You Are A Co-Laborer With God

The church is a family and the goal is maturity.

2. The church is a Field and the goal is Quantity – 5-9a.

Second, the church is a field and the goal is quantity. A while back I was at a meeting with some other pastors. While we were eating, before the meeting began, we were talking around our table about how to measure a church’s ministry, how to measure a church’s success. Both of the pastors sitting with me said that they didn’t measure attendance and such things because that wasn’t what really mattered and attendance numbers and such did not accurately measure a church’s success.

To that I say, “Hooey!” While a church may grow without actually being healthy, and while a church, in a few circumstances, may not grow numerically even though it is faithfully being obedient to the commands and leadership of the Lord, I believe far too many churches and preachers point to their lack of numerical growth and say, “We are growing deeper, not bigger”.

My friends, Jesus said we are to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. Again, the Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Jesus said, “Go into the highways and byways, go into hedges and hedgerows and compel them to come in.” In the parable of the sower and the soils, at least some of the soil was productive. Listen; if a church, in most circumstances, is not reaching people for Christ, then there is a problem somewhere. We can never be content with where we are. We can never settle for what we have done, or with those we have reached. There are people all around us, and all around the world, who are dying everyday and heading into a Christ-less eternity. We must never forget that this place is not here as a club for those who are already Christ-followers. The church is a mission outpost and one of our primary responsibilities is to rescue people.

The church is a family, whose goal is maturity. The church is a field, whose goal is quantity, and the church is a temple, whose goal is quality.

3. The church is a Temple and the goal is Quality – 9b-23.

While never forgetting that we are to win many, we also must remember that we are also called to quality. Our goal is not to get names on a roll. Our goal is not to get simply higher numbers that we can report each year. The church is also a temple and our goal is quality. We are to do with excellence, everything God has called us to do. We must show the world that Jesus is so important to us that we put our best effort into everything we do.

It is with this in mind, that I would like us to think about the awesome privilege that has been given us. Look with me again please at 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 9.

> 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s co-workers.

You and I are co-laborer’s with God! Have you ever thought about what that means? Have you ever thought about the honor that has been given to you? Think about it. Genesis 1:1 says what? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning God spoke and created everything. He spoke and the heavens and the earth were created. He spoke, and the waters gathered together and formed the seas. He spoke and the sun, stars, moon, and planets were created and placed in the universe. God spoke, and the earth was covered with plants. God spoke, and animals were formed all over the place. There were birds in the air, and fish in the water, and horses, cows, and spotted owls everywhere. He spoke and there were manatees and sea turtles. God didn’t need us then, and He doesn’t need us now; but God, in His infinite wisdom, has decided to work in, through, and with you and I! God has decided to use you and me to accomplish His purposes!