Stronger Together (2)

Big Idea – District Value – Stronger Together

Scriptures –

Big Question – Why are we stronger together?

Big Question – Are we really stronger together?

1. Called to it by Jesus –

2. Built for it –

3. Thrive in it – Picture of Thriving – – What have we done already? What if we…? (Mission Trips, LBA collaboration)

Introduce Myself

Hook

Hook

Introduce Subject - Stronger Together

Fallen Condition Focus – Alone, Individual Mission vs. Corporate Mission

Hope of Hearing – Are we really stronger together? Why does it matter?

Transition to Text - ,

Big Question - Why are we stronger together?

Points

Called to it by Jesus

Philippians 2:1–5 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:1–5 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Artificial fellowship

Being polite

Heart and Face need to match up

Philippians calls us to authentic sincere love

Calls us to put down our own agendas

Way more convenient to not do this pulpit swap

Its way more energy for Pastor Kevin and I to not work together

When you work together you have to really love people

Illustration

One way conversation

This verse is telling us not to be that guy

Learn how to ask good questions

Illustration

Tim Malone yarn - “I didn’t say much”

When you ask a question you value someone

You say to them I am going to stop and focus on you

Tremaine and Tim Malone - Value

Do we really value other people?

Jesus calls us to value others

2. Built for it

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 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.

Ephesians is my favourite book in the Bible.

The first section of the book is unpacking what Christ has done for us

Chapters 4-6 is what we ought to do in light of what Christ had done.

This verse here describes for us describes for us the biblical model for how church ought to function and i think its fascinating.

Let’s work through the verse.

What we have done with “pastors” who are not actually shepherds

Dealing with our expectation

Paradigm shift of a pastor

My Yarn about Richard and pastoral care

Paradigm on pastoral care

Doesn’t leave room for a pastor to be lazy

The pastor’s primary function is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry

We have operated with an unbiblical model of ministry if the pastor does all the ministry and the church plays a passive role.

Why do you think God gave spiritual gifts to believers?

We have to reclaim the understanding that we are the body of Christ.

When we begin to understand like it describes for us in 4:16 we begin to realize that we thrive when we do our part.

3. Thrive in it

Ephesians 4:11

Ephesians 4:16 NIV

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.

Its every part of the body doing its part as directed by the spiritual leadership God has provided that the church begins to operate like a well oil machine growing and developing in love.

Do you see it?

Application Points

So if everything I am saying today is true and I believe every bit of it is and is biblical then how do we apply this.

Our mentality needs to change

Shift expecation of pastor from ministry provider to ministry equipper

Discover our own unique gifts and role

Start exercising it

Listen, when you begin to use the gifts God has given you and do the things he is leading you to do there are few things in this earth that will be more fulfilling then that.

Why? Because God has hard-wired you to do that very thing.

God knows what he is doing. He knows how to make us thrive as a body.

But I think often, if we are being honest we don’t thrive as churches.

Why?

- Because we haven’t learned how to be stronger together.

- We haven’t embraced a biblical model of ministry

- We have expected pastors to generate the ministry when that has been our responsibility

Questions to Ponder

What would it look like if we embraced Jesus call to be stronger together?

What would it look like for us to follow the design Jesus built and use our gifts and abilities and follow the spiritual leadership God has put over us?

What would it look like if Brazil Lake Wesleyan was firing on all cylinders under Pastor Kevin’s direction because you embraced the idea of being stronger together.

Taking it a step further - what would it look like if our Wesleyan Churches started partnering together on the South Shore to see lost people come to know Jesus.

Coastal Church and Yarmouth Wesleyan

What if this is just the beginning?

Aren’t we supposed to be working together as the church and trying to support one another?

We are not all called to be the Prophet or the Shepherd - what if we learned how to share our gifts to make our churches better here in Sou-Wes Nova?

What would it look like if we planned mission trips together? What if we coordinated conferences and things together?

What if we asked the question - How do we make each other better and put our fear and insecurity aside and embrace the mission together?

God is up to something huge on the southshore and a big part of it is calling our leaders and churches to work together to see lost people come to know Jesus.

Working together there will be an iron sharpens iron effect which is really uncomfortable but it helps make us effective.

I long to see the church vibrant and effective and being all that God intended.

Jesus believes in the church so much he would offer his life for it - Shouldn’t we also believe in the church as well.

We are indeed stronger together but we as individuals need to do our part or we will never accomplish the mission God has. It’s your choice?

What will it be for Brazil Lake Wesleyan? Are best days yet to come or are the best days gone?

Much of that will determine on our ability to be stronger together and embracing a biblical model of ministry.

The choice, I believe, is up to us.

Let’s pray!