Week of: August 12, 2007
Title: The Spiritually Mature Church
Series: Church ~ Part 1
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
What is maturity? I guess that depends on the area of life that we are talking about. If we’re talking about adulthood and independence, the law says that is 18. But Dr. Jay Giedd, Chief of brain imaging of the National Institute of Mental Health, has studied the brains of 1800 teenagers since 1990. He challenged the notion that the brain fully matures by puberty, saying that maturity is closer to age 25.
What is social, emotional, and spiritual maturity and how does that relate to one’s church? In our scripture this morning Paul is talking to the Corinthians and he is very upset with them. He is upset with them because they are acting like children rather than adults. They are supposed to be one body of believers, but they have divided themselves up in small churches inside a larger church, by proudly declaring “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and “I follow Jesus.” So, if given Paul, Peter, or Jesus, which one would you follow?
It is not about who you follow; it is about the body and fellowship of Christ being divided over any reason. No person, church, nation, organization can stand very long if they are badly divided. Maturity in any organization is learning to be united, to have a common goal and work toward that goal. To Paul, a church divided is not a mature organization. Therefore, Paul writes, “How can I address you as a spiritual organization when you are so immature and so worldly?” He cannot because they are spiritual babies, not mature enough to consider the weighty part of Paul’s teaching. Given these concerns in any church, what I would like you to do this morning is to consider our maturity as Christians and as a church.
What we’ve seen so far is that a church cannot be a mature church if they pick each other apart and divide into small groups. But, is there ever a time to take a stand? Yes. Would Paul have sacrificed anything and everything so that unity could stand? No! There comes a time, for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of the common good, that people have to say “no, this is not right.” Now, listen to this. I have been around long enough to realize that 90 percent or more of what goes on in a church that divides people is just plain silly. Maturity is, therefore, realizing when something is important enough to take a stand or something that we should let go. A mature church is an emotional healthy church.
Peter Scazzero wrote a book entitled Emotional Healthy Spirituality. He is the Pastor of New Life Fellowship in New York City, a large, multiracial church with more than 55 countries represented. He said this about his own spiritual life:
“I discovered the radical truth that changed my life, my marriage, my ministry, and eventually the church we were privileged to serve. It was a simple truth, but somehow I’d missed it—and strangely, apparently so had the vast majority of the evangelical movement that I had been part of. This simple but profound reality, I believe, has the power to bring revolutionary change to many of those who are ready to throw in the towel on the Christian faith: emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable.”
Think about this for a moment. Someone who is an emotional basket-case (at least for most of the time… we all have our moments) cannot really be a spiritually mature Christian. Spiritual maturity to whatever degree we are talking about means that there is going to be emotional healing. Now, as I inferred, that does mean that we are not going to have emotional problems from time to time, nor does it mean that we are not going to have it all together all the time. It does not mean that you might not have to go to see a doctor or a counselor from time to time. It just means that the greater Christian maturity we have is going to reflect a greater continuing emotional and mental health. Look folks, this speaks volumes about our churches as well. If the personality of a church is reflected by the personality of its members, it stands to reason that the healthier the members are, the healthier the church is. This is true, especially for the leadership of the church, and it is true of each and every one of us. We need to ask God to heal us emotionally and spiritually so that we might have a healthier church. So, what are some of the characteristics of a healthy church that we might set as our goal?
1. A truly healthy and spiritual church is tempered in everything they say and do by love. Peter tells his readers to “love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
2. A spiritually and emotional mature church person and church won’t use God to cover their own prejudices. What do I mean by that? Some people are naturally prejudice toward blacks, minorities, homosexuals, women, and anyone else that is different from them. They delight in attacking these groups because they know that in doing so their own personal agenda is carried through. The reason they are so prejudice is that they fear these people rather than love them, and they are just using the Bible and the church to further their own prejudices (I bet I can’t buy an amen on that one). All prejudices are rooted in fear. If you learn to love then you are not going to be prejudice because as Paul says, “perfect love casts out fear.”
3. A sign of immaturity is when people are in the habit of judging someone else’s spiritual journey. There is a church in our area that people from time to time have asked me about. And believe it or not I’ve been reluctant to criticize it. First, it was reaching people we were not. Second, I just didn’t feel comfortable in speaking badly about it or its Pastor. Third, it is none of my business. A sign of maturity is realizing that there are some things that are just none of our business. There is a wonderful freedom in that, in realizing that not everything, especially things I can do nothing about, is just not my concern. Not that it means I completely disengage myself from it; I can still pray for them. In fact, I should pray for those that I am tempted to judge.
4. A mature church has a good understanding of worship and service. In fact, a mature congregation understands how important worship is and how important service is and forges a good balance between them. Which do you think comes first, worship or service, I think worship does? I don’t see how you can say you serve God when you don’t worship him. Worshiping is fueling us for service. A mature Christian realizes that they have to worship God in order to serve Him. You cannot be a spiritually mature group of believers if you forsake yourselves worshiping God. And you cannot successfully say you’ve worshiped God until you realize that all the worship and hoopla of Sunday morning is dead unless you learn what true service is about. A spiritually mature congregation realizes that and keeps them in good balance.
Spiritual and emotional maturity is relative. None of us are where we should be. Where does it come from? It comes from our surrendering our lives to Christ… time and time again, piece by piece, until we get more and more like Christ.
Week of: August 19, 2007
Sermon: How committed are we?
Series: Church ~ Part 2
Scripture: Psalms 37:3-5; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Note: This week’s handout follows the sermon notes.
If I asked you, “Are you committed?” You might say, “to what?” Or, you might be thinking there are times I feel like I need to be committed to Marion, VA. But seriously, how do you do with commitment? Is it something that you shy away from or is something that you wholeheartedly embrace? Can you keep your commitments or do you fail to live up to them?
What does commitment mean?
In 1993, Jimmy Johnson was the coach of what team? Who won what that year? Anyway, he said: “I played for a national championship team, coached a national championship team, and I coached a Super Bowl team. There is a common thread in all three: quality people who are committed to do their best.”
A commitment is our promise to do our best in whatever we say we will do.
I was talking to a young couple the other day who wanted me to perform their marriage ceremony. I was telling them, as I tell most people who want me to officiate their wedding, that love is just not enough to make a successful marriage. There has to be something else to make a successful and long-lasting marriage. To me, there is nothing like a lifetime commitment in Christian marriage. The commitment in a relationship, especially the commitment to remain married to that other person through the thick and thin, is what gives that relationship structure and security.
What about one’s relationship to God? How important is a commitment to God? Evidently, it is very important because the Psalmist encourages his readers in everything they do: “Commit your way to the Lord.” (Psalm 37:5) Do you understand what it means to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord? The Savior part is easy…. He saves us from our sins. He makes it possible for us to go to Heaven. He let us know that He loves us. The Lord part is a lot harder. What does the word “Lord” mean to you? Master? King? Boss?
My sweet little daughter always used to say: “Dad, I want to be an independent woman, live in a big city, and be my own boss.” To which I would always tell her, “Kara, there will never be a day that you won’t have a boss in life.” People will ask me from time to time how I like being the boss of a church? I reply, “You’ve got to be kidding. I am not the boss. I’ve got over 100 bosses I am trying to please.” Would you like to be the Pastor of a Baptist church? Yet, do you realize that when you become a Christian, you are no longer the boss of your life? Christ is your boss. You made a commitment. You gave your word, that if He saved you He could be your Lord, God, and the Boss of your life. We sometime forget that don’t we.
(Look at your handout please - see below)
Another important commitment is to our church. This is an area of importance that, as ministers and church leaders, we must be failing miserably to get across. We are living in an era of church shoppers and hoppers, and I am not talking about people who genuinely feel that God may be moving them to a different church. I am talking about people who don’t seem to realize that when you join a church or a congregation that you are making a commitment to that church. If fact, you are saying that God wants you to be a part of that particular fellowship. God wants you here!!! Like God wants you to serve Him, worship Him, and love Him. He wants you here. God has called you to become a part of this church and you’ve made a commitment to be a part of this congregation. Yes, but what does that commitment mean? Different things to different people obviously.
I’ve seen people join our church one Sunday and not come back. I’ve seen them join our church and never come to a Wednesday night service or a Sunday evening service. I’ve seen them join our church and do nothing but sit in a pew. I’ve seen them join our church and never support anything that has to do with the church. They’ve taken the vows and said “I do” but never bothered to show up for the honeymoon or the first fight. And then, I’ve seen those who live with us day in and day out and never bother to take the vows or make the commitment. Being a part of a local church is recognizing God’s call and making a commitment to it that will last.
How important is YOUR commitment to this church? What did I say was the importance of commitment in a marriage? Structure and security. Let’s say you join our congregation, but before you’d been here very long, one of our well-meaning but very outspoken members hurts your feelings. We are trying to learn tact and politeness around here, but still, from time to time, someone’s mouth disengages from their brain and their Christian heart and something totally inappropriate comes out. Well, what happens to someone who doesn’t understand anything about commitment? They bolt and run! One’s commitment to one’s church helps keep them in the church when times are bad.
(Let’s look at your handout again - see below)
One other thing… commitments to Christ and His church are inseparably tied together. Yes, you can be a Christian without making a commitment to a church. But I ask you to find me a commitment and growing Christian that doesn’t worship God with other believers. Listen, commitments to Christ and the church go hand-in-hand.
How strong is your com?
Handout: How Deep is your commitment to your faith in God?
Christian Faith:
1. I am a Christian. (Yes or No)
2. Do you understand what it means to call Christ your Savior and Lord? (Yes or No)
3. The Christian life consists of three very important areas of God’s direction: a) personal and public devotion, b) service or c) moral direction. Of the three, which do you consider your weakest area?
4. In all honesty, I consider myself: a) somewhat committed b) moderately committed c) very committed, to Christ. Yet, no matter how committed I may or may not be, I realize that I have a long way to go before I am where I need to be.
5. Idealistically, or at least in theory, what are your top commitments in life? Please put them in order ranging from most important to least important.
1_______________ 2_______________ 3_______________ 4_______________ 5_______________.
6. In practice, what are your top commitments? If you are brave, let a member of your family fill out this question. 1_______________ 2_______________ 3_______________ 4_______________ 5_______________.
7. Approximately how much time do you spend a week in worship, devotion, and service to Christ? One hour? Two? Three? Four? Five? Six? Seven? Eight? Nine? Ten or more?
8. If your relationship to Christ was comparable to your relationship with your spouse, how faithful would you be?
9. Aren’t you glad that Jesus hasn’t taken you to divorce court?
Family:
1. What does your family tell you is the most noticeable and needful improvement in your relationship with them?
Church:
1. Are you committed not only to Christ, but also His church? (Yes or No)
2. Do you realize that God has not only called you to be a Christian but also called you to be a member of this church? (Yes or No)
3. In doing so, how strong is your commitment to His church and this church in particular? a) somewhat strong b) moderately strong c) very strong
4. How important is it for you to attend worship in our church? a) Somewhat, when it is convenient b) When I can, maybe once or twice a month c) Every chance I get, at three times a month d) Every Sunday
5. What would it take for you to attend worship more frequently?
6. Given your commitment to Christ and His church, and given how important you say your relationship with Christ is, why can you not find more time to spend concerning Him?
7. If your relationship with the church was comparable to your relationship to your spouse or family, how faithful would you be? (Not very or Very)
8. Do you support your church with your offerings? (Yes or No)
9. Are you currently giving all that you can, monetarily? (Yes or No) If not, why not?
Sunday School:
1. Do you attend Sunday school? (Yes or No)
2. If not, why not?
3. What would it take to get you to attend?
4. Are our Sunday school rooms nice enough for you and your family to attend? Especially your children?
5. If you do attend, how often? Once, twice, three, four times a month, or once or twice a quarter?
6. Are you a Sunday school teacher? (Yes or No)
7. If you are a Sunday school teacher, are you excited about teaching? (Yes or No)
8. If not, why not?
9. Do you take time to prepare your lesson? (Yes or No) If so, how much time? One hour? Two? Three? Four or more?
10. Can you expect to be faithful to God and your class without studying? (Yes or No)
11. Are you on time to your class? (Yes or No) You need to be early and greet your members. (Sorry my class, I will try to do much better)
12. Do you contact members who are absent? (Yes or No)
13. Does your class have at least one social activity a month? (Yes or No)
14. Does your class try to do ministry and outreach? Any at all?
15. Do you spend time in prayer for your class? (Yes or No) Is so, how much? One, two, three, four or more minutes a week?
16. The success or failure of your class doesn’t rest on your shoulders, it rests on _______________ shoulders.
Week of: August 26, 2007
Sermon: Try, Try Again
Series: Part 3 ~ Church
Scripture: Psalm 37: 3-5; 2 Corinthians 11: 1-4
Last Sunday I said that a commitment is our promise to do our best in whatever we say that we will do. Commitments are important is all areas of our lives. People cannot live in community in relationship with one another without, to some degree or the other, honoring their commitments. The greatest commitment that you will ever make is the commitment you will make, or have made, to Jesus Christ.
What does that commitment mean to you? Your vows to your spouse mean one thing to each of you but what do your vows to Christ mean?
(I asked people what making a commitment to Christ means to them. Church, choir, witnessing, giving to the poor, worshiping God, studying the Bible, prayer, loving others, loving God, self-sacrifice, are just a few. I talked a few minutes about deacons and the commitment to be deacon.)
Look, let me try to explain something to you, that you may not understand. Ones commitment to Christ is expressed and magnified through ones commitment to the church. Yes, for the hundredth time, you can be a Christian and not be committed to the church, but what kind of Christian can you be? Let me use this analogy to try to express how one’s commitment to Christ and the church work hand in hand. Let’s say that your commitment to Christ is like the sun that is shining outside on our world. The sun gives us warmth and life. It literally makes everything we know grow. Without the sun, this world we know would be a frozen hunk of lifeless rock floating in space. Many Christians feel that without the SON (Christ) life as we know it would be equally cold and equally lifeless.
Christ came to give life and to give it more abundantly. You cannot over estimate what Christ means to our lives and how important it is to commit one’s life to Christ. However, as important as the sun is modern man, we have not yet learned to harness and direct the power of the sun. We have limited usage of solar power in heating and cooling, electricity, fuel resources, and chemicals but nothing like we need. I am no scientist, but it seems to me we’ve just barely begun to tap the resources available through our sun. As a Christian, I know that we haven’t even begun to tap the spiritual resources we have in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.
How does the church fit into all this Son-power? We are a magnifying glass of that Son. A magnifying lens is convex and can make objects appear closer than they really are. It can also focus the power of the sun into a more powerful beam of light. The church, therefore, focuses the power of the Son, into a beam of light that can do more for Christ. The church is the hands, feet, and body of Christ that is seen as a visible and powerful way in the world we live. The Son shines through us so that He can accomplish the things that He needs.
What happens if the magnifying glass is dirty or the lens is impure? The sun is unable to focus on what it needs to. The power of the sun is misdirected and, therefore, limited. Paul felt that the power of Christ in the church of Corinth was being misdirected and limited by the Corinthian’s impurity. He writes in our scripture this morning: “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Any time Christians are deceived and lured away from their sincere devotion to Christ, the lens of the church is dirty and soiled, and the power of Christ is not seen in what we do.
Your commitment to Christ and this magnifying group of believers at 1st Baptist Church, focuses the power of Christ in our community. Your friends and family can say all they want that our churches are dead, that this church is dead, and not important to our community, but this simply is not true! It is a lie straight from hell. Christians in our church and in our community can say in words and in deeds all they want to that church is not important, but again that is wrong, they are wrong and Satan is using them. Churches are important, but also is your commitment to them. Where Christian’s commitment to Christ and the church are strong, so are the churches and the work of Christ.