Illustration “Don’t Join That Church” A poem
There is no perfect Church
You know, its come to my attention that there are people talking about us and our church
I don’t know how many times people in the community have said in sort of a snide way
“O, you’re the pastor of that church”.
Like they knew all about us
And how bad things are for us over here
Up to this point, I felt like it was best to just let them go on living with their vain imaginations
My wife however has been setting an example for me recently and I have changed my mind
She got hold of something brother Ron Said in his last sermon
And when confronted by a well intended believer who offered condolences for our situation at Grace
She responded – My you have been misinformed God is still on the throne and Grace Assembly is filled with people who love God
Who love each other
And who have a purpose as a church
I believe –from this moment forward we need to proclaim to the world
That God has healed our church
And though we are not perfect
Jesus is here by his presence and we are headed the right direction
This morning I want to exhort the church
1 Tim. 3:14-15
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1. We are God’s Household
2. The church of the living God
3. The pillar and foundation of truth
Prayer
We Are God’s Household
When I was first save we used to sing a song
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this Sod
I’m a part of the family – the family of God.
I don’t know what your family was like growing up
But there are few people who had a perfect family
I ran across this little list the other day . It might have helped my family as we wer growing up
Ten Commandments for family Sanity
1. If you sleep on it - make it up.
2. If you wear it - hang it up.
3. If you drop it - pick it up.
4. If you eat out of it - put it in the sink.
5. If you step on it - wipe it off.
6. If you open it - close it.
7. If you empty it - fill it up.
8. If it rings - answer it.
9. If it howls - feed it.
10. If it cries - love it.
Just as there is no perfect family
There is no perfect church family either
We could sometimes use those same commandments around here.
If you sleep on it - make it up.
If you open it - close it.
If you empty it - fill it up.
We are called a family
How close is the correlation between real family and the church family
According to a study done of more than 500 family counselors, the following are the top 3 traits of successful families:
• Love
• Communication
• Commitment
1. Families are built on love and everything that goes with it
A minister was speaking to the Sunday school about the things money can’t buy.
“It can’t buy laughter and it can’t buy love”
he told them. Driving his point home he said,
“What would you do if I offered you $1,000 not to love your mother and father?”
Stunned silence ensued. Finally a small voice queried,
“How much would you give me not to love my big sister?”
As I said, Families are built on love and everything that goes with it
The church also needs to be built on love and everything that goes with it
John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus here is talking about brotherly love
But it is in context of His Agape love, his unconditional love
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Our love for family members in the Body of Christ is based upon, and in fact is enabled by Christ’s sacrificial love for us
He loved us
While we were estranged from Him
He loved us
While we were yet sinners
He loved us
And gave his life for us
So that we could do likewise
I want to read a key verse that explains the motivation for this kind of love
Luke 6:32-35
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
When was the last time you took out a loan?
In the Roman world, interest rates sometimes ran as high as 48 percent,
but the Old Testament forbid charging interest.
In fact according to the law, Leviticus 25 every seven years the Jews were to forgive their debtors completely
Because many Jewish creditors feared that they would lose their investment if they lent too near the seventh year (when the law required cancellation of all debts),
They stopped lending then,
Hurting the small farmers who needed to borrow for planting. (sinning)
Jewish teachers thus found a way to get around this law so
the poor could borrow so long as they repaid.
In this passage - Jesus is arguing that this practice should not be necessary;
Those with resources should help those without,
Whether or not they would lose money by doing so.
We don’t live under the law and these practices have all passed away but one truth from this discourse still remains and is a central truth
For Us
If we are ever going to Love one another in the family of GOD
Unselfishness
For Jesus Real love was exemplified by unselfish giving
God’s Love Is Patient - We must not make impatient demands
God’s Love Is Kind - We must be gentle and sensitive to the needs and hurts of others
God’s Love Is Not Jealous – It allows for growth
God’s Love Does Not Brag and Is Not Arrogant – It does not spend energies building up self,
God’s Love Does Not Seek Its Own – Loves goal is to put others first
God’s Love Is Not Provoked - In every disappointment love reaffirms
God’s Love Does Not Take Into Account a Wrong Suffered - Jesus suffered much wrong and rejection and we, too, must be willing to experience that same suffering.
God’s Love Rejoices With the Truth – It doesn’t Go O Man it says amen
God’s Love Bears and Believes All Things – Love expects the best and see the best in people as God sees people - for the potential they can become with Christ’s help.
God’s Love Hopes All Things - Philip. 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
God’s Love Endures All Things - Many heartaches will come our way, and the desire to give up and quit will often pass through our minds.
But love will endure….in the family of God
In the heart of the unselfish Believer……..
Secondly
2. Just like your family God’s household must have COMMUNICATION in order to function properly
An elderly man stopped at a hearing aid center and asked about prices.
“We have them from $25,000 down to $1.50,” the salesman said.
“What’s the $25,000 one like?”
“Well it translates three languages.”
“And what about the one for $1.50?”
“It’s this button attached to a string,” said the salesman, pushing it across the counter.
“How does it work?”
“It doesn’t. But if you put the button in your ear and the string in your pocket, you’ll be surprised how loud people will talk.”
Communication has a lot to do with talking
Its amazing how little talking we really do
I recently read
Married couples spend an average of 27.5 minutes per week talking to each other, and 46 hours watching TV.
One man told his best friend
“My wife isn’t talking to me.” To which his friend replied, “Maybe she’s trying to tell you something.”
Proverbs 13:7 in the living Bible says, “Reliable communication Permits progress”
So clearly, a lack of communication hinders the churches progress
The Apostle Paul understood the importance of communication
Ephes. 6:21
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.
Paul took time out of his life to communicate with the church
We must do the same thing
Notice WHAT he communicated
1. How he was
2. What he was doing
He did not meddle in other peoples business by talking about other people
He talked about himself…………..
To promote communication we need to talk to each other and ask questions like
How are you doing?
What are you doing?
EVEN IF THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU IT’S STILL OK TO ASK
Thirdly
Just like the family
The church needs commitment
A national survey of strong families conducted by the Human Development and Family Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a profile of a strong family
Love and appreciation
“Family members gave one another compliments and sincere demonstrations of approval. They tried to make the others feel appreciated and good about themselves.”
Good Communication Patterns
“Families spent time talking with each other. They also listened well, which shows respect.”
High Degree of Commitment
“Families, invested time and energy in each other and made family their number one priority.”
The church can only function as a family
When we act like a family
The family of God is committed to the Lord
To one another
And to what God is doing in the church.
And I thank God for so many who are committed to what God is doing at Grace
But let me illustrate why commitment on the part of some is so difficult.
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE LIFE OF RUSSIAN CHRISTIAN PAVEL POLOZ
In Russia a Christian’s commitment is tested by hardship,
But in America your commitment is tested by freedom.
And testing by freedom is much harder.
“Nobody pressures you about your religion.
So you relax and are not so concentrated on Christ, on His teaching, how He wants you to live.”
We all know what can happen to a church where people are not committed
With commitment we can speak boldly of our Vision and our purpose
With Commitment we will see the promises of God really taking place
With Commitment we have power to change the face of things in this community and the world
I am so glad I am a Part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain
Cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus
As we travel this Sod
I am A Part of the family
The family of God…
There’s no perfect church
But I’m proud to be a part of this one
And I want it to grow and be everything God wants
And I know its happening
And will continue to grow
As we
The household of God
Show Love
Communicate Freely
And commit ourselves to his purposes
