Thoughts on the Church
FAITH PROMISE SUNDAY
February 22, 1992
Ephesians 4:11-16; 25 It was [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the full measure of perfection found in Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
THEREFORE, EACH OF YOU MUST PUT OFF FALSEHOOD AND SPEAK TRUTHFULLY TO HIS NEIGHBOR, FOR WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY.
ALSO
Romans 12:1-5 "So we, being many, are members one of another..."
Including a word or two about "gifts."
Introduction
This is one of the great chapters of the Bible; vital to the understanding of "the nature of the church." We return to it again and again because it speaks of "gifts" and "grace."
Romans 12:1-5 is also tremendously familiar, and Romans 12 speaks also of "gifts."
I. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ARE REALLY GOD'S GIFTS TO THE CHURCH "GOD GAVE (GIFTS) SO THE BODY MAY BE BUILT UP"
We have interest in "gifts of the Spirit." Rightly so. But it is easy to be self-centered: what does God have for ME?
The thrust of the scripture is CHURCH-CENTERED: What does God want me to do in order that His kingdom may come?
Our 'gifts' are really not our own, but for the church; you are intended to be God's gift to the church.
WE ARE GOD'S GIFTS TO EACH OTHER!
II. THE CENTRAL PLACE OF 'THE CHURCH' IN THE FAITH
- OUR VERY LIVES ARE TO BE LIVED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CHURCH
We tend to view the church as a "helper" to provide what we need in order to live a full and rich Christian life.
The New Testament view of the church was more like a "second coming" or "spiritual-re-visitation" of THE EXODUS! A body of people, making their way together to a Promised Land under the direct guidance of God!
- IN THE CHURCH WE ARE EXPECTED TO 'PULL OUR WEIGHT!"
"DON'T BE (REMAIN) BABIES!"
Babies are great, but they are takers. The best thing about a baby is that it does not remain a baby
Babies are also shaky on their legs. They are not much at direction and distance. Mere walking is a victory.
The message of this passage is that as the 'gifts' are exercised, babies become children become adolescents become adults become parents become pillars in the church!
III. WE ARE CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY OF THE TRUTH (Verse 25)
- THE "WORD" TODAY IS TRUTH! THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE!
Are we willing to live and die by what is TRUE?
The "word" is not (first of all) "RELEVANT." We have spent too much time trying to tell the world that Jesus is nice, and that He doesn't mind this or that just so long as we are "sincere."
We need to hear Jesus say: "I AM THE WAY!"
Are we willing to live and die by what is TRUE?
The "word" is not (first of all) "PEACE" or "JUSTICE." Jesus said: "If you follow Me you will be misunderstood and hated! If you follow me you will have to be more interested in pleasing GOD than in what other people think! I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE BUT A SWORD!"
Are we willing to live and die by what is TRUE?
Our effort is NOT (first of all) TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE: which is NOT an excuse to forget the physical needs of men and women and children—
But we need to hear Jesus say: UNLESS A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT (EVEN) SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!"
- THE TRUTH DECLARES ALL PEOPLE BORN ARE SINNERS THAT NEED TO BE SAVED
- The best the world can offer is the old, shop-worn, out- dated model that "If we just make conditions better— if we just educate— if we just legislate— that "Human-Goodness" will "come through".
- God's WORD says "NO! Mankind is not just POOR, not just SICK, not just UNDERPRIVILEGED . . . but we are BORN IN SIN AND WE NEED A SAVIOR!"
- UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN TO THE CROSS, AND HAVE BEEN SAVED, WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS, WE ARE LOST AND ON OUR WAY TO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT GOD AND WITHOUT HOPE!
THE CHURCH NEEDS TO MAKE THAT MESSAGE ITS FIRST PRIORITY!
- 'SAVED SINNERS' JUST CANNOT MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN!
- The 'wisdom' of our modern age says "It is stupid to believe in "born-again-type religion," but if you are going to be a Christian REMEMBER THAT FAITH IS A PURELY PERSONAL MATTER!
We have been brought up in a society that values "the rugged individual" so much that even we Christians do not realize the power of true community!
So often when we come to faith, we then fall into the devil's PLOY of isolating and separating and individualizing our faith!
- Even "church" is seen as a Supermarket where the individual gets supplies, instead of The Tabernacle, or the Meeting Place, where the Body of Christ gets together to hear from the Father; where we find mutual support and help and blessing.
- The 'wisdom' of our modern age says "It is stupid to believe in "born-again-type religion," but if you are going to be a Christian REMEMBER THAT FAITH IS A PURELY PERSONAL MATTER!
- GOD HAS GIVEN US THE CHURCH/ AND GIVEN US TO THE CHURCH!
- We really do need each other. We need to live together in love. Our journey demands it.
Our speaker this morning brought us a shocking tale of what it is like to try to live for Jesus in a hostile environment.
But I wonder sometimes the atmosphere of the United States of America in 1992- right where WE live— is not even more hostile, and perhaps a harder place in which to LIVE IN A COMMUNITY OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!??
- William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas have written a serious book (Resident Aliens) in which the main figure of the title describes what it is like for Christians trying to live by the words of Jesus in our present world.
Perhaps we need to come to grips with this figure of living in alien environment. It is hard if not impossible to keep our children away from exposure to the sin. We have to begin early; be wise; ask for God's grace to LIVE BY THE TRUTH!
- "Individual Christianity" just won't make it in these desperate times!
- We really do need each other. We need to live together in love. Our journey demands it.
[WM Greathouse's figure of divers (deep sea sort of divers) in the alien environs with air-hoses going to the surface - communicating by shouting into each other's face-plate— cutting the air-hoses when they become entangled...]
BY GOD'S GRACE, OUR VISION MUST BE THAT 'LOVE ONE ANOTHER,' AND THAT TELLS THE TRUTH TO ONE ANOTHER!
- WE SHALL BE A COMMUNITY IF we support each other at the immediate level; the church family
- We support each other at the "network" level: Paul goes to Jerusalem, and there sees a great need; he authorizes an offering throughout the Christian churches and carries the money with him for relief of the brethren there.
- We "network" with those needs God has entrusted to us:
- General Budget of $ 33,000.00
- Second Church 12.000.00
- Quincy Crisis Center 2,000.00
- Team Assignments &
- Student work? ??,???.?? ....
Conclusion:
On this Faith Promise Sunday we really do need your support, your money! BUT ON A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL, GOD REALLY IS COUNTING ON YOU TO (1) MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED, AND THEN (2) TO BE A PART OF HIS 'EXODUS CARAVAN' ON THE WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND!
You have gifts, if you belong to God! But those gifts do NOT belong to you, to bring YOU fame and glory! Those gifts are for you to pour back INTO THE CHURCH in order that the Church might continue to do the will of its Head, our Lord Jesus!
