Welcome to- 2nd week- Dangerous Church series
what is a dangerous church,
how does it contrast with a safe church,
do we want to be a safe/dangerous church?
God never called His Church to be safe.
In fact we are called to be a people who are
serious about our walk with God, and
dangerous to the world around us-
we are a threat to their unbelief system.
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. NASU
(Pastor Tony) I want to suggest that if this is true, than this would also be a true statement
So unbelief comes from hearing, and hearing by the words and philosophies of this world.
Many Christians listen far more to
what this world has to say to them, than
what God’s Word or
other Christian writings have to say
Many Christians do not have- clear Biblical worldview
We’re Back:
As a pastor, I have dangerous powers!
My powers- not of this world, they are other worldly.
Jesus said- “My Kingdom is not of this world.”
I choose to live in His Kingdom.
Paul said- “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful.”
As I walk w/Christ-I have dangerous powers-so do you
I am an ordinary person but I have something extraordinary to offer when I am walking w/Christ.
Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. NLT
What makes these ordinary men extraordinary
they were men who had been with Jesus Christ.
The Dangerous Church is made up of
ordinary people
who have been with Jesus.
Review
A Safe Church …
1. Strives to keep the members happy
2. Avoids controversial issues
3. Remains cautious
However, as we saw last week- dangerous church has-
1. An uncivilized approach
They are a people that think outside the box- message does not change, but creative w/methodology.
2. A divine boldness
Follow what God says, not what people/culture say.
3. A risk-taking faith
Cannot play it safe and please God-faith involves risks
Dangerous Church
A dangerous church has …
4. An unshakable devotion
Ordinary people who have been with Jesus and have an unordinary love for God.
Story: Every week a man would leave church and say to the pastor, “The answer is YES, now what is the question?” The pastor was confused. One Sunday- asked the man to lunch. The man
told the pastor this, “I was once a very mean person who did not believe in God. One day I cried out to God and God changed me.” He said, “God is my ultimate authority, but you are the authority God has placed over me. My answer to God through you is always YES. Now what is the question, what do you want me to do?”
This man had a dangerous devotion to God his answer to God was always YES.
Realistically, many of us would probably say
the answer is MAYBE, now what is the question
In other words
God, you must not interfere with my plans/goals
Let me encourage everyone here
sell your life out to God, and
stop observing and start participating.
Act 5:40-41
Wow- an challenging picture of devotion to Christ.
Question: Do we have devotion or convenience?
5. A sense of selfless community
Selfless speaks of not being selfish, not focused on self or self-benefit, self-gain, self-promotion.
Act 2:44-45
Ordinary people who experienced God/sold out to Him
There answer was YES, now what is the question?
I wonder: is the world rejecting God or is rejecting a self-centered, safe church?
The world is looking- place- where people live- Christ.
Not interested in what believe as much as how we live.
If they see Christ lived in community- beg to join.
That is- dangerous place to be- but where God calls us.
Many Christians see the church as a place they go to have their needs met (this is unbiblical).
We have forgotten …
we (people) are the church and
we are here for the world.
Act 4:32-35
God, anything I have that you want- answer is YES.
6. A consuming focus
By focus I mean …
who we are,
what we are about,
the essence of our life.
Act 4:19-20
Lock us up, beat us, we have seen God, and you cannot stop us- they had a consuming focus.
Christianity is not just something we believe, it is inherent in the way we live and what we die for.
At work- I should see myself as a minister of Christ.
My family offers me an incredible opportunity to pour into my wife/children the love of Christ.
Pastor disheartened his church did not care about- lost. They were wrapped up in petty things that did not matter. In frustration he spoke emotionally to his church- every single day people are dying and going to hell in a hand basket and the saddest thing is that you do not even give a damn. He paused, and then he said, “you know what the saddest thing is- many of you are more concerned- I said damn in church than the fact that people are going to hell.
God, give us a consuming focus.
Look at the end of the story we read a moment ago
Act 5:41-42
Beat us up and guess where we are the next day?
They had a consuming focus.
What is our consuming focus at COTRM
1. We want to Encounter God
We want
our services to be a place where people experience the revealed presence of God,
to see people saved every weekend,
100% of our members water baptized,
100% of our members baptized in the HS, and
100% of our members in a corporate prayer mtg.
2. We want to Love People
Jesus said
Jn 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Our goal is for everyone to be involved in a House church- a place where you can learn to
love, be loved, and grow spiritually.
Establish relationships around the word of God.
3. We want to Share Life
We want every person to be a fully devoted follower of Christ who can Share Life with others.
God has called us to be salt and light in this world.
We want all- people involved-missions/local outreach-
Guatemala, Haiti
Love Inc., Pregnancy Resources,
Special Gathering, Bill Glass Prison Ministry,
Hope Ministries, Rolling Readers,
or other local ministry.
Serve in one of our ministries …
Food Pantry
Hospital Visitation
Ushers
Deacons
4. In additional we want to see …
Personal growth- want people- grow spiritually-
read 5 chapters of the Bible each week
fast one day a week
(button on- website home page- sign up)
Financial growth
100% of our members worshipping God by giving biblically- sacrificially, etc.
Develop alternate sources of income
Increase ministry locally and overseas
Start a second service
Plant a church
Facility Upgrades (to facilitate ministry)
Sanctuary upgrades- contemporary look, new carpet (opportunity)
Develop a third place-
place for people to socialize
Other facility upgrades
Conclusion
My challenge to every person attending COTRM to participate in the life of the church in some way.
Get involved at some level and …
learn to love God,
build relationships and learn to love people,
give of yourself and serve somewhere.
God has given to everyone
spiritual gifts, passions, and abilities- use them.
If you cannot say YES to God here, then find a church where you can say yes- but let your answer be yes.
Challenge/Invitation
It will take courage to live a life that goes against the popular tide and stands for something significant.
Are you willing to
be different, to be a little uncivilized,
be bold and courageous for God,
take faith-risks- step out-believe for-impossible,
completely devote yourself- God/His Kingdom,
be self-less in service to God, church, world,
allow God to be your consuming focus?
If your answer is YES- raise hands- pray after me.
PRAYER
Jesus came to this earth to offer to mankind a relationship with God the Father.
He demonstrated for us a self-less love and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven.
If you do not have a personal relationship with God, this is your opportunity.
This may be the most dangerous time in your life.
God will not hold you accountable for what you do not know, but now you do know what God is asking.
Invitation: Are you ready to
repent of your sins and receive Jesus as Savior,
to fully devote yourself to God?
Is so, pray after me.
PRAYER
If you prayed that prayer- raise your hand- will not ask you to come up, ushers pass you some information.
Additional Material
In a Safe Church, there is-
very little excitement,
a low expectation level, and
a lack of genuine enthusiasm about God.
Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
