Church Growth

2 Thess 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Much has been written down through the ages about church growth. Church growth is and should be important to all of us, but not necessarily in the way it is commonly presented.

Most of the flyers and conference invitations I receive in the mail have to do with the numbers of people in the seats. This is certainly the modern concept of church growth. It has everything to do with demographics in the community you serve, informative mail-outs, advertising, and slick presentation which can attract and “hold” a crowd.

Paul has nothing to do with any of this. While I am certain he was concerned with church growth, (after all, he gave his life to plant churches, and it was his fierce passion,) I am likewise certain Paul was not concerned at all about the kind of church growth the modern marketing experts speak of.

Numbers are a concern, because numbers can translate into people being born again and being on their way to heaven – but the number of people in attendance is never to be the focus of church growth.

Paul teaches us the focus of church growth is to be the heart of the individual – not the number of bodies in the seats. He teaches us that growth of faith and love for one another in each heart is the key to church growth. Always has been, always should be. Anything else is vanity.

-  Pastor Bill

Rejoice!

Matt 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!"

Before we know Jesus the worst thing that can happen to a person is death. To die. To be dead.

This is because we have no perception of what death is, other than what it seems to be: death. (Loss of life.)

But, what if ‘death’ is really life - and life as it has never been experienced in any other way except our most fanciful dreams? And what if death is really life - and life even better than our most fanciful dreams may lead us to believe?

There is one description of me that will never be true: and that will be in the day when people will say, “He has died.”

In Christ, there is no death – there is only a better life in a better body in a better place. How much better will that better body be? I don’t know exactly, but I know it will be “new,” and “perfect,” and it will be “incorruptible,” (which means it will always be new and perfect.) How much better will the place be? I don’t know exactly, but I do know it will be indescribably beautiful, and that the streets will be paved with gold. How much better will this life be? Well, I don’t know exactly, but I know it will be lived in a body that is no longer tempted to sin, in an environment of unconditional love, and in the eternal presence of the love of Christ.

This is worthy of rejoicing, and it is exactly what Jesus says we should do with this understanding made plain by His resurrection. We serve a Lord Who has power over death and dying – to the extent that for those who believe, there is no death or dying - only the passing from an earthy-type of body into a heavenly-type of body.

This morning of mornings, we come face-to-face with The risen Savior, Who was dead and is now alive forevermore! The Bible says when we see Him we shall be like Him – and in His likeness we shall never die. Do you believe this? His resurrection declares it for one and all to see for themselves.

-  Pastor Bill

The Narrowing Road

Luke 19:28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." 45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Matt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

At the end of His life on earth, Jesus accomplished what He came to do. In a sense, He had to take Himself through the eye of a needle.

The path got extremely narrow on the approach to Jerusalem, and though it widened slightly (in terms of acceptance) upon the exact moment of His arrival, by the end of this week, He would die virtually alone. These stones would indeed cry out.

Jesus went through the narrow gate first. He considered it, and the dread of it. He went to it. He opened it. He knew the cost. And now He stands forever just on the other side to welcome me. Hallelujah! Hosanna!

-  Pastor Bill

Life as a Thank You Note

1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The question is asked often enough: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The implication is ambition and maturity, responsibility and control. These are the known parts of our lives we have some control over.

How will I educate myself to be what I want to be? What conduct do I wish for my life? What will I do about it? Who will I choose to follow to get where I want to be? What will the outcome of that resemblance be?

Paul is advocating much thought and activity in all of these areas. One of his chief aims is who and what we will be when we grow up. (This is the concern of any loving father.)

To the church Paul advocates tender care for both the head and the body - and then careful attention to the part we play within the body. When all of these things are in place, the body grows up into maturity and strength without deformity.

Much of this has to do with letting go of things we cannot control, while taking much concern for the things we can.

And it has everything to do with what I want to be when I grow up – because the direction I am headed determines my present conduct - and conduct is very important for the Christian life. In fact, we will be defined by our conduct. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” Paul is saying the same thing. “Rejoice always. Give thanks in all things. Test all things. Avoid even the appearance of evil. Do not quench the Spirit of the Living God.” It truly comes down to making our very life a ‘thank-you note’ to God.

-  Pastor Bill