INGREDIENTS FOR A HEALTHY CHURCH

Transcription

1 INGREDIENTS FOR A HEALTHY CHURCH Text: Romans 15:1-7 Introduction: 1. Of all the churches established in the first century, the church at Rome was special. 2. Paul said of it. Romans 1:8 (ESV) 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Romans 15:14 (ESV) 14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 3. It was a truly thriving international cross cultural church. 4. As you read through Paul s concluding comments to friends in church of Christ at Rome he mentions people from Judea, Greece, Asia. 5. Even the first convert in Asia Minor has apparently made his way to Rome. Romans 16:5 (ESV) 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6. It was a healthy growing church in the heart of the Roman Empire. 7. No wonder Paul had wanted to visit them. Romans 1:9-13 (ESV) 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 8. So what was it that had made the church in Rome so successful? 9. What can we learn from the Roman Church? 10. What are the ingredients of a healthy church? 11. Paul mentions some of those ingredients in our text. 12. We are all so fortunate to be members of a healthy vibrant church. But we would do well to learn from the Roman church how to maintain our health. Discussion: I. The strong bear with the failings of the weak. A. Strong churches are growing churches and growing churches have new members who are weak. Romans 15:1 (ESV) 1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 1. Scripture says that those of us who are strong have an obligation. 2. The mature Christian is here to Glorify God not please himself. 3. New Christians are born again Babes. 4. The word translated bear doesn t mean to put up with or tolerate the weak. It means to pick up and Carry. Galatians 6:2 (ESV) 2 Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Title 2 Luke 14:27 (ESV) 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 5. It is a word that would be used to describe a father or a mother who picked up a child to carry it where it could not go. B. How could this possibly prevail a church? Romans 15:2 (ESV) 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 1. The word neighbor means one who is nearby. 2. It is that simple: the mature Christian is not consumed with pleasing self, but let He strives for his his neighbor s good and edification. No matter what we may wish... a. the place we may want to go, b. the drink we may want to drink, c. the food we may want to eat, d. the film we may want to see, e. the thing we may want to buy, 3....if it is going to be a stumbling block to our brother we do not do it. 4. We please, help, support, and live for the good of our brothers and sisters so that they might be edified and built up in the faith. 5. We now the secret the world does not know. We help ourselves by helping others. C. We have the greatest example in the world to motivate us. Romans 15:3 (ESV) 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 1. Jesus was blessed by God, because he served the weak. 1 Peter 2:21 (ESV) 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. D. We do these things for our neighbor because we are motivated by the same kind of love that motivated Jesus. Mark 12:30-31 (ESV) 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. John 13:34-35 (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Romans 13:10 (ESV) 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 14:19 (ESV) 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

3 Title 3 II. III. IV. Galatians 5:14 (ESV) 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. In a Healthy Church everyone studies the scriptures. Romans 15:4 (ESV) 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. A. Without scripture there is no: 1. Endurance 2. Encouragement 3. Hope John 8:51 (ESV) 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. John 14:15-16 (ESV) 15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, John 14:23 (ESV) 23 Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 16:33 (ESV) 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. In a healthy church, everyone works in harmony Romans 15:5-6 (ESV) 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. A. The point is clear, everyone must work for the harmony of the church so that we may be of one mind and fulfill the very purpose for our existence: to glorify God. B. This unity doesn t come easily Ephesians 4:3 (ESV) 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. C. Pick up a child and ask him to say his first name into the microphone real loud. D. Now on the count of three, I want everyone to say their first name real loud. E. Now on the count of three I want everyone to say the name of Jesus as loud as you can. F. When we all have the same focus it sounds so much better. G. Sing with me. Lean Something about than name. In a healthy church everyone accepts one another Romans 15:7-9 (ESV) 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.

4 Title 4 A. The word welcome means: προσλαμβάνω act. lit. to take beside, into free or forced fellowship (possession) etc. Mid. to draw to oneself, to lend a hand In the NT... to take to oneself.... or with oneself... to receive hospitably... As God (or Christ) has taken every member of the Church into fellowship with Himself, so incorporate each other into your Christian circle with no inner reservations (such as might spring from differences in religious custom). 2 B. The new member, the weaker member may seem out of place to you but remember how you must have looked to God and others when you first became a Christian. C. Come to think of it we are all still sinners. Application: 13. We have so much to be gratefull for here at Waterford. 14. May we all continue to grow in Gods grace by a) Everyone bearing the failings of the weak b) Everyone studies the Scriptures c) Everyone works for harmony d) Everyone accepts everyone else lit. Literature. Mid. Middot, Mishnah-, Tosefta-, Talmud tractate Measures (of the temple) (Strack., Einl., 59). 1 Pass. 1. Vol. 4: Theological dictionary of the New Testament (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (15). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. NT New Testament. 2. Vol. 4: Theological dictionary of the New Testament (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (15). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

5 Title 5 Sermon History: AM Waterford church of Christ David E. Parks Sources: Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Romans.