Becoming An Inside Out Church
BECOMING AN INSIDE-OUT CHURCH
TEXT: Matthew 28:19
INTRODUCTION: In his book, Conspiracy of Kindness, Steve Sjogren tells the story of Joe Delaney and his eight-year-old son, Jared. As they were pitching a baseball in the backyard, Jared asked his dad, "Dad, is there a God?" Joe responded, "I'm not really qualified to answer that question, son. I only went to church a time or two when I was a kid." After a few more tosses of the ball, Jared ran into the house. When he came out, he had a balloon from the circus and a filing card. "What are you doing?" Joe asked. "I'm writing a letter to God." In his elementary handwriting, the boy penned, "Dear God, if you are real and if you are there, send people who know you to Dad and me." He attached the card to the balloon and released it. Two days later, Joe and Jared pulled into a church's free car wash. Joe rolled down his window and asked, "How much." "It's free," he was told, "We just want to show God's love in a practical way." Joe asked, "Are you guys Christian?" "Yeah, we're Christians." "Are you the kind of Christians who believe in God?" "Yes, we're that kind of Christians." Joe smiled and said, "I guess you're the answer to one of the strangest prayers God has ever received". God used a local church's car wash, not only to answer a little boy's unusual prayer, but also to lead a whole family to faith in Christ. An act of selfless love, unsolicited kindness, undeserved help whether it is a car wash, a pecan pie or a few dollars in a time of need is all God needs to get some people's attention.
Far too many churches are not reaching people like Joe and Jared because they are more concerned about themselves than the community. They are self-centered rather then people-centered, introverted rather than extroverted.
God wants us to be an inside-out church. An inside-out church takes all the love, fellowship and joy of the Lord outside these walls to the community. In fact, being an inside-out church is a biblical mandate:
In The Great Commission in Mat.28:19, Jesus said, "GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations." An inside-out church goes to the community, it doesn't wait for the community to come to it.
Jesus said to His church in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." An inside-out church is not simply satisfied with giving to missions that extend "to the end of the earth." Rather, it also focuses on its own "Jerusalem," the local unsaved, unchurched community.
"If our church burned down, would people really care?" Are we making that kind of a difference in this community?
How can we capture the heart of our community? From four different passages of Scripture, I want to give your four ways we can become an inside-out church.
I. OUR CHURCH MUST SHAKE AND SHINE FOR JESUS (Matthew 5:13-16).In this familiar passage from the sermon on the mount, Jesus uses shaking salt and shining light as metaphors of the influence Christians are to have in the culture.
A. We are "the salt of the earth" (v.13).
1. Salt serves at least three purposes:
a) First, salt is a preservative. Before the days of refrigeration, meat was packed in layers of salt to preserve the meat until it could be consumed. There is a storage facility in Kansas where everything from court documents to original classic film negatives are stored in a salt formation for preservation. Our church should preserve our community, keep it from spoiling.
II. Second, salt adds flavor. You know well that just a little shake of salt can dramatically add flavor to a dish. It adds a little "bite" to our food. Christians always confront worldly views. We flavor our culture.
III. Third, salt causes thirst. People who are exposed to excessive heat take salt tablets to increase their bodies' craving for water. Their salt-induced thirst prevents dehydration and death. We are to be different from those around us that others will be thirsty for our lifestyle.
2. Jesus said we "are the salt of the earth." He didn't say we might be salt, we could be salt, or even we can be salt. He says we "are" salt. You don't have to pray, "Lord make me salty, help me to be an influence." You are salt. You are an influence. Just shake it out!
3. Jesus also says that salt sometimes "loses its flavor." Salt or sodium chloride is a very stable chemical compound. It never really "loses its flavor." However, when it becomes contaminated with dust, sand or other impurities, you can no longer taste it. Jesus said such salt is "good for nothing" (We use that expression to describe a lazy person). It might as well be "thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Some churches lose their influence for Christ.
B. We are "the Light of the Word" (vv.14-16).
1. Christians being God's "light" is a common biblical theme.
a) 1 John 1:5-7 says, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." Verse 7 says, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
b) Psa.119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."
II. Eph.5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."
c) 1 Pet.2:9 says we are God's "own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
d) Phil.2:15 says we are to be "blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
2. Jesus gives two example of being "the light of the world."
a) First, we are to be like a lighted "city." Jesus said, "a city that is set on a hillside cannot be hidden." This church ought to be so inside-out that people want to know what's happening here. The light of God's love ought to be so obvious on Monday that people ask you what happened this weekend.
b) Second, we are to be like a "lamp" in someone's home. Jesus says the obvious that no one will "light a lamp" and "put it under a basket." It is ridiculous to light a lamp and then hide it. The purpose of the lamp is to give "light to all that are in the house." Covering it with a basket is contrary to its purpose.
3. Jesus encourages us to "Let your (our) light shine." When we live openly and honestly for Jesus Christ, people will see a beauty in our lives. They'll notice our courtesy, our smiles, our gratitude, our peace, our happiness, our help, etc... They'll want to ask, "Why are you like that?" When you are in a dark place, all eyes focus on the light, even if it is just a little light.
4. When our light shines, people will "glorify your (our) Father in heaven." We don't shine our lights for ourselves, but for the glory of God.
II. OUR CHURCH MUST BRING OTHERS TO JESUS Matthew 9:9-13
A. Jesus Calls a Disciple (v.9).
1. As Jesus was leaving the city of Capernaum, he did a strange thing. He stepped into the "tax office" to speak with a man named "Matthew."
a) Obviously, Matthew (also called Levi) was a tax collector or a publican. He was one of the most hated members of Jewish society, a traitor to his people. Tax collectors or publicans bought their jobs from the Roman government. They had the authority to collect taxes on everything.
b) Notice that there are no sermons, no miracles but a simple invitation wrapped in a loving command, "Follow Me."
c) Note also that there is no excuse, no argument from Matthew. He simply "arose and followed Him." The paper work stayed on his desk. The computer was not turned off. His coffee went cold in his cup. Luke 5:28 says, "So he LEFT ALL, rose up, and followed Him."
B. A Disciple Calls His Friends (v.10).
1. It seems from this verse that Matthew threw a party, an evangelistic party. He invited "many tax collectors and sinners" to his home. I imagine it like a gathering of Mafia bosses in expensive suits.
a) In the midst of this motley crew "Jesus sat at the table." These dregs of Jewish society "sat down with Him and His disciples."
2. What a strategy! Matthew threw a party for unbelievers and invited Jesus! He did whatever he could to introduce his friends to Christ.
C. Questions and Answers (vv.11-13).
1. The "Pharisees," the religious leaders learned about this banquet. Lacking the integrity to speak to Jesus directly, they spoke to "His disciples." They asked, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?" This was not an honest question but a rebuke. It was more of an indictment than an inquiry.
2. The question had been posed to the disciples. v.12 says, "When Jesus heard that He said to them..." I get the idea that Jesus sought them out. He looked them up and confronted their self-righteousness.
3. He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." In other words, "If you are as perfect as you think you are, you don't need Me. On the other hand, these sinful people are aware of their need of salvation. That's why I'm here."
. After quoting the prophet Joel, Jesus said, "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." He did not come for the self-righteous people who think they are good enough to please God on their own. He came for those who realize their sin and are ready for "repentance."
D. Insights for an Inside-out Church.
1. Who are we more like: Matthew or the Pharisees? Are we more interested in bringing sinners to Christ or in judging them for their sins.
. A church with a heart for the community brings people to Jesus.
2. Be like Matthew. Who do you know that needs the forgiveness and peace of Jesus Christ? Who do you know that needs the warmth, acceptance and love of a church family? Who can you bring to Christ?
E. Even if they don't come at first, keep on inviting!
III. OUR CHURCH MUST SHARE A GOOD TESTIMONY OF JESUS Acts 2:42-47
A. A Description of the Jerusalem Church.
1. This passage gives us a glimpse of what the very first church was like... an inside-out church. It serves as a model for all churches.
!!! 2. v.42 says they "continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine" that is they were heavily involved in the study of the Word. A critical factor in any church is the importance of Scripture. That's DISCIPLESHIP!
3. v.42 also says they continued in "fellowship." This is further explained in v.46, They were "continuing daily with one accord" that's not a Honda but a special intimacy as God's people. They broke "bread" from "house to house." They "ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." They were devoted in FELLOWSHIP.
4. v.47 says they were "praising God." Note also in v.42 that they were "breaking bread" which probably refers to communion. They were devoted "in prayers." This was a church that practiced WORSHIP.
5. v.43 says "Many wonders and signs were done through the Apostles." God was pouring His power through these people. v.44 says that "they had all things in common." v.45 says they "divided" their possessions "among all as anyone had need." They were involved in MINISTRY.
6. v.47 says that they had "favor with all the people" that is the community. Also note that "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Because of their faithfulness in EVANGELISM, every day people were being saved and becoming part of the church.
B. The Testimony of the Jerusalem Church.
1. What believer wouldn't want to be a part of a discipling, fellow shipping, worshiping, ministering, evangelizing congregation like that? No wonder God was adding to them daily! No wonder they grew so quickly!
2. What kind of testimony did this church have in the community? What kind of things were they saying about their church? Did they say, "Our church is pretty good, but Pastor Peter preaches too long?" Did they say, "I like my church but the Apostles try to run everything?" Did they say, "Sure, we're growing but they always ask for money?" Did they say, "We have a good church, but I don't like all the music we use?"
3. They didn't say any of those things. How do I know? Look again at v.47, they were "having favor with all the people." "All the people" refers to their community. The church was an inside-out church. They so showed the joy of the church on the outside, that the people wanted to be on the inside.
4. They would not have had "favor with all the people," God would not have been adding "daily" to the church if they had a poor testimony.
C. The Testimony of Our Church.
1. What kind of testimony does our church have? Are we known as a Bible-teaching, DISCIPLING church? Are we known for having great FELLOWSHIP? ...anointed WORSHIP? ...concerned MINISTRY? ...dedicated EVANGELISM?
2. Every church has a testimony. That testimony is shaped by the actions and words of the people who make up the church.
IV. OUR CHURCH MUST EXHIBIT A POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF JESUS Philippians 2:14-16
A. Our Example must be Free of Complaints and Disputes (v.14).
1. "Complaining" here means "grumbling" or "murmuring." The idea is a low-key type of whispered whining.
2. "Disputing" is a stronger word. It refers to a verbal expression of disagreement, which stirs up suspicion, distrust and doubt.
3. We are to "do ALL things" without a negative griping attitude. Certainly no one should ever hear us complain or dispute about our church. However, no one should ever hear any form of "complaining" or "disputing" about anything. Whether in the work place, school, home, neighborhood, such words are almost always destructive of our Christ-like example.
B. Our Example must be "Blameless," "Harmless" and "Without Fault" (v.15a).
1. "Blameless" basically mean "without hypocrisy." Anytime you point out the flaws in a church or in a person, your flaws become more apparent.
2. "Harmless" literally translates "unmixed." Sometimes good wine was mixed with bad wine making the good wine taste bad. We are to be "unmixed" with sin.
3. "Without fault" comes from a word that referred to unblemished sacrificial lambs. In other words, our testimonies should be untarnished.
C. Our Example must be as Lights to the World (v.15b).
1. Paul says rightly that we live "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." Someone once said said, "Ours is a world of crooks and perverts!"
2. Against such a dark backdrop, we ought to "shine as lights in the world."
CONCLUSION: A group of believers traveled to Barcelona to witness at the Olympic games. When they arrived they were told that evangelism was specifically not allowed. Instead becoming angry, they went to work cleaning up the streets.