As we walk through the Trajectory Series - the first few messages have been laying the foundation of what God says we are to BE as His people;
We began this series by asking the questions:
Who are we?
Where are we going?
The foundation began by looking at Psalm 19. Watch the Sermon Here
• Because of what the Word is (we looked at this on July 8)
• Because of what it does (July 15)
• We most be a word centered church (this was last Sunday’s sermon)
The Word tells us who we are and how we are to frame our thinking, or our "paradigm."
And that sets the stage for what we are to do (or “application”)
We’ll be addressing this in the coming weeks.
What it looks like to be a Word-Centered Church when we gather: Watch the Sermon Here
• We should expect, and even require the Word to be central in our Worship Gathering.
Music, for example, is emotional yes - but it’s also intellectual (as in stimulates the mind, then moves to the heart).
Paul said in Romans 12:2 – be transformed by the renewal of your mind...
• As we sing together, think about what Scripture the song reflects. Let your mind be drawn to the passages that the song expresses as you sing.
Do you come in to our worship excited to hear from God? Are you listening for the Word?
When God’s Word is read - we stand up - because this is God speaking
If it doesn’t come through your mind - it’s not going to make it to your heart.
Listening to God speak?
• When the sermon begins - are you listening for what God is saying to you? Thinking through things? Paying attention to what you need to do in obedience? Taking notes along the way? While not everyone is a "note-taker" jotting some things down along the way will help you to remember later as you consider the impact of God's Word on your life Monday-Friday. The "application" will often look different for each of us. How is the Spirit working in your heart in the moment? As the living, active, sharp, piercing, discerning Word of God confronts your heart (Hebrews 4:12-13) - what is your response? The song we sing at the end of the sermon is very intentionally chosen to help give you a venue to respond to the Word. However, the real response, the real application comes when you get in your car and drive home...
What it Looks like to be a Word-Centered Church Monday-Saturday
• Are you growing in your love for the Word? How?
We all need to be in God's Word in five basic ways:
• Hearing - this is the starting point. We hear through Sunday morning sermons, SS lessons, Bible Studies (look for the "One-to-One" book this Sunday or here)
• Reading - Go back again and read Psalm 119- if that doesn’t increase your passion for the Word, really think through how you're responding to it. How and what you think about God's Word.
• Studying - you probably won't do this every day, but it should happen in some sort of regular way. This should be a part of the "rhythm" of your spiritual life. If you don't have a good study bible, you should get one. If you don't have the funds to get one, talk to me and I'll help you out. Our church library has a few options. While you're there, check out a commentary from the Library - get a Bible study guide - our men's discipleship Bible studies, Precept Studies, and other venues provide opportunities for this. If you need some help here, shoot me an email, call, or stop by the office and I'll be happy to help you get started.
• Memorize - this is work - it takes effort - there's a great App (the "Fighter Verses" app) that is very helpful. Also, there's a "Gospel Learning Kit" on the church website. (see below for another suggestion)
• Meditate - this is really the summary of the first four. When you're doing them, it will lead to meditation. Of course, again, you can start by simply reading Psalm 19 and/or 119. Additionally surround yourself with Scripture - maybe put some Scripture Art on the wall - screensaver? - Post-Its around your office, your phone's lock screen - And when you’ve got verses memorized: just putting the reference in different places can spark meditation.
Do these things so that you’ll grow in your desire for God’s Word
God saves through the Spirit and the Word (1 Peter 1:23-25, James 1:21, Romans 10:17)
When we share the Gospel, we need to do it with the Word.
meaning: memorize a Word-centered Gospel presentation
not that you can’t explain it along the way - I hope that my explanation is helpful to someone.
but what they need to hear is God’s Word - not my “amazing story.”
Even when sharing your “Testimony” - the litmus test is: would someone who hasn’t heard
the Gospel know what they need to know and do to become a Christian?
What It Looks Like to Pursue Membership Biblically Watch the Sermon Here
One way to think of your membership is to frame it as "submitting to the church" rather than merely joining a group. As a child honors God by honoring his/her parents, a Christian honors God by submitting to a local Body. When we do this, Philippians 1:27-2:4 becomes second nature. Quickly - here are some specific ways you can submit to your church.
1. Publicly - this means formally and officially. Publicly identifying with God and His people.
2. Physically/Geographically - you should be a part of a church you can meet with in person regularly.
3. Socially - while a church isn't a social club, your primary social life should be within your community of believers. Those we spend time with are a great influence on us.
4. Affectionately - we join each other in our joys, and in our sorrows. (1 Corinthians 12:25-26)
5. Financially - we should support the body with our finances. Giving faithfully, generously, sacrificially, and joyfully.
6. A Deep Commitment - remember: the relationships you have with your brothers and sisters in Christ will stretch on for eternity. Your job will not. A job promotion should be weighed against your commitment to your church. It's that serious. You should strive to help others in their growth toward holiness, and when (not if) they sin against you, forgive them. Look to your church for genuine accountability, instruction, counsel, and discipline. You should not take lightly where you commit yourself in membership.
7. Spiritually - the local Body is where you exercise your spiritual gifts. It's where you strive to build others up. It's where you regularly pray for others.
Here are some other specific things you can do right now:
(these suggestions/applications flow out of this past Sunday's sermon and lead us into this coming Sunday, July 29)
Remember that we have an obligation to care for one another- primarily spiritually, but also physically. When we spend time together outside of our Sunday morning Worship Gathering, we should always have the goal of growing in godliness, not merely “hanging out.” This doesn’t mean that every social encounter needs to be a formal Bible Study, but we are meant to grow spiritually together. Even in our social gatherings, the Word should be the center. We need to make a habit of asking each other - what did you learn from the Word this week? The best place to start is: Sundays sermon.
•Make a note of the passage preached on Sunday.
• Be sure to jot down a few notes during the sermon. You don’t have to do College-Class-style notes, but at least jot down the main points and any questions that come up.
• Also make note of any songs that were particularly moving. Other elements that touched you?
• If you get a journal or notebook that’s similar in size to your Bible, and have it with you at church, in Sunday School, during your devotion times - you can keep everything together in one place. (there are nerd-tech options too)
• Make a point to share something you’ve been learning with a brother/sister in Christ THIS WEEK.
• If you won’t have an opportunity to meet together with someone, think about how you might encourage them with the Word - maybe a text with something like: “hey! I thought of you on Sunday when we sang “The Solid Rock” I know how much you continually rely on God through the week because I’ve seen it in your life - thanks for that” Or “Hey! I know that you’re going through a difficult time right now - I want you to know that I’m here for you - don’t forget to keep your eyes on Christ and remember what He did for you - you’ll make it through by leaning on His strength. I’m looking forward to seeing you at church this Sunday.” (These are both ways you can live out Hebrews 10:24-25)
• In Romans 12:3-8, we find Outdo one another in showing honor” One of the things I make a point to do every time I see a police officer in a public place is to go over and thank them for all they do. If my kids are with me, I take them and have them say the same thing. They always appreciate it. But how can we be appreciative to those who serve in our own Body? When you notice someone serving in some way, thank them. The guy that runs the slides on Sunday morning? You rarely think about him until that one time he’s slightly behind - then you probably snarl a tiny bit. Instead of that - after the service, find him and say thanks for running the slides. We all benefit from what he’s doing. When was the last time you thanked your Sunday School teacher for all their hard work and dedication in studying and teaching you God’s Word week after week? Rex works tirelessly to prepare the music each Sunday - and the others on the stage put in a lot of effort as well - have you thanked one of them? There are many who serve behind the scenes in many ways (a group of parents and kids took flowers to Crosslines this week to bless people there this week. Another couple of members came up in the evening one night this week and trimmed all the doors upstairs after the new carpet was installed - giving up time with their family to serve everyone who uses the second floor). Look for these things and thank people.
This Sunday (7/29), we're turning our attention to Matthew 6:5-15, the Lord's Prayer. If you have a chance, read through the passage several times between now and Sunday to prepare your heart for our time together. As we begin to think about prayer and praying for others, here are some thoughts:
• Are you praying for your brothers and sisters regularly? This Sunday, there will be small, Bible-Sized pictorial directories available in the foyer. Take one and put it in your Bible. Every day, pray for a page. Look at the picture, pray for that person. If you know them, you’ll know how to pray for them. If you don’t know them well, or even at all, the back of the weekly prayer guide will help you know how to pray for them - then, next week - make point to look for them and meet them. Meeting a fellow member in our church that you didn’t really know before will be a huge encouragement.
• Pray for your pastors. All three of us need it. We're "keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” That’s a charge an a task that all three of us take very seriously. God brought each of us here to serve this Body and I know I can speak for both Rex and Ed when I say - we love the people of this Body fiercely. And to be completely honest - while much of the time it truly is a joy - seeing people grow, serve, worship, and fellowship together - there are times when it’s more difficult. So pray for us - and when you see one of us - we sometimes need encouragement just like other members of our Body.
• Pray for the deacons. They serve tirelessly as well. They go over and above regularly in ways that few people see. I could tell you story after story about our deacons getting up late and going to someone’s house in crisis, spending hours at the church counseling and praying, preparing to teach God’s Word in a variety of settings, and doing so many different things that it would take a whole book to list them all, then I’m sure there would be as many things not in the book as were in the book. These are a group of godly men who sacrifice daily in serving Christ in tangible ways here at Fellowship.
• Read the One Anothers regularly. At least 47 times in the New Testament, there are “one another” commands. If you read through this list often (I’d recommend picking a specific day of the month, maybe the 1st, and reading it at least monthly). Before and after you read it, ask the Lord to lead you to how you can act on some of them and to whom. There will be a list of these in the Foyer this coming Sunday. As you read and pray through it - jot down a name or action that comes to mind next to several of the items.
• Be excited about Home Groups. This is something brand new and different for us. (Wait! Different? Does that mean the dreaded “C” word? - CHANGE???) Yes - we’re adjusting the rhythm and flow of our Sunday. Beginning September 9, we’re going to be gathering house to house on Sunday evenings to pray together and grow together spiritually. There’s more information coming about this and there are three ways you can participate: 1. Open your home to host a group. 2. Volunteer to lead a group. 3. Sign up to participate. Each of our groups will meet on Sunday afternoon/evening in someone’s home. The individual home group will decide the exact time their group meets (it could be lunch after church, late afternoon, or even early evening - whatever works best for your group), and what level of “food” they’ll have. You might decided to share a meal together, just a snack, or just drinks (obviously we mean tea and soda, we’re Baptist after all, LOL!). The goal of our Home Groups is to grow together. Each group will be praying together, discussing God’s Word together, applying Scripture to our daily lives, and serving together. I really believe that this will be transformational in the life of our Body. I’m very excited about this - I can’t hardly wait!!!
Again - if you haven’t completed this week’s “Assignment” - take some time between now and Sunday to
Read these three passages:
Hebrews 13:7, 17
Hebrews 10:24-25
Romans 12:3-18
On a piece of paper - draw three columns....
You can do the assignment in one sitting, but it might be better to spread it out over three different sittings.
As you read the passage, ask:
• What Obligation/Duty is pointed out?
Write the answers in the first column.
Then, go back and read it again and ask:
• To Whom is it Owed?
finally, read it one more time asking:
• Why? What’s the reason/motivation?
Finally, after you’ve filled out all three columns (the third column won’t have something next to every Obligation), write down some specific things you can do this coming week to be obedient to these passages. It might be an attitude to change or a pattern of thinking. There should definitely be several things that you can do to follow through with one of these commands. You don’t need to have a “follow through” for every single obligation you find, but two or three will likely stand out to you - think through those this week, and keep this paper so you can return to it in the future.
I'm praying for you all as we strive to follow the Lord TOGETHER!
Rob
