Sermon Tone Analysis

Are we prepared?

Are we prepared to grow?

Not all churches are, and some come to rest in the past and the present and future are slipping away.

We need to be “proactive” in church growth.

Not all churches are prepared to grow (Rev3:14-19)

Preparation without application can lead to deterioration.

A once vibrant congregation can get lax and slide back without concerted effort.

The church at Laodicea had a strong rebuke coming to them, and we will get to that in a minute.

Church growth goes beyond church evangelism

An evangelist is great, can help draw people, lead to conversion of people.

The mortality rate of new converts is often short lived.

We must be willing to assimilate and nurture new converts if we want to have true growth.

Enduring growth takes concerted preparation as a church as a member of the body.

Concerted effort as the body of Christ together

Concerted effort in the person as a part of the body.

We are all in this together to impact the kingdom of God.

(Transition) Let’s look at this passage, this admonishment given to the Church at Laodicea then look at some solutions.

We cannot get comfortable with our place, our position as the body, we need to always be serving, always looking to grow the body of Christ for the glory of God.

Don’t rest on the number of baptisms we have had, or the number of people that come to church, but in the spiritual and physical growth of the body.

Don’t rest in the yesterday’s, but press on toward tomorrow, who can we reach next!

Are we prepared to grow, are we getting ready to grow?

This is just a two point sermon today and just because it starts with an admonishment don’t think it is just bad.

The two points are

Preparing as a congregation

Preparing as a member of the congregation

Preparing as a congregation

To prepare is a verb: To make all things ready; to put things in suitable order.

These are things we can do collectively in preparation for growth.

Offer assemblies that edify

Edify by our love (Jn13:34-35)

When people come into the assembly, may they see our love for one another and for those who come as guests

May we be accused of being known for our love for one another.

It’s easy to love those who are like us, but what about those who aren’t?

May we be an open, accepting, loving people of all people.

Edify by our example (1Cor14:24-25)

May our love, and our devotion draw people to come closer to God!

Edify by our attitude (Php2:4-5)

We are to have the mind of Christ, a Christ like attitude.

You can read on when it is described in Php2:6ff.

Edify by being united (Php2:1-3)

Be united in mind, love, spirit and purpose

Edify by unity of the Spirit being displayed (Eph4:1-3)

Don’t read below, just put on the screen, then paraphrase the points from it.

Walk in humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, all preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

Edify by providing spiritual nourishment (Heb10:24-25)

We need to look for ways to encourage, to edify people with the spiritual nourishment we get as the assembly.

You can look up Heb10:24-25 on your own.

(Transition) Some application regarding offering assemblies that edify, or preparing as a congregation.

If we want to be serious about growing than we need to be taking our tasks seriously

Come prepared to fulfill your task if you have an assigned task

Come with expectation to make others feel warm, welcome, appreciated

Come early and welcome others, socialize with others

Come and participate whole-heartedly in singing and in prayers.

Come and don’t rush out the door afterwards, come and fellowship, visit with one another.

Assimilate and nurture new members

The assembly is not a do all, not everything can be done in the assembly to assimilate and nurture new members, we need to be that outside of the assembly.

Include new members, encourage new members, invite new members to join in the life as the church, shared meals, fellowship in homes, etc.

Be willing to be real with new members, they oftentimes come with a past, with baggage, with personal problems that you may have been through and can help them.

Consider Rom15:1-3 “1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.””

(Transition) so, what does it take for a congregation to provide such care and nurturing for church growth?

It takes the person, the member , the individual who is willing to engage personally first.

Preparing as a member of the congregation

Each member has a part to play, each member needs to do their part.

Bring their gifts to the body.

And it starts with developing personally.

(Illustration) - preparing yard to be mowed, without proper preparation it will hinder the results desired.

And, in fact, can do damage.

(Insert Commit and develop PowerPoint here)

So, here are some things we can do on a personal level so to impact the congregation.

Commit to strengthen your relationship with God.

(Php3:12-15; 2Pt1:5-8; Ps1:1-3 and Heb10:24-25)

Who doesn’t need to draw closer, walk closer, be closer to God?

We cannot share with others what we don’t have, a close walk with God, so we need to be willing to strengthen our walk.

Paul gives an example to the church at Philippi (just paraphrase below)

Php3:12-15 “12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;”

Peter says to grow in the graces (2Pt1:5-8)

How do we grow, how do we press on?

Great question, glad you asked consider Ps1:1-3 “1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

- And of course we already looked at then bringing it together in the assembly to encourage and to edify one another through regular meeting together.

This helps us strengthen our relationships with one another.

Commit to strengthen your relationships with one another (Jn13:34-35; 1The4:9-10; 1Pt1:22, 4:8-9)

A relationship that displays love as we read in Jn13:34-35 earlier.

And as Paul told the church in Thesalonica to grow in

1Th4:9-10 “9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.

But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,”

So:

1pt1:22 “22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,”

love brings into account hospitality

1pt4:8-9 “8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

Develop relationships with the lost (Mt5:14-16; Mt9:10-13; Php4:9)

Mt5:14-15 “14 “You are the light of the world.

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

Jesus example after calling Levi (Matthew) the tax collector, spent time with them to lead them.

You can read on that in Mt9:10-13.