Jn 3:16-21, Acts 2:41-47 THE THREE R’S OF THE CHURCH
Why does the church exist? You may have many answers to that question, but what does God think? Let’s look at His answer. It can easily be summed up in one word: RELATIONSHIP. Relationships are definitely number ONE with God. To make it clearer, we will break relationship down into three parts:
1. RECONCILIATION
2. REJOICING &
3. REPRODUCTION.
1. RECONCILIATION
A. How many of you became Christians at birth? I thought so; it’s the same everywhere. Even though some large churches teach that you do, it takes a re-birth to become a Christian, just as Jesus said in JN 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” When we’re born the first time, we’re born dead. You see, God wasn’t kidding when He told Adam and his pretty wife that they would die if they ate the fruit from the tree of conscience. They did die. And they didn’t even know they were dead, just like so many in our day who have the same disease. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden because of disobedience—a major component of the deadly “S” disease. When they left the garden, they also left the presence of God. They were dead spiritually—cut off from God. Until that time, Adam didn’t need a saviour; he was already alive forever, but he blew it, and his actions have influenced every person born since. We were all born dead—estranged from God, and under the control of the spirit of disobedience. Let me prove it to you: who taught you to lie, to steal, to make a fuss till you got your own way?
My dear wife was an only child. Early in our marriage, she would ask me something and keep on asking in different ways until I gave in. Once I pointed it out, she stopped; she hadn’t even realized she was doing it. (Now, if you were to ask her about it today, she would say it was because I never gave her a straight answer, but you know me better than that!) We all lived according to the lusts of our flesh and our mind—self-centred--until the HS pointed it out to us—usually through another person. When He impressed on our hearts that we were wrong—actual enemies of God—we faced a choice, just as Lynda did. The fact that you’re here this morning is an indication that you have made the right choice, or are in the process of it. You chose to be re-born spiritually--to be reconciled to God, and at peace with Him. John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” What is “saved”? Basically, it means to be in right relationship with Almighty God—re-instated, if you like—with all the benefits of being His child, just as Adam was before his sin. 2 Pe 3: 9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” It is God’s supreme desire to be reconciled with all humanity. But He’s God. Can’t He just do it? Yep. But He won’t do it against our will.
A circus owner walked into a bar to see everyone crowded about a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside down pot and a duck tap dancing on it. The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing, they settled for $10,000 for the duck and the pot. Three days later the circus owner runs back to the bar in anger, "Your duck is a rip off! I put him on the pot before a whole audience, and he didn’t dance a single step!" "So?" asked the duck’s former owner, "did you remember to light the candle under the pot?" Sometimes, God has to light a candle under us to bring us to a reconciliation with Himself.
B. An interesting sidelight to reconciliation with God is that suddenly we find ourselves reconciled to others as well. It doesn’t always happen over night, but as we read His Love Letter to us, and learn that He wants us to love as He does, we grow and change. We are nowhere in Scripture commanded to like others, but everywhere commanded to love. What’s the difference? Liking is an emotion; it’s semi-automatic, but loving is an act of the will. It’s an action word: doing kind things, saying right things, or saying nothing at all, sometimes in the face of severe distress. “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” That was Ray Mills’ epitaph, and it fit. Could it be yours?
Reconciliation is a primary task of the Church, but it is no less important than
2. REJOICING
Rejoicing comes as a result of obedience to God. When we reach out to others, as He commanded, we are blessed. We discover that we are part of a great network of caring people—“fellowcitizens with the saints”, as Eph 2:19 tells us. God is not interested in the “Hi.” Church, but in the “Hi. How are you? How’s your sick mother-in-law?” and mean it, kind of church. We discover joy in gathering together for a meal, or to sing a song, or just to talk.
The famed English writer, Charles Kingsley, once wrote, "If you wish to be miserable, you must think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, and what respect people ought to pay you. Then to you nothing will be pure. You will spoil everything you touch; you will make sin and misery out of everything God sends you."
Self-centered people are always unhappy. In the 1970s, Chaplain Earl Jabay wrote a thought-provoking book entitled, "The Kingdom of Self," in which he describes seven attitudes of a self-centered individual. Permit me to share a few of them:
"I am power: I can do anything I set my mind to."
"I am truth: Whatever I think, is right."
"I am right: If people don’t agree with me, they have a problem."
"I am a messiah. I don’t need God; I can lift myself by my own boot straps."
"I am perfect: If you don’t meet my standard of perfection, I have the right to show disapproval."
Any one of these attitudes will result in a life of misery. You see the fruit of misery everywhere, in crime, immorality, broken homes, and on, and on. It almost always stems from self-centeredness and selfishness. It is always related to ignoring God and His commandments to love Him and our neighbour. How much better it is to forsake the kingdom of self, and live joyously in the Kingdom of God.
That’s how Acts 2:41-47 describes the infant Church. Lets read it. Notice all the
positive, happy words: gladly, steadfastly, fellowship, breaking of bread, all things common, continuing daily with one accord, gladness, praising God, favour with all the people. You can rejoice alone, but it’s more powerful when you share it with others. It’s the difference between a soloist and a choir. Now, I’ve heard some powerful soloists, but they cannot really compare with a well-trained choir. There is power and beauty in unity, especially as it concerns rejoicing. It warms my heart to hear my kids co-operating on something—anything. It has not always been so. I remember sending two of our boys into their room to stay until they could emerge as friends. We heard some thumping and hollering, but pretty soon it changed to laughing, and they appeared with their arms around each other’s shoulders. We felt good about it; so did they. Do you suppose our Heavenly Father reacts any differently when we celebrate each other? I learned a valuable lesson from my pastor’s wife a long time ago. We were driving her somewhere and our kids were getting on my nerves with their racket in the car. When I hollered at them to be quiet, she sweetly said, “That’s happy noise, Dan. That’s much nicer than the other kind.” She was right. I don’t think I ever hollered at them again, for happy noise, at least.
As Christians, we have reason to rejoice. Our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Our sins are cancelled. We are alive forever. We were saved; we are being saved; and we will be saved. Our retirement plan is out of this world!
And so we worship God out of gratitude for a secure future, and because
everything is better when it’s shared, we begin the process of
3. REPRODUCTION
That strong urge to share within us is the urge of the HS. It’s the same urge
that caused someone else to share with us. The great task that God set before the Church was to make disciples=to sign up apprentices. Let’s read it in Matt. 28:18-20. These were the last words of Jesus before He left this world, and they are so significant that we give them a special name—the Great Commission. Mark gives us a slightly different wording, but the intent is the same.
His work as a man on Earth was complete, and the power He had in Heaven before He came had been restored to Him. It was in this power that His followers were encouraged to go forth, not in their own. There are three parts to the Commission: Win them, Wet them, and Work them. Teach them about the Gospel; baptize those who believe; disciple them and train them to be reproducers. He finished up by saying, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” You don’t have to go alone; as a matter of fact, you’d better not. You’d just louse things up. I will be there to guide you.
“Lord, I’m going to evangelize that apartment building. Are You coming?” “No. I don’t want you to go there.” “Hmmph. Well, I’m going alone, then. Where’s my tracts?” How ridiculous! But sometimes we go running off to do our own thing, expecting God to bless us, when we haven’t even consulted Him about our plans. If we go with Him, relying on His power to get the job done, we’ll see results.
Each of us has a web of relationships with people that perhaps only we can reach. Everyone has about the same opportunity to minister. Dr Coleman compares evangelism to a riding academy where they have horses to suit every taste: fat horses for fat people, lean horses for Lean people, fast horses for fast people, slow horses for slow people, and for those who’ve never ridden a horse before, they have horses that have never been ridden before. We simply need to disciple those God has given us where we are—bloom where we’re planted, if you like.
I trust that you are continuing to pray for, call, and visit those people you committed to back in September. Building a relationship with them is critical. In my first church, I had a young fellow that was full of enthusiasm, but lacking in wisdom. He would make P his projects until they accepted Jesus, and then drop them for someone else. Several P were hurt by his approach, and we had a talk about it. As Billy Graham says, a decision is only a starting point, but discipleship is where it’s really at. And discipleship requires a relationship. I remember asking Colin if Todd was a Christian. He said “Yes.” I asked him how he knew, and he replied, “I was there when he did it.” What is “it”? Christianity is more than saying the right words, even to the right Person. Rom 10: 9,10 says we must confess with our mouth and believe in our heart in order to be saved. Believe means more than think; belief influences our behaviour. Do we really believe that non-Christians will burn in Hell eternally? What are we doing about it? What are you doing about it? All that’s really necessary is to tell others what God has done for you.
You can smile better than anyone in the world; you have good reason: you’ve been reconciled to God and to others; you’re part of a caring, sharing group; you have peace in your heart and the confidence of a great retirement plan; so smile! That’s the first step in the reproductive process. Too long, the church has had a reputation for being morose and gloomy. The joy of the Lord is our strength; feel weak? Try rejoicing. Sing a song; read a scripture; consider where you might have been if someone hadn’t shared with you. And then smile.
Christ didn’t evangelize the masses; He shared one-on-one with individuals. He taught the masses, but his most effective evangelism was with individuals: the woman at the well, the one caught in adultery, Nicodemus the teacher. Their lives changed because Christ cared enough to share with them individually. Why do you suppose those stories are in the Bible? As examples for us, of course. You cannot have a very effective relationship with masses of people, but you can have a great relationship with one, or two, or a few. Why was the story of the rich, young ruler included but to encourage us? He heard the gospel from the One who invented it, but he didn’t accept it. He thought he had too much to lose. We will encounter people just like that as well. What should we do? Love them; pray for them, and move on.
A centipede was happy quite, Until a frog in fun Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?" This raised her mind to such a pitch, She lay distracted in the ditch, Considering how to run. Don’t be like the theoretical centipede in your response to Jesus’ command. Don’t try to analyze in your head. Rather, receive it in your heart--and start following!
Before taking her first steps, a baby bear asked the mother bear "Do I move my left front foot first or my right front foot? Or do I put both front feet out together and then both my back feet? Or do I move my two right feet first and then the two on the other side?" The mother bear said to her cub, simply, "Leave off the thinking and start walking!"
It’s that simple.
Why does Shrigley exist? Primarily, it’s here to promote relationship: to facilitate reconciliation vertically and horizontally; to encourage rejoicing and fellowship in a caring and sharing body; and it’s here to grow, to expand, to reproduce itself. It’s here to please Almighty God. LET”S DO IT!
