Your Christian Life Review - Part 1
Many organisations hold regular work performance reviews for their employees that look back of the past 6 or 12 months and see how you have gone in the tasks set before you. The purpose is usually to give some feedback and allow some planning for the coming year - what training you might need, what skill areas you need to develop, how you might be better utilised in the workplace and how your relationship with your boss is going.
It is almost like a report card at the end of the year - does that conjure up pleasant memories?
This is the last week of the year and is probably a good time to do a CLR - A Christian Life Review. Now I know that you are going to be tempted to think of the acne cream every time I mention CLR - but resist the temptation - CLR = Christian Life Review - come on repeat with me - CLR = Christian Life Review.
As we carry out our CLR - Christian Life Review - I want each of us to consider how we have stacked up before God this year. The person holding the magnifying glass is yourself this morning - it is not me and not Pastor Roger or the board.
I know that that as Christians, we have been saved by Christ’s death for us and therefore don’t need to worry about earning our salvation, but Christ also spoke about us being judged for how we live our life and our actions - so it is appropriate to carry out a CLR every so often.
This morning and next Sunday we are going to examine 3 primary areas of our Christian Life Experience. I’ve called them the three P’s - Programming, People & Primary Relationship
1) Programming - How have we been serving God this year? Have we been effective in the areas of service for God in the church and in non-denominational organisations? Have we been tithing our resources, time and money?
2) People - How were our relationships with other people this year? Did we influence anyone for God? Did we share our faith? Did others know that we were a Christian by how we behaved?
3) Primary Relationship - How was our relationship with God this year? Did we put him in a display case like a good crystal bowl - on show, but never to be touched? Was he included in every detail of our lives? Did we spend time in personal study of his word and in prayer?
We probably will only get through the first of these this morning and we’ll pick up the last 2 next week.
Okay before we start, there are 2 ground rules here this morning.
1) I don’t want you to carry out a CLR on the person sitting next to you. You see these things are typically confidential between the boss and the employee - that is between God and that individual. You have no right to expect to be involved in another person’s CLR.
There was a story told of two taxidermists who stopped before a window and immediately began to criticize the way an owl had been mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion to its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could certainly be improved. Towards the end of their critique, the old owl turned his head ... and winked at them! Sometimes what we criticise in others is not half as bad as what is wrong with the way we do things ourselves - so keep focussed this morning on your own Christian life. Use the time to review your life with your creator not that of the person beside you.
2) I also am not preaching this as one who has got everything together. I’m not perfect and probably neither are you which is possibly a shock!!! But I’ve got good news. Being imperfect does have its good points - it usually brings alot of joy to others. Have you noticed that?
So it may seem like the pot calling the kettle black - but that is alright because I need to hear this as much as you do.
I want to apologise up front because some of the things I say might hurt some people today. I am not going to pull any punches this morning so you have the chance to get up and leave now. All I want to say is - if the cap fits, wear it and do something about it.
Let’s pray before we begin - Lord, thank you that we have seen another year out. Through it you have been with us and we thank you for the mercies and blessings you have showered down upon up through it. Lord, help us to be honest as we come before you now. Help us to examine our lives and attitudes and show us where we need to become more like you. For your glory we ask this, Amen.
Programming
Let’s begin by looking at what we are dong for God. We might call this the programs that we are involved with.
2000 years ago, Christ became incarnated in the form of a man named Jesus Christ.
The hands of that man were the hands of God himself and those hands of God touched the sick and healed them.
The feet of that man were the feed of God himself and those feet of God walked among people - ordinary people, hurting people, lonely people - so that they might be able to see God’s glory.
The tongue of that man was also the tongue of God and that tongue of God spoke the most important words ever that would save people from sin and condemnation.
Jesus was God in the flesh working God’s work to save mankind.
God today still seeks to incarnate himself in human form, but now it is the church that is his body. It is through the church that he wants to touch the sick so that they can be healed, it is through the church that He wants to walk with the lonely and hurting so the might see God’s glory and it is through the church that He wants to speak to the lost so that they might be saved. The Great Commission is the church’s commision “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
The church should be a reflection of God but with skin on. It should be doing - I’ll repeat it in case you missed it - the church should be doing God’s work and doing it effectively because it has God’s authority and power. How does our church line up with God’s expectation? More importantly, how do you line up with His expectation? Are we doing? Are we being effective?
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to criticise our church for not being involved in some ministry - it may be compassion ministries, evangelism or social justice causes. We often can’t understand why the church is not doing the thing which are obviously the important things.
But who is the church? It is not Pastor Roger and the board. It is not even the members. You and I make up this church - each one of us!!! Why doesn’t our church line up with God’s expectations - because you and I don’t. Don’t go blaming the pastor or the elder, the board members of the deacons for what they are not doing - at least they are serving. If things aren’t happening in this church, it is because you and I aren’t doing them.
1) How effective has your service been for God this year?
So lets start our review by looking at what you and I are doing in this church? - The question that I’d like to ask is How effective has your service been for God this year?
a) Have you been serving this year?
Before answering this question, maybe I need to ask some others. First Have you been serving God this year? What have you been involved with? What ministry have you performed. Spend a bit of time thinking about them - list them down if you have a pen.
You might be saying - I serve by living as a Christian in my workplace. I’d challenge you that this is not service, but part of the expectation of living a Christ-like life. Service is a choice - it involves an investment of time and effort! What have done for God this year that has cost you something?
Some of you out there are now justifying why your list is empty or small - time commitments at Work, family committments, health concerns, what ever it be - they sound nice, but usually they are just excuses. What is more important - God’s work or the other things that eat up our days? If we haven’t got God as our first priority we need to reassess our priorities - it’s as simple as that. How are your priorities looking?
In the church there are two types of people the workers and the pew sitters. I don’t think there is any in-between. If you are serving God and using your spiritual gift, you are a worker. It doesn’t matter whether you are doing 10 things or just 1. Every bit counts and God values them all. If you are serving God, you are a worker.
So the first question in our CLR is - Have you been serving God this year? If not, then some changes are needed for the coming year.
I found this little piece about The Potato Church which I thought was quite amusing
Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are content to watch others do.
They are called "Speck Tators."
Some people never do anything to help, but are gifted at finding fault with the way others do things.
They’re called "Comment Tators."
Some are always looking to cause problems and really get under your skin.
They are called "Aggie Tators."
There are those who are always saying they will, but somehow,they never get around to doing.
We call them "Hezzie Tators."
Some people put on a front and act like someone else.
They’re called "Imma Tators."
Then, there are those who walk what they talk. They’re always prepared to stop what they’re doing to lend a hand to others and bring real sunshine into the lives of others.
You can call them "Sweet Tators."
b) Are you doing the right ministry?
Another question we need to answer to determine the effectiveness of our service is Are we doing the right ministry?
One of the most graphic images of the church is the picture of the body. Paul Teaches in 1 Cor 12:12
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ...
Paul goes onto say that just as a body has many parts, each with unique functions, so too does the church. You can’t be part of the body and not have a role. Think about it - every part of the body has a role and a function. And if one part doesn’t perform their role the whole body is hindered. If the fingers don’t function, it makes if very difficult to peel the wrapper off a mintie. If the toes don’t function, it is difficult to run to catch the school bus of a morning. If the ears don’t function, it makes it difficult to hear the smoke alarms.
Just as the body needs every part to be functioning to get the most out of it, the church needs every one in it to be serving and performing their function if it is to be operating efficiently. There are 3 traps which people can easily fall into.
First there are the loafers or the pew warmers. These are the Christians who are not fulfilling their unique function because they are simply not doing anything at all. It would be nice if all that these people did was to take up space, but so often you see that they actually hinder others who are trying to get things done. I told you I wouldn’t pull any punches this morning. But I repeat - if the cap fits, wear it. Don’t sit and complain that the church just can’t seem to get everything together. Maybe it can’t get momentum up because you are the feet and without you performing your function it keeps tripping over itself.
Another type of person is the pretender. These try to do someone else’s job - they want to be a kidney instead of a liver. Pretenders are too busy trying to be someone else, that they get distracted from their own real purpose. They are often not effective in either area of service. People who are forced to serve where they do not fit are like a round peg in a square hole. They quickly become so frustrated that they give up in disgust or alternatively burn out trying to make things work - simply because they are not doing the right thing.
Another type of person in this church is the “Superman” or “Superwomen”. Others call them the little dutch boys. You know the story - they are the ones who see a hole in the dyke and fill it. Whether or not it is their God given area of service, they are prepared to give anything a go if there is a need and end up with all 10 fingers and often 10 toes in the wall. While this is admirable, it is not very intelligent. These people usually end up being on every roster there is. There will always be needs - because there are will always be loafers, but people who are inclined to be supermen and superwomen need to be very careful that they do not burn out after 1 or 2 years due to overcommittment. The church losses too many eager and willing workers because of this. Some of you this morning are on the verge of burning out because you are not in the right ministry area - you need to re-evaluate you areas of service and wait on God to show you where he wants you to serve. I am not advocating that you take a sabatical - because by doing that you become pew sitters and leave a gap that someone else has to fill.
Wouldn’t it be good if every person in this church did the things that God gifted them to do? The church would run so smoother and we would see so many exciting things happen.
You are an important member of the body and your contribution can’t be underestimated. In fact God has given you a special gift which will help you perform the ministry to which he has called you to. You have a spiritual gift! I don’t know whether you knew that, but it is true. God has given us each gifts which help us perform our function in the church. Paul continues in 1 Cor 12
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
We all have gifts, but they are not the same. We have different gifts to help us do different jobs so that we can reach the world for Christ. Some of you have gifts with working with children, others have gifts of getting alongside adults. Other enjoy administration and others love serving in the kitchen or at the sink. They are all important and not to be denegraded or down played in any way.
c) Are you using your spiritual gift?
Are you using your spiritual gift? Do you know what it is?
Here are a list of some mentioned in scripture
Administration
Apostleship
Craftsmanship
Creative Communication
Discernment
Encouragement
Evangelism
Faith
Giving
Healing
Helps (Serving)
Hospitality
Intercession
Interpretation
Knowledge
Leadership
Mercy
Miracles
Prophecy
Shepherding
Teaching
Tongues
Wisdom
You can find some of these in the following passages - 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28, Rom 12:6-8, Eph 4:11, 1 Pet 4:9-10, Ex 31:3, 1 Tim 2:1-2, Ps 150:3-5.
I think that there are probably many people in this church who don’t know what their spiritual gift is. It’s nothing to be ashamed of - but it means that we as a church need to do some work in educating you and helping you to find out your gift. Can I ask that those who know what their spiritual gift is to raise their hands. That is probably about ___% which means that probably we are at risk that the rest of you might not be serving in the most effective areas. If you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, I encourage you to join a homegroup because there are some excellant courses around which help people identify their spiritual gifts. If you don’t know where to start, have a chat to Charlie Harrison who is coordinating home groups this year and he will be able to take your name and help you link into a home group when they start in the new year.
Knowing your spiritual gift doesn’t mean putting you into a box and saying - this is where you shall serve and here only. It is rather releasing you to serve in those areas you have a passion for and where you can be used. It also helps you understand and accept why you can’t do what others seem to do with ease.
d) Have you been serving God this year?
Many people serve for the wrong reasons in the church. To serve effectively, we need to ensure we are serving God and not something else.
What should our goals be in service ... I want to suggest a couple ...
1) All service is to glorify God. Peter writes in 1 Pet 4:10-11
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.
All Christian service is draw attention to God and him alone. Examine what you have been involved with this past year. If it has not been with the goal of pointing people to Christ, it probably is not being blessed by God as much as it could be. When we point people to God, he takes the glory.
2) True service edifies others. Paul writes in Eph 4:11
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
And again in 1 Cor 12:4 we read
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Service in the church is meant to build each other up. If what we are doing, hinders others or constantly tears others down, it is not of God.
I strongly believe that God expects every Christian to be serving him. Whether this is in the Gladstone Baptist Church or elsewhere - if you are not involved in some form of service, you are not being obedient to God.
So the question to be asked in our CLR is How effective has your service been for God this year?
a) Have you been serving this year?
b) Are you doing the right ministry?
c) Do you know and are you using your spiritual gift?
d) Have you been serving God this year?
2) How reliable has your giving been to God this year?
Another question I want to ask this morning is how reliable has your giving been to God this year. Giving is a form of service. We have just spoken about giving of your time and now I want to talk a bit about giving of your finances.
I can probably get away with talking about tithes this because I am not the pastor and do not receive any monetary gifts or endorsements from the church - so I don’t have a conflict of interest talking about giving to the church.
I don’t think that the concept of a tithe is foreign to most of you. We know that it was part of the Mosaic law and was an expectation put on the Old Testiment saints by God. Though there is surprisingly little teaching about the concept of tithing in the New Testament, it is a good principle and backed up by Paul’s urging that giving should be spontaneous and governed by what one has.
You are probably also aware also that a tenth was the minimum demanded from the Israelites and that on top of that were offerings. Both the tithe and the offering was to be given out of love and gratitude for what God has done for us.
So the next question in the CLR is “How reliable has your giving been to God this year? If you were to be audited by God, would he find you coming up short.
I don’t really care if you give some of your tithe to Gladstone Baptist church and some to another part of God’s work. Some believe that the whole tithe should be given to the local church, but I hold firmly to the fact that the tithe is God’s money not the churches’. Yes the tithe is meant to support the work of the church and the full time worker’s it employs, but how your tithe is distributed is between you and God. The important thing is that you give it.
Deut 14 and Deut 26 teaches that the every third year the tithe was distributed to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow for their support. It was given to those who needed it - This was God’s work.
Now I would hope, as would Pastor Roger, that a good part of your tithe would be given to the church as this is where God has put us and we do have a responsibility to provide for those who minister to us. Paul writes that (1 Cor 9:14) In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
The surprising thing for our church is that we consistently fail to meet budget - Why is that? Are people giving all there tithe to causes outside the church? - I doubt it!
Our annual report says that our average attendance is 150. If 50% of these are people don’t earn an income - children, working mothers, etc - then that makes about 75 people per week coming through the door who earn an income - I’m being very conservative here now!!! Do you know how much on average would be required of these 75 people to meet budget - just $50 per person. If this was your whole tithe, your salary would be $26,000 before tax.
Now I am quite sure that some people here earn far more than $26,000 and I am sure that many people would give more than there $50 a week. So how is it that we continually fail to meet budget. Let me ask the question again. How reliable has your giving been to God this year?
Just like the body - everyone has a part to play. Regardless of whether you like the pastor, the building, the ministries, the policies, God expects you to be tithing regularly. It doesn’t matter whether your tithe adds up to $2 per week or $500 per week (I wish !!!!), it is still expected of us from God as a sign of our gratitude and love.
Why don’t we meet budget in this church? - Because people don’t take the principle of tithing seriously.
Why do missionaries find it such a struggle to raise support to minister overseas? - Because people don’t take the principle of tithing seriously.
Do you take tithing seriously or do you need to examine this area of service for the coming year. Maybe you have a debt which needs to be repaid in the next year. It won’t necessarily be easy - you may need to get some help budgetting, but the benefits are worth it. Listen what God promises through the prophet Malachi
In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
God promises to reward faithful giving. How reliable has your giving been to God this year?
So we’ve finished the first section of the CLR. Remember this is not meant to be a guilt trip - but if the cap fits, wear it. It is a review between you and God - you have to be honest before him and work out any changes in your life with him. Maybe there are no changes necessary and God is saying to you well done good and faithful servant - wouldn’t it be great if that was the case.
So I repeat the questions
How effective has your service been for God this year?
How reliable has your giving been to God this year?
Next week we will be looking at the last two sections of our CLR - our relationships with other people and our primary relationship with God.
So how are you doing so far? Okay? - that reminds me of a story about a construction worker who was working on a high-rise building and one day fell off an upper beam. As he was falling, a man on the 21st floor cried out, “ How are you doing?” to which he replied - “ So far so good.” Are you going okay? - Maybe God’s message for you is next week.
I want to close with a little poem which expresses God’s desire for you to serve him with both your time and your money.
I am only one, but I am one;
I cannot do everything, But I can do something.
What I can do I ought to do,
And what I ought to do. By God’s grace I will do.
Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t got as much time, money or talents as others to give. God is not asking you to give what you do not have, but he is requesting that you make available to him all that you have - just the like the widow who gave just a few mites - it wasn’t the amount that was important, but the attitude of gratitude that they were given with.
