Upholding Our Purpose

ð Article – Great news! Encouraging to know! What I find interesting is phrase “demand high commitment.”

ð Tells me we need to be dedicated to our purpose! As encouraging as news is, look closer. Some not-so-great news: According to bro. Flavil Yeakley, in GA of Feb 2002, Lord’s church in 1990 – 1,681,013. 2000 – 1,645,584. Church loosing ground! Over 35K! If avg. cong is 200 – not sure too big – then that’s 175 congs in 10 years.So, then - What is purpose? See details in Script. What it’s NOT – be here! Part of it - but much more!

ð We need to go back to drawing board to redefine our purpose.1 Cor 1:18 (RD). Message of cross is the power of God. With declining #s, can we honestly say we’re upholding our purpose? What Paul mean “message”?

o Message of cross is love, sacrifice and hope. Therefore, the message of church s/b same! If our focus is cross, we’ll see our purpose as love, hope, and sacrifice!

o Our purpose, focus must be on message of cross – purpose given by love, surrender shown at Calvary. Focusing on cross put all in perspective. Worked for early church. May have heard Acts 4:20 (RD). We also must regain purpose of cross.

ð We’ll look this PM for specifics in fulfilling our purpose; discuss some barriers; wrap up w/ summation of purpose.

° T – Work from inside out. Turn to 1 Tim 3:14-15. Paul gives Tim a 2-phrase purpose (RD)

I. To be a Pillar and Support of the Truth

A. Look at “ground” 1st – some say “support.” “Support” is equivalent to our word “foundation.” When we teach truth within 4 walls – being a support – providing foundation for truth!

B. What “pillar” do? Pillars lift things up; separates from what’s below. They are also more visible. As pillars, church needs to hold truth up and make it known throughout area.

C. When a cong allows teaching outside of Script., that church has checked out! Reason Xians leave or uncomfortable - not church anymore - foundation gone!

1. New Herms have taken away our foundation! Like Jesus says in Matt 7:24 – wise man will build on what Jesus says and withstand rain, every wind of doctrine! Have to stand – to LOVE truth!

2. If we are to fulfill GC, we have to also be pillars – we have to take truth “into all world!” (More in a minute.) Are we church of Christ? If not pillar and support of truth – we are NOT!!

° T – To be foundation and holdup truth – well, may imply that we have some work to do. 2nd purpose…

II. To Work and Allow God to do Great Things

A. Gen 37:19, Joseph’s brothers see him approaching – (KJV) “Behold, dreamer cometh.” Too often we are limited by what we envision or what we see. Joseph had seen what God would do!

1. Another passage you may have or will hear me refer to often found in Eph 3:20-21 – verses we use to emphasize great power God has to accomplish great things. Listen (RD).

2. God WILL do great things. But, effort, Bible studies & teaching comes from US! What he says! (Power at work IN US!) We just have to be people of faith and look beyond what we have or what we do see!

B. Most familiar w/ account of RMS Titanic. Apr 14, 1912 Titanic hit iceberg and tore a 12 sq. ft. hole in hull – sunk! Used to wonder: how ice sink huge boat? Familiar w/ iceberg – large mass floating on surface. But, because ice slightly less dense than water, 1/9 of mass above water. Thus term “tip of iceberg.”

1. Perspective – Largest is B-15A area of 3000 sq. km. 90% of it is unseen, tho that seen is huge!

2. That’s our work in church. 1.6 mil of us – large number. But, our work just tip of iceberg. Beneath the visible surface, behind us, on our side is the Almighty Jehovah God!

C. What power do I have? None! You have? None! But it is God’s power that works IN us! We just have to be on same page as God. What can little cong in Meridian, ID do for Lord? Uphold our purpose and let God work!

1. Are we? Are upholding the purpose God had in mind? Does Christ look at us, all churches and say, “THIS is exactly what I died for?” Tough question! Reality is maybe not!

2. Don’t we believe God can start w/ people-influence many? Believe God is great? See all thru Bible. Don’t we serve God parted sea, brought fire on Mt. Carmel; Christ that walked on water, raised dead!

3. What did He QUIT!? Is He off duty now? Sure He works differently, but is He not the same God? Rom 1:16-17 (RD) – the gospel is God’s POWER! We have to wield it! And have faith that God will work.

° T – Brings us to next purpose found in Scripture. Church is…

III. To Take the Gospel to the Lost

A. We know Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16 – Go ye! David says in Ps 27:1 (RD). We are to deliver that light into communities. Jesus says, Jn 3:19-21 world engulfed in darkness…and loves it!

B. 2 shoe salesmen in Outback. One calls in and says, “This is pointless; they don’t wear shoes!” Other calls and says, “Send me more shoes, this market is WIDE OPEN!!” It is easy to determine when something is on fire. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction.

1. Our God-given duty is go in communities, teach them how to light, rekindle flame of truth.

2. Out of love for lost, we MUST offer them hope found in Christ.

C. Perhaps most intimidating factor is found in Ax 17:31 (RD). You mean same world we were supposed to be a light to? Are we going to allow a friend, neighbor, family member to say at judgment, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

° T – Stop for moment – of course we want to do all this. No cong ever plans to fall, but what are

IV. Obstacles to Upholding Our Purpose

A. Love mountains – think about settlers seeing Rockies. How many decided not go thru, just stay here. Denver attests to that. But some did – some took on obstacle - overcame. AS must we. See church declining in #, growing steadily older, church of tomorrow must face obstacles. Churches that continue to grow must have plan!

B. Remove obstacle that is the notion that growth just happens by us showing up. Just is not true. We will grow because we plan to. 2 Tim 2:2 gives good 1st step (RD). We must pass the baton! Teach so we can continue!

1. 2nd obst. – develop community awareness. Know what 20/20 vision is? How about Acts 20/20 vision? Look over there if you will. Paul, describing his work – (RD). Can not remain detached, insulated. Must have outreach. Give-away, door-knocking, meetings – introduce comm. to church. Gets name known. Let folks know we don’t just stand here, BUT - we stand for something! We must make an impact!

2. Another – boredom! Church needs LIFE! Hear, esp. from youth church boring. Not trying to be! (Hist teacher – Great Awakening? Sunday after sermon!) We don’t compromise to awaken. Cuz we know church is us, church is alive if WE are alive! World needs to see our joy, our devotion to Him, each other, unwilling to miss time together! Instead, see just like them. No joy, no difference, no commitment.

3. 4th – Church is in a crisis of leadership! We need leaders who are visionaries and risk-takers! Leaders enthusiastic about pursuing our purpose. Must start NOW – at 8, 9, 10 yrs old. Al Queda – suicide bombers. But – look at plan. Start kids in K, 1st! Molding kids! “You can be an elder someday, a preacher someday!” Inspire leaders in greatest cause of all!

4. Final – impossibility thinking. Congs overwhelmed with those who always know why something won’t work – after all we tried that back in 1986. Negativity throws wet blanket on everything we do. Goes back to Eph 3:20. Luke 1:37 says (RD). Jesus says in Mk 10:27 (RD). Why can’t this church dream big dreams and set lofty goals? We have opportunity in couple weeks to DREAM together. Take advantage of that time!

C. Someone must be willing to face obstacles. There is not always an easier way – can’t look other way and just hope it all works out. We have mts. to climb but our God is able to empower us to climb them! Can maintain our purpose of doctrinal soundness, working for God, reaching lost – but not by easy way. And …

° T - Here is where sacrifice comes in. Can’t go easy way – can’t compromise; because our final purpose

V. To Separate Ourselves From World

A. That is call of Script., the call for the Xian – to come out of world, come to cross cuz that’s what God demands of His people. Turn to 2 Cor 6:17 for minute. Ask self - how much difference - really? (RD – 2 Cor 6:17). “Come out and be separate.” Stand out away from world. Know we have to be IN it, but not LIKE it!

B. That’s what we MUST do. Yes, there will be those who don’t like us because we’re different. Jesus told bros in John 7, “world loves you cuz you’re like them.” In John 15, tells His disciples, “World can’t love you cuz you’re not like them!”

C. Serving purpose of our God is not same as popularity contest. Paul says in Eph 6 to arm up! It is a struggle! Against the forces of darkness! Can only win by taking up armor of God.

1. Church with purpose is people-oriented church. Focused on God, abiding in Christ, but serving, loving, strengthening and saving people! Church w/ purpose is church serious about message! Serious enough to NEVER change it – to defend it – to recognize it IS gospel truth.

2. Church w/ purpose is church ready to carry out God’s vision for man as displayed at the cross.

ð Message of cross is love, sacrifice and hope. Therefore, the message of church s/b same! If our focus is cross, we’ll see our purpose as love, hope, and sacrifice!

ð How much time God allow? How long to work toward purpose? Need to seize moment, believing that God is great God; by Him working thru us, great things WILL be done! Ps 16:8, Dave says (RD).

ð Our purpose is to make sure this cong remains pillar, support of truth; diligent working as evangelistic tool for God - sharing message of love, hope, sacrifice of cross both inside and out! It is that message, and only in that, that God has provided salvation. Message of cross calls to you today. If calls you to obedient immersion into Him, make time today. If cross calls you to greater commitment, greater sacrifice and you’d like to make a public request for prayer on your behalf, make now that time!