All In: Vital Church

Intro

Have you ever been performing some kind of task, and doing it the same way for a long period of time, and then someone comes along and shows you the true and easier way to do the thing you are doing?

What makes us different from a brick is how

My favorite show on TV began its new season on Friday, Gold Rush.

Bunch of dudes in Alaska digging huge wholes, searching for gold.

Without

They often use the phrase “washing rocks” to describe the work.

They run the dirt and rock through a wash plant that shakes and sprays the rocks and washes away the dirt to find the gold.

What might just seem like a untouched, brush-filled piece of ground holds a treasure within its rock, you just have to dig it up.

When a group of people commit to work the ground they uncover a beautiful and incredibly valuable treasure.

This series has been about washing rocks, looking at the commitments we as a people need to make to uncover the treasure and beauty of God’s church.

What we have sought through this series is to point out what

God gives us a picture of this church in .

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Vital Church

If we were to strip the church down to the biblical minimums in order for it to be church what would we be left?

The word vital means: “necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something”

In healthcare they use the term “vitals” in reference to “vital signs” which are the essential body functions to promote life (pulse, blood pressure, body temp, breathing). If any of the “vitals” are off then one’s life could be at risk.

In seminary I had to do a paper on the “Irreducible Ecclesiological Minimum”

Basically asking the question: If we were to strip the church down to the biblical minimums in order for it to be church what would we be left?

It was an eye-opening project as we dove into God’s Word looking for what are the roots of the church.

If we stripped away the human institutions, the cultural additions, the historic practices, the growth strategies, the buildings, ministries, events, programs, and everything else, what would be left?

It isn’t to say any of those things are bad, but often as things become more complicated we begin to lose focus on what is essential, what is VITAL.

Let’s “wash the rocks”, seeking to understand the elements of “vital” of church

In healthcare they use the term “vitals” in reference to “vital signs” which are the essential body functions to promote life (pulse, blood pressure, body temp, breathing). If any of the “vitals” are off then one’s life could be at risk.

Acts 2:42-4

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Elements of a Vital Church

1) Learning: Devoted to the Word of God

“Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching”

“Attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes”

The Word of God transforms hearts, minds and character.

It is “sharper than a two edged sword”, “profitably for teach, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness.

In a study done of 2500 participants, the number one predictor of spiritual growth was the daily discipline of reading the Bible.

Simply setting aside time on a regular basis to read the Word of God leads to Christians growing deeper in their faith in Christ.

I have heard many people tell me over the past few month even “I don’t read the bible much.”

whether it is not knowing where to start, not seeing the value in it, or what…a Christian who is not engaged with the Word of God on a regular basis is not a growing Christian.

Read it, study it, meditate on it, figure out how to live it out…

A Vital Church is a church that is learning about Jesus and seeking to follow His ways.

2) Living: Committed to Community

“Devoted to fellowship”

“were together and had all things in common” - Unity

“Attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes”

There at 54 statements in the NT that use the words “ay-lay-loan” which is translated “one another”

Love one another

Be at piece with one another

be patient with one another

confess sins to one another

serve one another

We were made for community.

Community is essential a Vital church.

3) Loving: Dedicated to Serving

“

“together and had all things in common” - United to serve the needs of the community

“selling their possessions…distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”

Paul says that we worship Jesus by presenting ourselves as “living sacrifices”.

We give ourselves to serving others through using the gifts God has given us through His Spirit.

Worship and church have become consumeristic endeavors as we become more concerned with what we get than how we can help.

Our devotion to God’s Word and Commitment to Community leads us to ask the question “How can I help? How can I serve?”

A Vital Church is made of people who aren’t looking to mark church attendance off their to do list, or have a great experience, but are willing to give of themselves for the good of the community.

4) Leading: Mobilized for Mission

“having favor with all the people”

“The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

A vital church is an attractive community.

In it says the church “had favor” meaning the community around the church family thought well of the church there.

They were known for their lives. They made an impact in those they lived around.

And because of the favor they had new believers were “added tot their number day by day”.

We are not here to build a building that is bigger or better than anyone else.

We are not about having the coolest or trendiest church around.

We are about making the name of Jesus known in this place.

We are about seeing people’s lives changed as they give their lives to Jesus.

A vital Church is a church who members embrace the call of God to be on His Mission in this world.

Are you in?

We have a tangible way we want to call you to respond in just a second.

Are you in to being a part of a movement of God?

What would it look like if we were all Devoted to the Word of God, being learners not just listeners.

What

What would it look like if we were all Committed to Community, living in true, gospel-centered community with one another.

What would it look like if we were all Dedicated to Serving the body of Christ, loving rather than consuming.

What would it look like if we were all Mobilized for Mission, embracing the call of God to make disciples.

What would it look like if the Lord added to our numbers everyday those who were being saved? 365 people a year trusting Christ as Lord.

EHBC is a church positioned to be a part of a movement, not just a good church.

ARE YOU IN??