How to be a Church that makes a difference

A Church that makes a difference is a Burdened Church

A. What is the burden of your church? Paul said his burden was people:

Romans 10:1 ESV

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

Romans 10:1

Isaiah 66:8 ESV

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children.

B. The church must pray

C. The church must travail

A Church that makes a difference is a praying Church

A. the church understands the need for prayer

B. they become an asking church

John 14:13–14 ESV

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb.

C. they become a prevailing church

Acts 4:31 ESV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acst

A Church that makes a difference is a listening Church

Revelation 2:7 ESV

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Rev. 2:

A. They hear the voice of the Spirit of God

B. They confront their problems and sins

Revelation 2:16 ESV

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

C. They look for open doors

Revelation 3:7–8 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Rev. 3:

What doors are there:

1. the door of opportunity - we have more than in any other generation, the opportunity to help those who are searching for meaning

2. the door of outreach - what are we doing to carry out the Great Commission

3. the door of opposition - is the Devil scared by our church?

4. the door of _____________ what door is that for your church?

The Church that makes a difference is a Growing Church

Luke 6:43–44 ESV

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Luke

A healthy church is a growing Church.

if a church is doing all these things then growth will naturally occur

Story of Grace Fellowship