Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ April 23, 2006
“Church”
Part 1 of 4
Churches in America...
45% of American adults attend church in a typical weekend.
65% of American churches are declining in attendance
33% of all traditional churches plateau at 50 members
Another 33% of all churches plateau at 150 members
It takes the average evangelical church 100 people and one year to introduce one person to Jesus Christ.
One report indicates that 95% of those who enter the ministry will not retire in the ministry. A gloomier study showed that 80% of seminary graduates leave the ministry within two years.
Matthew 16:18b “...I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” NLT
Colossians 1:18 And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Christ fills the church with blessings)
The Church... (Eph 2:19-21) Universal & Local – (Church in the universal sense is used only 4 times)
· Was instituted by Jesus Christ! - Eph 2:20
· Is a Living Organism not an organization! – 1Co 12
· Is the most powerful entity on earth, Impacting Lives Forever! – John 10:28
Like Christ, As a Church...
1. We Must Love People!
Matthew 9:10-13 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
· Jesus loved the tax collectors and sinners... the woman taken in adultery... Jesus loved people.
· The Pharisee’s were good at sacrifices yet totally lacking in love toward unsaved sinners.
· Like Christ, a church must love people! Listen to some of these verses...
Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
· Love God Supremely and love others as yourself! Everything rests upon these two commands!
1 John 4:20-21 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.
· No matter who comes to Cross Creek – we love people. The Church MUST love people!
· People are attracted to a loving Church... a loving church is a growing church... love as Jesus loves.
Some families make church their home. Others find other uses for the church. Take the notorious Tate family, for example. Perhaps you’ve met some of them. The chief of the clan is old Dic Tate, who insists on running everything in church. His brother Ro Tate wants to change everything. Aunt Agi Tate has a knack for stirring up trouble; and her husband, Irri Tate, always lends a hand.
The next generation of Tates has its own characteristics. Hesi Tate and his wife, Vege Tate, would just as soon wait until next year whenever a new project is suggested. Aunt Imi Tate would love to create the first generic church. Devas Tate announces constantly that the church is doomed, while her husband Poten Tate promises he can lead the church out of trouble. Today in the Word, May, 1996, p. 8
· It’s not my concern in how rich & influential you are or how poor you are, I try to treat everyone the same with no partiality. At Cross Creek we love people because people matter, people not “things” will last forever and we must love and reach more and more people for Christ. Give a Word, a Look and a Touch
· Handshake, pat on the back, hug... (Daily we need 4 for survival, 8 for maintenance, 12 for growth– Dr. Satir)
· The word “love” is found 200 times in the NT...1.82 Billion on Google & 170K items on Amazon
Lifestyle of love...
Ephesians 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Unified in Love...
Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Serving in Love...
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Genuine Love is Demonstrated << Fill out Ministry Sheet >>
John 13:34-35 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Like Christ, As a Church...
2. We Must Meet Needs! (Turn & read Mt 15:29-38, pew bible p693)
Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."
· In vs 30-31 we see great crowds came to Jesus. They saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing and praised God... Jesus met the needs of many people...
· They crowd of 4000 men plus women & children may have easily been 12,000 people... away from any local restaurants... they were hungry and Jesus had compassion for them... they were hurting.
· With 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish (maybe like sardines) Jesus fed them all and collected 7 basketfuls of broken pieces left over! Jesus met people’s needs – so should Cross Creek.
· I’m not talking a “social” gospel... But winning people by meeting their needs and sharing the Gospel
This story deals with a rather old fashioned lady, who was planning a couple of weeks vacation in Florida. She also was quite delicate and elegant with her language – prim & proper. She wrote a letter to a particular campground and asked for reservations. She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped but didn’t know quite how to ask about the “toilet” facilities. She just couldn’t bring herself to write the word “toilet” in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old fashioned term “Bathroom Commode,” but when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being too forward. So she started all over again; rewrote the entire letter and referred to the “Bathroom Commode” simply as the “B.C.”. Does the campground have its own “B.C.?” is what she actually wrote.
Well, the campground owner wasn’t old fashioned at all, and when he got the letter, he couldn’t figure out what the lady was talking about. That “B.C.” really stumped him. After worrying about it for several days, he showed the letter to other campers, but they couldn’t figure out what the lady meant either. The campground owner finally came to the conclusion that the lady was and must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church. So he sat down and wrote the following reply: “Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take pleasure of informing in that the “B.C.” is located nine miles north of the camp site and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along, and make a day of it..... They usually arrive early and stay late. The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now, there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats.....They plan to hold the supper in the middle of the B.C., so everyone can watch and talk about this great event.....I would like to say it pains me very much, not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely not for lack of desire on my part....As we grow older, it seems to be more and more of an effort, particularly in cold weather..... If you decide to come down to the campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go ... sit with you ... and introduce you to all the other folks. ... This is really a very friendly community.
· Like Christ, as a church we must meet the needs of people.
· Over and over again Jesus would ask, “What would you have me to do for you?” Mt 20:32 – (a need)
· Whether to heal a blind man or to heal a woman with an issue of blood... Jesus met peoples needs.
1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Relational, Financial
<< Celebrate Recovery Highlight >> (Show 10 minute DVD video clip)
· Folks, this is what is happening at Cross Creek every Friday night at 6:30! Lives are being changed!
James 2:15-16 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
· Cross Creek must love people, Cross Creek must meet needs...
Like Christ, As a Church...
3. We Must Teach Truth! (God’s Word)
Mark 1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
John 8:31-32 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
· The people were amazed at Christ’s teaching... with authority...
· As a church, as your pastor – I must teach the truth of God’s Word – then Jesus will grow His Church!
· Is it possible to bore people to sleep with God’s Word? You bet it is!
· How a pastor can take the most exciting, life-changing, eternal, inspired, inerrant Word of God and yet make it so lifeless, dull, uninteresting, lackluster, ho-hum, I can’t imagine! This is God’s Word!
John 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
· Notice carefully – The Father directed Jesus in what to say and how to say it – content & delivery
· Jesus often used stories and illustrations... weather, seeds, farming, storms, fishing, money, etc...
Top Complaints about Church...
· Sermons are boring and don’t relate to my life.
· The members are unfriendly to visitors.
· The Church only wants my money.
Saturate your life with God’s Word
<< Connect with a Small Group >>
· Cross Creek MUST faithfully teach & communicate God’s Word... Jesus will grow His church!
· As we grow larger we must grow smaller at the same time... smaller into small groups
· Times to open up & share, learn together, help each other, connect in a deeper level than corporately
· Small Groups offer community and meeting needs, allowing more people to become actively involved in the life of the church. Jim Stout heads up our small group ministry...
· Table in the back with various small groups being offered... they meet at various times, locations, subjects
· Builds friendship… Friendship with others provides a source of strength, encouragement, spiritual growth.
1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Like Christ, As a Church... We must love people – we must meet needs – we must teach Truth!
To God’s Glory...
Ø Souls Saved!
Ø Believers Grow!
Ø Church Expanding!
Let’s Pray