A Great Temple to Build 3 tools for the job reworked

Building A Great Church

OS: (Stages of Life) (I used to look just like Arnold Swartznager. “Jeans won’t stay up!”)

I.      We live in a constant process of change.

A.   Last couple of years – thanks to congregation – used to change. “Don’t get comfortable now!”

B.    God created us, and this world, to be constantly changing.

C.   It is a process of time and maturity.

II.   Our Spiritual lives are no different. This church is no different.

A.   Every person and every organization is changing at this very moment.

B.    You are changing spiritually one way or the other. You have the control (to a certain extent) choice.

C.   Congregation is changing – the next 3 months will be the most critical time ever for Northview.

            1.        We can either begin again or begin to die.

III.           We are in the Church (Temple) building business.

A.   1 Corinthians 3:16 & 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

             1.        16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

             2.        19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

B.    Ephesians 4:11-16

C.   As an Assembly of God’s people we are in the ever changing process of building God’s dwelling. Becoming Jesus in this community.

D.   As an individual Christian we are in the ever-changing process of submitting our bodies as temples of God’s Spirit. And doing our part in the body.

PQ: What does it take to build a great temple? Where do we start? How do we go about glorifying God through helping people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world?

I.      Dissatisfaction with the status quo.

A.   Don’t get this confused with contentment in the world concerning material things.

               1.     Paul – Phil. 4 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

               2.     Paul – 1 Timothy 6 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

               3.     Paul and spiritual discontent – Paul (Spiritual Giant), “I want to know Christ”

B.    We must never be satisfied with our Spiritual life! Or accomplishment of the mission.

               1.     Never be satisfied with your prayer, understanding of Scripture.

C.   Discontentment in our spiritual life as well as the life of this church go hand in hand.

               1.     We should feel a burden for the lost and for the hurting in this world.

               2.     Romans 9 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel.

               3.     1 Timothy 2:4 – burden – God wants all men to be saved.

               4.     Burdened by the families who suffer and struggle with no help and no hope.

D.   I’m proud of our young people – obviously they are not satisfied. – review their summer calendar! (next Sunday night)

               1.     How many young people are in our community that are wrapped up in the world that we would be proud of if they were here?

E.    I’m proud of David and Terry and all those involved in getting The Carpenter’s Kids set up.

               1.     Family Ministry! – SCS “We should have been in that business years ago.”

TS] Northview is a great place, today is a great day, but I’m not satisfied! (Breaking ground next week on retirement center) When you are in the people business as we are there is never a time to be satisfied.

What does it take to build a great temple? Where do we start? How do we go about glorifying God through helping people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world? 1st Dissatisfaction…

II.   Commitment (Because sacrifice is necessary) to change what needs to be changed.

A.   2 Corinthians 8:5, “gave themselves first to the Lord”

               1.     They “Gave themselves” What are you giving your life for?

               2.     1 John 2 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.  17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

               3.     What are you committed to?

B.    There are no ‘buts’ or ‘ifs’ in commitment!

               1.     Prayer of an old Nazarene evangelist: “O Lord, give me a backbone as big as a saw log and ribs like the sleepers under the church floor. Put iron shoes on my feet and galvanized breeches on my body. Give me a rhinoceros hide for skin and hang up a wagon-load of determination in the gable-end of my soul. Help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I’ve got a tooth – and then gum him until I die.”

C.   It takes commitment to build the temple of God.

               1.     Commitment to grow spiritually.

               2.     Commitment to grow God’s temple as an Assembly of God’s people. (time, money, sweat, blood, and tears…)

D.   If I didn’t know this church I’d be afraid right now.

               1.     The church in Atlanta – before and after the building.

               2.     I know this church has grit – you’ve got to have grit to keep your focus on the real mission.

               3.     You’ve got to have grit to not fall to the temptation of comfort.

TS] Northview is a great place, today is a great day, but I’m not satisfied! When you are in the people business as we are there is never a time to be satisfied.

What does it take to build a great temple? Where do we start? How do we go about glorifying God through helping people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world? 1st Dissatisfaction… 2nd Keep the commitment you have made…

III.           A Great Faith in God to handle the impossible

A.   Faith believes the impossible.

               1.     Preacher on an airplane – afraid, “He said, ‘Low I am with you always’ never anything about high.”

               2.     Romans 4:17-22 “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

B.    OT examples

               1.     Abraham & Sarah having a child at such an old age.

               2.     Moses actually being used by God to set Israel free from Egypt.

               3.     Red Sea, Water from a Rock, City of Jericho, David and Goliath, etc.

C.   Question: What will it look like? If we really help people know Jesus, Grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world – what will it look like?

               1.     1000 is too small. – retirement center, children’s home, school – football field. (Northview Academy).

               2.     That picture – Is it too big for God?

D.   Listen to what Jesus said,

               1.     Matthew 19 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

               2.     Mark 9 23 ”‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

               3.     Mark 10 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

               4.     Luke 18 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

TS] Northview is a great place, today is a great day, but I’m not satisfied! When you are in the people business as we are there is never a time to be satisfied.

What does it take to build a great temple? Where do we start? How do we go about glorifying God through helping people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world? 1st Dissatisfaction… 2nd Keep the commitment you have made…3rd Have a Great Faith in God who is able to do the impossible.