Life on the edge

Peninsula Community Church

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

What is the Church Suppose to be Doing?

November 6, 2011

Act 2:41 & Acts 9:31 – So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Last week we began to look at the actions that are necessary for the church to be effective. The goal here however is not only to do something but to become what God has called us be. You see it is more about being something than doing something.

Encourage others through fellowship. The word used in the New Testament for fellowship is the word Koninia. The Greek term used here literally means to have all things in common. As believers we serve the same God. We have participated in the same salvation and act of God’s grace.

The idea propagated by this word is that they are in partnership together. It carries with it the idea of joint participation with others. We work together, we laugh together, we cry together and we grow together. There is something to be said about what transpires around the table as people eat and enjoy a meal together or a cup of coffee. But this idea of fellowship goes beyond the sharing of a meal but it is the sharing of a heart as well. You see when can have a lot of meals together and yet miss the purpose of this concept. We must have more than a meal we must have a growing of hearts together.

Fellowship is what happens outside the church as much as it is what happens inside the church. We are all responsible for fellowship. I have heard people say “I don’t get invited anywhere.” Well, when was the last time you invited someone to go out with you? When did you take someone a cup of coffee and sat at their kitchen table and just chatted?

The goal of fellowship is to encourage one another and to prod each other toward good works. Can you imagine what would happen in the world today if we looked for ways to encourage one another rather than spending an inordinate amount of time trying to find ways to discourage?

The bottom line in this discussion is that we need one another. Adam and Eve were created with the innate or inborn desire for fellowship. God walked with man in the cool of the day. It is no less true for us today. Someone has said that bars are one of the best places for people to share the cares of life because people listen and lend support. It may not be the right kind of encouragement but it is encouragement.

Can you imagine with me what it would look like if people looked at us as encouragers? What if people felt secure and safe to share their cares of life with us? I believe we have it in us to be a church of encouragers. But let me say this before we move to the next point. In our encouragement we must be able to speak the truth in a way that rings life and hope.

Edify others through ministry and service. The word edify carries with it the idea of encouraging and building up others.

Rom 14:17-19- For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

1 Thess. 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

How do we edify others? We do so in how we glorify God in our service and the attitude by which we serve God? How do we do this?

•  We serve God and serve others in love

Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

• We serve God and we serve others without grumbling or complaining.

Philippians 2:14 – Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

• We serve God and we serve others without regard to whom will get the credit
  
• We serve God and we serve others even when no one will know what you have done
  

 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that form the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV).

To be Continued…..

October 23, 2011

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 22-27  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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,  which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

The first truth to be understood in this passage is that the local church is a visible, tangible, real-world expression of the body of Christ. “One thing a local congregation does best is to show your non-Christian neighbors that the new life made available through Jesus’ death on the cross is also the foundation for a new society. By living the gospel as a distinct community, the church down the street accomplishes the important mission of displaying the transforming effects of the gospel for the world to see. Others won’t see be able to see this larger picture if we remain detached from each other and go our separate ways.” (Joshua Harris in Stop Dating the Church: Fall in Love with the Family of God).

In God’s wisdom, He decided that the best way that His glory would be revealed would be through the church and through those lives that make up the church.

The second truth is that there is one body with many members. God has created the body of Christ and the church in such a way that we are dependent on each other for its success. This relates both to the local expression of the church as well as the corporate expression throughout the community and the world. We are not independent but interdependent on one another.

In other words, while we are one church that worships here on Cypress Road in Selbyville there are many other churches in this area that are focuses on God and are members of the Body of Christ. A couple of weeks ago I attended a Pastor’s Appreciation Lunch at Eagle’s Nest and I can tell you that there were many representatives of Christ’s body. The fact is if every person inSussexCountycame to know Christ there would not be enough room the church’s that God has called.

The second part of this is that we are all believers in Christ but we need to realize that we must be dependent on each other. There are no lone rangers in the work of the ministry.

God has placed unique gifts in the body and into each individual so that they will be used to accomplish the work of the ministry. Even those who seem to be a weaker part of the body are in reality an indispensible part of the body. Every person called to the body of Christ has been given a gift that they are to use to further the ministry of the church.

Service – There are those who have been called to PCC who serve this body in incredible ways:

1. Don & Denise’s coffee and fireside crew.
2. Paul Brewington, Mike Hancock and others who volunteer to do odd construction jobs around the church.
3. Jim Koons and his weed killing crew.
4. Jeanne Fallon and her cleaning crew.

Administration & leadership

5. Leadership Team – Clayton & John
6. Trustees – Jim, Don, George, Dana, John

Giving

7. We have been given many who gift above and beyond to support this body.

Teaching

8. Debbie and Trina who lead and have led Life Kid’s

Worship and Praise

9. The Praise Team
10. Sound team

Artistic ability

11. Barbara Burns
12. Joy Koons and the bulletin

I could go on and on about this but I think you are hearing what I am saying.

To be effective every member of the body must know their place and purpose in the body. What has God called you to do? What gifts has He given you? One thing God will do is

We must learn to rejoice with those who are rejoice and with those who suffer. When we are functioning correctly we will know how to rejoice and how to suffer with one another.

The question has been asked “why do some churches make it and others do not” I believe is partially answered in the past part of this verse:

1. We fail to honor all that attend the church regardless of their social position and stand within the community.
2. That we allow division and competition to steer and guide what we do.
3. We fail to learn to rejoice together and we learn to suffer together. You see it is sometimes easy to suffer together but is often hard to rejoice when someone else makes it.

Peninsula Community Church

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

The Empowerment of the Church

October 16, 2011

Matthew 28:16-20 Now, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And, when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And, Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:7-8 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When Jesus finished his earthly ministry, he made some final statements that behoove the church to take note.

Famous death bed sayings:

• Are you guys ready? Let’s roll – Todd Beamer on flight 93 over Pennsylvania.
  
• Oh, yes; it is the glorious Fourth of July. It is a great day. It is a good day. God bless it. God bless you all. He then lapsed into unconsciousness; he awakened later, and mumbled, Thomas Jefferson…
  
• This is the last of Earth! I am content! – John Quincy Adams, US President, February 21, 1848.
  
• Let me die in the old uniform in which I fought my battles for freedom, May God forgive me for putting on another. – Benedict Arnold; he wanted to wear his old Continental Army uniform.
  
• How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden? – P. T. Barnum, circus entrepreneur
  
• Tell mother; tell mother, I died for my country. . . . (looks at his hands) useless . . . useless . . . – John Wilkes Booth
  
• That was a great game of golf, fellers. – Bing Crosby. He was playing the whole 18 holes of golf (even when his doctor said to only do nine). 20 minutes after the game, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
  
• One last drink, please. – Jack Daniel
  
• I am not the least afraid to die. Charles Darwin
  

Much has been made about one’s last words as they are some of the most telling and insightful about one’s life.

Jesus was no exception. In the passages, we read today, we see that Jesus’ focus was not on Himself but was on the future of the church. In Matthew, He calls the church into ministry and in Acts, He promises to empower them to accomplish what He has called them to do.

Christ never calls us to do anything that He does not empower us to accomplish. He is not like some government agencies that require local governments to do certain things but they do not give them the tools or the ability to do so. Jesus does both.

Christ has equipped and empowered the church to accomplish all that it has been called to do. It has been said that God does not always call the equipped but He equips the called. He does this for churches and He does it for people as individuals. The key is to understand what we have been called to do and what He has purposed for us.

1. It is God’s plan to reach the world with the gospel message. Jesus’ proclamation in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28 is not the first time this idea of reaching the world was proposed. In Isaiah 49:6 and 42:6 Isaiah prophesied that Christ came as a light for the nations in order to bring light to the nations. Luke confirms this in Luke 2:32. All that God has done both in the New Testament and the Old has been to reach the world with the message of hope.
   
   1. Matthew 28:16-20 – Now, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And, when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And, Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
      
   2. Mark 16:15-20 – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
      
   3. Luke 24:45-53 – then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
      
   4. John 16:7-16 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
      
   5. Acts 1:8 – He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
      
2. God has designed his plan in such a way that his disciples would be the agents that would accomplish this calling.
   
3. God not only calls his disciples to be a part of this process but He also empowers and equips them to make it happen.
   

In John 16 and Acts 1:8 Jesus shines a light into how He does this through the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7-15 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

• He will be our helper. – The Holy Spirit will come as a paraclete which is one who comes along side to help and direct.
  
• He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. His job is to convict people. It is not ours.
  
• He will guide you into all truth. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to guide those who love Him into the truth – God’s words, false world views.
  
• He will glorify the son. – His primary role is to glorify the Son.
  
• He will declare what the Son has spoken and what the Father has declared.
  
• And in Acts 1:8 we see that the Holy Spirit will empower us to be witnesses. Therefore the power to witness is not in our power but it is in His.
  

1. God’s desire is that we would have His passion. When we have His passion we will gladly accomplish His will. When we have His passion we will have a passion for those we have been called to. Where our passion is there our heart will be and that is where we will focus and be excited.
   
   1. The first word of empowerment is that Jesus has promised to be with us always. By this we can have a boldness to share and to proclaim the living word of God.
      
   2. The second is the promise of the Holy Spirit which will empower us for service.
      

Peninsula Community Church

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

The Equipping of the Church

October 9, 2011

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

When Christ initiated the idea of the church, He also set in motion the means by which the church would be equipped and trained for the work of the ministry. His desire is to equip the church for ministry and has given the church leadership to make this happen. This by no means takes away from the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God but in fact it is the work of these through man that makes this a possibility.

One of the myths that have been propagated throughout the history of the church is that the pastor of the church is to do everything in the church. For many churches, there is a belief that the pastor is hired to do everything. They are to be the teachers, the preachers, the evangelists and clean the church and so on and so forth. But the problem in this regard is that the pastor is only one person and cannot do it all. That is why he will be more effective if he trains and leads others to accomplish the tasks of the ministry. He must fulfill his role as an equipper in order to see the church grow.

The pastor and the leadership team must take on the role of equippers so that everyone in the body can find their place to serve so they function according to what God has called them to be. You see God desires that each person within the body will find their place and their role so that the ministry of the church will be effective and accomplish what God has called the church to be. If every person were to do their part in the ministry, as God has called them, PCC be a huge success. This success will not be solely measured by numbers and activities but the fact that each person has found their niche and are serving according to what God has called them to do and be within the church. Someone has said that when God initiates a church he places within the church all they need to accomplish the work of the ministry.

One way to look at the church is look at what makes a football team effective. First of all, effective football teams are good at the fundamentals. They know why they are there to play football and they work hard on the keys to success. They work on blocking and tackling more than they do almost anything else. Secondly, every player on the team knows their role and does all that they can do to accomplish the purpose for which they have been placed on the team. In fact, there are some folks on the team that do not get any recognition unless they commit a foul. This is the offensive frontline. They block and keep the defense at bay play after play. The quarterback knows his job. He is to direct the team on the field. The running back is there to block for his teammates, run the ball or be in the position to catch the ball. Even those who sit on the bench have a role to play because during the week they are scrimmaging and helping the starters get better. Not only do you have players on the field but you have a coaching staff that is specific to various positions on the team.

When those within the church develop themselves and they begin to recognize their place within the body the following results occur:

1. First, those within the body will be equipped or as the KJV says they will be perfected. The root word here for equip means to mend. The idea here is two-fold. For one, it carries with it the idea of mending the nets of a fisherman so that no fish escape. Secondly, it carries the idea of setting a bone when it has been broken. The idea is that one is equipped or mended so that they become useful in the kingdom of God.
2. Secondly, the body of Christ is built up. When everyone is working effectively within the body, the church will be built up and those within the body will be encouraged. The word here for built up is the word “to edify.”
3. There is a unity of both faith and the knowledge of God. When the body is running smoothly there will be a full recognition that God is the center of all that is accomplished. The unity of the body will not be around the ministry of the church but rather it will be around the person of Christ and an understanding of who God is. The ministry will in essence become second nature to what Christ is doing.
4. The church grows into maturity. The desire of God is that we grow into people of maturity. We must live like adults and not like children. We need to have child like faith but a mental growth that we treat each others like we would want to be treated.
5. God will be able to work fully within the body. While God is able to do anything and He does work in spite of us but how great it is when the body is in unity as it paves the way for Him to fully work.
   
   1. Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; Like the dew of Hermon, That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.
      
   2. Ephesians 2:19-22 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
      
6. When these things are accomplished appropriately, the body will not be easily deceived by:
   
   1. False doctrine – throughout the history of the church there have been false doctrine that has permeated by within the church. The scripture tells us that in the last days that this will be a greater test for the church but when the church is functioning properly it will be protected from false doctrines that can so easily be spread through the church. Some are very content to remain babes in Christ but they can be susceptible to false teachings and charlatans that want to take advantage of those who are weak.
      
   2. Human cunning – we cannot depend on the strength of human thinking that is apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. When man’s ways are enlisting, they will attempt to do things by way of one’s mindset. The original Greek word here carries the idea of being tricked.
      
   3. Deceitful schemes – When the body is unified they will less likely succumb to schemes that seek to divide the body and the church.
      

Peninsula Community Church

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

The Church’s Challenge

October 2, 2011

 Ephesians 3:7-8-10 – Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

As we closed out the message from last week we spoke of some concerns in the contemporary church. If those things are true then we must look at “how do we can counteract these issues?”

Let me take a moment and rehearse some of the societal and cultural issues that impact the church today:

1. Pluralistic society – First of all we are living in a pluralistic society. The catch word of the day is tolerance. A persistent thread in society today is greater diversity and the pluralism of religion. What has occurred is that during the last century more people are immigrating to the US and by doing so they are bringing their religious, moral and cultural belief. What is occurring here is rather than being folded into our society they are maintaining their beliefs and their ideologies. And, with the liberal move toward acceptance and tolerance we are being asked to accept these beliefs and moral ideologies without any measure of discernment. Another problem that exists is that many churches are being drawn in the religious tolerance and pluralistic mode as well as they adding a little Hinduism, a little new age and a little pop psychology to their message. The problem is that they create confused people.
2. We are faced with self-centeredness and individual freedom – The key word here is individualism. In this environment we look out for number without ever engaging within the community of believers. In the church we think of what is in our best interest rather than what is best for the community of believers where we fellowship.
3. We are living in a technological age where we interact through media and not face-to face. In this world of technological improvements and inventions we are losing more and more of the face to face connections that we need. We are losing the value of community for it is in community that we grow and learn about God. That is not to say that we cannot grow outside of community but it becomes more difficult for the average person. With the influx of twitter, face book, email, webpages and texting we do not have to meet face to face but rather could in fact go through life with no personal interaction. Please note that I am not opposed to these developments as they can help us spread the Gospel but we still need times where we are face-to-face with others.
4. People have become consumers (even of church) – The key phrase here is meet my need. This symbolized by a transient/consumerist environment. A world of consumerism has brought us obsolescence, the rapid passing of fashions and styles, the disappearance of stability, constant innovation, constant revisions and repackaging, the newer product with the future always looming over the present. We shop for the church that will meet our needs rather than finding a church where we can connect and be involved. When there are problems in the church people leave rather than staying and working through their problems and difficulties. Or when that church stops meeting my need I move on.
5. The theology of the day is relative truth – The key phrase is you believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe. We have moved from having a set standard for understanding truth to now believing that every person can have a bit of the truth. “There no longer seems to be access to principles which can act as criteria of value for anything else.

It is important for us to recognize these changes and be prepared to bring the gospel to those who find themselves in any one or all of these categories. In so doing we can contextualize the Gospel into the culture but we must always be careful that we do not compromise the Gospel in the process of addressing these changes. We can adapt to the changing environment but we must never compromise the Gospel in the process. When we do this we can begin to lose our impact in the community. As we spoke last week we have seen too many churches comprise the Gospel in order to get more people.

A study of the church would not be complete if we did not take a look at why the church was created by God.

• The church must be God in flesh to the community. The church is God’s creation and He created us to be God in flesh. This does not mean that we become God but rather we become His ambassadors into the world so that we represent Him to others. We are to reach people where they are and in the culture they are in without falling into the sin of those within that culture.
•  The goal of the church must be to minister the reign of Christ into the church. We are missing the mark if we do not show forth the reign of Christ in the lives of those who we are reaching.
• The goal of the church must be to minister the reign of Christ into the community in which they have been called to reach.
• The church should be the one who is setting the moral compass for our country.

Paul said it best. His goal of ministering the Gospel was 1) to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and 2) to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 3) so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

God’s desire is that we be messengers of hope and that we genuinely impact the community for the cause of Christ. It begins with us as individuals living a life of integrity and God centeredness so that all we do will glorify God.

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

Introduction

September 25, 2011

Matthew 16:13-19 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Over the next 5 to 6 weeks my desire is for us to take a journey toward a greater understanding of how to define the church, what makes a church successful and why we need to support and participate in the life of the church. During this series we will look at a number of things:

1. How do we define the church?
   
2. What does a godly church look like?
   
3. What is the mission and purpose of the church?
   
4. Why do we have so many different denominations?
   
5. Why do some churches make it and others fail?
   
6. What are the ordinances of the church: baptism and Lord’s Supper? How do we interpret these and how do we apply them into the life of the church as well as into personal lives.
   
7. How do things work here at PCC? How are decisions made? Who runs the church?
   
8. What is the vision and purpose of PCC?
   
9. What does it mean to be a member of a local congregation? Why should I consider membership?
   

These and other questions will be answered during the course of this study. The goal of this series is to be biblical, to be fun, to be practical and to be able address as many questions about the church as possible.

This morning I would like to begin the series by looking at how we should define the church. In our scripture text, we see Jesus asking an important question; “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” This is an important question because our response to the question “Who do people say that the son of Man is?” or “Who do you say I am?” will determine our view of the church and of our life as a believer. Secondarily, our view of Christ is will determine the kind of church that we will have since Christ is the foundation and focus of the church. We must remember that he is the Great Shepherd and we are the under shepherds.

As our understanding of Christ grows so will our understanding of the church. In the world there are many different thoughts about who Christ is. Some say that he is only a great teacher, others say that he is only a great prophet. There has also been some that have an understanding that Jesus is a mystical being that does not have any impact in the world today. Others believe that while Jesus lived he did not do the miracles that were ascribed to Him. Others believe that whatever we ask He will give us even though what we ask could be against His will. IF you have a small view of Christ you will have a small view and a misguided view of what the church should be. But to be effective we must know that Jesus is a teacher and he is a prophet but he is the Messiah, the promised one who will redeem the world. As our understanding grows we will begin live as if He is real and that He will do what He says that He will do.

Peter who is often the spokesman for the group answers the question on behalf of the other disciples. He states that you are Christ, the son of the living God.” Peter is recognizing that Jesus is more than a church planter but that He is the one who will build, keep and redeem the church.

It is at this stage that Jesus makes a prophetic proclamation. He proclaims that “Upon this rock I will build my church.” It is critical that we look at a couple of things in this passage. First, Jesus uses a play on words here. When he says “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” what he is saying is “Peter you are a small stone (PETROS) but on a great solid rock (PETRA) I will build my church.” Two things can be seen through this passage. For one Peter might be a part of the church but he is not the foundation or the basis of the church. As 1 Peter 1:5 states we are all living stones that are built into a spiritual house. Peter may be a part of the church but he is not the church by himself. All of the disciples and all believers past and present make up the church.

Secondly, we must see that this is a triumphant promise which represents Christ’s authority. In essence, the church’s success is not ultimately dependent on human initiative or human wisdom or human perseverance. It is ultimately dependent on the power and wisdom and faithfulness of the risen and living Christ to keep the promise that “I will build my church.” Not, “You will build my church.” Or, “Missionaries will build my church.” Or, “Pastors will build my church.” But, “I will build my church.” That is the promise and that is what we must hold onto.

When Jesus references the church here he is speaking of the church-at-large – the universal church. We must understand that there is a local expression of Christ’s church but here in this passage Jesus is relating to the church as a whole and not just a local expression.

The basis of a good understanding will be realized as we understand that His church will be built on the revelation that He is the Messiah and all that He accomplished on the cross and in the Resurrection. He died for the church so that the church will be a powerful influence in the community and to bring the reign of God into every sphere of influence they may have.

What Jesus wants us to know is that there is nothing that can destroy God’s church. Not even the gates of hell can destroy the universal church. Unfortunately, we have seen some local churches fall apart and be destroyed. While time does not allow us to facilitate a complete discussion of this issue at this time we will cover this issue in full in a later sermon.
 

To fully understand the church we must also recognize that there is the visible and invisible church. The visible church is what everyone sees regardless of their commitment to Christ. When you drive down the road you will see churches of all sizes, shapes and beliefs but that does not make them a true church of Christ. The invisible church is made up of those within the visible church that have made a commitment to follow Christ whatever the cost. You see the church is not a building. It’s a people, with or without a building.

While Jesus promised that the universal church would not be destroyed there are challenges for both the local church and the universal church, today. What are some of these challenges?

• First, the church has lost its influence in the culture.
  
• Secondly, many churches have compromised the gospel.
  
• But this does not mean that God’s church will not be successful because it is His church. You see Jesus says that this church is my church and “I will build my church.” God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). And not only us, but millions more scattered throughout the earth (John 11:52). And he has many people in this community that follow him and serve him (Acts 18:10). Each one of these has been bought by his own blood (Acts 20:28). And he makes us a kingdom of priests that will serve and follow God completely. We will be and are his church. We are not their own. We are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). We are his. He will gather us to himself and He will build his church.
  

 Matthew 7:28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

As Matthew brings the Sermon on the Mount to a close, he gives us the mood and the sense of the environment when Jesus had completed His teaching. Those who heard Him teach were astonished at His teachings because He spoke as one who had authority and not as the other teachers of His day. He spoke with clarity. He spoke truth. But, He did so with great passion and love. This was the kind of message that you would either love or you would hate depending on your spiritual position.

If we needed to we could sum up the entire message of the Sermon on the Mount with one phrase. We are people of the Kingdom. And, if we are people of the Kingdom then we need to learn the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount and then begin to make application of these truths in our lives. Therefore, if we are people of the kingdom then we should do the following not out of quilt or to punch our good deeds card but because we love God and we desire to honor Him with our lives.

When you are a member of the Kingdom of God there is an understanding that we should live and act differently. As Kingdom minded followers of Christ, we should be setting the tone in our communities, on the job and in our personal relationships. We should be the most trusted and respected people around not because we are in some way special or better than anyone else but because we allow the light of God to shine through us and it is He who draws people to us. But, too often the society in which we live dictates who and what we will be. But Jesus reminds us that:

• We are salt and light (Matt, 5:13-16). We are called by God to make an impact in our community and in the sphere of influence we may have.
• We are the light of the world. We do not have to become light; we simply allow the light of Jesus to shine through us. As we are in His word and in pray God will begin to transform us into His image.

When we are a member of the Kingdom of God we should live within the margins established by God. By margin I mean that we do not see how close to the line we can live and not get hurt but we understand the line and take two steps back. In many cases the concept of margin applies to the business of our lives but that term applies here as well. Do we leave enough of a margin in our lives to provide protection and safety?

• How we treat others (Matt. 5:21-26; 5:31-32; 5:38-41; 5:43-48;7:1; 7:12-14). How do you treat others? Do you treat as you want to be treated or do you use them and abuse them? When living in God’s margin we treat others as we would want to be treated.
• How we handle our thoughts (Matt. 5:27-30)? Do we allow unhealthy and destructive thoughts to guide our lives or do we take every thought captivity for the glory of God (
• How we keep our word (Matt. 5:33-27). Can you be trusted? Do you follow through with what you have committed to do? If not, are you willing to admit that you can’t and seek release from the commitment?

When we are members of the Kingdom of God our goal must be to please God and not men.

• The way we give (Matt. 6:1-4).
• The way we pray (Matt. 6:5-14).
• The way we fast (Matt. 6:16-18).

The problem with the religious leaders of the day they were more interested in what people thought or how they were perceived in the community rather than putting weight in what God thought of them. In all we do, we do it to please God and know to receive the praise of men.

When we are members of the Kingdom of God we must trust in God for our sustenance and the provisions of our needs.

• We will lay our treasure up in heaven (Matt. 6:19-24).
• We will seek the Kingdom of God first (Matt. 6:25-34).

When we are members of the Kingdom of God we will put into practice what we have learned.

• We will be obedient to God’s Word (Matt. 7:15-20; 21-23).
• We will build on the solid rock (Matt. 7:24-27).

Sermon on the Mount

September 11, 2011

How’s your Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Jesus continues to use contrast and hyperbole to teach important life lessons. Thus it is interesting to note in this passage that we have several contrasts and comparisons used by Jesus.

1. He contrasts two kinds of people.
• The first person is described as “wise.” The term here for “wise” has more to do with the quality of the individual rather than specific acts or even one’s right actions. The wise man will build on the foundation of Christ and Christ’s word. Note that this is more of an attitude and a characteristic of who the person is rather than necessarily something that is done. It was not just the act of building on a form foundation that made this person wise but his was his ongoing mental state that made him wise.
• The second person is described as “foolish.” One who is foolish is one who manifests a mental dullness or physical sloth. It is one who is lacking sense, judgment, or discretion. This person would rather cut corners and take the easy way out rather than doing what is necessary to have their life built on a firm and solid foundation. Once again this speaks of the moral character of the person rather than the simple act of building or not building on a firm foundation.
2.  He contrasts two kinds of responses to God’s Word.
• The first person obeyed Christ’s words. Jesus over and over spoke about obedience being a factor of the success of one’s walk with God. In fact, in the Old Testament Samuel spoke to Saul and said that “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). In other words, it is possible to do all the right things but in the wrong way because of one’s stubbornness and impatience. In 2 John_1:6 John reminds the passionate follower of Christ that “This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God’s commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.”
• The second person rejected or trivializing the word of God. Those who want a religious experience rather than a relationship with a living God. Notice that this is not just a matter of rejecting God’s word but also a matter of trivializing the word. The word “trivialize” means to make it appear unimportant. 
• Have you ever tried to put something together and ignored the directions. I remember a time when my clutch cable broke on a car I had. I got my tools together, took the old cable off and began the process of installing the new cable. After several hours of cracking my knuckles, throwing a wrench or two and mumbling some inappropriate words under my breath I deceived to go to the library and look at the Chilton’s auto repair book for my car. When I looked at the directions I realized that if I started on the other end of the cable that it would go on really easy. So, I went home and in 10 minutes I had the project completed. You see, I didn’t think the instructions were important so I ignored them and it cost me dearly. 
• So it is with the Word of God, we can ignore it or we can believe that it is not important and it will take us longer to get where we are going and will face more frustration and negative response to life than is necessary.
3.  He contrasts two kinds of foundations.
• One man built on a solid foundation. He built upon the solid rock. It was Paul that reminded the Corinthian church that there was no other foundation than the one laid by Jesus and the Apostles. Ephesians 2:20
• The second man built on a sandy foundation. This foundation was not capable of handling what was to be built on it. Paul reminded the Corinthian church that anything but a foundation built on Christ will fail. 1 Cor. 3:12
• We should note that the foundation of a house is a somewhat invisible and sometimes ignored component of the building. It is increasingly evident, however, that attention to good foundation design and construction has significant benefits to the homeowner and the builder, and can avoid some serious future problems.
• Tony Evans tells of a story about a problem he was having with a wall in his home. There was a crack in so he called in a contractor to repair the crack. He came and repaired the crack but to Tony’s amazement a few months later the crack reappeared. So, he called in yet another person who came and repaired the crack. Once again in a short few months the crack reappeared. So he called in yet another person. This person, however, looked at the crack and began to investigate possible causes. In a few moments, he returned to inform Tony that the problem was not the crack in the wall; the problem was with the home’s foundation. The foundation had been settling and thus the crack kept appearing. The cause of the problem was the sheetrock but it was the foundation.
• The is true of us if our spiritual foundation is not solid we will find that we have spiritual cracks that can only be repaired by repairing the foundation.
4. He contrasts two different results.
• The one house endured the storm without damage or concerns.
• The second home suffered great loss (a great fall). One of the reasons this was a great fall was that it was unnecessary. The Word is our guide and it establishes the foundation in our lives. Had the owner built on a firm foundation, he would not have suffered such a great loss.

While Jesus used many comparisons we must also recognize that there are also many similarities in the passage.

1. Both men answered to the same God.
2. They received the same Word.  In this, I am reminded of the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3-9; Luke 8:5-15). The seed was the same, the sower was the same but the response to the seed was different.
• Some of the seed fell on the path which been hardened by the walk of life and so the seed could not take root. This speaks of the believer who has hardened his/her heart against a specific truth of the Gospel.
• Some seed fell of the rocky ground where the dirt was shallow. The seed took root but was easily destroyed by the heat because it lacked any real root system.
• Some seed fell on the thorny ground which took root but was quickly consumed by the cares of life and issues they confronted.
• But, thank God some seed fell on good soil and flourished.
3. They experienced the same storm. When you think about storms in your life I bet you don’t think about thunderstorms or snowstorms. You probably think about …
• … dealing with a difficult or broken relationship
• … going through a financial crisis
• … withstanding legal problems
• … unpleasant or painful health problems
• … the death of someone you love
• … dealing with rebellious children
• … facing something that brought public disgrace
• … being laid off from work
• … dealing with a conflict situation at work or in church

We all face storms in life but it is the foundation of all our lives that determine the results. It should be noted that building on a solid foundation does not prevent the believer from ever facing difficulty. We will all face storms in our lives. It is how we face the storm that makes all of the difference.

Their decision to obey and follow God’s word makes all of the difference in the outcome. Passionate followers of Christ are those who are passionate about obeying God’s word and following His commands.

As passionate followers of Christ we must recognize that the Word of God and the instruction of Jesus is not just a good book but it gives us instructions for life and in obedience we grow and become effective for Christ.

Peninsula Community Church

September 1, 2011

Two Hearts and a Contrast of Trust

 Jeremiah 17:5-8  Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

If someone wants to sell you a product, one way to get you interested in that product is to get you to imagine what your life would be like without it. For example, if the product is laundry detergent an advertiser might show scenes of children playing in the mud, or spilling red juice on a white t-shirt. Then they might show you a split screen. On one side, the competing product gets the t-shirt almost white, but their product makes the t-shirt come out as white as when it was new. They show that contrast to get you to buy their products. It encourages you to use their soap if you want clean clothes. Thus, they are encouraging you by means of contrast.

Jeremiah presents a Contrast for Encouragement

In this passage, Jeremiah is teaching his readers about the definition of and results of trusting in God vs. the one who trusts in himself. He does this by way of a comparison or contrast between a stunted shrub and a towering tree. What is revealed, in essence, is a clear division between one’s attitude and one’s commitment to follow God with all of their heart.

Description of the man who trusts in his own strength:

1. The first thing we see here is that the man whose trust is in his own strength will be like a shrub in the desert. Shrubs in the desert have no root system so they are easily blown by any and every wind that comes along. This shrub may be alive but barely. This kind of person lacks security and is filled with fear because they do not know what the future may hold. They live a life filled with worry and concern. They try to resolve the issues of life with every kind new product, psychological techniques or medical studies. This kind of person represents a life out of control. This kind of person reminds me of the person that wants to get rich quick. This person will move from business to business without much success in any one of them. They will sell Amway, Shaklee, and join any pyramid scheme possible in hopes of making a fast buck. But these things most often than not leave people broke, confused and angry. Some will play the lottery not for the sport but to use this as a method to get rich.  
2. The second thing we see in this description of the man whose trust is in his own strength is that they will fail to see any good when it comes. When our eyes are on ourselves we can be easily blinded to the good around us. We in essence become negative. We begin to live an Eeyor existence. Remember Eeyor from Winnie the Pooh. He was always down and depressed. He is generally characterized as a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, anhedonic, old grey stuffed donkey.  
3. The third thing we see here is that the man whose trust is in his own strength will dwell in the parched places of the wilderness. He will dwell in an uninhabited salt land. There will be no spiritual fruit in his life and very little other fruit for that matter. They will have very little existence except for a personal self-absorption that focuses on no one but themselves. This kind of person is robbed of joy and life itself. I have to brag on my wife a bit. As most of you know she has MS and battles with various physical issues. She can become tired easily and has pains in her feet, head and arms as a result. But, she has chosen to not allow the pain to affect her and as she often says, she will not waste the pain or allow the pain to distract from living life. Why can she do this? It is because her trust is in God.

Description of the man who trusts is in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord: Notice that this man is blessed and not cursed.

1. This kind of man will be like the tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream. This kind of man will receive his sustenance and vitality by being plugged into God’s strength. He is cognizant that he cannot live without God. His trust is in God and His ability to provide no matter what may come. In 1969 my family and I lived through Hurricane Camille which until Hurricane Katrina was the measure of all storms. During the storm we were in upstateAlabama. When we drove home the next day there was a phenomenon that we say on a number of occasions. In the area there were many pecan orchards which were destroyed by the storm but it seemed that in every pecan orchard there was the one oak tree that withstood the wind and the rain. How does one grow their roots and become established. They must be a student of the Word. They must be one who is consistent in prayer. And, they must be in fellowship with fellow believers.  
2. This kind of man does not fear when the heat comes for he his sustenance comes from God and not his own ability to make things work. While he is effected by the issues of life like everyone one else there is a trust in God that understands He will work things out for His glory and that God’s name will be praised and honored.  
3. This kind of man is not anxious in the year of drought for it does not cease to bear fruit. Even when everything else is dead you will bear fruit because you are plugged in God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you abide in me…

 In addition to Jeremiah 17 we also have other passages that encourage us to trust in God:

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.”
2. Psalm 147:10-11 “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
3. Psalm 33:18-19 “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.”

Where is your trust? Which way of life would best describe you? If you trust self I challenge you to repent and begin a journey to understand what it means to trust God. It does not mean that life will be easy but God will sustain and keep you through whatever comes.

Peninsula Community Church

Sermon on the Mount – Knowing that We Know

September 4, 2011

Matthew 7:21-23  “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’

In our study two weeks ago, we saw that Matthew 7:15-20 speaks of false and unsound professions while our passage today, Matthew 7:21-23, speaks of unsound hearing and actions. We saw those who used there positions and there words to control and to use people for their own good. The wolf in sheep’s clothing is one that is all about deceiving others for personal gain and to improve their self-esteem.

While the last passage was about deceiving others for personal gain, the theme of the verse before us today speaks of a self-righteousness that leads to self-deception. In essence, this passage deals with the subject of professing one thing when in reality there is no fruit or evidence that one is who they say they are. This is one of the saddest passages in the Bible for me. It signifies those who were busy doing great things for God without ever establishing a relationship with God. There are those who believe they are doing right but they have never accomplished the one thing that is most important and that is receive Christ as their Savior.

Deception is always a difficult issue to deal with as we honestly believe that we are walking in truth and what we believe about ourselves is true.

As we pursue this discussion it is important for us to determine the reasons we become deceived:

1. One of the first reasons we are deceived is that we have a false assurance in our salvation because of an easy-believism and an acceptance of a cheap grace. 2 Cor. 7:9-10. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. What do I mean when I say an easy believism and cheap grace? I simply mean that we have received what Christ can do for us without receiving Christ. We have confessed but we have not repented. Detriech Bonnhoffer has written extensively about cheap grace. He says that a conversion experience that does not bring change is no conversion experience at all.
2. We come to Christ for the wrong reason because we misunderstand all that Christ has done for us. Eph 1:7, Eph2:7-10. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. In this regard we must understand that just because we were born into a Christian family does not guarantee that we are a Christian and yet so many pursue Christianity without ever developing a personal relationship with the living God. A second consideration here is that too often we want the gifts and benefits of God without the commitment to Christ that is needed.
3. We fail to do self-examinations. 2Cor. 13:5 – Paul calls the Corinthian church to do a self-examination of themselves. How has your life changed since coming to Christ? 
4. We have a fixation on religious activity. One final problem that presents itself is that too often we are fixated on doing things for God rather than being something for God. Those in our passage were effect in what they did but they never had a relationship to the one that they were doing the stuff for.

 How do we know we are believers?

1. We have made a confession of faith and there is an assurance in the heart that God has raised Christ from the grave. In other words there is a belief that Jesus is who He said He is. Romans 10:9-10 – But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
2. For a true believer there is an ongoing process of personal evaluation of one’s self. A part of this comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the other comes from the desire to know that all issues of the faith have been dealt with. 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
3. There is a confirmation from the spirit of God. When you are around those who have Christ in their hearts there is a confirmation of this truth. Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
4. A true believer will follow God’s commands and where they fail they will make every effort to bring change and allow God to transform that part of their life. 1 John 2:3-6 – And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
5. A believer will not only hear the words of God but will seek to make application of those words into their lives. They will find their place in the body and then begin to full their calling. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.

 The call of Christ is to be obedient to God’s Word and to do His will.