Sermon 9
Church On The Move
Acts 6:1-7
Illustration: I read recently that a church in London, England is moving down the street it's on at a rate of 1 inch every 100 years.
When I thought about that I couldn't help but think, "That's faster than some churches are moving!"
Why is there so little movement of the churches?
Illustration: Recently a missionary who had spent the last nine months visiting the churches (independent Baptist) of America raising his support told me with a broken heart that "the condition of most churches is that they are either dead or dying." I thought of Christ's letter to the church at Sardis "Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead" (Rev. 3:1). Perhaps the reason why churches are not "on the move" is because they are almost dead. A church cannot stand still. It will be going forward or backwards. If it is not going forward, it is in the process of dying.
The church at Jerusalem was not dead or dying. It was a dynamic church! It was "on the move!" See Acts 2:41ff; 4:4; 5:14; 8:1,4
From our text, this morning, I want to show you 4 characteristics of a dynamic church, 4 characteristics of a church that has vision and vitality, or to say it another way, 4 ways to keep a church from dying. There is no way that I can exhaust all that could or should be said about the Lord's church in the time we have together today. (In fact, I'm going to be hard pressed to say what I have prepared.) So don't get the idea that what I say this morning is all a church should be. I specifically want to point out some areas that, from my perspective, are needy areas in many churches today. What characterizes a "church on the move?"
A Dynamic Church . . .
I. Anticipates Problems, 6:1
Jesus promised his disciples problems!
Illustration: One at a time gentlemen!
Absence of problems does not always mean that all is fine. Graveyards don't have a lot of problems! Neither do museums! But a church should be neither of those (marching army, hospital).
There certainly were problems in the first church.
1. Preachers arrested!
2. Hypocritical members fall over dead!
3. Deacons are stoned to death!
4. A possibility of division
a. Greeks feel neglected
c. Pressure is put on the apostles!
What began as a burden became a blessing, 7.
More people are saved/church grows.
1. Problems are not to be feared but faced.
2. They are not to be avoided but attacked.
3. They are not to be shunned but solved.
A dynamic church anticipates problems!
II. Accepts Progress
Churches die if they are afraid of change. Some confuse being progressive with being liberal.
Illustration: Slide projector
7 last words of the church = "But we've never done it that way" or "But we've always done it this way"
We must be bound by truth (God's Word) but we must never be bound by tradition.
Why must we be willing to change? Not just for the sake of change-novelity.
Illustration: How we worship
Illustration: Ringing the church bells.
The Jerusalem church was willing to change in order to improve their effectiveness, solve problems. I can just hear some of the members saying "What are deacons?" "What are the apostles doing now?"
III. Activates People
A dynamic church is going to have active people. A dynamic church is going to have leaders who are willing and able to involve other people in the work of the ministry.
"It is better to have 10 people working than for 1 man to be doing the work of 10 people."
Modern Mentality = Spectator who is watching
Model Mentality = Participator who is working
The Bible compares church to a body-
members = organs - 1 organ that doesn't function impairs the whole body.
Illustration: My broken foot
In Acts 6- the leaders used a problem to get more people active - Greek complaint-Greek deacon.
IV. Adheres To Priorities, 6:2,4
How do you build a church? Music, dinners, gimmicks/giveaways, buildings, personalities.
God's Word and prayer - our communication with God.
I Sam. 12:23, Prov. 28:9, Dan. 9:2-4, John 15:7
A. A Source of our Wisdom - Acts 1:14,16,20
B. Success of our Witness - Acts 1,2
C. Secret of our Warfare - Acts 4:23-26
Eph. 6:17-18 Ex. 17:8-11
D. Supply of our Workers - Acts 12:24, 13:3
E. Strength of our Walk - Acts 20:32
addition/nutrition
The Apostles would not be pressured to neglect the priorities. They would not sacrifice the important for the urgent.
Pastors - #1 priority - Study, pray -- preach
Worship - #1 priority - Preach/teach
These characterize a dynamic church. Do these characterize your church? Will you make a commitment to these today?