Faith Free Will Baptist Church

Posts Tagged ‘strong church’

*HOW TO BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL*

(Matt 28:16-20)

*Jesus not only has given the church power, but also a great responsibility.

*The word “steward” carries a great meaning: One who watches over the affairs of another.

(I Cor 4:1,2  Read)

*The Apostle Paul was clear in these verses that the saints have a great responsibility, that is to be faithful in the handling of the things of God.

*In (Luke 12) Jesus gives a parable concerning a wise and faithful steward and their reward (vs 48). Some of you have talents and are not using them.

*Unknown writer once wrote “A Christian is a mind thru which Christ thinks, a heart thru which Christ loves, a voice thru which Christ speaks, and a hand thru which Christ helps”.

With this said, “How can we become better steward of the gospel?”:

(1)    Know the gospel

(II Tim 2:15  Read)

*In these last days that are filled with false doctrines, I believe it is of utmost importance for Christians to know why they believe as they do.

* I cannot stress enough the need for us to read and study the bible daily.

*There are two main cults with false doctrines in the US.  In a survey taken from these two, they admitted that most of their growth comes from people in mainstream churches.  Who are they: Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses.

Question:

1)      What do you know about Jesus’ life?

2)      What do you know about why He came?

3)      What do you know about His death, His burial, His resurrection?

(Acts 17:10,11 Read)

(2)    Live the gospel

(Matt 5:13-16  Read)

*What good is it to say we believe the gospel if it does not bring a change in our lives, how we live, why we do or don’t do certain things?

(I Cor  4:9   & Col2:6   Read)

*People, families are watching how we live, how we handle things: some will mock us, but some will take notice we are true to living for Christ.  (I Pet 3:16  Read)

(3) Love the gospel

(Psalms 119:97,103,105  Read)

*I know I’ve talked about reading the bible, but do we love God’s word, do we see its work in our lives, do we see the necessity of it?

*Job who experienced such troubles as losing his children, his possessions said this : (Job 23:12 Read) .

1) Do we love it enough to think on it daily? (Psl 119:11 Read)

2) Do we love it enough to let it direct our life’s decisions?  (Psl 37) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

3) Do we love it enough to attend preaching?  (Rom 10:17  Read)

(4) Give the gospel

(Matt 28:20  Read)

(Psl 107:2  Read)

*Isn’t it amazing the many things we tell people about that comes into our lives?

1) Announce our engagements in getting married

2) Announce the birth of a baby

3) Buying a new car or house

*But yet we struggle with telling others of Christ.  (I Pet 3:15  Read)

Have you asked God to help you be a good steward of the gospel?

*THE MEASURE OF A STRONG CHURCH*

(Heb 10:24,25)

*Someone once said “If absence makes the heart grow fonder, some people ought to love their church greatly” because they’re absent more than present.

*The practice of assembling with a church is important (Psl 122). Naturally we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong one, but it may not always be the case.  In NT times there were many good congregations but some were not what they should have been.

(Rev 2) Church of Ephesus had left their first love

(Rev 3) Church of Laodiceans  had  become lukewarm

(Rev 3) Church of Philadelphia “thou has not denied my name”

*Question: What is the measure of a strong church?

*Some would say the building, some think the number of programs: Sunday School, choir, children’s church.

*Others think a smoothly run organizations without problems, but you can have all these things and still be dead.

*But I suggest a better measure is to be found when we think of the church in terms used in the Bible.

(1) A strong church functions like a body

1) The church is the body of Christ

(I Cor 12:27  Read)

*The church is an organism (it is living) not simply an organization.

2) The body of Christ has many members

(Rom 12:4,5  Read)

3) The body must have members who fulfill their function

(Eph 4:15,16  Read)

*We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.  So is the body of Christ in the church.  We must all seek to do our part, if we are half-hearted then those who are doing all they can must also do your part.

(2) A strong church functions like a family

*The Apostle Paul told the church in Thessalonica they were good examples

(I Thes 4:9,10)

*A strong family is where there are certain things:

1) There is concern and care for each other.  Do we pray and lift up one another to God?

2) There is a genuine love that builds up each other.

3) There is a desire to spend time with each other.

(I Thess :12  Read)

(3) A strong church functions like a temple

*Temples were built to glorify and offer up praise to our Creator (I Cor 6:19,20)

(Psl 150:1) “Praise ye the Lord, praise God in His sanctuary.”

(Psl 145:3) “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

*Beloved:  When was the last time you just praised God? When was the last time you clapped in honor to Him?  When was the last time you just let go and let God take over?

(4) A strong church functions like a pure bride betrothed to Christ

Note two things:

1)      Christ offered Himself to enable His bride to be pure and holy

(Eph5:25-27  Read)

(II Cor 11:2  Read)

*He did this out of His great love for her.

2)  The bride makes herself ready

(Rev 19:7-9  Read)

*Are you ready for the marriage?

*Only thru the shed blood of Christ can you be made ready.

Does this church show;  The Measure of a Strong Church.