What goes on inside the church can sometimes shock and surprise a new believer. They come into the church looking for a solution only to find pollution. How can this be stopped? How are we supposed to act inside the church towards our fellow brothers and sisters. This is a question that might sound crazy but I am convinced that it is a question that needs to be answered. So for that I looked at the healthiest church we have in the New Testament, the church of the Thessalonians. In his letter to this church Paul, is very encouraged to hear that the church is doing all that it should be, and in chapter 5:11-22 we see how the church is acting towards one another. Here is a quick run down of what you can do inside the church based on this passage.
"11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[a] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil."
1. Encourage one another.
2. Build up one another
3. Respect your pastor.
4. Be at peace with one another.
5. Warn those that are negative.
6. Comfort the lonley.
7. Lift up the weak.
8. Rejoice always.
9. Stay in prayer.
10.Search for the good things, not the bad.
These 10 things will change the way your church feels and grows. Paul mentions in verse 14 to "be patient with all" these ten things will test you. It is always easy to do the wrong thing, to have the wrong attitude and just assume the worst. I am amazed at the way we sometimes approach church, as if it's all about us and our needs instead of the needs around us. Jesus sums it up by saying "if you want to be first you have to be last." Put others first, stop complaining about everything and come into the church to build the Kingdom and serve the King. It starts with you and it starts now.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Church
This Sunday night we started a new study on the church at BBC. During this study it is my goal to help us at BBC rethink what "church" is. Not that things are wrong in our understanding now but I believe it is imperative that the local churches restate and study what it is they are doing. During the summer we will look at what the church is and what the church does. After studying Acts 2 I came up with what I think is a great definition of what the church is.
The Church- A devoted body of believers that gather together in unity to grow in biblical knowledge, encouraging one another, while worshiping the risen Christ under the guidance of appointed leaders.
Lots of things can be stated about the local church, but I think this sums up what the church is.
I want to look at this word devoted. This is where lots of churches struggle, in being devoted to their local church. We know what the word devoted means and we even know how to be devoted to something, ie. facebook, TV, sports, you get the picture. But are we devoted to our local church. In other words are we in love with the church and the church people?
It is a great mystery to me that people can join into the local church and be set on fire with serving the church only to disappear after 6 months of service. Maybe as I grow as a pastor I will learn the answer to this great mystery. I am under the conviction that when you understand the gospel and what Christ has done for you that you will do nothing else but worship. Worship in the form of giving, singing, studying and of course serving. But we toss this Christian term out "burn out" which really means I've lost sight of the gospel and people are not praising my work anymore so I am gonna back out for sometime and I may or may not return. I am forever grateful for those Sunday School teachers and pastors that never "burned out" and continue to serve to this day.
To wrap this post up...a local church based on the New Testament model is a DEVOTED body of believers.....and don't forget because they were devoted "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47
The Church- A devoted body of believers that gather together in unity to grow in biblical knowledge, encouraging one another, while worshiping the risen Christ under the guidance of appointed leaders.
Lots of things can be stated about the local church, but I think this sums up what the church is.
I want to look at this word devoted. This is where lots of churches struggle, in being devoted to their local church. We know what the word devoted means and we even know how to be devoted to something, ie. facebook, TV, sports, you get the picture. But are we devoted to our local church. In other words are we in love with the church and the church people?
It is a great mystery to me that people can join into the local church and be set on fire with serving the church only to disappear after 6 months of service. Maybe as I grow as a pastor I will learn the answer to this great mystery. I am under the conviction that when you understand the gospel and what Christ has done for you that you will do nothing else but worship. Worship in the form of giving, singing, studying and of course serving. But we toss this Christian term out "burn out" which really means I've lost sight of the gospel and people are not praising my work anymore so I am gonna back out for sometime and I may or may not return. I am forever grateful for those Sunday School teachers and pastors that never "burned out" and continue to serve to this day.
To wrap this post up...a local church based on the New Testament model is a DEVOTED body of believers.....and don't forget because they were devoted "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47
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