I appreciate these 5 men and the vision and love they have for Central Family.
I was asked to challenge the congregation in our worship and in the study of God's Word.
Here were my thoughts:
The month of April will be an exciting time for the Central Church. Not only will Central be celebrating its 100th Anniversary on the weekend of April 26, but our five Elders will be challenging us as a congregation with a series of special messages beginning this morning.
The Central Eldership has been in prayer over the past few months discussing the future, looking back at the past, and developing goals that they wish to see Central accomplish as we seek what Christ wants us to accomplish for Him in 2009 and beyond.
Central has achieved its past success because of two very important ingredients;
1. Prayer
2. Purpose
The spirit of involvement seems to be virtue in the history of this congregation, along with the characteristics of love, faith and biblical truth.
Emerson once said that "People only see what they are prepared to see."
This morning may God prepare us to see what He wants us to see as we begin to look at the future of the Central Church.
Proverbs says, "Without a vision the people perish." The Apostle Paul was unable to proceed in his ministry until he had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him.
Peter had a vision that "God shows no partiality” and it changed his life. In this world in which we live today, the most vital churches are those that can clearly articulate how God is calling them into the future.
This is actually a very simple concept that only becomes complicated when the vision Jesus gave is blocked by human philosophies and traditions. Most people do not realize that Jesus has given us the vision for the church in clear, concise, and in an easy to understand format. Look at Jesus’ vision for the church in Matthew 28:18-20:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
The Vision of the Church:
1. Jesus is the authority of the church.
2. Go into the world to make disciples.
3. Baptize them according to scripture.
4. Teach all to observe and obey everything that has been commanded.
5. The Lord is with us and guiding His true church every step of the way.
The primary reason the church exists is the same reason we as individuals exist – to bring glory and honor to God. That purpose is fulfilled through four basic functions:
Evangelism – reaching the world around us with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship – teaching individual believers to become less self-centered and more like Christ – to become imitators of Christ.
Fellowship – building relationships within the local church body and creating unity and love for each other with the goal in mind to fulfill Jesus’ great commission to make disciples of all people, teaching them to observe all things God has commanded.
Worship / Praise – acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done. We worship through song, communion, obedience and proclamation of His word.
After much discussion and prayer the Central Eldership have developed six areas of focus for 2009, that they will be sharing with us over the next few weeks, as we move forward into our 101st year as a congregation.
One of those areas that the elders have asked me to share with you briefly this morning is an increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship.
The increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship is very important as we begin to examine what we can do to as individuals and as a body as we develop and grow as a Christian and as a Church.
Worship should be a central part of the Church.
1. It’s a means of directing our attention to God and Christ.
2. It’s a means of increasing our devotion and dedication to our creator.
3. It’s a means of expressing our praise and thanksgiving.
4. It’s also a means of confronting our sinfulness with holiness from A Savior who died.
God’s Word is the source to help us accomplish the purpose of worship.
God’s Word should not only be a part of our personal daily study, but be a part of worship itself.
As we look ahead to the future what can we do to enhance our worship and allow God’s Word to be our number one source for all of our life’s answers.
Three things we need to remember as a congregation:
1. Our Worship to God needs to be heartfelt Praise
Psalm 57: 9-11
Our corporate worship should be a time we look forward to each Sunday. A time to lift up our hearts to the Creator of the universe. We need to put our entire being in to our worship time.
2. Our Worship must be God centered and Bible Based
2 Timothy 4:1-5
What does God’s Word say about worship. Plenty. He gives us directions on how he wants us to worship him.
3. Our Worship needs to be about Him and not about Us
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;bring an offering and come before him!Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
—1 Chronicles 16:29
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
—Psalm 95:6
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
—John 4:23-24
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
—Romans 12:1
It’s not about our likes and dislikes it’s about giving Him what He deserves. The very best worship as possible.
As we are challenged by the elders during the next few weeks we need to remember that many good things have been accomplished in the past and much work has been done; but we cannot rest on what has been done or be content with the accomplishments that have occurred.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
In other words, the best is yet to come.
We worship and serve the same God today who:
· Parted the Red Sea and dried the ground for 2,000,000 to walk across.
· Completely covered Mt. Sinai with His glory and caused the mountains to shake.
· Caused the mighty walls of Jericho to crumble to the ground.
· Controlled famines, droughts, or years of plenty.
· Conquered hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers by using only 300 Israelite volunteers.
· Sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, the stone altar, and all the water in the trench.
· Miraculously caused a virgin girl to give birth to His Son.
· Empowered men to heal sick people and raise the dead.
· Raised Jesus Christ from the grave in victory over sin.
· Caused prison chains to fall from Paul’s wrist.
· Inspired a book that in unparalleled in the history of all literature.
· Created a church that has lasted 2000 years through persecutions and trials.
That same God is the God of the Central Church of Christ. The same God that we worship and read about in His Word. This same God can work his power in ways that words cannot begin to express.
But we must believe and expect that He will do so. We must step out in faith knowing God will shower Central with His continued blessings.
Remember the best days of the Central Church of Christ are yet to be lived as each one of us joins together in worship and in service to the glory of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment