• The church is in a sad state
• Barna Research says: 1.2 million will leave their faith in 2023. 70% of kids will lose their faith in their freshman year of college.
The data isn't pretty. Radical secularism is winning the souls of our youth.
"To move from religion to secularism is not so much a loss of faith as a shift into a new set of beliefs and into a new community of faith, one that draws the lines between orthodoxy and heresy in different places." Timothy Keller
"I’m preaching on revival, but there was nothing to revive…There has been a failure of transfer of discipleship to the next generation and there’s nothing to revive.” Jon Tyson from Sermon God comes Where He’s Wanted.
I was handed this last week from Carol, I told her that anything she hands me is fair game for sermon material. It just so happens that this fit with part of what I’m sharing today. As we’ve seen in just the little bit of wonderful news I’ve already shared this morning
Each year, thousands of churches close their doors. Why? One simple yet complicated answer, they kept doing things that did them in. I want to share with you 12 mistakes dead churches make before we talk about the Marks of a Healthy Church.
o Growth just happens
They mistakenly believe growing churches are nothing more than the result of being in the right place at the right time.
But you have to realize that the perfect garden in the perfect place won’t stay perfect if you just walk away and leave it.
o You can have evangelism without evangelists
In other words, you can reach the lost without ever having anyone in the church actually reach out to the lost.
They believe you can win souls without soul winner. That’s why they die.
o You can have progress without change
They want to grow. They really do. They just don’t want to change
They don’t want any new people taking their parking place, seat, or place of leadership in the church
o You can have success without sacrifice
They want growth and don’t mind the cost as long as someone else pays it/ They’ve convinced themselves great things can come about without any price being paid or pain being experienced.
o God will bless in spite of sin and unholy living
They believe God will bless in spite of how they live
Obviously, there have been no in-depth studies of the lives of people like Achan, Samson, David, Ananias and Sapphira.
o First-class facilities, grounds, printed materials, programs and activities aren’t important
In a dying church, members often think ripped and worn out carpet, parking lots with cracks as wide as the Grand Canyon, burned out lights, poorly designed, typo-riddled programs, landscaping resembling a tropical rain forest, equipment from the ‘50’s, etc. doesn’t matter to the unchurched.
The fact is, people who demand excellence in the cars they drive, homes they live in, and places where they do business, won’t accept less than the best form the church they attend.
o Leaders don’t have to be tithers
Their leaders lead by the motto: “Do as we say, not as we do.” Most people would be shocked to learn how many leaders don’t tithe in dying churches.
Their “weakly” giving is just that. That’s why their church is dying
o By-laws, budgets and board meetings are really important
They are constantly beset by the “B’s”
? By-laws
? Budgets
? And Board meetings…as if those things somehow impart the supernatural, providential blessing of God
Growing churches focus, instead, on the Bible
o The Pastor and staff work for us
They see their Pastor and staff as official employees who are paid to do the work of the church.
The Bible teaches the opposite. In fact, the Pastor and staff are to equip the saints “for the work of the ministry.”
o Being traditional is spiritual
People in dying churches think “the way we’ve always done it,” is somehow holier than attempting something new. They forget the time-test traditions of today were cutting edge “new” things of the “good ‘ole days.”
o The world cares about our doctrine.
They mistakenly believe their beliefs will bring more believers. Few unchurched people even know what doctrine is.
We ought to have the right doctrine for sure. However, just having the right doctrine alone won’t grow a church
o There’s always next year
They have no sense of urgency
Growing churches are passionate, enthusiastic and urgent about everything. They pursue ministry every day, as if they don’t have the promise of tomorrow. Because they don’t. And quite frankly neither do we
• Church
In many ways there’s an illness that is going through the church
o Just as you would go to a doctor to get well
o In the same sense every church needs time to develop into a healthy church
o There are some that want that instant gratification
o But it takes time for a church to grow into a healthy church
o Oh, it can get sick overnight
o But to get healthy takes time
o You can get a cold and be sick and in the hospital the next day
o But to get healthy you might need days and days of antibiotics
o When I got covid, a couple of years ago
o Even with the antibody infusion, it still took 24 days for me to get over it
o And I was considered one of the lucky ones
o There were people who took months to get over covid
o Now, there are some churches that develop faster than others for a variety of reasons
o But as we start this book of Philippians
o And we start to look at ourselves
o And we start to look at CW Church
o We can’t become discouraged if we’re hooked up to an IV getting antibiotics for awhile
o We have to remember that
? Christ has made an eternal commitment to the church
? To each of us
? To stick with us
? Work with us
? Has sealed us with the Holy Spirit
? Until we become fully mature
o As we start to look closely into this book
o As we start to look closely at CW Church
o As we start to look closely into our own lives
o We begin to see Him bring shape
o We begin to see Him bring color
o And a glorious maturity to His Church
o Not what man wants us to be
o Not what we think we should be
o Not what society says we should be
o But what the Word says
o What Christ says
o What the Lord says
o What the Holy Spirit directs us to be
o What the Bride of Christ should be
o That’s what CW Church is all about
o Isn’t it?
• Okay, let’s take a look at the Marks of God’s People
• By looking at the Marks of a Healthy Church
• Now, I have to warn you
• I have to instruct you here at the beginning
• That when you start to self-examine
• When you start to look into the mirror
• There are times that you will not like what you see
• There are times that you will say
o Wait a minute preacher
o That’s not us
o Well, we’re going to use the Word of God as our measuring stick
o And if the Word says it
o And we’re not measuring up to it
o Then it is us and we ought to make some changes
o We ought to repent and get back on the right road
o Because He’s called us to be a Healthy Church
o We can’t be the powerful Church that we ought to be
o We can’t be the overcomers that we should be
o If we’re not doing what He’s called us to do
• Also, there’s going to be times in this that you’re going to have to do some thinking
• This is not going to be spoon-feeding time
• This is pulling yourself up to the table
• Picking up the fork, knife, spoon and digging into the food that the Lord has prepared for you in the presence of the enemy
• We have to stop running and cowering from the enemy
• Let’s eat at the table that the Lord has prepared
• Let’s stop watching others eat
• He’s prepared it for you
• So, come to the table and let’s eat
• Philippians 1:1-2
o To God’s people in the city of Philippi and their bishops and deacons to everyone who is united with Christ Jesus.
o Good will and peace from God and our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!
• I want to read it from the Amplified this morning and will be working from that version today
• Actually, will probably be working from the KJV and the Amplified as we study Philippians
o Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God’s consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):
o Grace (favor and blessing) to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
• Let’s pray
• Introduction
o This is quite an unusual greeting to a church from Paul
o He does not refer to himself as an apostle of Jesus
o You start to wonder
? Why?
o Well, maybe not everyone wonders that
o I mean have you ever read Scripture and just sat and wondered
? Why did they write things that way
? Why didn’t Paul write
• Hey, this is Paul and I’m an apostle
? After all I know a lot of pastors that would make sure that you know they are Sr. Pastors
? Or they are the directors
? Or they are doctors
? Or they have this title or that one
o But Paul…
o He doesn’t give us that here in this greeting
o Why?
o Well, I’m so glad that you Bible Scholars asked that wonderful question
o There was no need for him to defend his call from God
o His relationship with the church at Philippi was just what is should be
o A relationship founded and rooted in Jesus
o And in the love and respect for each other
o You see, when you’re called by the Lord
o Walking with the Lord
o Doing what the Lord has called you to do
o Fulfilling the two greatest commandments
? Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind
? And your neighbor as yourself
o You don’t have to defend yourself
o People know who you are
o They know that you’re
? God’s child
? You’re Christ’ friend
? You’re justified through the blood
? You’ve been bought with a price
? You’re a member of Christ’s body
? You’re a saint
? You’ve been adopted
? You’re secure in your relationship
? You’re significant
? You’re the salt of the earth
? You have the Light living in you
? You’re the branch of the True vine, a channel of His life
? You have been chosen
? You’re appointed to bear fruit
? You have a personal witness
? You’re God’s temple
? You’re a minister
? You’re God’s co-worker
? You’re seated with Christ in the heavenly realm
? You can approach God with freedom and confidence
? And you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you
? Oh, I forgot one
? You’re sealed by the Holy Spirit
o Paul knew this
o He lived this
o And the church knew this
o The church held its minister, ever so closely to its heart
o They loved and cared for him as few churches love and care for their ministers
o This greeting gives us some insights into this relationship and some outstanding distinctives of Christian believers
• Discipleship
o Look at the first three words of this book
o Paul and Timothy…
o There is a bond here between these two
o It’s like a
? Father and son relationship
o That affection found its root and purpose in the mission of Christ
o Paul contributed the wisdom of experience,
o Timothy the hope and vibrant energy of youth
o We need to note that Paul is mentioned first
? The adult, if you will
o That’s significant because
? The adult always hold the primary responsibility
? And the privilege for taking hold of young people
? And making disciples of them
o There is nothing more exciting in the Christian walk than making disciples
o Now, my experience in ministry was/is quite unique and I’m quite blessed
o When I started in ministry there were a few “adults” that influenced my training
o One was my first Sr. Pastor
? John Ritter
o He’s the one that made me listen to myself preach
? Oh, how I hated that
o However, he wasn’t in my life very long
o My Paul, if you will, was my father
? Hospital visit
• Discipleship
• Isn’t that what Christ commanded us?
• Isn’t that what we should be doing as believers
• You see, one of the marks of a healthy church
• Or the mark of a healthy believer is someone who disciples young people
• We must always keep our focus on finding people and make disciples of them
• Look at Matthew 28:19-20
o Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
o Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. AMEN.
• Commissioned
o Jesus commissioned His followers
o He commissioned not only the eleven apostles,
o But all who were present,
o More than 500 disciples.
o However, there is something crucial that we have to note
o It was impossible for that generation to reach the whole world in its lifetime
o So, the commission give to the first generation of believers
o Extends beyond to all generations of believers.
o Oh, wait,
o I guess that includes you and me
o Jesus charges us with the very same words
? Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations…
• This isn’t just for the preacher
• This isn’t just for the missionary
• This is for ALL believers
• You and me
• You have a relationship with Jesus Christ
• That means you’re commissioned to go
• But that commission is a threefold commission
• First, He commissions us to “go ye…and make disciples of all nations.”
o This is one of the crucial verses in the Bible.
o There is no other verse that is more important for genuine believers
o Teaching and baptizing are not enough to reach the world for Christ
o Both are important,
o And Christ commissions both
o But He says something else must precede both
? Discipleship
o Go ye therefore and metheteusate all nations
o Metheteusate means to make disciples
o So, this verse accurately reads
? Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations…
o Most of the messages that are preached on this passage
? And I’ve preached some of them
o Stress the objective of Jesus
o The reaching of all nations
o As though this is what Jesus had in mind
o There is no question
o The great commission is what Christ had in mind
o He has instructed us to go to all nations and evangelize them
o But there is the strong conviction that He had more than that objective in mind
o More than just an overriding purpose
o Much more
o Jesus was not only telling us
? To go and evangelize
o He was telling us how to go and how to evangelize
o He was not only giving His ultimate objective and overriding purpose
o He was giving the method to use in evangelizing the world
o Think about the word metheteusate
? Make disciples
o What does Jesus mean by make disciples?
• Does it not mean that we are to do what He did
o Make disciples and do things with them as He did
o Is He not telling us to do exactly as He did?
o Well, what did He do?
o Christ came to seek and save that which was lost
? Luke 19:10
o He sought the lost,
o Those who were willing to commit their lives to Him
o And when He found them
o He saved that person
o When Christ found someone who was willing to commit their life
o Christ attached Himself to that person
o Christ began to mold and make that person into His image
• The word attach is the key word
o It is probably the word that best describes discipleship
o Christ made disciples of men by attaching Himself to them
o And through that personal attachment
o They were able to observe His life
o And conversation:
o And in seeing and hearing,
o They began to absorb and assimilate His very character and behavior
o They began to follow Him and to serve Him more closely
o In simple terms
o This is what Jesus did
o This is the way He made disciples
o This was His mission and His method,
o His obsession
o To attach Himself to willing believer
• There is another way to describe what Christ did
o Christ envisioned something beyond Himself and beyond His day and time
o He envisioned an extension of Himself
o An extension of His very being
o And an extension of His mission and method
o The way He chose to extend Himself was discipleship
? Attaching Himself to committed people
? And through attachment
? The people absorbed and assimilated His very character and mission
o I don’t know about you
o But I’m a visual learner
o If you want me to learn something
o I want you to show me how to do it
o If you show me how to do it, more than likely I’ll get it and be able to accomplish what you want me to do
o When I read about Christ
o When I read what He did in the Word
o I picture Him walking by the well
o Hot and tired
o Thirsty
o Probably took a part of His cloak and wiped His forehead
o Then this woman comes up and He’s just sitting there with a smile on His face
o He knows who she is
o Remember the story
o He knows all about her
o So, He starts to talk to her
o But He doesn’t just start off telling her about her mistakes
o About the thing-amajig that she’s living with
o No, He says
? Woman I’m thirsty.
? Give me something to drink
o That starts a conversation about worship
o Can you imagine being in the crowd when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment
? Who touched me
o Wait, Lord, what do you mean who touch You?
o We’re all touching You
o Come on, we have to keep moving if we’re going to save this little girl
o Right then and there we see compassion
o We see mercy
o We see grace as He stops for this woman
o It’s a teaching moment for His disciples
o For those who are there in the crowd
o Who can then in turn attach themselves to others and say
? Let me tell you a story about a Man
? Someone who stopped in the middle of the road
? Showed mercy
? Love
? Grace
? Kindness
? Met a need right there
? Because He cared
? And He’ll meet your need right where you are
? Right here and right now
? How do I know?
? Because He met my need right where I was
? Oh, one day I was lost in porn
? I was lost on drugs
? I was lost in the bottom of a bottle
? I was lost in the throw of sex
? I was lost in the lusts of this world
? I was lost in the pride of life
? I was lost with a wondering eye
? But this man stopped where He was going
? To talk with me
? He stopped to hear me
? He stopped to allow me to cry at His feet
? He reached down to the street
? And picked me up
? Dusted me off
? And told me that my sins were forgiven
? To go and sin no more
? And I’m here to tell you this morning
? That what He did for me
? He’ll do for you
? Not that He will do it
? He longs to do it
? He wants to do it
? But you have to stretch out to Him this morning
o You have to want Him to attach to you
• But you don’t understand
• I can’t share like you share
• Oh, but you don’t understand
• When He attaches Himself to you and you start getting to know Him
• You’ll want to tell others about this Man
• This One from Galilee
• This One who came to set the captives free
• This One who reaches down to where we are
• Pulls us up and sets our feet on the solid ground
• That’s who He is
• Oh, church that’s how the glorious message of Christ marches down through the centuries
• There is no question what Christ’s commission is
o We are to go
o But more than that
o We are to make disciples
o To attach ourselves to those who will follow Christ until they in turn can make disciples
• There’s two more points to cover
• So, don’t think that we’re going to get through Philippians in a short amount of time
• There’s no way we will
• We haven’t even gotten off the first three words
o Paul and Timothy
• The question today
o Are you attached to Jesus
o Better yet, is He attached to you
o Do you have the healthy mark of a believer
o That of making disciples
• Oh, we need to stop this trend of dying churches
• And start living for the Lord today
• Doing what He called each of us to do
• Let’s stand
