Foundations of a Thriving church

Introduction

Introduce self

dismiss children

I’ve said before that I like to have a plan when it comes to the sermon series I preach. I scheduled the series out until about August back in November or December.

I believe the Holy Spirit of God can guide in a plan as much as in the moment and I also believe we hold all plans open handed to the Lord.

Today we are starting a series I hadn’t planned on. It is a series that has been on my heart for the last month or so that I’ve been praying over, I talked with some people about, and just last week Craig and I were talking about our church and the way God is working in and through LBC. While we were talking, as I was about to mention this series to him, he made some comments that were the ones I had already had in my mind and on my heart confirming for me that it’s time to preach this.

On July 7th of this year I will have been pastor of LBC for 5 years. During the last 5 years our church family as been through a number of changes plus a year of COVID. We have also been blessed to see many become part of our family. people from differnt backgrounds, upbringings, and at different points of theri spiritual journey.

This is excactly what I love to see in church.

What I’ve learned though is that as people are added to the family and just as time goes on, there is often a need for reminding or informing about the vision and mission of the church as a whole.

At liberty we exists to reach 10% of our community by Loving God, Serving Others, and Making an Impact. We do this by Connecting to God on Sunday, Growign closer to Him and each other in Life Groups, serve the community, and share the gospel.

This is based on what the New Testament church did and is what I believe it means to be a thriving church, not just a surviving church.

A church should be a place of life. Where Jesus is there is life and Jesus came that we may have an abundant life.

When a church focuses on surviving rather than thriving they are no longer living.

A church becomes a surviving church instead of a thriving church when they lose focus on the purpose the church.

Character- Christians misunderstanding purpose of church

This misunderstanding existed even amongst the disciples as they walked with Jesus.

Mark 10:35–40 “35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask…

Even after his resurrection he interacted with those who believed in him as they traveled on the road to Emmaus. Jesus was having a conversation with them without them realizing who he was. they talked about jesus and the things that happened to him and then this part of the conversation took place

Luke 24:19–21 “19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.”

When they spoke of redeeming Israel it was about him overthrowing the Romans and estbalishing Israel as a soverign nation again.

but that isn’t what Jesus came for.

He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to glorify the father through the son. He came to serve not to be served. HE came to make this life about others and not himself.

Problem-Focus on surviving

A surviving church neglects to seek and to save and instead overlooks and forsakes them. A surviving church seeks their own glory and maintaining the status quo to not hurt the image of what they beleive the church should look like rather than glorifying the father in what the church shoudl be like. A surviing church seeks to be served by the pastor, staff, deacons, and others rather than serving together to reach the lost.

A focus on surving even in your own life means remaining in what feels comfrotabel rather than becoming uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.

Surviving is about selfishness and doing what is best for you rather than what is best for others. It is based out of fear rather than faith. Fear of death or fear of change can put a church into survival mode reducing it’s gospel impact for the kingdom.

Agitated-Church on defense

A church can only be on the defense because the followers of Jesus that make it up are on the defensive.

Have you ever met a Christian who is on the defensive? DO you know what that looks like?

A christian on defense gossips about other people and how they are living rather than approaching and asking about things they do or say to gain clairty and restore relationship.

A christian on defense doesn’t evangelize by sharing the gospel, they speak more about the problems in the world rather than the solution. They tell you everything wrong without presenting the gospel which makes things right.

A christian on defense doesn’t focus on the mission of the ministry but on the methodology they believe should be in the ministry.

This results in division, stagnation, and eventually death.

When a church becomes this way, it is time for them to die. They have become luke warm.

Revelation 3:14–17 “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

This is not the church, the assembly, the people, God intended for those who follow Jesus to be.

Jesus gave a gaurenteed victory to the church in

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Guide-Jesus, Apostles, early church

HE gave the promise there, the command in the great commission, and prayed for the disciples obeidence in John 17.

We now look to Him, them, and the early church to model ours after. Not the church of 10 years ago, 20 years ago, or 50 years ago. We look to what Jesus said, what the apostles did, and how we can incorporate that into the 21st century church to not just survive but to thrive.

There is no more fertile ground in the wordl for the church to grow than in the United States.

How do we go forward? How do we resist the trend towards survival in the american churches of today.

Solution- Choose to be unified around Jesus’ mission not mans methods

I believe we look back and see what the followers of Jesus were unified around. I belive we look to the Bible to guide us and not our opinions. I beleive we decide to not divide over methodlogy but unite around mission.

Call it a mission, commission, command, or whatever makes you feel comfortable but there is no denying that is individual followers of Jesus we have a purpose in this life.

It is not to seek comfort or to avoid the trials and tribulaitons of life

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

The early church had to quickly figure some things out and they had different ideas on how to handle things. Arguments over circumcision, conversion to Judiasm abounded, real doctrinal arguments. Not service times and scheduels. not church progmramming or colors of walls and carpets.

And yet, even with their conflcit they remained unified. Why? How? How did they thrive in these early years?

How can we thrive today?

Acts 1 starts out with three things that make up the thriving church of the 1st century and as your pastor, friend, and fellow church member desire to be foundational to our unity here.

Journey-Acts 1:1-8

The chuch couldn’t have started and especially could not find unity amongst it’s beleivers without

1. Faith in the Gospel

Acts 1:1–3 “1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

The book of Acits is written by Luke, the same author of the Gospel of luke. He was a traveling companion of Paul and was an eye witness to his missionary journeys.

HE wrote to a man named theophilus,

A High-Ranking Official: Theophilus is often understood to be a person of high social or political standing due to the use of the title "most excellent" (Luke 1:3), which was typically used to address people of rank, such as Roman officials.

There are some other thoughts on who ti could be but none of them, including this one, have conclusive evidence to prove the validity of their claim.

Luke established the foundation og the Christian faith here. In short, it’s known as the gospel.

THe gospel is most clearly defined in

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 “1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

If you don’t believe this then it’s impossible to have unity inside of a Chrisitan environment.

Salvation, life transformation, eternal life, and all the amazing things that are apart of being a follower of Jesus start with faith in this simple truth.

If you want to know why we do what we do around Liberty, it’s becuase of this. It’s because we belive this with every fiber of our being. We love Jesus for who He is and what He has done and we love you too. We want you two to know each other ina great way.

That’s why a thriving church must have people who

2. Focus on the Purpose

Acts 1:4–5“4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Here in this first church Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them.

This passage has caused confusion amongst Christians today. Some believe that the baptism of the holy spirit is some supernatual thing that takes place that endows you with powers to heal or speak in unknown languages.

That is not what I believe.

Mankinds access to the Spirit of God in the Old Testament isn’t the same as it is it our day and this moment that is being written about is the transitional period.

Rememerb ACts is a transition book that transisions life for followers of God from the Old Coveneant to the New Covenant.

In this passage Jesus tells them, the Holy Spirit of God is about to come upon and yes they will receive power but the power they received was reserved for them alone when it came to supernatural sense.

Paul wrote about them

1 Corinthians 13:8 “8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

1 Corinthians 13:8 CSB

8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

https://www.gotquestions.org/tongues-will-cease.html

I believe what’s known as a cessationist. I believe the sign gifts of teh apostles have ceased.

I’ve linked an article in the notes online that speaks to this while also presenting what is known as the continuationist point of view. IT gives the strengths and weaknesses of both views but that is not the focus of my message today however I did not want to read this passage and elave that out.

If anything, it reinforces my point of staying focused on the purpose. The purpose of the Christian life is not to prusue spiruital gifts. Paul writes in 1 cor 12-14 about the proper use of these and at no point does he say to pursue them.

He keeps love and the gospel at the forefront of thought.

After this exclimation notice the comment

Acts 1:6–7 “6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

they were looking for Jesus to overthrow the roman government and establish God’s kingdom on earth.

It’s interesting to me how that is still a focus of so many Christians today. I’m thankful for the blessed hope of the return of Christ. I believe we are clsoer today and we were yesterday. I also believe that it’s not meant to be the focus of my life. I don’t need ot figure out when Jesus will come back, I need to be faithfully obedient to the purpose He has given me and that’ purpose is to be a witness of who He is and what He has done.

Acts 1:8 “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

What was the purpose of the power? What was the purpose of the Holy Spirit? Comfort? yes he is called the comforter. hwoever here what follows the indwelling of the Holy spirit is the purpose of them goig and sharing the gospel locally and worldwide.

WHy?

Because the gosple changes lives. Because the gospel makes it possible to have a relationship with God now and for eternity. Because the gospel is the message that God left with us to invite more people into His family.

Chrisitans and churches can lose focus on this. They canr eplace the purpose of their lives with the same ideals of the world “eat drink and be merry” and the end result of this is a christians life and church with an entirely inward focus. A lack of discipleship, true discipleship not jsut the exchange of biblical information.

It’s an easy slope to begin to slide down and it’s my prayer that if we are in anyway ever heading in that direction, we quickly come together not to attack each other for not doing it but come together to accomplish it. That’s unity. THat’s focus on the mission. lack of focus on mission leads to attacks, in fighting, gossip, backbiting, and never actualyl coming to the person who could solve anything but just talking to people for the sake of prayer requests or venting…

If a follower of Jesus is doing that, then that’s a pretty good indication there isn’t unity in your heart.

choose to fcous on the purpose God has given you and his people and decide to make that more important than the shortcomings of sinners like me and you.

A thriving church has faith in the gospel, a focus on the mission and then finds themselves

3. Fulfilling Jesus’ prayer

John 17:15–18 “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”

John 17:15–18 CSB

15 I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Jesus prayed to the father for those that would be sent into the world would be protected from the evil, for them to be sanctified or set apart by the Word of God, why?

Because he is sending them into the world…He is sending you into the world…but are you going?

Do you tell people about Jesus? Not do you invite them to church, although that is great, I’m wondering if you tell them about Jesus. Do you share testimony of how great He is and what He has done in your life?

Do you share the gospel with them?

As a church this is apart of everything we do. Bible study? JEsus and the gospel. Worship? GOspel. Preaching…very clearly gospel. Life groups: gospel. Serving opportunity: gospel. Community event: gospel.

Whether verbally, in writing, or an ivnite to hear is the reason we exist. Once apart of the family we love, disciple, and partner together to do the same.

A thriving church doesn’t make their existence about surviving and maintaiing the status quo, it’s about reaching more with the gospel as a unified body of belivers pushing toward the high mark of the calling of Christ Jesus on our lives.

Resolution- Come together around purpose and move forward

Is that what your about? Becuase that’s what I beleive the early church was about and what a thriving churchis about. I’m thankful to be apart of a thriving church and I hope you’ll choose to be aprt of this one to as we move forward for the kingdom.

I pray you’ll see that your individual life and commitment to the cause of Christ impacts the culture of the church and it’s ability to thrive. Will choose to be on board and unified around the gospel?

TO have faith in Jesus, TO focus on the purpose of of the christian life, and to see Jesus’ prayer fulfilled.

If so I beleive your life can be transformed as you live out the truths of scripture. And you will see waht the God did in and through the indidivudal believers in the book of ACts as they were faithfully obedient to Him.

Will you be?

Impact: Negative: church lives defeated and the gospel has no effect. Positive: Life transformation, no gossip, no hate

The world has enough division and hate. The church is supposed to lvoe one another in unity.

When we don’t unify around these things mentioned today the church lives defeated. the gospel’s impact in reduced and lives remain hopeless.

However in the power of Christ and unity thorugh His gospel, we can see lives transformed. WE coudl even see gossip end but that woudl take humilty. We could see disdain for different people based on different opinions removed from the Christians hearts…

Time of Response