Intentional Life: Going to Church
INTRODUCTION:
This week, we will continue our series on living an intentional life. Remember: An intentional life is one with purpose. The purpose is followed with a bold and steady determination until the desired outcome is realized. In other words, an intentional life has three foundational characteristics—purpose, discipline and vision.
So far, we have looked at the fact that God works intentionally. That means he is always in control and has never had an accident. We have also considered an intentional spiritual life and intentional family life. Today, I want to pursue a topic that is actually an ingredient of our spiritual lives—going to church.
SCRIPTURE—Acts 2:42-47
PRAYER
I. Purpose in the church—What are we here for?
A. Teaching—“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”
1. The focal point of the church is the word of God. Everything we do is governed by this book.
2. Romans 10 tells us that “faith comes by hearing the word.”
a. Your faith grows and matures in response to the word of God.
b. Notice that I said growth and maturity takes place in response to the word. It is not enough to sit through a sermon. The word must be acted upon and put into practice. James 1 tells us that if we fail to do what the word says we deceive ourselves.
B. Belonging—“They devoted themselves…to the fellowship…”
1. The church is a place where everyone belongs. In other words, it is a place where everyone is welcome. The church is to be a place with open arms. We accept everyone because God accepts us. We love everyone because God loves us. We forgive everyone because God forgives us.
2. Church should provide a sense that says, “I belong to something bigger than myself. I’m not alone in this.”
a. When I went off to college in Louisiana, I quickly found people with whom I had something in common. I found people who were from my district. (Explain districts in the AG.) Even though these people were not from my home town, (and many were not from my home state), there was a sense of the familiar. We had a common bond that supported us 1,400 miles from home. We were no longer isolated individuals out on our own for the first time, we became friends because we part of something bigger than ourselves.
b. When I have been out of the country on missions trips, there has always been a sense of “I can’t wait to get back home to the US.” Besides missing my family and home, there was a sense of missing our culture and way of life. This longing could temporarily fade if we happened to meet someone else from the states. It didn’t matter if the person was from Maryland or Hawaii, they were from my country. Normally, we concede that Marylanders and Hawaiians are somewhat different people with different ways of life, etc. But for the few brief moments you could chat all that mattered was “we’re from the same place.” We felt that way because we part of something bigger than ourselves.
3. Church should do the same for everyone who walks through our doors. We are all different people with different backgrounds, lives, personalities, family make-up, etc. But when we gather together, we understand that though we are different, we are not alone in serving God. There are others and we all belong to the family of God and it is bigger than any individual.
C. Worshipping—“They devoted themselves…to the breaking of bread…”
1. This would be a meal that believers shared together and more often than not would include what we now call communion.
2. Church is also a place where God is worshipped. Worship can take many forms. We can sing hymns, we can sing choruses. We can stand, we can sit. We can be loud, we can be silent.
a. The form of worship is not nearly as important as the object of our worship—God himself.
b. When Krista and I went to take our first position in youth ministry, we left my home church in Delaware. It was a church that had a wonderful worship leader and an excellent band. We had keyboards, guitars, a bass, trumpet, trombone, violin, French horn, saxophone, flute, clarinet and drums. The music was always appropriate whether it made you want to jump to your feet and clap your hands or just quietly wait in God’s presence. The worship team always provided a terrific atmosphere for our services.
We went to a tiny church in Virginia where the pastor’s wife did her best to play the organ and a gentleman from the congregation occasionally accompanied her on the out-of-tune piano. After our first service, I was horrified. I thought, “How in the world will I ever be able to worship God here? These people have no idea what they’re are doing!” As the weeks rolled by, my attitude during “worship” got worse and worse. I characterized our song service as a half-inning—three hymns and you’re out. There seemed to be no time spent waiting on God and no opportunity to express yourself to him.
During my little pity party one week, I sensed the Lord speaking to my heart. He said, “Who do you think this is all about, you or me? Why does everything have to meet your expectations? I am God. I did not decree a certain worship style in my word. The forms may be different, but I am still the same God. Is that going to be good enough for you or not?”
WOW! The Lord dealt a mortal blow to self-righteousness in that area. Today, I still prefer the contemporary worship style that I grew up with, but I realize that God is God. He deserves to be worshipped no matter what the style.
D. Praying—“They devoted themselves…to prayer…”
1. When Jesus cleansed the temple of those who were using it for profit he said, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”
2. The church is a house of prayer because it is understood that it is a place where people come to meet God. It’s true Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit lives in each of us and that we are his temples, but the church is still a place recognized for God’s presence. WE must be careful that the church is not only understood as a place to meet God, but that it actually takes place here.
E. Ministering—“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (vv. 43-45)
1. In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul listed one of the primary objectives of ministry as “preparing God’s people for works of service.” This means that God never intended for the pastor and his family to monopolize the ministry opportunities in the church.
2. Only God knows how long I will serve as the pastor of this church. Let me go on record as saying that the test of my effectiveness will not be in numbers. To be a success as your pastor will mean that if I ever leave here the ministry of the church will not skip a beat because you are carrying it on.
3. The church is not a place for only sitting, it is a place for service. It is where we learn what gifts the Lord has given us and how we can use them to build his kingdom through this local body.
4. ILLUSTRATE WITH THE STORY OF RICHARD CRISCO WHEN HIS WIFE WAS DEATHLY ILL. HE SPENT THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM THE MINISTRY AND WHEN HE RETURNED, IT WAS LARGER THAN WHEN HE LEFT!
II. Discipline in the church—Making the most of every opportunity!
A. Review purposes: We’ve already seen that the church is hear to teach the word, help people to belong, worship God, pray and minister. SO what does all of that have to do with me? The answer is simple: Make the most of every opportunity!
1. If the church is hear to teach the word of God…
a. Come expecting that God wants to communicate with you.
b. Pray that God would communicate with you.
(1) Ask him to help you be open.
(2) Ask him to help you understand.
c. Pray that God will clearly communicate with everyone else too.
B. If the church is here to help people belong…
1. Be the first one with a smile and a warm greeting.
2. Take time to get to know the people in your church.
a. Talk to them here.
b. Spend time with them away from here.
ILLUSTRATE WITH ME AND MY FRIENDS IN CHURCH GROWING UP. WE WERE AT CHURCH BECAUSE OF OUR FRIENDS. NOW YOU CAN GO OFF ON A HOLY TANGENT AND SAY THAT OUR MOTIVES WERE ALL WRONG AND I’LL TELL YOU THAT I AM A PASTOR BECAUSE I WENT TO A CHURCH THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I BELONGED AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME I OPENED MY LIFE UP TO GOD’S WORK IN MY LIFE.
C. If the church is a place to worship God…
1. Set the example for people around you. People are watching you whether you like it or not. Some people stand in church and there whole attitude during worship screams the title of the hymn I SHALL NOT BE MOVED! You, as an individual, are important to the atmosphere of worship in our meetings.
2. It doesn’t matter if you are outwardly expressive or more reserved. The issue is that you take advantage of the opportunity to worship God with a group of people who love you and love him too.
D. IF the church is a place for prayer…
1. Don’t make it a den of gossip. Take the chance to pray and have your faith encouraged by a group of people who gather in a place dedicated to providing at atmosphere in which you can freely communicate with God.
2. Take the time to pray for yourself, your family and the other people who are around you. Perhaps you could help set the tone as I pray at the beginning of each service by praying with me for God’s blessings and will in the service.
E. If the church is a place for ministry…
1. Understand that if you know Jesus as your savior, you are a prime candidate to be involved in the ministry of the church. Your job may not be on the platform. In fact, right now, there are people in the nursery who are ‘ministering’ (which means serving) by provided care for the children who are here.
2. Ask God to help you understand where you fit into the programs of the church.
3. Take the initiative to get involved. Come and talk to me or one of the deacons because we want and need all of you!
F. SUMMARY: Make the most of every visit to this place for service.
III. Vision in the church—what do we want to become
A. What do you want to be when you grow up? We can ask the same question about the church. What do we envision for this place as we submit ourselves to God and his leading?
B. I have laid out for you the purposes of the church, but let me also that we need to grow and change in each of those areas. We are not perfect, but we want to be.
C. What vision do you have for your church? If you don’t have one, ask God to give you one.
CONCLUSION:
Why are you here this morning? Did you need to hear from God? Did you need to feel like you belong somewhere—that there are a group of people who love and accept you? Did you need to be able to lose yourself in worship to God? Did you need the encouragement of others praying with you? Did you need to know that you are needed to make this church a success?
My question to you this morning is this: WHY NOT JOIN ME AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS CHURCH AS WE STRIVE TO BECOME ALL THAT HE WANTS US TO BE?
