2022.08.7 Future Church: 12-1=3000

Future Church: 12-1=3000

2 Timothy 3:16-17 • Acts 1:7-8

I take several different approaches to preaching.

For example:

I know we often have guests among us, so I try to make sure the message is not so specific to Temple that a new person or passerby won’t find some truth to take away.

I know we have people of multiple educational levels, so I try to either not use big words, or define them when I do. If I use a big hairy word sometime, and I don’t define it … please let me know! I find it more important to be understood than to be agreed with!

I have shared before that I don’t presume everyone who attends, even weekly is a believer in Jesus Christ. Many people attend worship regularly because they’ve been taught poorly that God is keeping some sort of attendance chart and you’ll be measured by how many Sundays you miss. So, I try to regularly include statements like these: We will most definitely all be judged … and we will be judged by our actions. But none of us will measure up, and the grace we all need is found in placing Jesus in charge of your life. Attendance may be an indicator of that, but just showing up out of obligation won’t get you where you want to go.

I know we often have lots of seasoned believers each week, so I try to include some deeper elements of faith in each message. I also like to challenge seasoned believers to avoid or get out of any ruts in our beliefs or practices. If just showing up out of obligation won’t get you where you want to go … neither will just defending the status quo. Jesus didn’t die for our comfort, and fighting for our own comfort is equivalent to announcing the death of the church. It’s in this area that I want to hang out today.

Today, I’m going to preach as if everyone here is already committed to Jesus. If you’re here primarily to take the opportunity to worship Jesus, feel free to give me a “HEARD”.

So, if you’re a guest or an ‘outsider’, please take today with a grain of salt. Take this message as a statement of what the Church once was, should be, and must become again.

Easter Sunday is the highest holy day on the Christian Calendar. In fact, we moved the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday because Easter is so important to us. In the Christian Church, every Sunday is considered “a little Easter.” So, let’s begin with a simple Easter declaration:

Christ is risen!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

I’ve been preaching about Future Church. I’ve been comparing Historic Church to Future Church, and I’ve mentioned several times that the shift that MUST happen is not a shift in what we do, although that may happen.

The real shift that must happen for Future Church is a shift in our hearts.

Historic Church has been preference driven - driven by what the people who already come want and like. Future Church has to be mission driven - driven by an overwhelming desire to see every man, woman, and child come to saving faith in Jesus Christ!

Historic Church has been oriented to invite people to our buildings, our services, and our events. This isn’t a problem, except that our motive has been to boost our numbers. Future Church must be oriented toward inviting people to Jesus! Our primary motive must be to grow God’s Kingdom!

Historic Church has added programs when we wanted to add numbers to our congregation. Future Church will add programs aimed at adding numbers to the Kingdom of God, and we’ll recognize that many of those people may never walk through the doors of our building.

Two weeks ago, we talked about the way Historic Church approached growth. Historic Church was fine with trading people around from one congregation to another. Some churches have even been known for recruiting people from other churches. This demonstrates the self-focus that Future Church will no longer tolerate. The growth Future Church is after is NOT just shifting people from someone else’s sanctuary to our sanctuary. That’s not real growth.

Future Church knows that real growth is two-fold. Future Church recognizes that real growth is when

UNCHURCHED and DECHURCHED people discover a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, and

those of us already here dive deeper into our existing relationship with Him.

Let’s look a bit at the definitions of success for Historic Church vs. Future Church.

Most congregations in the Western world are experiencing a drop in attendance, and have been for decades. What do you think our average attendance is? (non-rhetorical)

In 2022, Temple is averaging 67 souls in worship each week. I know pre-pandemic, we had 2 services, and the numbers were well over 100.

The world’s situation and the Western Church’s continual decline, has made it exciting to think about even one new person coming into our fellowship, and because of that we’ve sold success short.

The typical Western church is satisfied with a small increase in attendance on Sunday morning ... or growth in our buildings, or increases in giving, or excellent music. The typical Western church is satisfied when we experience a slight bump in numbers.

Future Church will not be satisfied until every man, woman and child has repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The typical goals of the typical church are not bad goals. But we have to recognize they are not God goals. God isn’t satisfied with occasionally add one or two people.

We’ve grown complacent with addition … but God wants multiplication!

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, he gave his disciples (and us) what we call the Great Commission. He didn’t tell us to “Invite 1 or 2 people to our congregation.”

In Matthew 28, he tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations!” ALL NATIONS!

Matthew 28:19 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.

Don’t misunderstand me, all of heaven celebrates a single soul who turns back toward our God. But that doesn’t satisfy God’s goal. HIS goal is ALL! And no matter how hard we try … he’s not changing his goal.

The early disciples believed Jesus would return in their lifetime, and they lived their life that way. A lot of time has passed since Jesus ascended. If we’re totally honest, many of us live as if we don’t believe he’ll EVER return! But his reason for delay demonstrates his goal...

...that ALL would come to know him.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB 2020

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

You see, Historic Church has been a recruiting organization. We’ve been satisfied with people just showing up, and a slight bump in numbers is declared as success. Future Church will return to the approach of the EARLY CHURCH!

Here’s what that looks like:

Acts 1:7–8 NASB 2020

7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

In case you missed it in the Second Chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit has already come. Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes, we receive power, and we’ll be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the remotest part of the earth. I rarely use this passage without localizing it: Jesus tells you and me that the Holy Spirit makes us his witnesses in Terre Haute, in Indiana, in the United States, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Why?

Because Jesus Christ isn’t satisfied with a slight bump in numbers. And those closest to him understand this truth.

In the book of Acts, one chapter later, when the promised Holy Spirit falls on the disciples on Pentecost, and Peter preaches the word...

read...

Acts 2:36 NASB 2020

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

We’re told the crowd was “pierced to the heart” and asked how they should respond to this message:

Acts 2:38 NASB 2020

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is called the Birthday of the Church, because on that day, these 11 apostles received the Holy Spirit - they preached the Gospel,

and...

Acts 2:41 NASB 2020

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

THREE THOUSAND SOULS!!! [pause]

Future Church: 12-1=3000

I wonder how many of them showed up at the apostles’ congregation the next week. Oh, that’s right, they didn’t have a congregation! Their motive wasn’t to grow their own congregation, their own fellowship, their own kingdom. Their goal, their driving force was growing the Kingdom of God, and in one day 3000 were added to the Lamb’s Book of Life.

So, if you’re part of the Church already … ANY Church ... hear these words: We’ve been Historic Church too long. Future Church looks more like First-Century Church, Original Church, and we have to set our sights on multiplying the Kingdom instead of just adding to our congregations.

If you’re here because someone else dragged you here, or maybe you’re here just out of habit … let me talk with you a moment:

You are not here by accident. If you’re watching this video on Facebook, you are not watching this video by accident. God has been planning this moment for you. He has been calling you to himself your entire life. Even before you were born, He knew you … and he loved you.

The basic Truth of the Gospel is this:

Every one of us is guilty. Every one of us has violated God’s design of holiness.

That guilt earns us a ticket to Hell. Hell is the default! If nothing changes, every one of us are destined for eternity separated from God.

Jesus was God in a human body. He came to sacrifice that body so that the debt for our sin might be paid.

His resurrection makes that sacrifice effective for the rest of time. He defeated sin in his life, and he defeated death by coming back to life.

The necessary work has all already been done. You don’t have to do ANYTHING to “get ready” for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If you want that relationship, Peter’s words tell you what you must do: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you’re not a regular Temple person, or if you found us on Facebook, I may never see you again. But I hope I see you at the end of our time on earth. I hope that you receive the gift of eternal life by repenting of your sin and joining the Kingdom of God today.

I will celebrate if you land at any biblical congregation. The ultimate goal is that ALL would respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ … and you are part of that ALL.

This pandemic brought about unprecedented rapid change … and it’s continued even as the pandemic diminishes. I can offer you something, though, that will remain stable regardless of what happens here on earth. God loves you so much that he sent his son to give up his own life and take it back up again so that you could be a part of God’s family.

If you’ve never repented and made a commitment to Jesus, or if you’ve already repented and want to deepen your commitment to Jesus, I invite you to pray these words. I’ll say a sentence, and pause so you can repeat them. Don’t say them if you don’t mean them. Jesus does not want your lip service and neither do I. Jesus wants your heart-and-soul commitment. If you’re ready to make that commitment, pray after me:

Dear God,

I admit that I’m a sinner.

I’ve failed to live up to your idea of holiness.

From the bottom of my heart,

I repent of my sin.

In the name of your son Jesus,

I commit my life to following you,

and being your witness to the ends of the earth.

Save me from my sins,

and fill me with your Holy Spirit.

All glory and honor to you:

Father, Son and Spirit.

Amen.

God grant you the strength and wisdom to live up to your commitment. Amen.

If you’ve made this commitment online, I would love to celebrate with you. If you’d be so bold as to either comment or send a Facebook message to us and just say either recommitment or new believer, I would love to tell you how excited we are for your decision and the awesome journey the Holy Spirit is about to initiate in your life.

[transition to communion elements]