Worship in the Revelation of Joh(2)

Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 views
Notes
Transcript

Introduction:

Last week we discussed the primary focus of the worship service— should it evangelism be its primary focus OR should it be for the edification and building up of believers.
I believe we came to the conclusion that the primary focus from what we have seen in Scripture is the edification /building up of the body of believers, HOWEVER, we should desire that an unbeliever would come in and be saved as indicated by Paul in ! Cor. 14.
The primary burden of evangelism we concluded - according to
Ephesians 4:11–12 NLT
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
- is that of the believers (although yes the pastor does evangelize as well)
We focused on discipleship in the context of the “worship service” and where that belongs.
We see Jesus building relationship, making the most of the opportunity presented, and acting/speaking in obedience all under the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Which then lead us to talk about the importance of timing and obedience as well as relationship building (Gal. 5: 25,26)
We see Paul following Jesus’ example in this area
We spoke about the importance of discipleship—and today we are going to begin a discussion about the Worship in the Revelation of John
To move into this next discussion, it is important to have a definition for discipleship like we have a definition for worship.

Discipleship

What Is a Healthy Church Member? When Christians Do Not Grow

the most chronic problem facing churches and Christians is the lack of consistent spiritual growth and progress in discipleship. We all know Christians who have confessed faith and repentance, yet who sadly admit that they have not grown in some time. This situation comes in two varieties. There is the temporary plateau or spiritual rut that every Christian experiences and must overcome from time to time. This is normal and shouldn’t cause too much alarm. Perhaps routines need to be changed or focus renewed, but the problem isn’t chronic yet.

But then there is the chronic variety. Here, people may not be able to perceive much growth over a prolonged period of time. They’ve fallen into something deeper than a rut. They’re not just “stuck,” struggling to get free; they’ve settled into a spiritual slumber. If they have been in this sleep for some time, perhaps they believe that there is no more growth to be had or even that following Christ is a shallow, hollow thing. The expectation of growth may be abandoned. Pride may be asserting, “I’ve arrived spiritually and there’s really not much more growing to do.”

Do you think ADVANCEMENT in the knowledge and likeness of Christ, spiritual maturity and progress toward it are supposed to be normal for the Christian? Why or why not?
Hebrews 6:1 NLT
1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
What Is a Healthy Church Member? When Christians Do Not Grow

So Hebrews exhorts us to “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity”

Hebrews 5:11–13 NLT
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.
Paul models how to maintain humility when it comes to spiritual growth
Philippians 3:12–14 NLT
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:15 NLT
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
What Is a Healthy Church Member? (Problems in Our Thinking about Growth)
But saying that a Christian should expect, work for, and experience growth isn’t the end of the issue. For the Christian to grow in a healthy way, we must clarify what growth is and is not. Ours is a superficial culture that lays emphasis on the outward signs and neglects the inward reality. We’re far too vulnerable to settling for being thought of as mature rather than actually being mature
Luke 18:9-14 can give light what can hinder solid biblical growth
What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

1) The performance trap

Sports player—value based on performance
What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

And those who can “stuff the stat sheet” with big numbers are celebrated, heralded as “marquis players,” and given awards

Pharisee: measured growth in observable goals and objectives—fasting twice a week and giving tithes of all he received.
Do you think we can do this too? How?
We can do this too!!
What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

we completed “quiet times”this week

What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

we passed Christian literature to others

What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

how often we shared the gospel

What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

We can fall into the performance trap, thinking that spiritual growth and discipleship look like good performance and success.

We become “stats” oriented/focused.
What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

2) Judging by the wrong standards

What standards did the Pharisee use?
What standards should we use?
What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

Jonathan Edwards’s eighth resolution

What Is a Healthy Church Member? Problems in Our Thinking about Growth

Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others, and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

What does a disciple look like?
1 John — not loving brother the love of God is not in us
JEsus— if you love me deny yourself take up your cross and follow me
Matt. 7 sermon on mount — building the house
Matthew 28:19–20 NLT
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
How can we do this?
We must know the Word of God and put it into practice.
Are we doing that?
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more