Being Pastoral No Longer Children

Vision 2019: Looking 4-1 Being Pastoral Ephesians 4:7, 11-14 Introduction: I. A Storm called Euroclydon A. Listen to some facts from a survey: a. Only 17.7% of Americans attend a church worship service any given Sunday, this includes Catholics, Mainline Denomination & Evangelicals. Classifying a regular attendee as someone who shows up at least three out of every eight Sundays, only 23–25 percent of Americans would fit this category. b. Steady Decline "In 1990, 20.4 percent of the population attended an Orthodox Christian church on any given weekend. In 2000, that percentage dropped to 18.7 percent and to 17.7 percent by 2004. The article explains that while church attendance numbers have stayed about the same from 1990 to 2004, the U.S. population has grown by 18.1 percent—more than 48 million people. 'So even though the number of attendees is the same, our churches are not keeping up with population growth,' he says." It also states with very diverse cultures tend to have lower attendance numbers than the states surrounding them. “Most of our churches know how to address only one culture.” On the surface these facts are discouraging, however we should be encouraged that the harvest before us is great. We have an opportunity to build the Kingdom of God. B. Acts 27:7-12 (BIBLE) a. The harbor at Fair Havens was in a small town & the ship's crew didn't want to be in a place with nothing to do for the winter. Therefore they opted to go 40 miles, which seemed reasonable, to a better port with more to do. b. The Apostle Paul spoke a prophetic word of wisdom which would have saved a lot of turmoil had they listened. Due to the storm they lost control of the ship & had to just "let her drive." In other words the ship was drifting at the mercy of the violent wind. c. {Map on screen} Ignore wisdom & see how far off course you are thrown, not to speak of the danger & possible loss of life. The Word of God is wisdom & He will speak to you from His Word; sometimes from a person or certainly as you pray, read & search for it from His Word. Ephesians 4:12 (BIBLE) Ephesians 4:12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. NLT Ephesians 4:12Christ gave those gifts to prepare [L …to equip] God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. AMPC Ephesians 4:12Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, CJB Ephesians 4:12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: KJV II. No Longer Children Remember the application: Growing into agreement with the Word of God. A. Equipping a. Preparing fully - the Greek root word means to complete, to mend what was broken; to strengthen, to make one what he ought to be. b. One way this word is used in the Gospels is regarding the mending of fishing nets. Not repaired the nets could not perform to the absolute ability they were built to accomplish. B. Work of Ministry - CFWC Mission - "Building Hopeful Lives." a. Work is in reference to deeds; these deeds are done under the direction of the authority of the Word of God & direction of the leadership. Jesus said, the works He did you will do greater. b. The root word of ministry means one who executes the commands of another. The First Century Apostles continued the ministry, the service of the LORD Jesus; they continued to serve the people. Teaching the Word of God, ministering to the widow, healing the sick, feeding the poor &etc. C. Edifying the Body of Christ a. Simply promoting another's growth in Christian wisdom. b. Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:9-10, Philippians 1:6, Matthew 5:6, 2 Peter 1:5-8 How may I accomplish what Father wants me to be? Philippians 4:13 c. Growth in the Body of Christ is imperative so that the work of ministry continues to reach the world with the Gospel message of Christ. III. Conclusion A. This spiritual maturity thing, what is this all about? Ephesians 4:13 (BIBLE) a. The Five-fold ministry is to: • Bring Believers to a proper knowledge of Christ & the Cross. • The knowledge of what Jesus, the Son of God did for us at the Cross. • Bring Believers to function in maturity • Bring Believers to a proper Faith in the Cross. b. Spiritual growth matures from the milk of the Word to the meat, with a greater desire for the Word faith increases. Comparable to the physical, God gives us building blocks to build one upon another. Each block strengthens, empowers & _____ to defend against the enemy of your soul. B. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST.