I recieved the idea for this series from my mentor Jerrie Barber.
I Want the Church to Grow - But Do I Want Any More People? #2
1 Corinthians 3: 1- 7
Last time we met we started our study on Evangelism and some of the things that keep us from spreading the word of God. It is my desire as we go through this study that we will look at our true fears and then come to a realization that we are not alone and that we are not the first to ever struggle with the growth of the church.
If you will remember last time we agreed that we all wanted the church to grow because it is God’s plan but we also admitted that we might not want people that we are afraid of. I believe that often times we are left in what the Bible calls the “Ought a Gap”. The Hebrew writer has this to say in Hebrews 5:12
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
You see in my Christian life there is often a difference between where I am and where I ought to be. As I look back at all of the time I have spent in this walk in the Light I ought to be farther along than I am.
If I were to ask you tonight if you want the church to grow I am sure that every one would agree. And If I were to ask for a show of hands tonight of those who believed the Lord’s teaching I am sure that every hand would be raised. I know that we want the Lord’s Church to grow because we believe what Jesus taught and we understand that Jesus taught that His church would grow.
In Matthew 13 we read two parables that describe the growth process of a healthy church. The first parable is found in verses 31-32:
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches"
We all know this as the beautiful Mustard Seed parable. The Kingdom of Heaven, or what we today call the church started off as a very small seed. As a matter of fact it started off with 11 Apostles and a small group of disciples in am upper room waiting on the gift of the Holy Spirit. But a few days later we see the Church exploding. According to Acts 2 during the first sermon about 3,000 were added but the church was still a small seed. Over the weeks and months it still felt the explosion of growth that was occurring but as the Membership reached 10,000 and then 20,000 the church was still a small seed.
I have often heard preachers and Elders talk about how wonderful it would be if the church could see that type of growth today. How wonderful if revival would sweep through the land and we could tell others about how God’s kingdom has grown by 3,000 brothers and sisters in a day. But then they always seem to smile and slip back into reality and say yes but it will never happen.
I believe that’s why Jesus seemed fit to speak the next parable, which is found in verse 33:
Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened" Matthew 13:33
It is in these moments of “reality” that we sit back and talk about 100 reasons why the church will never see first century type of growth again. But I believe that Jesus is teaching that it can and will if there are a few that are willing to work for it.
In this parable a small lump of dough, about the size of a golf ball, is left on the hearth overnight while the yeast grows. In the morning you can take that lump and you can mix it with about ½ bushel of flour and this lump will cause it to rise.
What will it take for this town to see revival? What will it take for this community to experience 1st century type of growth?
A Small lump of Leaven. If one church will be about our Fathers business Jesus teaches that we can have a huge impact on our town.
But growth is scary and that’s why I am in the “Ought a Gap”. I ought a show the grace that God has shown me to others but then there is no telling who will walk in that back door. And if we were to be honest there are some people out there that I don’t really want in here.
Last week we looked at the struggles of the first century church dealing with someone they were afraid of. Tonight I want to look at how the first century church dealt with those who were not the same color. Because they wanted the church to grow but they didn’t really want someone who was a different color.
In Acts 10 we see Peter is on the roof praying, Let’s start in verse 10:
And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he beheld the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." And again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." And this happened three times; and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
I love Peter’s self righteousness, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Peter was so interested in being right he missed the point.
It takes another vision, a trip to Joppa, and hearing of Cornelius’ vision before Peter finally understands and makes this statement in verses 34-35
"I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him.”
Now that’s a big step for someone who was taught his whole life that he was God’s chosen and the Gentiles were dogs at best. It is a harsh reality that in God’s eyes we are all loved equally.
So we end Chapter 10 with the baptism of Cornelius and his household but now Peter had to go back to Jerusalem. And you can be sure that he was not greeted with open arms. As a matter of Fact I can just see them sitting on the front porch waiting for Peter’s return. Picking up in verse 11:1:
Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
Can’s you just see the whole episode unfold? Peter is coming back to Jerusalem feeling pretty good about what happened and he was met with questions.
The chapter continues with Peter explaining the events of the past few days and in verse 18 you see that they accepted the fact that God would even save the Gentiles but not everyone was willing to share the Gospel with them.
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
I have only met one man in my life that said God did not love and would not be willing to save a non-white person but I have met many who are reluctant to accept God’s will in this matter.
In 1995 I was working in my first full time ministry with a church in the North part of the state. We were in an Elders meeting looking at plans for the year and I requested to take our Youth Group to work for a week in the Inner City of Mobile.
One of the Elders leaned forward in his chair and said, “Jeremy, I don’t believe that’s going to happen. “
I began to explain how safe it was working in the communities and how they would have wonderful supervision and this Elder said “We will not allow our children to go and spend time with those people.”
I was a little shocked and asked “What people, poor people?”
His response was very short and terse “No coloreds!”
Now do you think that this man wanted the church to grow? Actually he did. He was over the visitation program and if a new family showed up he was the first to meet them, and if someone in the church had a need he would stop everything he was doing to help whoever had the need. He even pushed for a bigger building. He wanted and worked for church growth.
He just didn’t want people of a different race.
And it’s not always just a black and white issue. Sometimes we don’t want someone who is from a lower class than we are. When neighborhoods begin to change churches are some of the first to get out. It is very hard for some people to put their arm around a smelly, dirty, little child and show them the love of Christ. Instead of compassion we wonder why didn’t they take a bath, or brush their teeth, or comb their hair. “You know poor families don’t pay the bills, we need to attract more quality people."
And then again we may not want the rich for the same reason – because we are uncomfortable with people who are different from us. And we come to church because it is comfortable. Just like an old sweatshirt. The problem with that is that Jesus did not teach that idea.
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it" Luke 9:23,24
In is biography, Handyman of the Lord; William Holmes Border tells the parable of a deprived black man who had been reduced to begging for food. Ringing the front doorbell at a southern mansion, the black man informed the occupant, "I’m hungry." The answer was, "Go around to the back door." The white man brought food and said, "First we will bless the food. Now repeat after me, ’Our Father. . ."’
The black man said, "Your Father. . ."
The white man stopped and looked at the beggar and with frustration in his voice and said “No! repeat after me, ’Our Father. . ."’
The black man said, "Your Father. . ."
"Why do you insist on saying, ’Your Father,’ when I keep telling you to say, ’Our Father?"’
The black beggar answered, "Well, boss, if l say ’Our Father,’ that would make you and me brothers, and I’m afraid the Lord wouldn’t like it, you makin’ your brother come to the back porch to get a piece of bread."
Church I believe that you want to the church to grow, but the question is do you want any more people?
Let me remind you what type of people God wants in His church.
All who are burdened with sin.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" Matthew 11 :28-30
All who want to be saved.
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely Revelation 22: 17
Regardless of Color.
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. Acts 10:34
or as we teach our children Red, and yellow, Black, and White. They are precious in His sight.
The question you must ask yourself is “Are you willing to cooperate with Him?”
