Serving Churches= Growing Churches
A. What does the church really need to come alive today?
Sometime ago Darrell Scott got the privilege to address the House Judiciary subcommittee. His daughter Rachel Joy Scott was one of victims of the Columbine High School massacre. Here is a synopsis of his address. Since the beginning of time both good and evil have been in the hearts of humans. We all have seeds of kindness and seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, and the deaths of the heroic teacher, and the other 11 victims who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy but was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies. He said the blame lies in that room where they make up all the laws and rules. Laws and rules he said would not have stopped the two boys from there deed that day. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major universities were theological seminaries. What happen to us a nation? We have refused to honor God and in so doing so we have opened the doors to hatred and violence.
Although he went on to point the finger at the lawmakers, but I ask today, even if our lawmakers are unable to do anything to turn this around there is a force that can, and that force is the church. In the early days of the church the gospel had impact on contact, what is happening today, is the message dead? Is the church dead? What do we need to do to turn this thing around?
1. Need to be a servant of the Word
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness. (Verses 24-25)
A. The church needs more people with the humility of a servant.
i. To be great we have to be the servant of all
ii. Servants do their masters bidding
B. The church needs people wit the loyalty of a servant.
i. Where he goes we go, what he says we do
ii. No matter what the cost
2. The church needs us to be proclaimers of the word
The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
A. Preach it
B. Teach it
C. Discuss it
In the Law Moses said to take these laws I have given you and bury them, commit them to memory and keep it to yourself. NO he said teach it to your children, talk about while you sit, lay down, and when you are on the way. In Hebrews the writer say something similar to what Paul says here Heb 1:1-2. To share this message with all we come in contact with. Whether in word, deed or action to be light and salt to the world.
This man was staying in the elegant St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. He went out into the street and stood looking into the window of a fancy jewelry store nearby. A shabbily dressed young couple came up and asked if he had any money to spare. He said I’m sorry I don’t have any more either. They said Then come with us, and we’ll give you part of what we get. We have some food and you can have half of that. Often it is not our substance we fail to share, but our Savior. It is not our money, but our Master that we selfishly hoard. It is not the staff of life but the bread of life that we cover. Let us say to a spiritually hungry world. “Come with us and share what we have.”
3. The Church needs us to be Channels for the Power
A. God is energizing the church
i. That is why the church had such impact in the 1st Century
ii. It is the reason things like Caine Ridge and Stand in the Gap are so effective.
iii. We need to be revivalists in our home, work place, school, and neighborhood.
B. He needs people who will be channels for that energy
i. He needs you and I to be everyday heroes
ii. He needs workers for the field is ripe for the harvest
iii. The people around us need us to show guidance and direction
The church needs people like this, people who will serve, proclaim, and energize the church.
