
You may be one of those Christians described in 1 Corinthians 1 where it says that not many wise men, not many might or noble are called. Excellent! You are a prime candidate for God to use - IF you have faith. God usually chooses people like that, who are fully committed to him, and floods their lives with all the support of heaven (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is looking for people of faith who will believe his purpose here on earth, and desire to join him in it. That's the dream. It's God's plan alive in us.
4. Check our Fuel Gauge
What about daily fill-ups of faith? All we have is today. We must keep topping up with faith. We must seize the day.
Some vehicles are equipped with fuel tanks that enable them to travel thousands of miles or kilometers. Most cars must fill up every 400-600 kilometers (or 300-400 old-fashioned miles). We too need regular fill ups of faith. What are you doing to keep your faith tank filled?
The best time to get a fill-up is before you run out of fuel. Yet, spiritually speaking, too often we let our tanks run dry. We get in a bad attitude, feel like quitting, have a family fight, contemplate suicide, quitting the church, divorcing, quitting the job, run on the verge of a nervous breakdown, get dangerously close to an affair, get drunk, or simply burn out and get in bad shape from overwork. It is much better to get refueled before it's too late - before we really go off the deep end.
How often do we get spiritually stranded for no better reason than because we failed to get regular fill-ups of faith? We feel good so we just keep right on going. Why do anything? We feel just fine.
Riding in a car about to run out of fuel feels fine too? Unless you happen to look at the fuel gauge. A car will run exactly the same near empty as it will on full. Running out of fuel, occurs suddenly, and everything stops. So we need to keep an eye on the fuel gauge. How does yours read right now?
5. Our Spiritual Fuel Gauge
We read our spiritual fuel gauge by measuring the little things. A fuel gauge is a little thing. How is your attitude being tested hour by hour today in the small everyday trials? Are you becoming irritable, critical, moody, and negative? These are little indicators that you are in need of some quiet time alone with God - you need to tank up.
What if the vehicle you are driving is not a car but an airplane? Some people seem to soar in this life, don't they? But when they run out of fuel, they crash and burn. These high-flyers also do a lot more damage when they run out of fuel. They often carry a lot more passengers too. If your station in life requires you to fly above the clouds, then you need to be doubly sure of your fuel level. You also need a lot more fuel, and a different grade.
You may say, "I'm burned out right now, but can't afford to take any time off." Well, you'd better, because you're only continuing to do more damage to yourself and others, the longer you wait.
We all need to fill up daily, several times a day, praying without ceasing, like David who worshipped God seven times a day (Psalm 119:164). Regular quiet times are vital, and in emergencies, complete time off. In some cases, we may need several weeks, months or even years off. When we run out of fuel on the road, we are forced to delay our schedules, until we can find a way of refilling our tanks. In spiritual matters, we can fool ourselves that we can keep going without a refill. In reality, we can't. We have to stop, change our schedules, and refill before matters get worse.
6. Our Spiritual Environment
Pray, study, fast - yes. But also associate with positive people. Don't let yourself be dragged down by friends, even long-time dearly loved friends. You may have to avoid them before they drag you down with them. I'm not talking about a normal bad day here, but friends who are in a long term downward spiral into negativity, criticism, and accusation. If you can't get them out of it, get out of there before you are dragged down with them.
Put up encouraging posters on your wall. Put an encouraging Bible verse on your screensaver. Listen to uplifting Christian music. Make new friendships with positive Christians. Take a long walk in a quiet area away from traffic noise. Memorize faith building verses. Read encouraging, faith-building books by Christian authors. Read the Psalms. Do whatever it takes to stay full of faith. It's far easier to remain faith filled, than to regain faith once lost.
Another way to stay full of faith is to meditate on faith building stories from contemporary Christian life and the Bible. Peter blew it royally when he denied Christ, but Jesus gave him special responsibilities, and encouragement. I find that encouraging when I blow it. Even Jesus needed reassuring from time to time. God encouraged him with the words: you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. How many times have we prayed, "Lord, please encourage me, I'm so down right now."
When Joseph was kidnapped and sold into slavery he went kicking and screaming. (Genesis 42:21) But later in his life, he understood that God intended it for good to accomplish what was then being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20).
Romans 8:28 is that famous verse which says that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to God's purpose.
Not everything is good. Not everything we do is what God would have us do. He would probably have preferred that 2,000 years worth of splits in the Christian Church did not occur, but they have. People sin against you and me in ways that are not God's perfect will. We also sin. But, he always works it out for good, even our own failures. There's an encouraging fuel additive we can put in our tanks.
Philippians 1:6 encourages us to be confident that God began a good work in us and will carry it out. If we fail, there is grace. God knows we can't work it out on our own. We need to fill our tanks regularly with encouragement like this.
Jeremiah 29:11 encourages us that God plans for us to thrive and give us hope and a future. Contrary to how we sometimes feel, God is on our side working things out. Philippians 4:13 explains that we can do everything through God, who gives us strength.
Put that in your fuel tank! My Dad did the Dale Carnegie course as part of his sales training, and he had some things stuck on his mirror that he had to say to himself every morning as a confidence builder. What if we said, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength," ten times every morning? Would that put faith in our tanks? If you tried it for 30 days, what changes would you see in your life?
7. Our Dreams
Dreams have a lot to do with faith and hope. People of faith dream of a great future and set goals to accomplish things. We need two kinds of goals - soft (e.g. to be more spiritually minded churches) and hard, (e.g. to double in size of our churches in the next few years).
We need to want to grow spiritually and in numbers. We need to take ownership of the idea that it is God's desire for his church to grow - the goal of being fishers of men is to get men. It is not the goal of a few leaders alone. It is not the goal of a few zealots. It is the churches' goal to be fishers of men.
How big is your dream? Do you dare to dreaming great things for God? Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators, asked, "What is the need of the hour? More money? Better methods of evangelism? Better buildings? No. It is none of these. The need of the hour is for an army of men and women who believe that God is God and that he will fulfill every promise he ever made."
For the church to join God where he is, in making disciples and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus taught, begins with a dream. Nothing will happen until we dare to dream.
7. Suggested Questions for Small Group Discussion
When in your life was your faith tank most full? When in the last year did your faith tank near the bottom? Why is it so important to keep your faith tank filled? What is the relationship between faith and daring to dream? How does setting goals relate to faith and daring to dream? If you have ever run out of fuel, what was the biggest lesson you learned? How does it relate to faith? What are some things that keep your faith tank filled? What are some ways that empty your faith tank really fast? Can you avoid some of these things? What must you do when your faith tank is almost empty, or completely runs out? What are some creative things you do to refill you life with faith? Is faith built gradually, brick by brick, or all at once in spurts? When did your faith go through a growth spurt? How can we help each other keep our faith tanks full, to spur one another on to love and good works? What do you dream of God doing in your life in the next few years? What do you dream of God doing in your church in the next few years? Do you believe God could use you to advance his kingdom dramatically in the next few years? How would you describe the level of faith of your church? What are some things you could do to increase the level of faith in your church in the next year? Is anyone going through a particularly difficult trial of faith right now? How can we help them?
Outro
Let's just let our imaginations go wild and dare to dream big dreams, making sure that we are immersed in the things of God and his Word so that we have faith to follow those visions.
Suggested Assignment
Choose a topic that could be covered as a church sermon: analyzing, reporting or visioning.
Lesson Outro
We have examined giving a topical sermon where the topic is the local church, its administration, annual reporting, future plans, programs, difficulties or finances. We have seen that this needs to be addressed occasionally in a sermon, especially on an annual basis. This can sometimes be a delicate and sensitive subject but can be handled by analyzing, reporting or visioning about the church.
