If you want to have someone build something for you,
-you need to give the builder an idea of what you want built
-ideally, you should hand the builder some blueprints - some plans
-at minimum - you should be able to explain your idea of what you want
“I want it so big, with so many rooms, so many floors,
“I want it this style & for it to look kind of like this!”
You should have a picture in your head,
-or better, a picture drawn down
-or even better, a picture from a magazine or of another house that you like
I’ve been trying to focus on building the church - & what that means for the RCBC
How should we be building this church?
What should we be doing so that we’re faithful to God’s call for us to grow?
Those are questions I’d like our church leadership to work on
-& all of you, if this is your church
-& if you’re here as a guest this a.m.
-it’s an important question for you to consider of your church
What will it take for your church to grow?
What will it take to build your church up?
God is in the process of building His church!
The month of September is like the beginning of a new year for a church
Programs are getting re-started & started - some after a time off in the summer
-there will be the resumption of some children’s & woman’s ministries
-there will be some new home groups & small groups
-the college & career will be starting - MOPS
-maybe some new things with the teens
-people will be around more & not off on vacation so much
-it’s a time to consider how we are doing working for & with the Lord
-to build His church
-& as we build the church - we need to be careful
-to keep looking at the blueprint God has given us,
-of what a church should look like
Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
First, we need to have an eternal perspective - eternity - heaven matters
-a whole lot more than this life & this world
-we need to be living for eternity & not so much this life
-our church needs to be living for eternity & planning for the Lord’s return
-& not this world
-what must count most to us - is preparing our lives for heaven
-& seeking to reach others with the gospel, so they too can go to heaven
-our passion & our joy must be eternity not this life & this world
-so, the church should be a church of people prepared for heaven
Second, & this follows from the first
-we should be a people becoming like Christ
-we should be taking on the nature of Christ rather than the nature of sin
-or, equally, we could say, the nature of heaven,
-rather than the nature of this world
Colossians 3:5-11
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
If we are going to be the healthy, growing church that the Lord wants us to be
-individually, we’ll need to be taking off our old sin nature living
-& putting on the new Christ nature way of living
-like putting on the right clothes for the right occasion or for the position
-though, it’s meant to be for a lifetime
Hey, we’re Christians! Put on Christ! Take off that old sin nature!
-like, if you were a slave & you became a prince or princess of the King
-you now need to take off those slave rages & put on nice palace clothes
Are you living like someone who belongs to the world?
Or, are you living like someone who belongs to heaven?
So, where are you at? What are you wearing?
Here’s a good list to think about - to find out if you’re in style or out of style
-when it comes to being a Christian - in the Body of Christ - the church
-sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, malice,
slander, filthy language, lying - & add racial or cultural prejudice
-those are some examples for us to think about concerning our lives
-if those are present in our lives - then we belong with the slaves in the world
-& not with Royalty in heaven
For our church to be healthy & growing - the way God wants
We’ll need to have:
1. Heavenly Perspective
2. Christ-like Purity
3. Loving Community
In fact, the clothes that we put on - how we dress ourselves as Christians
-will lead to the building of a loving community as a church
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Look at the virtues that we’re to put on - & how this builds the church
-compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness
-& love then wraps them all together
-the words, “binds them together” - is used of an old fashioned barrel
-the barrel is made up of wooden slates - & the metal strips
-then go around the barrel & hold all the wooden slates together
How are we doing in loving each other in the church?
Are we compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient & forgiving of each other?
Does love prevail in our church - pulling us all together in Perfect Unity?
That’s what we want to build here in the RCBC - that’s on the blueprint
-but there’s more
To be the healthy-growing church the Lord means for us, we’ll need to have:
1. Heavenly Perspective
2. Christ-like Purity
3. Loving Community
4. Biblical Communication
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Our love for each other creates a unity & therefore peace
-but unity also requires truth - truth on which to stand
-truth on which to make this God’s church
-there are all kinds of organizations where people get together or form a group
-for a cause or common interest
-but without the Bible & following it,
-it’s not a church - it’s not the Body of Christ - without God’s Word
-without the Word of God dwelling in us richly, we’d just be floating around
-without direction
-say, your looking for something on the bottom of the ocean - where is it?
-where would you start?
-you’d just aimlessly look
-but now, add some true GPS coordinates to your search
-you know right where to go!
-the Word of God is that way for us in finding God
-the Word of God is that way in putting us right where we need to be
-as a church
-& so, the Word of God needs to dwell in this church richly!
What does the Church look like?
-or, what should it look like? A healthy church?
-there should be one body - of members at peace
-but this peace should be the peace that results in union with Christ
-made possible by God’s Word
-& of course to have all that - God’s Word needs to be taught
-& following it needs to be encouraged from member to member
-the Word of God needs to be communicated
-through teaching
-& as well - through music
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Music is an important, an integral part of the workings of the church
-& church music can be quite varied
-Paul refers to psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs
-it’s music that communicates God’s Word
-either word for word - or the concepts of God’s Word
-I don’t think anyone really knows for sure what Paul had in mind
-as for differences between psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs
-but one thing we can understand - there’s a variety of music
-to be used in the church
-there are a variety of ways of expressing biblical truth through music
-there are a variety of ways of expressing our joyous praise to God
-there are a variety of ways of testifying to what God has done in our lives
-& it’s all done for the purposes of glorifying God
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Biblical Communication - will flow through a growing, healthy church
-people will be at peace & united in Christ
-we will be a united people, not because we all like to kayak, or hunt
-but we will be possibly a very diverse people,
-who are united since we follow the Lord
-that, of course, takes the teaching of the Bible
-through small groups
-through preaching in large groups
-& as mentioned, here through music
So, what does this all mean for the RCBC?
First, each of us as individuals - we need to look at a passage like this
& actualize it for ourselves - we need to make it real
-I suspect, each & every person who belongs to our local church
-needs to be convicted somehow - right now by the Holy Spirit
-about some change that needs to occur in our lives
-we need to more completely have a heavenly perspective
-we need to have a changing of our lives to develop more of a Christ-like purity
-we all need to involve ourselves more into making this a loving community
-& we need to be more serious about God’s Word
-starting with our personal Bible study
-&, I’m usually nervous to bring this up
-but we need to be more at peace with each other when it comes to music
-I believe on all sides of the preference/conviction meter
-there needs to be some humble change of hearts
-so we can experience the peace Christ in our hearts
-as we sing together - psalms, hymns & spiritual songs
-with gratitude in our hearts to God
So, there’s a lot of responsibility for all that to happen in each of our lives
But then, as a whole church, what do we need to do?
-we’re now into the month of Sept. - like I’ve said
-it’s like the beginning of our church year
What should we do as we look forward to this upcoming year?
What are some steps that we need to be taking in order to really grow?
I’ve been thinking & praying about this for some months now
-& we’ve been discussing this among our leadership
& I’ve had some discussions with some of you
To see our church be a healthy, growing church
-there are, I believe at least three things that will be necessary
-& I’m speaking logistically now
1. We will need to expand our small group ministry
-we’ll need to see more people involved in home groups,
& other small group studies
-& therefore, we’ll need more leaders & more small groups
-the church will grow as the small group ministry grows
-& the small group ministry will have to grow as the church grows
2. We’ll need to at some point progress to two services on Sunday a.m.
-I believe, having two services will promote growth - if done right
-but, clearly, just due to limitations of capacity
-two services will be necessary at some point
-unless we are first to add on to this auditorium
-realize also - two services support growth both in numbers
-& depth of personal maturity & commitment
-as two services require more service on people’s parts
-so, even now, we want to look to train more people to serve
-from nursery to ushers, from computer to sound
3. We’ll need to add more staff
-more staff will be needed to promote growth & to support growth
What kind of staff? Well, that’s what we’re praying about & considering
Can we afford it? That too, is what we’ll be praying about & considering
Timing? Who? What? When?
-we’ll see
-I’m just stating a general principle
-to grow the church, it will help to have more staff
-& as the church grows, it will help to have more staff
-the church grows with volunteers - yes
-but, its helpful to hire staff to work the ministry as well
So, those are some thoughts concerning church growth
God wants church growth
Jesus is going to see that His Church grows
We want to be partners in the Lord’s plans to grow this church
There are certain things that we need to do spiritually
-as individuals & as a church - some of those things we considered today
And, logistically, to see all this happen, as I see it,
-at least three things need to happen here:
1. We’ll need to develop a growing & stronger small group ministry
2. At some point we’ll need to have two services
3. As able, we’ll need to hire more staff
Please pray to this end
Please be determined & excited & a part, of what God wants to do at the RCBC
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