We closed out our series “Church Exposed” with our look at what the church is to be about as she scatters.
I talked about the very clarifying question my dad asked me when I was heralding the greatness of a replacement car stereo. He said “that’s good, but what’s best?” And for the record, I never bought that stereo.
That is a clarifying question for we far too often settle for good. But we’re not talking about stereos in cars. We’re talking about the mission of God.
Are we willing to sacrifice good for best?
Are we willing to put everything on the table and risk everything for the glory of God on display through us as we work towards the accomplishing of His mission?
We returned to Matthew for a look at Matthew 16 and Matthew 28:
18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 ESV
18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
In their book “Total Church,” Tim Chester and Steve Timmis state that the church “exists through the Gospel FOR the Gospel.” It’s an important statement for me and us to think on.
We get to participate in what God is doing. There are no benchwarmers on God’s team.
One oft-missed application is the priority of prayer.
Look at Acts, and see how inside Going after God leads to outward Gospel advances for God…
Acts 2:41 as a result of Acts 1:14
14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 1:14 ESV
41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 ESV
4:4 as a result of 3:1,
1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. Acts 3:1 ESV
4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. Acts 4:4 ESV
4:31 a result of 4:29
29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, Acts 4:29 ESV
31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31 ESV
Acts 6:7 as a result of Acts 6:3-4
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:3-4 ESV
7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7 ESV
This is not either over there or over here. It’s both and. Just like Jesus. He never travelled more than 300 miles away from His home, yet look at where His disciples went? The WORLD.
Did you know that up to 70-90% of people who are unchurched would come to a church worship gathering if invited and told by you that you would meet them at the front door?
-Do you realize that all of life is mission for God?
William Carey, missionary to India: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God”
“Lord let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.” David Brainerd
We are all missionaries; will we realize our missionary calling?
Questions:
-How can we most effectively mobilize the people of this faith family to accomplish the Great Commission in this city in this day and age?
-How can we most effectively organize the leadership of this faith family to accomplish the Great Commission?
-Does our church budget reflect the desires and design of God and His word?
-Are our facilities the best use of our money for the accomplishment of God’s purposes in the world?
-Are all the programs we have created the absolute best way to advance the gospel from our community to the ends of the earth?
-What good things do we have or what Good things are we doing that we need to abolish or alter for greater ends?
I closed with a quote from a book by Tullian Tchividjian in Jesus+Nothing=Everything.
“I believe this… church will thrive beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine if it’s packed with gospel-intoxicated people; people who understand that since Christ laid his life down for us, we must lay our lives down for others…A gospel-saturated church is a church filled with people who give everything they have because they understand that in Christ they already have everything they need….
So…..I invite all of you to spend your life dying with me. Let this…church show the watching world what human life and community can look like when a pack of God-centered missionaries spend their life seeking to serve rather than be served.”
Amen!
