State of the Church 2025

Introduction - RHC Story

Good morning I invite you to open in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2:1-7 that is 2 Timothy 2:1-7.On October 3rd Redemption Hill Church officially turned 4 years old. I wanted to finish the book of Malachi so we waited a week to celebrate, but here we are. Today I want us to look back on where God has brought us and then look to 2 Timothy 2:1-7 in order to see where we are heading. On July 18, 2021 RHC the nonprofit had its first worship service. We all gathered into the room across the hall and I believe we had a total of 24 people. I preached a sermon about what it meant to be a church that was God-centered and people oriented. I opened the sermon with a picture that Josian Heaton drew of Kendall. I explained that while the picture was a great drawing for a 4 year old, it was still not an exact replica of the real thing. I compared this to Redemption Hill Church, that while we were really going to try to be a Biblical church that in a broken world in a church filled with sinners, we would not look that the “real” thing. We would aim to be what the Bible prescribes, but we would do so knowing that no church is perfect. This is not just a cliche, this is the truth. Our church is not a perfect church.

However, I asked Josia to draw another picture of Kendall for us a few weeks ago. And as you can see the drawing of a now 8 year old is better than his 4 year old effort. It’s still not a exact replica, but it is an improvement. Josian, I am excited to see how the Lord uses you artistic ability in the future. Keep going! Redemption Hill Church you are improving as a church. You look more like the Biblcal prescription of a healthly church today than you did four years ago. We still have a long way to go, but by God’s grace we are improving.

We kept meeting on Sundays from July to October and we met each Thursday evening as one community group at the Derwent house. It was a sweet time of casting vision, getting to know one another, and we have fun memories of putting everything into back of Mark’s truck and sometimes watching the kids gates fly through the air down Broad Street when we didn’t get them quite tied down. We held our first new members class and on October 3rd, 2021 we covenanted together as a church. 15 adults pledged to commit to one another as church members and we had a total of 6 children, with 2 on the way. In the same service the church laid their hands on me and I became the first pastor of Redemption Hill Church.

We have seen people come to faith in Jesus, cried as some folks have left our fellowship, and lived through life’s heartaches and triumphs together for the last 4 years. We have launched a Sunday School/Equip hour, we have 4 community groups, and last month we averaged 66 people during our Sunday morning worship. God has been so very good to Redemption Hill Church. I pray that He might continue to display his goodness to us in the coming years. So, where do we go from here?

I want us to take a look at 2 Timothy 2:1-7 and see God’s strategy for growth, and 4 heart postures that Christians are to have when laboring for Christ. Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:1-7

God’s Strategy for Growth v.1-2

2 Timothy 2:1–2 “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

Paul is writing this letter to a young pastor named Timothy who is pastoring the church at Ephesus. From the context of the last chapter of this letter we gather that these might be some of the last words that Paul will write to Timothy his beloved son in the Lord. And as I heard Danny Akin say this last week, “Last words are intended to be lasting words.” So, Paul speaks to Timothy about how to conduct himself and how to conduct the affairs of the church. And as the pastor of this church Timothy is first to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and he is to teach the Gospel to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

God’s Strategy is to use people who are need of grace to teach others who are in need of grace to teach others who are in need of grace. Don’t miss the first part, “You then my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” The instruments that God chooses to use to grow his church are those who are in need of the grace that is found in Christ Jesus. God’s plan to save the world is not a marketing plan, it is not a social media campaign, it is not the Christianizing of governments, it is not reforming public schools, it is not building big buildings, is not creating large and great programs, but it is to simply use people who need to be strengthened by grace to teach the Gospel to other faithful people, who will teach others also.

What does God need to employ his strategy? People who need grace and His word. This is what is necessary for church growth according to God’s plan. Well we have people in need of grace in spades and we have the Word of the Lord. We are thankful for all other blessings the Lord gives, blessings like a building, like money, like a government that is not hostile to the gospel. These are blessings that God can use, but they are not necessary. What is necessary is people who are strengthen by his grace and who are committed to His word.

Now, some might argue that this is a word to pastors and a call for Timothy to train up pastors, not a call for all church members to make disciples themselves. It is true that Timothy is a pastor and it is true that He is to raise up other pastors to help him in the ministry. However by verse 14 Paul tells Timothy 2 Timothy 2:14 “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.” No commentator I could find suggest that these are only pastors who need not quarrel about words. I want to suggest that this ministry of teaching others who will teach others begins with the pastors, but extends to all of the church. I believe that all Christians are to participate the Great Commission given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” So who is God going to use to grow his church? Those who are in need of His grace. Those who are willing to admit and embrace their weakness, so that God might glorify himself in their weaknesses. If we are to grow we must admit that we are weak. We must admit that we are wholly dependent on the grace of God. You see, we think that the Great Commission is for pastors and missionaries we are saying that the Great Commission is for the “strong”.

And it is not, it is for those who need strength. It is for the weak who need to be strengthened by His grace. It is the work of the whole congregation. Listen to Paul’s words in Romans 16:1–15 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.” Paul list his co-workers in the Gospel and they are single women, married couples, single men, fellow prisoners with Paul, families, Jews and Gentiles, grandmothers, mothers, and siblings. In a word Paul’s fellow workers in the Gospel who gave money, endured prison, risked their necks, and worked hard were church members. Church members are people who know that are weak and are in desperate need for the strength that only the grace of Jesus provides.

God’s plan in Ephesus was to use a young weak pastor to teach God’s word to his people who would in turn go and teach others. God’s plan in Galloway is use a young and weak pastor to teach a group of his people who will go and teach others. This is the strategy and by God’s grace it has been working for the last 2,000 years. Brothers and sisters God has been using the weak, strengthened by his grace to, to proclaim the Gospel since Pentecost. And yet, we all know there is more work to be done. So, how are we to accomplish this work. What must be true about us to employ God’s strategy?

We Must Be Willing to Suffer v. 3

2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Now, if you were excited to go storm Hell with a water pistol after all my talk about God’s proven strategy to evangelize the world this first point probably seems a little bit like a wet blanket. This isn’t the kind of thing you should say in the annual state of the church sermon. When I have sat in on trainings about casting vision about the future of your church suffering is not one of the key things we are told to address. I have read books about making vision memorable, exciting, and clear but no human institution has ever said you should tell your audience about how this will hurt. But I don’t what you hear from a human institution today and I don’t think you do either. I want to hear from God and His word. And Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit tells Timothy, that is if he is going to be a faithful minister of the gospel he must share in suffering.

The life committed to following Jesus is a life that will walk in the footsteps of Jesus. The man who was well acquainted with grief. The man who was reviled, betrayed, abandoned, and murdered. Paul with tell Timothy 2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” God calls you to follow him, but he doesn’t sell you on following him. He gives you the truth right up front. Follow me and you will suffer. We must properly set our expectations if we are to see RHC thrive into the future. I believe God has a future for us, and I believe that God will use our church see people come to faith in Jesus. But I also know that we will suffer. These sufferings are what it means to minister from weakness. It is in theses moments that God strengthens us with grace.

This is going to be hard, but there is Gospel hope in this sentence. We are going to suffer, but we share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. You see, we will suffer, but we do not suffer alone. We share in suffering in the context of the army of the Lord. Our general does not command us from afar, but rather he has pitched his tent right here in our midst. He came and wrapped himself in flesh to dwell among us. We share in the sufferings of our fellow soldiers, brothers and sisters, but in our union with Christ we also share in His suffering. God uses suffering for His glory and to spread the Gospel. The world watches as we suffer and the fires of persecution bring to light the legitimacy of our claim that Jesus is Lord.

The future of Redemption Hill Church will have wonderful joys, but it will also have seasons of suffering. Those who leave in times of pain will miss the glory that God will reveal to us when the season is over. Psalm 126:6 “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” There is no resurrection without the cross, no glory without enduring shame for His name. If we want to see victory day then you must share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as good soldiers we must also remain focused.

We Must Remain Focused v. 4

2 Timothy 2:4 “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

There is an irony for me in this. When I suffer most, is when I let my imagination wander detached from God’s desires. When I imagine a future in which I get what I want that is when my suffering seems to intensify. It’s not about the outside circumstances, but rather my longing for different circumstances. My suffering increases when I am entangled in civilian pursuits. When I place my focus on my wants and desires in the flesh the sufferings I endure for Jesus appear worse and worse. I get bitter, I can feel ripped off by God. I am here doing godly stuff, why does it have to be so hard!? But when I make it my aim to please Him somehow my sufferings are lifted. My guess is this is true for you as well.

Now, I am not saying that my circumstances change. They rarely do, at least not right away. I am saying that I am enabled to share in suffering and still have joy, but only when my aim is to please the Lord. When my aim is to please myself then the circumstances of life are typically disappointing. When I entangle myself in the pursuit of money, in the pursuit of ease and comfort, in the pursuit of being respected, in the pursuit of having “good kids”, in the pursuit of retiring on-time, etc. then I am destined to despondency.

However, when I repent of my selfishness it like the sun comes out from behind the clouds. The sun of righteousness comes with healing in its wings and my worries, fears, doubts, frustrations melt away. Now, this not the power of positive thinking. It is framing my worldview by the pursuit of pleasing my commanding officer. When by God’s grace I count it as success to please the Lord the sacrifices ministry (not vocational ministry, but the ministry to that we all participate in) don’t seem like sacrifices. They become joys. When we make it our aim to please God we truly know what the psalmist means when he says, “Psalm 84:10 “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere….

Eternal focus changes everything!! Waking up early to set up is not a drudgery it is a privilege! Sharing the Gospel with your uninterested neighbor does not need to be torture! If you are focused on looking good and feeling good then you won’t take that hard step of faith and bring up spiritual things. But if your aim is to please the one who enlisted you and you start to see each relationship that God has placed before you as a divine appointment and a wonderful opportunity to share the best news possible then you proclaim to the Gospel to every neighbor no matter their response. Late night prayer meetings are tiring when I drive to them, but I always drive home thankful. Being “well rested” is important, but it is not as good as being faithful.

What is our task? What are we focused on? What are you life plans and goals? What is your aim? Are we planning for earthly things for our own glory? Or are we planning to make an eternal impact on this world for the glory of God? If you want to live for God’s glory it will require suffering. But remain focused on your marching orders because all earthly suffering is temporary. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep heading for your eternal destination. Don’t get distracted by vain pursuits and turn to the left or right. Do not get entangled by sin or anything that is less than God’s glory manifested in your life! Stay focused! Make it your life mission to please God! Live to please the one who enlisted you. The one who called you out of darkness and into marvelous, who transferred you from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his son, who though you were dead in sin made you alive together with Christ. He enlisted you by saving you! And you get to live for his glory!!! You get to make it your aim to please Him. There is joy to be had in laboring hard for Jesus!

T/S- Laboring for Jesus isn’t just about evangelism and numerical growth. We must also labor to grow in holiness. We must labor, and as we do we must play by the rules.

We Must Be Committed to Finish v. 5

2 Timothy 2:5 “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

Paul uses the illustration of an athlete to help us see the necessity for self-control. An athlete competes knowing that there will be physical pain in their training. They must choose to push through the pain in order to win the crown or their prize. And to win a crown you must impress the judge, you have to complete according to the rules dictated by the judge. If you cheat in the race, you might cross the finish line first, but the judge will not crown you the victor. We must run this race according to the rules given to us by our judge. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” We run this race determined to make it to the end. We must deny our flesh and sin and run after our eternal reward.

We are to run this race in life. We are not passive bystanders in the cheap seats. Rather we are athletes in the arena with our eyes set on the prize, which is the crown of eternal life. This crown imagery is used in the NT often. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” The crown of life in the NT is not a crown given to those who score points with God through good works. Instead, it is the prize that all Christians pursue as they endure suffering for the sake of Jesus. It is the reward for those who are persecuted by this world and still remain faithful. They do not give up and abandon their confession. Rather, they keep running with their eyes focused on Jesus. The Christian life is a life of the rigorous pursuit of godliness. We must run determined to finish this race and determined to receive our crown. Which Paul tells us 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” They is a crown waiting for you if you love his appearing. If you love Jesus, then live like you love Jesus. Don’t just have a faith of words, have one of action. And know that those who love Jesus will be rewarded the crown of righteousness on the great and awesome day of the Lord.

We Must Be Willing to Work v.6

2 Timothy 2:6 “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”

Kendall and I, about 6 months ago, were reminiscing about Redemption Hill and he laughed and said, “Man, you told me it would be hard, but me and Andee just had no idea how hard it would be.” Kendall and Mark used to go to the storage unit every week and load up Mark’s truck will all our stuff. It was work! Mark Welch drives the trailer to our church most weeks and that creates a ton of work for Sarah. Have you told them thank you lately? They don’t do it for your thanks, but we should be thankful.

Outreach events: Trick or Treat Trail, Joy to the World Christmas Party, Sports Camp and Block parties… All require work! Door to door visits, canvassing with doorhangers, Farmer’s Market, volunteering at WICC nights, hosting a Financial Wellness class, gathering people for Church Picnics, Potlucks, and Big Give Dinners… its work! Make no mistake, there is no movent of God that doesn’t require real effort from the people of God. This is God’s chosen means to spread the Gospel. The work and suffering of his people to display the perfect work and suffering of His Son. Godly ministry, whole churched ministry, is hard work! Now that is a sober reality, but it is not bad news. Paul is communicating really good news to us in this passage. There is hard work, but there is also the first share of the crops. There is a crown of life, a solider can please his commanding officer. There is reward for those who are faithful.

Galatians 6:8–10 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Conclusion

Don’t give up! It is hard work, we must be committed to finish the race, we must remain focused, and we must be willing to suffer. But we do this so that we might take what we have heard and teach it to others, who will in turn go and teach others also. This is God’s plan to evangelize the entire world, and this plan has been working for 2,000 years. What started with a prayer meeting of 125 people in the upper room in Acts has become a Christian movement of millions all over the world. Christianity has endured false teaching, martyrdom, imprisonment, book burnings, legal challenges, plagues, wars, and famines. And no matter where the Gospel has gone it has taken root and it grows. It may for a time be reduced to a root, but even God moves to restore and reform His Church. Our task is simple, take these things that you have heard in the presence of many witnesses and teach it to others. So, will you put your hand to the plow? Will you this year as RHC lock arms and get to work. Work knowing that no matter the earthly consequence there is a guarantee of heavenly reward for all of those who in Christ Jesus. I close with a point of application from 2 Timothy 2:7 “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Let’s take just a moment as we sing to think over what God said to use through His Word.