Compelling - What is church?

Compelling - Being The Church People Need • Sermon • Submitted 8 years ago

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COMPELLING - Being the church people need. We’ve all got our own picture of what church looks like. For some, it may include pews and old hymns. For others, it could be in a coffee shop on a Sunday night with worship music and a speaker. But what if we told you that church wasn’t a meeting place or an environment? The church is a place where you feel like you belong. Where you find a community of people who will support and accept you throughout your life. A place so compelling that there is no choice but to experience the love of God and share it with others.

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Introduction: (Me)

Illustration: Insulating windows and getting away from the template. If we are not careful and intentional we can get away from the church God intended.

What is church?

COMPELLING = evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

I sincerely believe that people at their worst need the church at it’s best... The local church living and teaching the truths of Jesus Christ, is the hope of the world.

(We) When you hear the word CHURCH what come to your mind? (collage of church pics)

For many of us it’s a feeling not a thought. Bad and good… Rules, building, tradition, judgement, guilt, accepting, choir, candles, hymn books

Much of what we think about church and our experiences God never intended. God intended for the church to be much more than symbols or something you went to as a kid.

We can see what God intended in the book of believe that BCC can be COMPELLING. I believe we can be the church God intended. We all need to be reminded of what God initially intended for the church. Today, we said let’s go to church. In the book of Acts it means more.

CHURCH = A called out people.

(God)

Matthew 16:18-

Matthew 16:18–19 NLT

18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Jesus Initiated The Church

Jesus will build my church! Jesus wanted to bring clarity to what the church was intended to be.

Matthew 16:18–19 NLT

Ex - People come and go but Jesus will still build the church. Leaders will pass but Jesus will move the church. Keys - I will also resource you to do what I’m calling you to do. Someone opened the door today. We can be confident.

Where God guides He will provides.

You will have everything you need to accomplish everything I’m asking you to do.

Jesus Instructed The Church

Jesus died. EASTER. The disciples and about 120 other people gathered.

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

I’m empowering you to be my witnesses. Because of this we are here today. From this verse forward things started happening. The world and people started to change.

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

1. Be Growth Minded

Acts 2:38–41 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:

Acts 2:38-

Acts 2:38–39 NLT

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

The day the church was born. Peter preached. Far Off = MOVEMENT 3000 = Large. I’m so proud of BCC.

The BCC story - Metcalf pharmacy, stone building - Ecusta Union Hall plateaued. When BCC settled the movement slowed. (show pic)

The day the church was born. Peter preached.

1200 start sending and planting. What if we plant like minded compelling churches from here west? What if we go 64 west into communities and plant compelling churches that people need? What if we intentionally plan and prioritize to plant 4 local, compelling churches that live and teach the truths of Jesus Christ being the hope of the world.

What if each Life Group multiplied? What if we increased our volunteer opportunities?

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

2. Offer Life-Changing Truth

Acts 5:4

Acts 5:42 NLT

42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

Jesus taught and brought extreme clarity. You can have forgiveness of sin. Transformation and hope. The Disciples picked up right where Jesus left off. In the NT the word Father is used 150 times.

What did they teach? Jesus!! What does a COMPELLING church teach? JESUS!!!

BCC needs to be a place where people can hear TRUTH.

Our gatherings will be a safe place to hear a dangerous message.

We are going to allow people to question and wrestle with Truth.

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

3. Be Aware And Accepting Of Others

Acts 15:19 NLT

19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

People were compelled about this movement. Peter’s first message came to the Jews. Jews v/s Gentiles - Move and reach the Gentiles. Did they argue, were there misunderstandings? Yes. But they were aware. We need to be the church that will accept anybody.

Jesus accepted us just like we are. We can confuse acceptance with approval.

Ill - My parents didn’t always approve of my behavior but they always accepted me.

I have a deep, deep desire to be accepted. So do you. When we accept people were they are it creates common ground for a truth conversation.

2 results - misunderstandings and messiness. Most churches are not willing to get messy or to be misunderstood.

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

4. Be Generous

Acts 4:33–35 NLT

33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

No needy person among them! If you ever wanted to take the temperature of how God is working in your life look at your giving. The best way to determine how God’s grace is working in your life is generosity. On the first Wednesday of June we are going to open our doors on Wednesday night and meet needs.

When you are a building you just maintain. When you are a movement you give or the movement stops.

There is already a biblical plan for giving. Arg. Mark are you asking me to sell everything? No, this was a descriptive event at a special time and place in history. Whew! God has a plan. The tithe. You give 10%. If everyone that claims to be a part of this movement would practice percentage, progressive giving we would be looking for ways to help people.

Big vision takes big dollars.

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

5. Develop Leaders

Acts 6:3 NLT

3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

A movement has to have a leadership pipeline. A movement will always have another problem to solve, another conflict or tension to manage. A movement has to have multiple, scalable layers. In the church grew so large that people started complaining. We need more people!

Paul had Timothy and Barnabas.

We need more leaders! Where will they come from . Right here. Some of you have a carreer but you are searching for a calling. I believe the the local church should be the best ran organization on the planet. We need you to step up. God didn’t give you those gifts to build your Kingdom but His Kingdom.

Transition: To be the church God intended, a compelling church, we need to translate 5 traits into our context.

Conclusion: How can we make sure that this movement continues? We need to evaluate.

Three Evaluations

My Prayers

My Complaints

My Expectations

Who are you praying for?

What do your prayers sound like. My prayers reveal the focus of my life. In the book of Acts we don’t see the early church praying for safety and to be taken out of situation. They prayed for boldness and courage. The heart of God is people. Are you praying for anyone?

What do you complain about?

What do you complain about? It’s to far to walk in the parking lot. The music is to loud. BCC stopped my favorite program. I’ve been in ministry for 25 years and I’ve never had anyone meet me in the parking lot and complain that lives are not being changed. That marriage or falling a part. etc...

Ill - 11:30 a.m. I don’t like the time. I don’t like it that “church” doesn’t start at 11 a.m. The church started in Acts and is a movement. It doesn’t have a starting and end time.

What are your expectations?

What are your expectations? The church is not here ultimately to meet your needs. Its here to equip you to make your next move. Ill - My parents goal in my life was not to meet all of my needs. It was to equip me to make my next move.

Here at BCC our ultimate goal is not to meet your preferences. It is to equip you to make your next move into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.

I believe that BCC is a COMPELLING church that is moving people into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s continue to be they movement of God He intended. Let’s move.

Next Move Prayer: Will you commit to a NEXT MOVE today. I desire to see you move into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to challenge you to pray this BOLD prayer everyday for a week. When you wake up instead of looking at Instagram you would pray. I’m going to pray and then I’m going to listen. I want you to take the first moments of your day and see what God shows you. Allow Him through the power of His son, Jesus, to become who He created and is calling you to become. We’ve created a resource for you 21 Day Prayer Challenge. brevardcommunity.org

Imagine what your life will look like if you shrink the gap between what you know to be true of God and your behavior. Imagine the peace you are going to feel being forgiven and healed. Being right with God and others. Guided by God’s hand in His way.

If you commit to praying this BOLD prayer everyday this week would you lift your hand up. I’m thankful for you.

Prayer for those that made this commitment. Pray through the four request.

First Move Prayer: For some of you your NEXT MOVE into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ will be a FIRST MOVE. If you’ve never asked Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life I want to give you that opportunity today. Sinner’s prayer. Repeat.

Would you lift your hand right now and say, “I asked Jesus to be the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.”