Recipe For A Fantastic Church
Member?
February 2, 2014
Church
AM
Ainsworth Assembly of God
Bible Text: Philippians 1:1-11
INTROMembership Sunday is always a special day for me. It is a
tremendous blessing to see those that God brings to us commit
to being a part of the local church. Every person who comes is
unique and everyone is special. Our greatest asset to building a
great church are the people! Without committed members the
work of building God’s kingdom on earth will not happen. It’s
the variety that makes a great church. Our members today are
each unique: One was a working cowboy on some of the largest
ranches in the state. In his younger days he used to rope
coyotes off his horse! Another of our members today was
healed of stage 4 cancer. He drives over 50 miles to church.
Another was a runner in high school and ended up on a winning
relay team with my sister! After all these years we meet again!
Now today, I have chosen to take us to Philippians
chapter 1. The Philippian church was one of the great early
church congregations. These people developed a very special
relationship with the apostle Paul.
The story of the beginning of the Philippian church is
found in Acts 16. There we read about the conversion of Lydia,
a business woman, the chief jailer in the city and a young slave
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girl who told fortunes for hire. Have you ever seen more
variety in a congregation than that?
All of these and more found new life in Jesus Christ. This
church seems to have had a very special relationship to the
apostle Paul. He loved that church and they loved him. They
helped him in his ministry by sending financial gifts and often
encouraged him. This was a fantastic group of believers.
In the opening verses of this letter Paul says some things
that I think are very important. We might even look at them as
an important part of the recipe for great church members.
I would like to call our message today:
Recipe for a Fantastic Church Member.
1.
Notice first, Fantastic Members HAVE EXPERIENCED
GOD’S SAVING GRACE!
Notice in verse 6, Paul mentions their salvation
experience. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who
began a good work in you…” That’s salvation! That’s being
born again. That’s the work of the Spirit in regeneration!
Later to the Ephesian church Paul wrote: “For by grace
are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Writing to the young minister Titus, Paul says:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men,...
…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,…”
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(Titus 2:11; 3:5-6)
When Paul says that God had begun a good work in the
Philippians, he is talking about when they received God’s saving
grace. They were changed!
For every person it is a little bit different! Some can point
to a day, an hour and a moment when Christ came into their
heart. Others don’t know for sure when they “believed” but
they know that somewhere along the line, Jesus Christ showed
up in their life and they embraced Him.
If we go to Acts 16, we find the account of the early
converts in Philippi. There we read that Paul and his
companions went out to a river bank where some women
gathered for prayer. When Paul shared about the Lord Jesus
Christ, a woman named Lydia placed her trust in Jesus. Luke
describes it this way.
“The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by
Paul.” Acts 16:14 Lydia’s salvation experience took place very
quietly and powerfully deep in her heart.
Later a young girl was delivered from demon oppression.
Acts 16:17-18. We are not told that she trusted in Jesus as her
savior, but I like to think that it would be hard for God to do a
mighty work of liberation in one’s heart and them not follow
Jesus Christ. For this young girl, salvation must have brought a
great sense of freedom for her. She may have remained a slave
girl, but I would like to think that in her heart she was finally
free! Because that is what Jesus came to do!
And then later in the chapter the jailer and his family
come to faith in Christ. The jailer is on the brink of suicide,
when Paul intervenes and leads him to faith in Jesus Christ.
(Acts 16:30-31) What a change that must have been! From
darkness to light. From suicide to salvation! From total despair
to joyful hope!
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This was the work of the Spirit in regeneration! God
began His work in their hearts.
This is how this great church began. People were
brought to a place of knowing Jesus Christ in a personal way.
This is the beginning of a fantastic church member! The
person who has believed in Jesus Christ to be their personal
Savior is REDEEMED, JUSTIFIED, SANCTIFIED, ADOPTED,
FORGIVEN, CLEANSED, REGENERATED!
I have to ask you, my friend, “Have you experienced the
grace of God?” Has God started a mighty work in your heart?
This is the foundation of Fantastic members. In salvation, God
gives us a new nature! This is where our journey to heaven
starts! Your part is to turn to Christ in simple faith and
welcome Him into your heart. His part is to give you a new
nature! But what if we haven’t had that happen to us?
Jack Jones wrote: "Putting a hog in the living room will not change the hog’s
nature, but it will damage the living room. A lost man’s nature will not be
changed by placing his name on the church roll, but the church will suffer by
his being a member. Every Christian should be a church member; in fact,
there is no place for a true Christian outside the church. But the church
membership has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of the soul. Billy
Sunday was right when he said, "Joining the church does not any more make
one a Christian than entering a garage will change one into an automobile.’"
You see joining the church doesn’t make you a Christian,
only Christ can do that!
2.
Secondly, Fantastic Members Are Always Growing!
Notice Paul’s words, “…He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The New Living Translation says:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within
you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day
when Christ Jesus returns.”
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I have found this to be so true in my own life. God’s work
is on going. He continues to mold us into the image of His Son,
Jesus Christ. This is God’s goal. This is what He is up to!
Romans 8:29 tells us that God seeks to “conform us to the image
of His Son.”
Old habits have to be broken. New ones put in place.
Attitudes are on God’s agenda. It now matters where I go and
what I do! The change in my heart must find its way into my
life.
The Spirit of God continues to work in us to develop
character, faith and love. God wants to help us grow up and
become mature followers of Jesus Christ. There is no better
place for this to happen than in the fellowship of a local church
full of imperfect people. This is where we get to learn how to
forgive, show tolerance, offer forgiveness, develop our gifts
and a host of other things. Growth is all about becoming more
like Christ! We should never stop growing.
This is why Paul had a deep concern for the Galatian
believers. They had stopped growing. In fact they were
regressing. His goal was to help them grow into the image and
likeness of Jesus. “My Little children, for whom I labor in
birth again until Christ is formed in you…I have my doubts
about you.” Galatians 4:19-20
A fantastic church member is one who resembles Jesus
Christ, one who is becoming like Christ in character and
everyday life. This is called growing as a Christian.
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Part of that growth should take place in the local
church. Too often we don’t take advantage of the resources
for growth that God has placed in the local church.
Today is Superbowl XLVIII (48) @ MetLife Stadium.
During Superbowl XXXVII, FedEx ran a commercial that spoofed the movie
Castaway, in which Tom Hanks played a FedEx worker whose company plane
went down, stranding him on a desert island for years. Looking like the
bedraggled Hanks in the movie, the FedEx employee in the commercial goes
up to the door of a suburban home, package in hand.
When the lady comes to the door, he explains that he survived five years on
a deserted island, and during that whole time he kept this package in order
to deliver it to her. She gives a simple, "Thank you."
But he is curious about what is in the package that he has been protecting for
years. He says, "If I may ask, what was in that package after all?"
She opens it and shows him the contents, saying, "Oh, nothing really. Just a
satellite telephone, a global positioning device, a compass, a water purifier,
and some seeds." All things he could have used right?
Like the contents in this package, the resources for growth and strength are
available for every Christian who will take advantage of them.
How much is that like the church? The resources for
growth are here, but we have to be committed to growing!
A fantastic member is one who is committed to growth.
A fantastic member allows God to do His work in His/her life.
Its easy to let ourselves get stale and stagnant. Growth is
challenging. To grow we have to try new things, meet new
people, read new books, think a little differently. Growth can
get us out of our comfort zone! It can be uncomfortable!
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To those who are joining the church today, I HOPE
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GROW! To those who have joined
already, I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GROW!
The alternative is to fossilize! To become a moss-back, a
fuddy-duddy, a stick-in-the-mud!
Will it be said of you, “He who began a good work in you,
continued to perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ?”
3.
Fantastic Members Build Vital Relationships.
“I thank my God…for your fellowship in the gospel from
the first day until now,…” 1:3-5
The people of Philippi had built a great relationship with
Paul. The word Paul uses here is koinonia. It’s the word that is
translated communion. It carries the idea of sharing together.
The New Living Translation says, “Partnership.”
The church is to be a fellowship! The early church was
noted for its deep fellowship. In Acts 2:42 we read, “And they
continued in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,…” They
built relationship as they prayed together, worshiped together,
learned together, suffered together, rejoiced together, and
learned together.
After our service today we will participate in what is
often called “a fellowship dinner.” It is a time for the church to
eat a meal together and share our lives. It is a degree of
fellowship. It’s not a very deep degree but it is a degree of
fellowship.
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But biblical fellowship is a lot more than just eating a
meal together. It involved doing life together and building
strong relationships.
Too often members today are like the guy I read about.
A pastor wrote:
I was a supply preacher for a small town Texas Church, coming in
early Sunday, preaching a sermon to the congregation, and then leaving after
lunch. Arriving early one Sunday I sat down at a local donut shop, opened my
Bible and went over my sermon notes.
A man was sitting down the counter from me and he said, "You a preacher or
something?"
I replied, "Yes I preach at the Christian Church here in town."
He got excited and said, "Hey, I’m a member of that church."
The church was small and I knew all the regulars so I said, "I’ve been
preaching there for about three months and I’ve never seen you there."
He looked at me kinda strange and said, "I said I was a member of that
church. I never said that I was fanatical about it!"
From Bible.org
You know I’ve had some members like that. One day a
new member asked me, “Who was the new guy in church
Sunday?” I had to admit he is a member who doesn’t come
except maybe a couple times a year.
For some people weekly attendance is fanatical. But
listen to these statements:
Acts 2:46 “So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple and from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and singleness of heart.”
Acts 15:26 “…men who have risked their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 2:30 “…for the work of Christ he came close
to death, not regarding his life…”
Acts 4:34 “…for all who were possessors of lands or
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houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that
were sold, and laid them at the apostle’s feet; and they
distributed to each as anyone had need.”
People that make fantastic members in churches are not
afraid to build deep relationships with their fellow believers. In
fact, they work on making it happen. This is one of the greatest
parts of the church. It’s a place to belong!
Will you be part of the fellowship? There is a blessing that
goes along with working, and praying and struggling together
with God’s people in the work of the LORD!
Who are you building relationship with?
So far we have talked about three very important
components to making Fantastic Church Members. 1) The new
birth, 2) An ongoing Growing life and 3) Healthy Relationships
in the church. These are so important.
Next week we will look at two more. Our time is gone.
Lets pray.
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4.
Genuine Care Makes For Fantastic Members.
Now notice how Paul cared for these people.
as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I
have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in
the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are
partakers with me of grace. 8For God is my witness, how
greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
7just
These people loved Paul, and he loved them! They seemed
to have a special bond. The same grace that had changed Paul’s
life on the Damascus Road had changed them.
Paul could turn to them for encouragement when he
needed it. They sent offerings to help his ministry to other
regions. We don’t know all the factors that contributed to the
special relationship that Paul had with these people. But what
we do know is that there was a mutual care and concern that
went back and forth between them.
As we read the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter we learn
that in fact part of the reason for this letter was to thank them
for ministering to his needs while in prison. (Philippians 4:14-18)
Where do you suppose the Philippian believers had
learned to be so loving? Could it be the example Paul had set
before them? I think so! He expresses his love for them right
here. And a deep love it must have been.
It is our responsibility to do all we can to make people
know they are cared for. New members especially need to know
this. They are the newby’s. They are trying to figure out where
they fit in this church. Some find it harder than others to find
where they fit. But there is one thing that will help everyone
find their place and grow and that is a healthy dose of love and
concern!
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Everyone does better when they know they are loved
and cared for.
How do you demonstrate your love for your fellow
believers?
-Do you think about them during the week?
-Do you think about the daily burdens they may be
carrying?
-Do you ever call them when they are absent?
-Do you ever give a special gift to show your love?
-Do you ever speak special words of affirmation?
Remember Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
And Finally,
5.
Fantastic Members Need Our Prayers.
9And
this I pray, that your love may abound still more and
more in knowledge and all discernment, 10that you may
approve the things that are excellent, that you may be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11being filled
with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to
the glory and praise of God.
What a prayer! Paul prays
a. That their love will abound in knowledge and
discernment,
b. That they will make good decisions,
c. That they will stay sincere and not stumble
d. And finally be filled with good fruits.
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And here is Paul praying for the church while he is
incarcerated. No wonder they were a fantastic church.
We all need someone praying for us! Who did you pray for
this week by name? What brother or sister did you hold up in
prayer?
How much better we would all perform if we prayed for
each other rather than criticize or judged one another!
Perhaps in another message we will delve more deeply into
this part of the recipe for Fantastic Church Members.
Does prayer make a difference?
I ran across the following story from a sermon by Jeff Strite
called, “God’s Idea of the Church.”
PRAYER FOR THIEVES
About 12 years ago, three men broke into our church building here. They didn't steal much,
and they didn't really damage all that much (they broke a couple of doors, and stole a few
small items) but we called the police and reported the incident. After the police left, our
youth minister at the time and I were talking in the youth room and a thought came to me.
"Brad," I said, "you know those guys are going to get caught some day. Wouldn't it
interesting if -- once they were arrested -- we got the chance to talk to them about Jesus?"
Brad agreed and we decided to pray for that specific opportunity.
The next day, the men were arrested. And two of the men called US! They didn't call the
other churches they broke into. They called us. And they wanted to talk to me.
So I went down to the jail and the men told me they wanted to ask our forgiveness for
breaking in. I responded that "Well, forgiveness is what we do... but would you be open to
doing Bible study with me?" They jumped at the chance.
We met every week for the next few weeks, and as a result we baptized one of them, and -last I knew -- they were involved in the church their family went to.
Like I said -- I don't think I've been praying enough for that.
(From a sermon by Jeff Strite, God's Idea of Church, 5/2/2011)
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CONCLUSION:
Let’s review what we have said in wrapping this up:
This is “A Recipe for Fantastic Members.”
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Fantastic members Have Received God’s Grace!
Fantastic members Continue Growing!
Fantastic members Build Healthy Relationships!
Genuine Love & Care Makes Fantastic Members.
Fantastic Members Need A Prayer Covering.
Now as we conclude what’s one thing that you will ask
God to help you work on?
Do you need to open your heart and let the work begin?
Have you fossilized? Maybe you need some new growth!
Can you point to one healthy relationship with another
person in the church? If not, why don’t you initiate one?
Who has God given you a genuine care for? Have you told
them you care and appreciate them?
Who will you pray for this week? In the coming weeks?
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Sunday Morning Worship
February 2, 2014
AM
Ainsworth Assembly of
God Church
ORDER OF SERVICE
OPEN:
Jehovah Jireh
WELCOME/PRAYER
ANNOUNCMENTS
HYMN OF DAY #322 Deeper, Deeper
MEMBERSHIP RECEPTION
One reason you are joining?
OFFERING (PRAYER FOR NEEDS)
WORSHIP- The Trees of the Field
The Victory Song
Take Me In
SCRIPTURE MESSAGE
COMMUNION
CLOSE
(around front)