Church God's way.
Redefining the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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· 27 viewsChurch God's way. Caracteristics of a healthy church.
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It’s been exactly a year since we, the leadership of this church, took the task of refining the way we do church. We came to the conclusion that we were not doing it God’s way and that there were several things or behaviors among members that, instead of helping the church to accomplish the task given by the Lord, were hindering it in different ways.
Instead of a healthy church, we had a fat, sick, and inactive church. The ministerial and financial burden was being carried by only a few; and the others, instead of helping, were only pointing and complaining.
Cancer is curable if it is discovered early, at the beginning! We, the leadership, decided to find the medicine and do the necessary operation to heal the Body.
We knew from the beginning that some were not going to be willing to take the medicine or to be able to endure the changes and would leave the church.
Last Sunday, during Sunday School, the teacher made a comment that should make us think. He said, “Now that those who had to leave are gone, now what?
Now is the time to build up a church God’s way. God wants a church:
Where all believe the same.
Where all believe the same.
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching...” v. 42a
This word appears 22 times translated as “teaching” and 17 times as “doctrine”. Therefore, talking about teaching means talking about doctrine.
Being devoted or dedicated to the doctrine means that they adhere to it. Believing the same doctrine is extremely important because:
The doctrine is the glue that unites the Body.
The doctrine is the glue that unites the Body.
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words...”
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
When there is no unity of doctrine, the members of the Body pull in every direction. The result of that are also given by Paul in these verses:
“out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”
When there is no unity of doctrine, the members of the Body pull in any direction. When that happens, the results are those described in 1 Tim 6:4
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 6
out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
There very first thing a believer must check when he is seeking for a new church is their doctrine... Unfortunately, most make decisions based on type of music, programs, activities, or friends. Those things change, but doctrine stands forever.
Doctrine is the foundation upon we built.
Doctrine is the foundation upon we built.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
Doctrine is like a plumb line for a builder. Without it, you can be sure that walls will end up crooked and the first earthquake they will fall.
Whatever we teach, whatever we practice, and whatever we communicate must be checked with the plumb line or the meter of doctrine. If it is not according, we should not only not teach it, but condemn it.
God wants a church:
Where all are part of the fellowship.
Where all are part of the fellowship.
“…and to fellowship.” v. 42b
“Koinonía” (fellowship) comes from “koiné” (common: public, joint). A fellowship where...
All members are of the same value.
All members are of the same value.
It is great mistake to think that some member are more valuable than others. They may be more useful than others, but not necessarily more valuable.
In a church God’s way, there should not be favoritism. Favoritism is based on the belief that some members are more valuable; and, therefore, condemned in the Bible:
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
Jam 2:
God wants a church where the rich is as valuable as the poor; the follower as valuable as the leader; the educated as valuable as the uneducated. Remember that Christ paid the same price for each of us!
And if all members have the same value, then:
All members are important.
All members are important.
Just like in a body there are different members with different functions, in the number of believers there were people from different countries, different languages, and different financial means.
If we act in the flesh like the Corinthians, we may think that some are more important than others. But makes them clear that in the Body of Christ no member can tell other members, “I am more important than you!”
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Cor 12:18-26
As shows it, that’s exactly what the believers were doing!
God wants a church:
Where all participate.
Where all participate.
“[They were devoted] to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” v. 42c
Serving the Body.
Serving the Body.
Serving the Body.
Serving the Body.
Breaking the bread was a commemoration of the ultimate proof of love. On that night when Jesus was betrayed, He gave the disciples an example of serving: He washed the disciples’ feet and told them:
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
John 13:
We want a church where all members serve one way or the other. We all can do something for the church. We do not want any paralytic members that have to be carried by others.
Participating of the ordinances.
Participating of the ordinances.
Breaking bread and praying are commands given by the Lord.
Regarding the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
We want a church where no one gets attached to sin to the point they do not participate of the bread because they do not want to repent.
Regarding prayer, Jesus told them: “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation.” And thru Paul, He said, “Pray without ceasing”. God wants a church that prays and give prayer the importance it deserves.
Do you pray without ceasing? Do you come to prayer service?
Preaching the gospel. ;
Preaching the gospel. ;
God wants a growing church! That cannot happen unless the members understand that is a task given to all, not only to the pastors or leaders.
New Testament believers were taking the Gospel everywhere they went:
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
The gospel was preached everywhere and every day:
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Act
The church will not grow unless we bring people to Christ!
To grow, the church needs people, but she also needs money! Therefore, God wants a church:
God wants a church:
Where all give proportionally.
Where all give proportionally.
“they had all things in common;” v. 44
In His justice, God has not established an specific amount, but a percentage (10%) so that the giving may be proportional. If you receive little, you give little; if you receive a lot you give a lot. In God’s eyes, the rich that tithes gives the same as the poor that tithes.
To give proportionally, we must see ourselves:
As administrators, not owners.
As administrators, not owners.
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
They were clear that they were only administrators of God’s money. Everything belongs to Him.
As administrators, not owners.
As administrators, not owners.
The problem with many Christians who are reluctant to tithe is that they see themselves as owners. If the congregants just understand it, that would solve the church’s financial needs.
If the owner of the company tells the treasurer, “I want you to write a monthly check of so much to any given organization”, Can the treasurer refuse to give it? Absolutely Not! If he refuses, What will the owner do?
Willing to share and give generously.
Willing to share and give generously.
“they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all,” v. 45
There is more meaning in life in giving than in receiving. Having more will not make you happier, but giving more will do it.
God will bless a church where the members are touched by those in need and are willing to help to fulfill the need.
In a church where all give, there are not freeloaders or parasites. A body that has parasites is not healthy!
There was not hypocrisy among them either, but “sincerity of heart”. When we allow the Holy Spirit take control of our feelings, there cannot be hypocrisy!
Hypocrisy divides the church! Sincerity unites the church!
If you are part of this church or want to be part of it, these things are expected from you: believe our doctrine, be part of the fellowship, participate serving, and give proportionately to your income.