So, where do we go from here??
are you giving to the mission?
So, the big question is where do we go from here in 2020??
And we start where it all started!
Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Is your Church your Family??
So, what is family??
Today we live in a world where family is disconnected, dysfunctional, broken, divorced, absent and even abusive. We live in a world where when you say family to some it brings a rush of horrible memories, hurt, anger and sadly for some no memories at all!
Jesus tells us who our family is!
Mark 3:32–35 (ESV)
32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”
33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
·
So, when we say that the church is a family what are we even talking about???
· I want you to look to your left and right because for you this is family!!
Do you see the church as a business or is this where your family is??
Does it feel like family??? Or Does it feel like a business???
· Are you trying to get as much as you can for as little as you can?
· You don’t pick up your trash when you leave?
· You leave the counters in the coffee bar a mess or the bathroom
· Do you just get your coffee, flop your butt in a chair, and leave when you’re done?
· Do you complain about things in the church?
o Are you the one that knows every fault in the church?
o Are you the person that sees every mistake that everyone makes?
If I just described you then this is not your family, it’s a business!
When it feels like family
· You're giving way more than you're getting (in time, talent and money)
· You stick around after church and pick up the trash that everyone else leaves behind
· You straighten up when you're done
· You are walking around talking to new faces and making them feel welcome
· You don’t complain, you do!
o If it's broke you fix it
o If someone is struggling,
§ you pray for them and with them
§ you do anything you can and try and help
You do all this because this is your family
· Yes, they're annoying
· Yes, they get on your last nerve
· Yes, they hurt you sometimes
o But in your family, you always come back, you always try, and you always invest
HOW do I make this church feel like family?
1. Serve
1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Are you waited on or served??
· You want to be in the family you have to stop being served and start serving others
· That’s what your savior did!
· He said I come to serve, not be served
· He washed feet, feed the homeless, calmed the storm, healed the broken, comforted many and transformed His family.
· What are you doing for yours??
· I am not talking about doing things that make you look good, I’m talking about things that help others
Why serve??
Luke 22:27 (ESV)
27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
· What better way to get to know your family than to serve next to them
· Get plugged in!
o Find a team and get on it
o Look for an upcoming project and show up
o Stop hiding behind the it’s too big, or I don’t know anyone
o Talk to the team leader, talk to the lay pastor
o It amazes me to see people and their attitudes when they are truly serving in the church Vs folks who don’t
o Their lives are better, their marriages are stronger, and they have folks to turn to
Loving people isn’t easy!!!!
Being involved with people is
· time consuming,
· messy,
· and complicated.
These are the very reasons why community is such a big part of God’s plan to transform us into the image of Christ. Living in a community pushes us to die to ourselves. There will be times when loving others and allowing others to serve and love us will feel like death, but this is the pathway to real life in Christ. The more we understand our own hearts, the more we see that it takes a work of God’s grace to transform self-absorbed individuals into a community of love. Being in redemptive relationships shows us our need for change and helps bring it about!
2. We Give! That’s right I’m talking about money, Benjamin’s, cheddar, greenbacks!
Acts 2:45 (ESV)
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
So why Give??
· Obedience
· It all belongs to God anyway
· What better way to figure that out than to give to Him first?
What does Jesus say about it???
· First fruit
o The first check you make out
o The first penny you spend goes to Him through His church
· Cheerfully
o Give with a glad heart
o Give gladly knowing God is in control and will use it for His good
o I used to take $75 bibles to jail
· Sacrificially
o You give something up
o For a single mom, $5 is a lot
o For some 10% is nothing
o You need to give something
· Regularly
o Not when the church finally does something right in your eyes
o Not when you have extra
o But on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, whatever it looks like to you)
Ultimately it’s used to reach the lost, from the coffee, to lights, to sound, to arena events, to bibles for the kids. Its all used to reach the lost!
Do you even know the needs of your church???
· How many of you if I ask what does the church need could answer that question?
· What would it take to pay off the debt we owe?
· What can you do to make an impact?
To get rid of our debt
· Let’s say we have 250 families attending we all agree that sounds fair right??
· So, let’s say these 250 families want to pay off the debt in 2 years’ time
· That’s $83.00 dollars a month over and above what you are giving now!
· Doesn’t sound like much now does it??
· Let’s break it down further
· That’s 16 $5 value meals a month per family
· Or 41 $1.99 sodas
· Or $2.76 a day
How crazy is that, so my question to you is what is one soul worth????
· If you're family, you give to help the family meet its goal! To meet its needs.
How much have you given? To help us continue to do what God has called us all to do???
· I can’t answer that question, only you can.
God won’t provide you with everything you want, but He will cover your needs when you’re obedient to Him!
So, you don’t think family is important! Think again!
God wants you, no, He needs you to be a part of His big old messed up family! For you to learn and grow, to love and laugh, you need to be a part of the family. We will never be perfect, we will disappoint you and hurt you, but just like my family growing up we will always be there for you! So, jump on into the old Station Wagon and let’s take her for a spin!!!
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