INTRO>We’ve all heard the little saying (show the actions with hands locked together, fingers entwined upside down) ...This is the church, here is the steeple; open it up (wiggling fingers) and see all the people.” However, that is NOT the way it really is...this way is actually upside down from what it should be. The saying SHOULD say, “Here is the church, it’s made up of people, and where they meet together, sometimes there’s a steeple.”
I invite you to open a Bible and turn once again to Acts, chapter two.
--ILL>Have you ever tried to travel across the country without a map? I know some of you ladies are probably elbowing your husband right now, reminding him of how he seems to take off and travel without knowing for sure where he’s going. Actually, it’s not a smart idea to head off somewhere until you know which direction you’re supposed to go.
--ILL>Have you ever put a jigsaw puzzle together? My mom is a big puzzle fan. The secret, of course, to putting together a thousand-piece puzzle is to first get a look at the picture you’re trying “assemble” with the pieces. Without “visualizing the goal” it’s going to be virtually impossible to put together the puzzle.
<>In the same way, we need to “visualize the goal” of where we’re to go as a church. We need to see the correct picture, the Biblical picture, because there are a lot of wrong pictures, wrong images, wrong ideas floating around of what a church should be like, what the church should be doing, how they should operate, and how we’ll know when the church is doing what God wants us to do.
--ILL>Since we’re only a week away from the Super Bowl, today I want you to imagine with me for a moment that you’re a sideline reporter watching four different teams in four different football games leading up to the Super Bowl.
----TEAM #1: The team can be seen huddled together on the sideline before the game, heads bowed in prayer with the coach in the middle. Suddenly they give a great cheer, and the coach trots out on to the field by himself, while the other players go and sit on the bench. Now, as a sideline reporter, you go up to a 300-pound offensive guard and ask him, “What’s the coach doing out there?” “Oh,” the guard replies, “he’s going to play today.” “All by himself?,” you ask. The guard explains: “Sure, why not? He’s had a lot more experience and training than the rest of us. We’ve got a lot of rookies on this team and we might make mistakes. Anyway, they pay the coach well. We’re all here to support him, of course. And look at the huge crowd that’s come to watch him play!” Of course, as the opposing team kicks off, the coach catches the ball, valiantly charges up-field, but is buried under eleven opposing tacklers. He’s carried off half-conscious.
----Sound crazy? The same is true with the church. God has called all of us to serve. God has given us pastors and teachers and leaders, but their role is prmarily to EQUIP the members for doing the work of the ministry. Never is the pastor or staff supposed to be “carrying the ball” on every play, doing all the work, and trying to defeat the foe all by themselves.
----TEAM #2: This team realizes they all have to be players, so they’re on the field in a huddle. They huddle, and huddle, and huddle, and huddle. The referee calls a penalty for delaying the game and moves the ball back five yards, but the team STILL huddles, and huddles, and huddles, and huddles. The referee calls penalty after penalty, until finally the ball is moved all the way back to their own goal line. The quarterback then yells back to the sidelines, “Hey, Coach! This is the greatest huddle I’ve ever been in! What a group of guys! We have the best fellowship...and some of these guys are amazing students of the play book...some have memorized over a hundred plays! We learn so much in this huddle!” But you holler back to the quarterback, asking him, “But why don’t you get up on the line and play?” He responds, “Why should we? What we want is bigger and better huddles! Besides, this way no one gets hurt. It’s safe. It’s comfortable. And it makes us really feel good to be huddled together.”
----TEAM #3: This team brings every player out on to the field, and breaks out of its huddle, just like a team is supposed to. However, instead of lining up against the opposing squad, they break into groups of two or three, arguing with one another. Soon they start shoving, and two of them actually get into a fight! As the referees call a penalty for delay of the game and are moving the ball backwards, you run out on to the field and ask one of the players, “What’s wrong?” The player, walking off the field in disgust, explains, “That bunch of malcontents can never agree on anything! Those two over there are arguing over the color of the uniforms. A couple of others are quarreling over the right way to kneel in the huddle, and I’m quitting because I can pass a lot better than that other guy, but they won’t let me be the quarterback.”
----TEAM #4, however, is on their way to the Super Bowl: They’re all playing together. They’re huddling, slapping each other on the back, but then they get into position. Each player carries out his own assignment, and soon they score a touchdown, then another, and another. Afterwards, in the locker room they’re exhausted, bruised, but happy.
-->Obviously, TEAM #4 is the model we want to follow.
But the picture is much bigger than just an illustration, and today I want us to look at the REAL picture, looking at the first church, described here in Acts, chapter two. Today, I want us to READ THE MAP. I want us to VISUALIZE THE GOAL. I want us to see...
THE TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A DYNAMIC, GODLY CHURCH...
1) THERE’S A HUNGER TO HEAR FROM GOD.
--Ac.2:42 -- “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
<>There is a continued commitment. -- As we talked about last week, we need to “keep the circuitry open” so God’s power can flow through us.
<>A God-honoring church stays connected with God, keeps “the circuitry open.”
--This first church was listening to what God was saying...
--->They were studying the Scriptures, listening to the apostles’ teaching.
--->They were learning from one another and enjoying one another’s company.
-----This is why we host the “LIFE Celebration” each Wednesday, to study and learn together.
-----It’s why we’re promoting, encouraging everyone to read the Bible through in 2008, providing a reading plan on our website, and chat questions that follow each day’s reading, helping us to literally “be on the same page” with one another.
--->They were praying.
-----It’s why we’re emphasizing this year being a church of pray-ers.
--->And they were breaking bread together.
-----This “breaking bread” has three meanings:
------a) Fellowship -- They were eating together.
---------It’s part of why we enjoy “The Lunch Bunch” on Sundays. We enjoy eating together and enjoying one another’s company.
------b) Missions -- They were breaking bread in the sense of making sure everyone had something to eat, helping meet one another’s needs.
---------It’s why we call our groups “LIFE” Groups, because they’re more than just study groups. They are groups of folks committed to experiencing life together, and sharing their lives with one another, helping one another with not only verbal encouragement, but also in helping to see that the tangible needs of each person are taken care of by others in the Life Group.
------c) Worship -- They were worshiping together, breaking bread as in observing the Lord’s Supper, which is recorded as being very prominent in the first century church’s worship gatherings.
---------It’s why we enjoy the Lunch Bunch, why we observe the Lord’s Supper together, why we gather each week to worship the Lord together.
2) THERE IS AN EXCITING SENSE OF WONDER AND ANTICIPATION.
--Ac.2:43a -- “and everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;”
<>A God-honoring church knows God is at work all around them, and they anticipate seeing Him work.
<>A God-honoring church is in awe of God’s power, and constantly amazed at the privilege afforded them to be eye-witnesses of God’s working.
-->This first church wasn’t just “going through the motions,” they were actively serving him and excitedly anticipated and looked forward to seeing Him at work around them and through them.
3) THERE ARE UNEXPLAINED BLESSINGS OCCURRING.
--Ac.2:43b -- “...and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”
<>If everything can be explained by our own plans and strategies, where’s God?
<>In a God-honoring church, “God things” are happening...things which can only be explained by the fact that God did it.
--ILL>When we started out, it was a “God thing” that two pastors, from two different churches, contacted me on the same day to tell me their missions committee had asked him to ask me if I would consider pastoring a new church they wanted to plant in this area of the city. As it turned out, both the churches united in helping sponsor this one church we have had the joy of beginning. That was a “God thing” that helped us know He was in the work, and in bringing both of these churches together to help start us.
--ILL>Two days after that first “God thing,” I went into the office of the school district here, knowing full well that no school had been available in over two years for a church to meet in on Sunday mornings. But guess what? Only five minutes before I arrived a church which had held a reservation for over six months, had even paid to hold their reservation, decided to back out, making a school suddenly available. Coincidence? Not on your life. I immediately signed us up, then checked the next day to make sure everything was still in order. The clerk told me it was really odd, but that another church had asked about an opening only five minutes after I had filled out the paperwork and signed us up. That means that in over two years there was only a ten minute window that made it possible for us to secure a school site in which to meet, and I had “just happened” to be in the office during that ten minute window. Coincidence? No, that was a clear “God thing.”
<>It’s important for us to remember, that “God things” are going to happen in a God-honoring church, because it is, after all, His church, His mission, called according to His purpose, and operating in His power to accomplish His mission through us.
4) THERE IS A WARM SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING.
--Ac.2:44-45 -- “and all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind...”
<>A God-honoring church provides each person a warm extended family.
-->This first church went out of their way to be supportive of one another, to experience life together, to rely on one another.
--NOTE>When we were first starting up we deliberately chose the name Desert Springs COMMUNITY Church rather than Desert Springs Baptist Church to convey our intention of being a church that is accepting and supportive of people, affording everyone an opportunity to experience life together with other believers.
5) THERE IS AN OUTWARD FOCUS.
--Ac.2:46 -- “...in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,”
<>A God-honoring church moves beyond their walls and impacts their community.
--NOTE>It’s why our theme for 2008 is “OTHERS!”
----Our goal, our focus is to reach those who are not being reached...the lost, and the unchurched.
-->”The temple” referred to in Acts two was a public place.
-----The first church didn’t participate in the Jewish temple worship as it was normally entered into. They didn’t present sacrifices, etc.
-----Instead, they met in the courtyard of the temple. They met in the Court of the Gentiles or the Court of the Women for a large public worship time, then in houses for their “small group” study times.
--NOTE>It’s the same reason why we meet here in a public elementary school...but not for the same purposes as a school is normally used. Instead, we assemble here to worship together in a large group assembly, then we meet in houses during the week for study times and Life Groups.
-->Their focus was beyond the walls of a building, beyond the “comfortableness” of just being around one another.
--QUOTE: William Temple has said it well: “The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.”
--POEM: Someone has anonymously penned: “For God so loved the world, not just a few...the wise and great, the noble and the true...or those of favored class or rank or hue...God loved the world. Do you?”
6) THERE IS GLADNESS AND LAUGHTER.
--Ac.2:46c -- “they were taking their meals with gladness...”
--Unfortunately, many have an image in their minds of Christians as being stern, always serious, “no-fun” folks.
--ILL>Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was a member of the United States Supreme Court for thirty years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title as “the greatest justice since John Marshall.” Yet, at one point when asked why he chose the legal profession as a career, he confessed: “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”
<>But a God-honoring church is fun, and its members demonstrate the joy of the Lord.
7) THERE IS AUTHENTICITY AND SINCERITY.
--Ac.2:46d -- “...and sincerity of heart.”
--These first believers weren’t just “going through the motions,” they didn’t pretend to be anyone other than they were.
-->They were honest, truthful, and truly believed and practiced what they advocated.
--QUOTE: It has been well said, “If you’re not doing it, you don’t really believe it.”
<>A God-honoring church is made up of real and authentic folks, folks who recognize they are sinners saved by grace.
-->They not only know WHO they are, even more importantly, they know WHOSE they are.
-->They don’t pretend, they don’t “put on airs,” they don’t put themselves up on a pedestal, and they’re not afraid to ask questions if they don’t know the answers, because they know their very REAL God appreciates their being people of integrity, honesty, sincerity.
8) THEIR WORSHIP IS CELEBRATIVE.
--Ac.2:47a -- “praising God...”
<>God-honoring worship is always reverent, but never “stuffy,” never rigid, and never without celebration.
-->These first believers loved the Lord too much to keep from smiling, from clapping, from rejoicing, from celebrating.
-->They looked forward to praising God and letting the world know how good He had been to them.
9) THEY HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.
--Ac.2:47b -- “...and having favor with all the people...”
<>A God-honoring church is known for their respect and love for all the people in their community.
--No, we’re not going to agree with everybody.
--No, we’re not going to be liked or treated well by everybody.
--But we are still going to respect everybody, and in God’s power we’re going to love everybody.
--APP>We’re look to engage ourselves this year in a whole bunch of service projects in our community...to add value to our community...and earn a well-deserved reputation for being a group of people who truly care about others.
--QUOTE> As we have cited many times before: “No one will care what we know until they know that we care.”
AND...AS A RESULT OF THESE FIRST NINE CHARACTERISTICS BEING PRESENT...
10) THEY ARE GROWING NUMERICALLY.
--Ac.2:47c -- “...and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
--NOTE: It was God who was adding to their number.
---However, He did it through them, because of His presence within them, and His power working through them.
--NOTE: There’s nothing wrong with implementing specific strategies, so long as they are prayed-through plans and events, but ULTIMATELY growth happens as we let God work through us Monday through Saturday, and it’s then revealed as we meet together on Sunday.
<>Simply put, as we spread the good news by going out...others will come in.
<>As a God-honoring church goes out, the Lord works through the church to bring people in.
BRINGING IT HOME...
--ILL>When it was built for an international exposition in the nineteenth century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet, the architect who designed it took pride in it and defended it from those who wished to destroy it. He knew it was destined for greatness. Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexander Gustav Eiffel and his famous tower still stands after being built in 1989.
---In the same way, we’re struck with Jesus’ loyalty to another structure: the church, which He entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom He defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel.
---To outsiders, the church can appear awkward, sometimes very ineffective, but Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when He returns...and He’s counting on us to carry out His mission.
<>Questions to ask yourself today:
1) Am I hungry to hear from God?
--Am I studying my Bible? Am I praying? Am I spending time listening to and supporting other believers? Am I worshipping the Lord? Not only on Sundays but every day in my commitment to Him and how I let Him work through me?
2) Am I doing my part?
--Am I helping to carry the load? Am I investing my time, my effort in accomplishing His mission?
--ILL>I’m reminded of the fact that there are 4 main “bones” in every organization:
---a) The WISH bones: wishing somebody else would do something about the problem.
---b) The JAW bones: doing lots of talking, but very little else.
---c) The KNUCKLE bones: those who knock everything, sometimes even to the point of fighting, stirring up animosity.
---d) The BACK bones: those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the work.
<>Today, I invite you to get in on the excitement.
--If you haven’t yet received Jesus as Savior, haven’t yet committed your life to Him, allowing Him to be the Lord of your life, I invite you to come to Him today by faith, trusting Him, receiving Him.
--If you do know Him, though, I invite you to jump in and join the mission.
<>We’ve read the map, now it’s time to move on down the road to where the Lord is leading us, and where He’s sending us out.
