The Vision For The Church

INTRODUCTION

The poorest man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.

—Pennsylvania School Journal

Nehemiah has been quite the study in recent weeks, and we only looked at 2 chapters of the possible 13.

Take the time to read through the book of Nehemiah in the coming week.

You will really gain an appreciation for what he went through to accomplish the vision he had.

It reminds us that when it comes to carrying out a vision, it is not an easy task and requires lots of hard work and sacrifice to see it done.

In the 18th century, there was a German sculptor by the name of Johann Heinrich von Dannecker.

At the height of his career, he decided to do something very special with his gift. He dreamed of shaping a piece of lifeless stone into a statue of Christ that would come to life as a witness to his world.

He chiseled, scraped, and polished the marble for almost 2 years. When he was convinced that his statue carried the likeness of his Lord, he wanted to test the statue on eyes that would not lie.

So he went out to the street and brought in a young girl. He took her into his studio, and he set her down in front of the shrouded sculpture. Uncovering it, he asked her, “Do you know who this is?”

“No, sir!” she replied. “But he must be a very great man.”

Dannecker knew that he’d failed. The statue was good enough for kings and nobles, but it wasn’t good enough to be a testimony of Christ.

He was discouraged. He was disheartened. He was depressed. But he knew that he had to try again.

So he set his hand to the task. It took him six years this time, every day, painstakingly, shaping, carving and polishing. Finally, once again he felt he was done. And again, he brought in a child as his first critic.

He took off the shroud, and asked her gently, “Who is that?”

She looked up at it for a moment and the tears began to gather in her eyes as she folded her hands across her breast and said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me” (Mark 10:14).

As we continue looking Godward for direction as far as the vision for First Baptist Shapleigh is concerned, it is most important that we look at His Word to find The Vision For The Church.

What Does Jesus Expect Of The Church?

Many ministries spend lots of time and energy trying to determine what is “best for business”

The focus is more on how to generate numerical growth (attenders & money) than spiritual growth or accomplishing their Christ-given vision

As a result, many models have been developed and many books have been written as to how to experience growth in the church.

In fact, if you were to go to christianbook.com (Christian Book Distributors), and typed in the search box for books categorized “church growth,” you will have over 8,000 hits on products that they have related to this topic.

Compared to typing in “purpose of the church” and getting 3,900 returns

Man-centered church growth has proven to be a time wasting, money guzzling, and energy consuming matter and an unnecessary distraction to the ministry which Jesus has called His followers to.

Consider what we see in the text of Scripture

Matthew 4:19 – Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to become fishers of men

Jesus’ intention on calling these two fishermen to be His disciples was not about establishing welfare ministries or filling the coffers

His intent and purpose was for these two men to reach other men with the gospel, revealed in Matthew 4:17, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 5:13-16 - Jesus refers to His followers as the salt of the earth and light of the world

Jesus calls His followers to be distinct in the world, and not to compromise that distinction

Matthew 7:24-27 - Jesus calls His followers to live in obedience to His words

Obedience to the Word of God will bring stability in your life

Matthew 10:16-25 - True followers of Christ must expect to endure hardship

The Christian life does not promise great ease and comfort, but great cost and worldly loss

Matthew 28:19-20

The Great Commission is a 3-fold command given by the Lord after His resurrection.

Make disciples – get others to follow

Baptize them – public proclamation

Teach them – the Word of God

Acts 1:8

Jesus had already promised to send the Helper/Holy Spirit (John 14) to be with His disciples and to teach them

The Holy Spirit is said here to be a source of empowerment for Jesus’ disciples to be witnesses to all people

So, what does Jesus expect from His Church?

To make disciples by being witnesses of Jesus.

To baptize those disciples who are now identifying with Jesus.

To teach those disciples all that Jesus has taught and said.

What Did The Apostles Do?

Acts 2:32-42

Read verse 32, 37-38, 40

The purpose of this sermon by Peter was to show that Jesus is the Christ and to encourage people to repent and be baptized.

They were then devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching (v. 42).

Acts 3:17-21

Read verses 17-18

The purpose of this sermon by Peter was to show that God has fulfilled the prophecies about the Christ in Jesus, who will return at an appointed time.

Acts 4:19-20, 33

Peter and John claimed that they had to speak about what they had seen and heard

Acts 5:42

Even after being beaten and threatened, they continued to proclaim Jesus as the Christ

Acts 7:52-56

Stephen pointed out that they had killed the Christ, and testified that he saw Him standing at the right hand of God

Acts 8:4-5, 12, 35-36

Read verse 4

Those who were scattered still preached the word, that Jesus is the Christ. Those who believed were baptized.

Acts 9:18-20, 22, 27-28

Read verse 20

Immediately after Saul was converted, he was baptized and he preached that Jesus is the Christ

Acts 10:34-43, 47-48

Peter went to the Gentiles to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, from whom forgiveness of sins is offered. They believed and were baptized.

What Will First Baptist Shapleigh Do?

First Baptist Shapleigh will make disciples by being witnesses of what Christ has said and done for us.

These disciples will then be baptized, as a public proclamation of their identifying with Jesus Christ as their Savior.

These baptized disciples will then be taught the Word of God and equipped to go make disciples, as well.

CONCLUSION

William Chalmers Burns was a Scottish evangelist and missionary who ministered alongside Robert Murray M’Cheyne and Hudson Taylor at one point in his life.

He was a man known for his fervent prayer and faithful preaching.

A story is told that when he was seventeen he was brought by his mother from the quiet town of Kilsyth to the bustling city of Glasgow.

His mother was separated from her son while she was shopping.

After retracing her steps she discovered him in an alley with tears streaming down his face.

She could see he was suffering great agony and said, ‘Willie my boy, what ails you? Are you ill?’

With broken cries, he replied, ‘Oh, mother, mother – the thud of these Christless feet on the way to hell breaks my heart.’

The spiritual eyes of young William Burns had caught a glimpse of the everlasting horrors of a Christless eternity. This vision no doubt helped shape him and his ministry for years to come.

May the Lord break our hearts for those without Christ in our area, so we will fulfill The Vision For The Church