A few years ago, a group of youth worship leaders got together and formed a group Casting Crowns. They were based out of Eagle’s Landing FBC in McDonough, GA. Their Youth Pastor, Mark Hall, penned these words:
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way
Church, today, I believe that there is no greater time for our church to experience revival than right now. God has led us to this point to go one of three ways. We are either going to go forward and follow God’s leadership– go backward and follow our own wants – or sit still and do nothing. There are many who are broken hearted – there are many who are pride-filled – there are many who are stone-hearted/cold-hearted – who make up this fellowship.
But today I have good news. Jesus Christ died for me and He died for you! Better than that – Jesus Christ rose from the grave for me and rose from the grave for you! That’s our hope! Jesus is our peace!
In the State of Alabama, the population is roughly 4.6 million. According to recent research, as of this week, only 2 million are involved in church. Once you plug in Dr. Billy Graham’s 50% formula – that means out of 4.6 million, that there are only 1 million Christians or Believers in Alabama. These stats should be a reminder to you and I that people need the Lord Jesus Christ.
Think of this:
Where there is sickness – People need Jesus
Where there is bondage – People need Jesus
Where there is trouble – People need Jesus
Bottom Line – People need Jesus
Friends – if you have truly accepted Christ and Surrendered your life to Him today – You have Jesus – Show It!
Our text leads us to 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 this morning. Let’s stand for the reading of God’s Holy, Divine, Inspired, and Infallible Word this morning.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled is to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
This morning, I submit unto you – Characteristics of Church Attendees on this Day.
First – let’s expose what this text really says in verse 17:
a. IF a man be in Christ – key word being IF
b. He is, not will be but is, a new creature (A change has taken place)
* Visible/Obvious Change
* Glorious Change
Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
* Continual Change
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
c. Old things are put away
* Attitudes of destruction (your ways vs. God’s ways)
2 Corinthians 10:17 – But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
* Actions of destruction (gossip, drinking, drugs, cursing, murdering, adulterous)
2 Corinthians 7:1 – Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
d. All things are become new
* Colossians 3:1-3 – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
So, if you are saved – there is to be a change – a change for the better!
Now, with that said – here is what we see each week at worship all across the world. To help us keep up this morning, each word begins with a “c”.
The first characteristic of a Christ-following believer that we see is one with a:
COMPASSIONATE HEART
A person filled with compassion is one who will do whatever it takes to help someone else. There are many in this fellowship that are filled with compassion. It never ceases to amaze me as to how we as Baptists minister to others in times of crisis. The compassion demonstrated is a direct showing of the love that God demonstrated to us in that (ROMANS 5:8) “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus demonstrated compassion all of the time. The Gospel of Matthew in chapter 9 tells us that “When He looked upon the multitude, He was moved with compassion.”
Oh that we would be filled with compassion for others and show the Love of Christ – that He so richly shows to all of us.
Romans 7:25 – I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
How do we show compassion?
• Ministry
• Missions
Matthew 25:31-46
A true demonstration of true ministry and true missions. Friends, it is important how we treat ALL people! Compassion – are we moved liked Jesus?
The second characteristic of a Christ-following believer that we see is one with:
CONCERN FOR THE LOST AND UNCONCERNED
A person who is concerned for the Lost and those who don’t give a hoot is one who demonstrates an important part of the Christian life – they want others to have what they have!
1 Corinthians 15:22 – For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive!
In Christ: We Have Hope
In Christ: We Have Life
In Christ: We Have Provision
In Christ: We Have Direction
In Christ: We Have His Love
I submit to you this morning – this is a characteristic that is needed more in the church house. Once it arrives in the church house – it’ll leave and go to your house and my house and then go to our neighbor’s houses and hopefully to the marketplace and into the world.
Remember 3.6 million out of 4.6 million in Alabama are lost without Christ. There’s got to be concern.
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ – Mark Hall
You demonstrate concern by:
PRAYER for the Lost
PRAYER for the Unconcerned
LIVING the Christ-like life in front of their eyes
SHOWING COMPASSION to others
People don’t know how much you care until you show them how much you care!
The third characteristic that we see is one that is not so positive – it is one of:
COMPLACENT LIVING AND THINKING
The simple reason for 3.6 million being lost in Alabama is that we have attended church, played church, created our own rules for our own people and we have shut the doors of openness to allowing others to come in.
Say what you want to – but that’s the truth. It’s not just here – it’s everywhere. Churches have fallen trap to this mindset because of ourselves – not anyone elses fault, but our own.
The Great Commission is our marching orders and is absolutely contradictory to being complacent in our living and in our thinking.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
1. Go – not to sit, become stagnant and sterile
2. Teach all nations – Jesus!
Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, Rich, Poor, Middle Class, Name, or No-Name
3. Disciple them
The sad thing today is this – some churches will never grow, not because God doesn’t want them to grow – but because people will not allow God to work!
Listen to what Michael Catt says on this subject: “Let’s be honest with ourselves. The average church doesn’t want Jesus to be there. We don’t want the kind of people that Jesus attracted: sinners, prostitutes, the demon possessed, tax collectors, outcasts of society. We like to sit in our nice, neat circles in our folding chairs, having our little theological discussions about everything from predestination to who will care for all the pets left behind at the rapture. Are we not, in fact and in practice, an unbelieving generation? We hear stories of power in other places around the world, but where is the power of God in the American church? Where’s the church that is doing things that cannot be explained apart from the infusion of Holy Spirit power in the life and breath of the body of Christ? Jesus tells them to do what we must do as well. “Bring him to Me!” Whatever the situation, take it to Jesus. No issue is too great, no need too small for Jesus. Take you family, your prodigal, your broken marriage, your desperate situation to the Savior. Throw yourself at His mercy, and seek Him while He may be found.”
From this commissioning, we do not have time to be complacent. We only have time to share and love. Use our time wisely.
A fourth characteristic is one found in both believers and non-believers alike:
CONVICTION OF SIN/ A Sense of CONDEMNATION
We are all sinners – we have all failed God.
The difference between a believer and a non-believer is this:
One has CONFESSED and REPENTED of their sin, the other continues to LIVE in his/her sin.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The answer is simple to all of our problems and to all of our questions – one name, the name above all names:
CHRIST JESUS
I close with this thought:
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith and love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
Are you filled with COMPASSION?
Do you have CONCERN for those who are lost and unconcerned?
Have you been COMPLACENT in your service for Christ and have become STAGNANT/STERILE and DEAD?
Are you CONVICTED of sin in your life? Have you CONFESSED and REPENTED or are you LIVING in sin?
There is one way to take care of it all – CRY OUT TO JESUS this morning!
