Put The Church In Order

INTRO.- Out of order. Don’t you just hate that sign? And especially when you want to use an ATM or an elevator or a vending machine or a public restroom (particularly on a cruise ship!). HAVE YOU EVER HAD THAT EXPERIENCE? Of course, if a restroom was “out of order” that might be one of the worst catastrophes!

And how about a country that’s “out of order”? Can’t we all honestly say that America is somewhat “out of order”?

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Psalm 43:1 “Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked."

Our nation is “out of order” when it comes to faith and morality. Don’t you agree? In the past, it seemed like more Americans believed in God, Christ and the Bible but we are fast becoming a minority or else God’s people are just not living their faith and speaking out. They are not being the light of the world.

And what about morality? Oh mercy! Have you looked at the ratings of movies lately? Many are rated “R” for raunchy. And many that are PG13 are still not good. Honestly, we’ve slowly been seduced by the world and by the prince of the world who is Satan. And we’ve hardly noticed this happening!

ILL.- It’s like that old story about the frog who was slowly boiled to death in a pan of water. They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.

But, if you put a frog in a pot that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat that pot until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. Could this be what has happened to us in America? Our country is definitely “out of order” when it comes to faith and morality.

OUT OF ORDER. Perhaps worse yet is a church that’s “out of order.”

Churches that may be out of order: Chaos, fighting, disunity, worldliness, etc.

ILL.- Years ago, Leslie Flynn wrote a book called, “Great Church Fights.” In it he chronicled the way people in different churches would go after each other – all in the name of Jesus Christ. A young father heard a commotion out in his backyard, he looked outside and saw his daughter and several playmates in a heated quarrel. When he questioned his daughter, she called back, “Dad, we’re just playing church!” (via sermoncentral)

Churches do experience fights and disorderliness!

ILL.- Here’s the title of a newspaper article in the 1960’s: “PREACHER TURNS OTHER CHEEK, GETS POKE IN EYE!” A preacher and his church got into a real fight. I remember reading this story about a church in northeast Arkansas that got into a big fight and the preacher decided to sue the church board, I believe. It seems that one man wanted to make an announcement over something that affected the preacher so the preacher ordered the man out of the church. One thing led to another and soon the whole church was literally fighting with one another. The preacher got knocked to the floor and some lady on crutches poked him in the eye with her crutch.

It would be funny if were not so sad. God’s people fighting with one another. That’s definitely a church that is “out of order.”

I Corinthians 14:40 “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Any time self rules in a church you will find a church that is “out of order.”

Titus 1:5 “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished....

Things that are out of order or are unfinished need to be put in order or straightened out. How can we put a church in God’s order? We must follow God’s Word in order to put a church in order and one good way is to appoint good leaders. Good leaders make for good churches and orderly churches.

Proverbs 11:14 “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” Good leaders/advisers make for a good country and a good church.

Prop.- Appoint God ordained leaders. Titus defines God ordained leaders.

1- They are blameless in life and religion

2- They are Spirit controlled rather than uncontrolled

3- They are committed to God’s word in teaching