Untitled Sermon (2)

Why Do We Struggle to Obey Jesus’ Greatest Commission in Our Church?

Intended for the elders and members of Fourth Baptist Church (Minneapolis, MN) from whom we plan to learn, to labor alongside, and to love the flock of Jesus Christ which was purchased by his blood.

Introduction: Although you may consider me a newcomer to the world of Fourth Baptist Church & Central Seminary, the truth is that we share common spiritual roots. My mother, who is now with the Lord, attended the church and school for her entire childhood. Her parents are first generation believers who were discipled into maturity by this church. My father is grateful to have earned his Master of Divinity from Central back in the 1990s. My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and council of your leadership over the last several months. We have talked about the ministry, our roles in it, and the many ways that we see the Lord at work in each of our lives. I am the recipient of God’s undeserved kindness through the faithfulness of this place. So, the following comments are not intended to be critical; they are intended to be constructive.  I welcome your feedback and involvement.

Paul gives a sober warning to the leadership of the struggling Corinthians church in 1 Corinthians 3:10, “But each person must be careful how he builds on it.” It is healthy for church leadership to self-reflect. It is constructive for church leadership to self-reflect. And, in step with Paul’s principle here, it is biblically faithful to take time to intentionally reflect.

In that spirit, I would suggest that we at Fourth Baptist have stalled in making disciples for the following three reasons. Please note that each of these proposition carries, not only a negative assessment, but a positive vision for change. If Jesus rhetorically used the term, “Not far from the kingdom of God,” I believe that we as a team are “Not far from the commission of God.” May he bless this discussion for his glory.

Prayer

Outline Overview

I.                         The concept of “missions” has become an isolated initiative rather than the central goal for all of our church’s functions.

II.                      The expectations of programmatic ministry have often worked against the goal of a relationship environment.

III.                    Our focus is often on preservation of the ministry rather than advancement of the ministry.

I will address these observations, defended by arguments, and conclude each section with a Scriptural appeal.

I.          The idea of “missions” has become an isolated initiative rather than the central goal for all of our church’s functions.

A.      I will never forget first encountering the book “Simple Church” (Rainer). The author essentially identifies the modern evangelical church (in the West, at least) as setting a cyclical pattern for its church members. In other words, the idea was to rotate people through various options of church programs depending on their interests and stage in life. The Simple Church model, on the other hand, was a directional pattern. Church members ought to be moving forward in their lives and ministry to others to the point of maximum reproduction. Would this type of thinking be familiar to our folks at Fourth?

a.       Cycles of personal ministry operation tend to trap.

b.       A direction for personal ministry, on the other hand, provides real opportunity.

B.      However, the important factor in all of this is that we must change our mindset (and our verbiage) as it relates to “Missions.

a.       We have relegated the evangelism / missions / frontier work to the labor of the missionaries that we support.

b.       We have viewed our home church at Fourth Baptist as thriving insofar as we enable other, supported ministries to carry out the Great Commission.

c.       Perhaps, the mission needs to be brought home to each of our lives.

C.     This is primarily a diagnosis essay, not a solutions essay. However, please consider the following adjustments:

a.       Integrate the missions budget into areas of need closer to home.

                                                                                             i.       Invest in a church reproduction effort in Minneapolis (our Jerusalem & Judea).

                                                                                          ii.        Signal to the congregation that we, in similar ways to our missionaries, are seeking to spread the Gospel around us.

                                                                                        iii.        Apply the principles of personal and corporate reproduction to the flock.

b.       Regularly encourage our young men who are being called to ministry to obey immediately and take part in what God is doing at Fourth.

                                                                                             i.       Do not discourage families from making strategic moves with their lives. If God is working through us to help a smaller work (All Nations Baptist, Family Baptist, or our own church plant in the inner city or downtown – or in the Southern suburbs, etc.), then our people should expect Christian maturity to demand a lifestyle of reproduction.

c.       Expect members and new members to embrace a missional burden as they mature in Christ. People who join our church should not be content sampling the various ministry program which fit their taste. They should be sharpening their spiritual gifts for spiritual reproduction. Does this mean hosting a life group at their house? Does it mean moving to a new county to support a smaller work? Does it mean partnering with a missionary around the globe?

As we emphasize the missional focus of our assembly, we will bring alignment between the functions of the church and the expectations of the people.

Personal illustration on how we view missionary / church plants as totally different from ourselves. Growing up in a pastor’s home, I remember catching wind of some controversy about a proposal for our church to re-pave the battered parking lot (We lived in Minnesota, so the effects of the winter were brutal on asphalt). There were those who staunchly opposed, claiming “the money should be given sacrificially to missionaries!” Well, it came as quite the surprise to me to hear our next question – “what will the missionaries then do with this money?” Perhaps they will invest in their own parking lot! 😊Churches have similar needs, struggles, and certainly a common mission. Let’s embrace our own.

D.     Scriptural Encouragement: 1 Thessalonians 1:8 speaks of how Paul was encouraged by the reproduction of the Thessalonians throughout Macedonia into all Achaia.

a.       For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. (NKJV)

b.       The idea is one of rippling out so that each effect brings about fresh ripples and fresh advancement.

c.       Have we considered that this verse applies to OURSELVES? And not only the 24 missionaries to whom we provide money?

II.       The expectations of programmatic ministry have often worked against the goal of a relationship environment.

A.      What do I mean by this? Consider the industry of health and fitness. Deep down, we all know that the results of a healthier lifestyle are really only accomplished one way: Diet & Exercise. It’s not complicated, but it does require effort. However, what do you see on the TV commercials, the YouTube ads, the magazine cutouts, and the infomercials? “TAKE THIS PILL!” It is a promised shortcut.

Do you see the difference between a comprehensive, lifestyle change and a fix that only requires a small investment? One is holistic; the other is forgettable.

I’d like to propose that a pattern of relegating discipleship to distant programs has the same deleterious effects as assuming that I am healthier because I have taken my weight-loss pill. In fact, we are more likely to regress because we have not embraced the commitment necessary to appreciate the outcome!

B.      A similar thing could be said about many churches, including our folks here at Fourth. The idea of “leave it to the professionals” (the effect of technocracy through people like Peter Drucker and even Rick Warren), or “trust the process,” or even, “embrace the process” may very well have the effect of distancing ourselves from the actual work of relationship building.

                                                               i.       No one is ever evangelized or personally discipled by a mere program. People are only reached by …. PEOPLE.

Even the pastor preaching on the Lord’s Day is speaking truth through personality.

                                                            ii.        In other words, the essential component must be the spirit working through his means of grace – the Word, the People, and Prayer.

                                                          iii.        Acts 2:46 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…”

1.       Notice how the grace of worship and public exhortation (“temple”) connect naturally with fellowship and relationships (“in their homes”).

2.       Programmatic ministries may very well serve the people. But, I guarantee you that they will only accomplish their goal of service insofar as people are interacting with other people in genuine relationships.

3.       QUESTION: But, is it possible that the demands of programs might, in fact, place a restraint – of time, resources, investment, awareness – upon the reality of people touching people’s lives?

C.     We are self-protective, and reliance on programs established clear boundaries. In fact, sociologists have noted that we are becoming a “back deck culture” as opposed to a “front porch culture.”

Our church is not immune from these trends.

Indeed, we must go to Scripture in order to set the pace for our ministry.

                                                               i.       I view “The Trellis and the Vine” as  a wonderful pattern for our church. We have schedules, programs, and expectations. These are not wrong. Here are some practical steps to leverage the programs we have for relationships… they are not exhaustive – ask the Lord how you can steward your own investments…

-            Kids4Truth:

o   Rather than simply doing your responsibility and leaving, 1) seek out and build a relationship with a newer attending family, seeking to connect with them regularly during the week. 2) pursue a leader within the program, asking how you can regularly pray for their support. Follow-up with them.

-            Sunday School:

o   Arrive early so as to interact. Do not go “a mile wide an inch deep.” Get to know a few people to the degree that you can experience the Acts 2:46 factor with them. Know their family situations, understand their difficulties.

-            Life Group at Your Home:

o   Dedicate one of these meeting per quarter to go outdoors (weather permitting!) and invite unconverted neighbors. Let them know that we are a family in Christ who is composed of normal people who gather to minister grace. Provide time for relational conversations, and gospel initiatives, to spark. Pray specifically for them in follow-up.

D.     Scriptural Encouragement: We have become a ‘sit and listen’ culture in church. As one of my professors said, our churches often have “Strong bones, but brittle ligaments.” We need time with each other to learn the skill of inter-personal ministry!

                                                              i.        Ephesians 4:16 “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (NIV)

                                                            ii.        This is directly after the gifting by the Spirit for the church. And Paul’s focus (4:1-7) is on inner-personal unity and edification. Know the Word, Instruct each other in the Word! This is skill that must be developed.

III.     Finally, our focus, especially at a historic place like Fourth, tends to focus on ministry preservation rather than ministry advancement.

A.      Christ’s call to discipleship is a radical idea – would our people be shocked to hear the same?

                                                               i.       It demands everything that we have. Matthew 16:24 “If any man would be my disciple, he must deny himself take up his cross, and follow me.”

                                                            ii.        This was a graphic picture of a death march to our execution. We are slaves to Christ.

                                                          iii.        In the book “Disciple Making Culture” (Guindon) responds to a interesting question. An eager young pastor asks him what curriculum or program he uses to disciple. Guindon made a surprising response: “sir, can I ask you who you are currently discipling?” Do you see what he did? He took the focus off of the mode of ministry and onto the ministry itself.

B.      Our modes of ministry, you see, are often the vehicles by which ministry occurs. We cannot serve two masters. If only serve the mode of ministry, we are in danger of leaving behind the actual reality of ministering to one another.

                                                               i.       Romans 15: “Welcome one another.”

                                                            ii.        Romans 12: “Seek to show hospitality.”

                                                          iii.        1 Corinthians 11: “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

C.     Does our perception of ministry include serving needy people?

                                                               i.       Does our sense of ministry place – our environment, our schedule, our pristine culture – feel threatened by, or welcoming to, people who are “strangers.”

                                                            ii.        If our church culture becomes mired in self-preservation, we are become as a clanging cymbal or gong … we are without love… love for the stranger!

                                                          iii.        I would love for this church’s pews to be occupied by people who are at all various stages in their Christian growth.

D.     Our ministry place and style may adjust with time and place. However, there should be one constant – an advance of truth into the lives and circumstances of all sorts of people.

E.       Scriptural Encouragement: That verse in Romans 12 is fascinating to me. It includes the verb from the word philoxenia – which can be translated as “love for the stranger.” Rosaria Butterfield (“The Gospel Comes with a House Key”) admonishes us that the church should “be filled with people who do not look like us.”

Conclusion: These three areas of challenge – the isolation of ‘missions,’ the expectations of programmatic ministry, and the self-congratulations of ministry preservation – contain, in the proper context, wonderful gifts by Jesus Christ to his church. However, I desire to see this church make the main thing the main thing. This is not to discourage pastors and congregants to abandon their stewardships; rather, it is to leverage those stewardships for faithful disciple-making. May God grant us wisdom to know how to serve him faithfully.