NEW HOPE’S CHARTER MEMBERSHIP SERVICE
JUNE 4, 2000
TEXT: Matthew 16:13-19
INTRODUCTION: This morning we are here to charter our church’s membership. We have been called to build a church in this community upon the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ!
God has called us to do a great work. We are doing what few do today and that is start a church. It will not be easy, it will have opposition from Satan, but it will be rewarding.
What is the purpose of this church? What are our goals? How will we achieve them?
I. TO WIN SOULS TO JESUS CHRIST
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The most important purpose for the existence of this church or any other church for that matter, is to win people to Jesus Christ. Our souls are immortal, they will exist for all eternity in either heaven or hell. It is our job as Christians to witness to those around us.
It is my job as Pastor to tell everyone that comes through our doors that they are sinners in need of a Savior. Some people don’t like to hear that. They come to church to feel good. Well, if they are not saved they should walk out these doors scared to death, not happy.
Ezek 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
If I fail, if we fail to warn people of the eternal damnation that awaits them if they reject the salvation that God provides through Jesus Christ, then they’re blood is on our hands. I don’t care what I am preaching about, if I think there might be a lost person in the service, I will get the Gospel in my message one way or another. I will tell them that they are sinners in need of a Savior. I will not worry if they are offended.
I don’t want them to point a finger of accusation at me at the Great White Throne saying I didn’t warn them. I would rather have them mad at me for telling them the truth now then mad at me for not telling them then.
I’m not the one that offends them anyway, even though I may be the object of their offence, it is the cross that offends them.
1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
THROUGH MISSIONS
“Go ye into all the world.” We will also as a church support missionaries that go out and preach the Gospel. This is how we reach the world for Christ.
When we give to missions, we are taking a part in winning souls. We have a reward in heaven when the missionaries we support win others to Christ. Our financial support, and our prayer support, go toward fulfilling the Great Commission.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
So our first and foremost purpose is winning people to Christ.
II. TO GROW SPIRITUALLY
2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
God wants us to grow spiritually. He does not want us to remain baby Christians. He wants us to mature in our faith and walk with Christ. There are Christians who have been saved for years that haven’t gotten past the ABC’s of Christianity.
They are as;
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
They haven’t gotten past John 3:16. It may also be the only verse they have memorized.
God wants us to know the Word of God because that is how we mature.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is my desire to see this church go deeper into the things of God. I want us to learn about our Lord not so we have head knowledge, but so that we know Him and love Him deeper.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
This means that there is some repetition in our learning, but that doesn’t mean the same message week after week. Again we see He says we are to be weaned from the milk and feeding on solid food.
Studying the Word and hearing it preached will keep you from being deceived by Satan into following false teaching.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
III. TO BE A PRAYING CHURCH
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
If New Hope is going to make a difference in this community, it will be done only one way, through much prayer.
Prayer is our power source. It is the vital link between God and man. We can do many things in our own power, but they will be superficial. They will not have the lasting effect that they would have with prayer.
God moves when we truly pray. He even says that we don’t have things because we haven’t asked for them.
James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
I think that we have a hard time praying because of lack of faith. We are afraid to prove God, we are afraid that He will not come through.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Elijah wasn’t afraid to pray for hard things. He prayed and God answered;
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Fervent prayer, believing prayer, earnest prayer. That is what will make us grow deeper and win more to Christ. That will cause us to make an impact on this community.
We should also pray for one another. James 5:16
Paul was always asking for prayer;
1 Th 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
2 Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Praying is hard work, but it is vital to this church. I would love to see us grow and make a real impact on this community, but it will only come if we pray.
IV. TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I know that sometimes personalities don’t click, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t love them. Love is a choice.
I want our church to be a friendly church. A church where people will feel welcome and a place where close and intimate friendships can develop.
I don’t want a gossiping, back-stabbing church. I don’t want a church with cliques or divisions.
1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1 Cor 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1 Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
These things will kill a church.
V. TO BUILD STRONG MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES
This is a passion of mine. I believe that the church will only be as strong as it’s families are. God ordained marriage long ago in the Garden.
Look at Eph. 5:21-6:4
If things are not right between you and your wife, don’t even bother praying.
1 Pet 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
I believe strongly in premarital counseling. I want to see trouble stopped before it starts.
VI. TO GIVE NEW HOPE TO TROUBLED PEOPLE
I want this church to be there for those that are hurting. We should be like a hospital, a place where people come to receive healing.
VII. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM ME, YOUR PASTOR
A. To Preach The Word
2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
I will do all four in my preaching. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, and teach. I will preach what needs to be preached regardless of who may be offended.
I believe one of the reasons our country is in the shape it is in is because preachers have quit preaching. They won’t preach on things that will make people mad or upset. They don’t want to rock the boat. Or they don’t want to see that big tither get mad and leave the church with his money.
I don’t care about your money. I do care that you do right and tithing is commanded. But if someone were to come to me and tell me that if I didn’t quit preaching on something or they will take their money and go, I will say, “Bye, Bye.”
I will not be bought! I will not be threatened with anybody’s money! I will preach the Word!
What happens when preachers quit preaching is Christians are no longer preached to and begin living and acting like the world. And when that happens there is no longer a Christian witness. And when there is no longer a Christian witness, you see what is happening in our country today.
2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
And one way to turn from your wicked way is to hear that what you are doing is wicked.
B. Be Compassionate
Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Jesus was full of compassion. He didn’t give them a Bible verse a quick prayer and send them on their way. He was moved by their trials and troubles. He cared. I want to care.
C. To Keep What You Tell Me To Myself
You can trust me to keep things you tell me to myself.
D. To Answer Your Questions About The Bible And Life To The Best Of My Ability
CONCLUSION: Is this what you are looking for in a church? Do you want to be a part of what God is doing and going to do through New Hope?
I know with all my heart that if we do these things, God will honor what we do and we will grow to be a church that will make a great impact on this community for Jesus Christ.
