What Does A Good Church Look Like - 1b
What Does A Good Church Look Like • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Turn to Romans 1 and 1 Cor. 14 as we continue our “What Does A Good Church Look Like” series. Keep in mind that these sermons are not designed to merely provide information, but to take home the information and meditate on it. For example, two Sunday’s ago we talked about being set apart, so throughout the week I would ask myself questions or remind myself that I am set apart for God. Furthermore, as we go along and answer “What Does A Good Church Look Like,” there are some bullet points I’ll just give you – fill in the blank and move on and you can think about those later. But there are other points we will slow down and explore.
Quick review: Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome. It’s a letter, written to a particular people at a particular time in history for a particular reason. And we have the privilege of reading these letters and then applying what we can to our world and lives. As with most of Paul’s letters, Romans can be divided into two main sections. Chapters 1-11 are theological (truths about God and life), and chapters 12-16 are application - how should we live based on the theological truths.
Remember, a Good Church believes all are loved by God. A Good Church believes all are called by God (we’re invited to participate with Him in redeeming the world). And a Good Church understands we are called to be what? Saints or holy ones - consecrated, devoted, and set apart to God for a purpose. Every Christian has a part to play in God’s redemptive plans.
Starting in verse 7.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
What was being reported?
Their faith. What do you think Paul was referring to? Just their belief, or was it something more? I doubt it was merely belief. There had to be something noticeable, something tangible that they were doing that confirmed their faith – so much so that outsiders were talking about these Christians. So, obviously, the faith of these Believers was very much alive and visible.
So, what does this tell us about a good church?
1) A good church has a good reputation.
Curious, what is our reputation in the community? What reputation should we have? Does our community even know about Klamath Falls Nazarene? What can you do to create a good reputation?
2) A good church will put their faith into action.
Remember what James said about faith and works? Faith without works is dead.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
What is one thing I am doing or need to start doing that puts my faith into action? How can I partner with others in the church?
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Paul understood the importance of
Mutual encouragement – the coming alongside one another to intentionally build up each other’s faith.
He’s not necessarily talking about a Sunday morning worship service, but that’s where I’m going to focus.
What is the main purpose for gathering on Sunday morning? Worship God, to exalt Jesus Christ. Though that is true, it can be misleading because it can be interpreted as passive – meaning that we just show up without a sense of purpose and responsibility.
Believing that Sunday mornings are only about singing, sermons and showing up leads to consumerism.
Consumerism is the false idea that the Church exists to accommodate me (self).
Thus, the Church, and Sunday morning worship in particular, becomes more about my preferences and less about God and the people of God. Thus, the worship service lacks the responsibility of Christian service and becomes passive – it’s all about taking in and not about giving out. Make sense? This is a serious problem in the Western Church and consumerism must be rejected.
Listen,
Biblical worship is never passive.
It’s never about accommodating self – never about personal preferences. So, understand
There are two sides to Biblical worship: A) Worship is bowing down.
- humbling and prostrating ourselves before God – acknowledging the worthiness of this God is – He’s King, He’s Lord, He’s holy …!
The other side of
B) Worship is service.
As we humble ourselves before God and serve Him, we also are to serve others as an act of worship (love God and love neighbor). In
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Worship and service often go together. Hence, we call Sunday mornings what? Worship service.
Look at 1 Cor. 14. In this section of his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul was instructing them regarding spiritual gifts, love, and orderly worship. In verse 26, he said,
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
According to this, what should be taking place when we gather together? There should be a building up of the Body of Christ through spiritual means.
Let’s connect this to
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
What are some dots that we can connect with 1 Cor. 14:26 and Romans 1:11-12?
Christians are to gather. And when we gather, we are to encourage one another and build up one another in the faith. Every Christian should have something to offer (of course, there are times when we need to receive). Not just the pastor’s job. Should be spiritual or supernatural things happening. That doesn’t necessarily mean running around the church aisles Supernatural movements of the Spirit can subtle or quiet or ….
What does this tell us about a good church?
3) A good church will gather to worship God, and to seek to edify and/or graciously be edified by others via the Holy Spirit.
In order for this to happen, what preparation needs to take place within the Body of Christ? How can I better worship Christ and serve others on Sunday mornings? How will I prepare my heart and mind before worship service begins? How can I offer myself as a living sacrifice on Sunday mornings? What do I need to do to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit?
I think it would be great to see people praying before service, prayer with others before and after service.
Recap: A good church has a good reputation. A good church will put their faith into action. Worship is never passive. A good church will gather to worship God, and to seek to edify and/or graciously be edified by others via the Holy Spirit.
What’s your takeaway this morning and what are you going to do with it?
