A Church That Serves

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Published on Thursday, 19 January 2012 19:51

A great and fulfilled life!  Yeh, that is what we all want.  However, for so many people, they look for it everywhere - cash, fame, power, even retirement.  The problem is that even with all of that, people don't have a great and fulfilled life.  So what does it take?  What do we need that will give us that great and fulfilled life?

Jesus answers that question as He responds to the request of James and John to be seated on either side of Him in heaven.  His response can be found in Mark 10:42-45.  Go ahead, take time to read and then come back!

Alright, now that you've read His response, what do you think?  Now, before you get upset, keep in mind that Jesus never said it was wrong to be great.  All Jesus did was redefine what greatness means.  And His response?  "If you want to be great, serve others!"

Yes, you read that right.  Serve others!  No, in our American mindset that doesn't make sense.  But then again, pretty much everything Jesus did say, would not make sense to the world.  So what was Jesus trying to say.

First, He wanted us to understand that true greatness comes from service.  It was true in the life of Jesus.  He taught the multitudes.  He healed the sick.  He fed the hungry.  He comforted the sorrowful.  He touched people that society deemed untouchable.  Jesus served people; and ultimately served by giving His life as a ransom for the world.

It was also true of the early church.  They were all about serving and helping each other.  In Acts 2 it tells us that they sold what they had to help each other, not themselves!

Secondly, Jesus was telling us that our true life purpose comes from service.  Serving others brings meaning and purpose to our lives.  It was true for Jesus; He knew why He was here.

God created us to serve and do good deeds!  Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

From eternity past God has planned for each of us good works He wants us to do.  And the more we focus on those tasks, the more fulfilled our life will be.

So, what does this all mean for you?  Well, true greatness doesn't come from reading your Bible everyday, praying, attending church, or even being a good person.  All those things are good and should be done bby all of us.  However, Jesus said that "whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (v. 43).

It is time that you start looking for and taking on the role of a servant.  Listen, our greatest example is Jesus Christ Himself.  After all, we are supposed to be "Christ-followers" aren't we?  We must have the same mindset that Christ did when He willingly took on the form of a servant and humbled himself by obeying God's plan and dying on the cross for you and I (Phil. 2:5-8).

So, you have been called to be His minister/servant to others.  There are no restrictions or limitations.  If we truly desire to be what God wants us to be, we must be a church that serves.

WILL YOU SERVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD?

A Church That Worships

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Published on Friday, 13 January 2012 19:08

In the book of Revelation, John gives us a glimpse of what he saw in his visions.  Upon seeing it all he bowed down and was about to worship the angel that had lead the tour when the angel responded, "You must not do that!  I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God" (Revelation 22:9).

God is the One who is worthy of worship and throughout Scripture we are commanded to worship Him.

Unfortunately, we live in a country that is all about worshiping things.  Ultimately, we see false worship.

We must understand that false worship is: (1) Selective worship - when we worship what we want and leave the rest alone; (2) One-sided worship - when we worship either in spirit or in truth but not both; and (3) Superstitious worship - which is worshiping because we have to, not because we want to.

So, instead of false worship, God demands that we worship in "spirit and truth" (John 4).  What does that really mean?  Let me share two characteristics of true worship.

The first is: It's not just God we worship; it's the Father (John 4:21-23).  When Jesus referenced God, many times He used the term "Father."  It is a sign of intimacy and closeness.  If we understand this concept, then our worship goes from just an activity we do because God has commanded us to, to something we do because God loves us and we want to thank Him and honor Him and praise Him.

The second is: It's not the "Dressings of Worship" that are important; it's the attitude of the worshiper that matters.  The debate in John 4 was about where people should worship God.  Jesus' response simply is: "the place is not as important as the heart!"  God wants us to worship Him in "spirit and truth;" in sincerity and honesty!

The externals: building, instruments, and other outward things do not make worship.  God is more interested in the heart of the worshiper, rather than what is or is not included in the worship.

This year if we are going to "BE THE CHURCH" then we must worship God.  It must be what we do here corporately, but, more importantly, it must be what you do indvidually every day.

And I boldly believe that too truly worship in church requires worshiping in spirit and truth daily - that daily worship is the key to corporate worship!

This Is The Church

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Published on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 02:20

BE THE CHURCH!

That is the motto for our church for 2012.  The focus is really on the "BE!"  In order to "BE THE CHURCH" we are going to start the year off by looking at "What God Wants Us To Be."  This past Sunday (Jan. 1), we looked at Acts 2 to see what made the early church such a tremendous example to us today.

When the church is functioning properly, it is the hope of the world.  It is the only organization that has ever existed that is capable of healing broken lives, pointing people to God, and fulfill the deepest longing of our souls.  It is in the church that the rejected find acceptance, the sinner receives forgiveness, and the lonely experience love.

In the early church we find 5 characteristics that I believe God wants to be true of every church, everywhere, all the time.  When they are in place, the New Testament Church grows!

~ The New Testament Church grows Warmer through Fellowship.

~ The New Testament Church grows Deeper through Discipleship

~ The New Testament Church grows Stronger through Worship

~ The New Testament Church grows Broader through Service

~ The New Testament Church grows Larger through Evangelism

Over the next several weeks we will look at each of these individually.  Join us at Calvary to hear more about this.  If you can't, then check back over the next couple of weeks and there will be a short review of each message here on my blog.

Oh, and for all you fans of New Year's resolutions, how you doing?

Miracle of the Manger

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Published on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 02:10

So, what do you believe about Christmas?  Or better yet, "Who do you say that Jesus Christ is?"  Jesus asked His disciples that question and Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!"

I don't know what you believe but a decision is necessary on your part.  Either Christ is Lord of all, a liar, or a lunatic.  He cannot be just a nice man, a good teacher, or a prophet.  What you decide will not only affect your life now, but your eternal destiny when this life is over.

The Miracle of the Manger is that God became flesh and lived among us.  He came not so that He could send us to eternal punishment but to set us free.  God became man so that we could become children of God - John 1:12.

If you want to know more, contact the church and speak to me - 937-246-4825.