The Key to Great a Congregation
Notes
Transcript
Colossians 3:15–17 (NIV)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.
INTRODUCTION:
How do you define a Great Congregation? Every Pastor ought to believe their congregation is the greatest congregation in the world. If you don’t believe that, either, you are not working hard enough or you do not love the people great enough.
Every congregation ought to aspire to be as great as any of God’s people in the history of the world. Their commitment ought to be as great as any of the prophets, as reliant upon the Lord as the children of Israel in the wilderness, as intimate with Jesus Christ as the 12 disciples.
Paul did not start the church in Colossae. He was part of a network of leaders who communicated epistles across the Roman world.
In the great congregation all minds set on things above and not on earthly things. In the great congregation all have died to themselves and are putting to death carnal passions.
In the great congregation there is no PREJUDICE- no male or female, circumcised or uncircumcised, there are no barbarian or Scythian, no slave or free no Jew no Greek, but all are of Christ.
Paul’s epistle to the Colossians contains some of the loftiest language ever spoken of Christ and his church. Why did Paul speak so freely to the group of Christian believers at Colossae? Paul knew their spiritual condition.
The concept of the great congregation is not new.
David defined it as those who worship God by their free will during the high and holy days. Some are large or small; some have great teaching or missionary activity; some build disciples and others are led by towering figures.
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
The internal drives the external. Everyone brings something to the congregation.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
Show me a congregation where people want to serve, and I will show you a congregation where Jesus Christ is working.
If you do not know who to serve begin with the people in the congregation.
Great Congregations go through seasons.
Moses as an example...great victories and great conflicts....
Many congregations are pharisaical. They should be built on submission to the holy Spirit of Christ, leaving room for creativity and concensus.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
A great congregation has strong spiritual leaders. Paul knew about the church in Colossae from two men. Onesimus, and Epaphras ( a-paf-rus), who started the church. Paul declared, the faith and hope they possessed,
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
Paul said, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you. ”
The best preachers manage the space between the pulpit and the pews. I can’t explain it, but if the word is of God, once the message leaves the preacher’s lips, some transaction takes place before it reaches the pew. Many churches are looking for great preachers in the pulpit when they need great people.
The pastor ought to be a theologian and a child. You want to hear from someone who has studied to show themselves approved and one who is constantly in awe of the mysteries of God.
Everyone should learn what their congregation stands for.
You should not become a member until you can agree on its biblical foundations.
Help every person believe in God and every Christian grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I want to present to you today and new paradigm for our congregation.
A new paradigm: everyone believer is a student and a teacher, and every believer encourages a godly atmosphere.
There are three ways to fulfill this new paradigm to provide the key to a great congregation.
Number One:
Let the peace of Christ Rule ( Christ is our peace and he provides peace...
Let the peace of Christ factor decisively, determining the outcome of all your actions)
What good is personal peace if you don’t have peace where you live and worship?
Don’t do it, if it does not bring peace. The saints avoided arguments by submitting to the apostle’s authority. Their authority came from the ministry of the word and prayer.
Eliminate conflict: avoid arguments… how,
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
The saints are constantly striving for understanding, unity, The Holy Spirit and Reconciliation.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. “If it does not bring peace, it is of the Devil.”jmbiii
“Peace itself is the bond in which the unity of the Spirit is maintained.”
Colossians 3:15 (NICNT Col/Phm/Eph):
Christ brings peace when he comes in. The peace belongs to him. “My peace…” He is our peace.
Number Two:
Let the message of Christ dwell (I always thought this passage was singular. “Let the word of God dwell within YOU richly...” It is plural, “Let the message of Christ live AMONG YOU richly. Every member is speaks in terms of Christ.
(in a distinguishable manner characteristic of possessing great wealth.” )
The message of Christ, which is full of God’s wisdom, which produces faith.
The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
The gospel of Christ, the word of God wrings out amidst the congregation.
Encourage one another from the truth of Christ
We hold itself to a higher spiritual standard.
In the past, we have to hold a church business meeting. Business was separate from Christ.
We gave ourselves permission to be carnal. A great Congregation approaches everything in the Lord.
The earth is the Lord’s, We are his people… The sanctuary is the Lord’s; the administration is the Lord’s; the finances are the Lord’s…
Number Three:
Let the presence of Christ proclaim
One way to do this is through Worship and thanksgiving.
Paul is not speaking about one person or ensemble singing before an audience. He is speaking to all believers singing together in one voice with one song. Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are sung unto God. Paul is calling for new songs.
Whenever revival breaks out, the people sing with one voice and one song.
When C. H. Mason led revival, the people sang, “YES. YES. YES. YES, LORD.”
The saints called upon the Lord in praise and worship. People were healed and delivered.
Paul is calling for congregational worship.
Psalm 95:1–2 (NIV)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except those who were redeemed from the earth.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
FINALLY,
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.
“Word or deed” means everything we do. “Deeds” can be worshipping, fellowshipping, service, praying, relaxing with each other, exercising, driving your car, cleaning your house, visiting the sick, working on your job, even playing games. EVERYTHING.
OUR words mean everything. Speak encouraging words to one another. No matter how small: I love you. God is with you. I am praying for you. God is going to fix it for you. You will grow from this. The Lord heard your prayers. No weapon formed...
Our words and actions relay a spirit... Let them communicate the Spirit of God.
Matthew 22 tells a story of the Sadducees, who questioning Jesus about the resurrection. They did not believe in a resurrection. They said, “Teacher, Moses told us if a man dies without having children, his brother may marry the widow, and raise up offspring for him. There were seven brothers and the first one married and died, and had no children; and the second one married the same woman, all the way to the seventh. Whose wife will she be in the resurrection?”
Jesus said to them, “You are ignorant of the scriptures and the power of God! In the resurrection, no one will be married to the other, but they will all be like the angels in heaven.”
We will all be brothers and sisters, we will all be sanctified. We will all be one. We will all adorn our heavenly bodies. I want to put something before you today. It's highly possible that the person sitting next to you now will be standing next to you in the resurrection. If that is the case, you are to want the best for them.
I want you to bless that person, now in the name of Jesus. Tell them, “I pray that you would prosper, and be in good health, even as your soul prosperous. I pray that your whole family will be saved. I pray that you would walk with God and the power of the spirit. I pray to see you in glory, wearing your royal garments and your heavenly crown. I pray that you would be close to Jesus and God throne. Your future will be better. Your life is in the hands of God.”