Sermon for 8/20/2000
Share Responsibility of the Church of Christ, Vinton
Introduction:
A. If a church succeeds, who is responsible? Talk about God.
B. If a church fails and closes its doors, who is responsible? The people.
C. Isn’t that interesting! How do people fit into the successful church, how does God fit into the picture of the dead church?
D. The task of the church has been put into the hands of man. The Great Commission and God is with us as we fulfill it, he leaves us if we do not take it seriously.
E. The blessing of God rests upon people that take their responsibilities seriously, the blessing of God leaves people who do not take their responsibilities seriously. God will not honor those who do not honor Him. Come and take away lampstand.
F. Each of us personally are part of the problems in a church or part of the solution.
G. We are growing or we are part of the stagnation.
H. Once a minister moved to a church and found that the church was dead….Blaming other people. Finally frustrated, the minister decided to have a funeral for the church. He got a casket and brought it up front and talked about how badly the church was doing. “Now come on up and see who is dead?” In the casket was a full length mirror, each person got a picture of themselves.
I. John Denny- Long ago, two boys plotted to outdo an old man who was noted for his great wisdom. They caught a small bird that could be concealed in the hand and approached the old man with a question, “What do I have in my hand?” “Why, you have a bird, for I see one of his feathers!” “Yes, but is he dead or alive?” (They had conspired to make certain he was wrong, for if he said “dead,” they would release the bird to fly away. If he said “alive,” they would crush him and present him dead.) The old man answered, “As you will it, boys.”
J. “As you will it.” How true this is of so many things in life. Will the church grow or die? As you will it. Will your neighbors hear the gospel or go before God unprepared? As you will it. Will the works budgeted for the year be done or go undone for the lack of finances? As you will it. Will the church be friendly or cold? As you will it. Will our Bible school grow or die? As you will it. Will our visitation increase or be in want? As you will it. Will your marriage succeed or fail? As you will it. On and on we could go.
K. This is not to leave God out of the picture. It simply illustrates our role of responsibility for what takes place in our lives. We need to quit blaming others and rationalizing our failures. It’s God will that we live faithful to Him to the best of our ability. But what you choose to do is up to you!
WBTU:
A. Last week we talked about unity…
B. Membership Covenant pass it out. All of us as members, as Christians, should be doing these things.
C. On #2.
D. I don’t have any responsibilities but to show up. That wrong!
E. A great commitment to Christ will grow a great church! Not that the people are great, but that they have a great faith, a great commitment, take responsibilities seriously.
F. John Rosemond- America is having, we are told, one crisis after another with its children: a drug crisis, a teen pregnancy crisis, a dropout crisis, an underachievement crisis, crises of violence and depression and children rearing children and… the list goes on and on. There’s one crisis, however, that everyone seems to be ignoring. Oprah hasn’t even held one of her intellectual forums concerning it. I’m referring to the biggest crisis of all: that of just plain old irresponsibility. After all, doesn’t it all come down to that? Whether delinquency or drugs, pregnancy, dropping out, or just coasting through school, we’re talking irresponsibility. A crisis or citizenship, values, proper moral instruction. Nobody’s talking about this disease. Come to think of it, maybe nobody wants to address the real problem because deep down inside, in our secret heart, we all know the problem is us.
G. This sermon is for somebody else. No, it’s for you this morning. As a member in God’s church you have responsibilities to God. As you will it.
Thesis: I will share the responsibility of my church by:
For instances:
** Go over just three this morning.
H. By praying for its growth.
A. Look up and read Luke 18:1-8.
B. Charles Spurgeon and the power source, the two men who came early.
C. (2 Cor 11:28 NIV) Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
D. Pray that we will not lose our first love, pray that we will stay true to the gospel in the midst of persecution, pray that we will not compromise to sins, pray that we will take the open doors of ministry before us, Pray that we will not be lukewarm, pray that we will be full of service, love, worship, light, repentance, workers, faith, patience and perseverance.
E. Cathedrals of Europe are just museums.
F. Many people pray more for para-church organizations that for their local church. More people get excited about Christian organizations than about the local church. Denominations are losing members because the emphasis is not on local church.
G. At evangelistic crusades, crusade knows that its efforts will only be as effective as the local churches.
H. Most things for the Kingdom are accomplished through the local church.
I. How excited are we about the local church.
J. Some churches have parking problems, some other churches don’t. Some churches have kids running around making a lot of noise, some other churches tend to be very quiet. Some churches usually have more expenses than money, some other churches don’t need to spend much money because not much is going on. Some churches are growing so fast you don’t always know everybody’s name, in some other churches everybody has know everybody’s name for years. Some churches enthusiastically and generously support missions, some other churches keep it all at home. Some churches are filled with tithers, some other churches are filled with tippers. Some churches evangelize, some other churches fossilize. Some churches are always planning for the future, some other churches live in the past. Some churches seek new ministries and new methods, some other churches don’t want to. If you are active in some church, why don’t you take a moment and pray for it today. Some people pray for their church, and some others never quite get around to it.
II. By Inviting the unchurched to attend.
A. There is a great secret to church growth: Invite. So simple yet so many do not.
B. Friend Day.
C. Special events.
D. Regular church services.
E. Especially invite those who are not churched. Give new life to a church to have excited brand new Christians, not old disgruntled ones.
F. Not interested in putting fish into our tank. Need to be finding lost sheep, not interested in herding goats.
G. Grow tired of the regular crowd. New faces.
H. Not our little country club.
I. Have to put up with unchurched attitudes and basic questions.
J. Look up Luke 14:21 and following. The parable.
III. Warmly welcome those who visit.
A. Colossians 4:5
B. So many churches fail in this.
C. Greeters at Wal-Mart, OfficeMax.
D. Gotten a lot of compliments about this church. Need to keep it up.
E. I’m shy and don’t know so and so, go up and shake their hand.
F. Don’t bombard them but make sure they are greeted and feel welcome.
G. Person sitting next to you.
H. Look around for people who are off by themselves.
I. Don’t assume someone else will do it.
J. When guests come to our worship services the first thing they feel is fear. Like your first day at work. Must overcome this.
K. 2nd most common complaint among unchurched is that church people are unfriendly.
L. Some churches don’t have a crowd, because they don’t want one. Oh talk about it but really don’t want one if they are observed.
M. Churches that grow are those who have conservative beliefs, dynamic worship, and are loving to outsiders.
N. Smile. At the radio station…
O. Some churches remain small because they are not loving.
P. Think like a fish.
Q. Minister must be loving.
R. Touch people.
S. Don’t care what they look like we must make them feel welcome.
T. Minister who dressed up like a bum.
U. Guest who came and was asked to move car. Asked to move seat. No one shook their hand. Never came back.
Conclusion:
A. We have a responsibility.
B. You are the only Jesus that some will ever see. You are the only Bible that some will ever read.
C. Friends with Jesus.
