Title: Loving the Church our Lord Jesus Christ Loved
Text: Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Introduction:
Our Lord Jesus Christ loved the church that He gave His own life for it. He purchased it with His Own blood – Acts 20:28.
For Him, the church is a “pearl of great price” worthy of His highest sacrifice to acquire it (see Matthew 13:45-46).
He called it – “MY CHURCH” – Matthew 16:18 (cf. Malachi 3:17 – “MY JEWELS”)
If we believed that this church is the Lord’s church, and if we really believed that our Lord Jesus Christ loves this church, then we believers should love it also.
We members should love this (local) church.
Now, if we really love this church . . .
1. We will not say anything against it –
IT’S YOU
‘Sez I to myself, as I gambled and growled,
“I’m sick of my church,” and then how I scowled.
“The members unfriendly, the sermons too long;
In fact, it seems that everything’s wrong.
I don’t like the singing; the church – a disgrace,
For signs of neglect are all over the place.
I’ll quit going there, and won’t give a dime:
I can make better use of my money and time.”
Then my conscience sez to me, sez he,
“The trouble with you ia, you’re blind to see
That your church reflects you, whatever it be.
Now come, pray, and serve cheerfully;
Stop all your faultfinding and boost it up strong;
You’ll find you’ll be happy and pround to belong.
Be friendly, be willing, and sing as you work,
For churches are not built by members who shirk.”
– Copied –
A MINISTER’S DREAM
It is said that a minister dreamed he was hitched to covered wagon, and was laboriously, but slowly, pulling it along, until he reached a place in the road where the mud seemed to get deeper, and it was with much difficulty that he moved the wagon a few inches at a time. He thought it peculiar, as the last time he looked back thought he saw the entire congregation pushing. But the longer and harder he pulled, the more difficult it became to move the wagon.
Finally, almost exhausted, he went to the rear to examine the source of the trouble. All church members had quit pushing. Not only had they quit pushing but they were sitting in the wagon and were criticizing the pastor for not pulling the church along faster.
Well. Was it a DREAM . . . .?
– Copied –
2. We will not damage its reputation by our BAD TESTIMONIES –
THE WRECKING CREW
Two classes of people manifest themselves in every church
• Some are the CONSTRUCTIVE
And others are DESTRUCTIVE
• Some are POSITIVE
And others are NEGATIVE
• Some are ASSETS
And others are LIABILITIES
And what a difference their attitudes make in the work of Christ!
A good thing to remember and a better thing to do –
Is to work with the CONSTRUCTIVE GANG
And not in the WRECKING CREW!
– Copied –
3. We will support it – cheerfully and faithfully support it –
a. We will support its programs and activities – (the church is A TEAM)
The story is told of a horse pull contest in Canada.
The winner pulled 9,000 pounds, while the first runner-up pulled 8,000.
The contest organizers decided teamed them together, expecting to pull 17,000 pounds.
But, not so! For these two horses (teamed together) pulled 30,000 pounds.
This principle is called – SYNERGISM. It is the simultaneous action of separate agents working together has a greater total effect than the sum of their individual efforts.
Therefore, more can be done if the members who love the church that the Lord Jesus Christ loved if they work as a team effort. In order for the principle of synergism to work in the church, as it should, there has to be TEAMWORK.
If in everything we do we observe teamwork and trust, the church will accomplish more for the Lord.
NOTE: Someone used the word TEAMWORK as an acronym to mean –
T – ogether
E – veryone
A – chieves
M – ore
WORK
b. We will support (attend) all its services –
WHAT KIND ARE YOU?
There are three (3) kinds of church members
There are the “OLD FAITHFULS” – God blesses them!
Then, there are the “ONCE-IN-A-WHILERS” – They come one Sunday – and stay away five.
There are also the “ALMOST NEVERS” – They never come!
Perhaps, I should not have said – “Never”
They do come on anniversary, and occasionally.
– Copied –
I VOTED TO CLOSE THE CHURCH
Last Sunday, I voted to close the church;
Not intentionally,
Not maliciously, perhaps,
But carelessly,
Thoughtlessly,
Lazily,
Indifferently –
I VOTED.
I voted to close the open Bible on its pulpit.
The Bible that had been given us by years of struggle and by the blood of the Martyrs who died that we might have it to read.
For you see, I could have gone and I should have gone, BUT I DIDN’T.
I stayed away from the church last Sunday.
– Copied –
c. We will support it FINANCIALLY – (Malachi 3:10 – “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house . . .”
4. We will bring more souls (for Christ) to it – potential members of the church that will support its GOALS and OBJECTIVES –
A survey was taken among a group of suburban churches in one large city. Each church member interviewed was asked – “Why did you choose to join the particular church where you are no worshipping?”
9% said they chose their church because of its architectural beauty.
14% joined a chu8rch because of denominational loyalty.
18% joined because of convenient to their homes.
22% joined because there were people in the church whom they respected.
34% joined because neighbors or friends INVITED them to that church.
How long has it been since you invited someone or offered to pickup someone and bring him to church?
Watch your community and neighborhood for new comers.
Get acquainted with them, and ask about their church affiliation.
INVITE THEM TO YOUR CHURCH.
5. We will protect it from WOLVES and HIRELINGS – from FALSE TEACHERS AND FALSE BRETHREN – (Acts 20:28-30; Heb. 3:12; Jude 1:3-4; I Tim. 4:1; II Tim. 3:1-7)
6. We will pray for it –
a. For it to grow and multiply
b. For it to remain FAITHFUL to the Lord – (not to compromise)
c. For its Pastor and his family
d. For the members, officers and workers
e. For its programs, activities and endeavors
7. We will be loyal to it –
I AM YOUR CHURCH
I am your church.
Make me what you will,
I shall reflect you as clearly as a mirror.
If outwardly my appearance is pleasing and inviting,
It is because you have made me so.
If within my spiritual atmosphere is . . .
Kindly, yet earnest;
Reverent, yet friendly;
Worshipful, yet sympathetic, yet strong;
Divine, yet humanly expressed –
It is but manifestation of the Spirit of those who constitute my membership.
But if you should by chance,
Find me a bit cold or dull,
I beg of you not to condemn me,
For I show forth the kind of life I receive from you.
Of this you may always be assured;
I will respond instantly to your every wish practically expressed,
For I reflect the image of your own soul.
MAKE OF ME WHAT YOU WILL.
– Copied –
Pastor Tony Maramara
God’s Grace Baptist Church
6th St. (Ilaya) Sto. Niño, Parañaque City 1709
PHILIPPINES
ggbcp@hotmail.com
