Transcript IF EVERY MEMBER WERE LIKE ME WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD THERE BE?

IF EVERY MEMBER WERE LIKE ME WHAT
KIND OF CHURCH WOULD THERE BE?
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil
company corrupts good habits."
1 Corinthians 4:14 I do not write these things to
shame you, but as my beloved children I warn
you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many
fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you,
imitate me.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also
imitate Christ.
• If every member were like me what kind of
church would there be?
• Would you want people to be like you and
follow in your footsteps?
• Are you following the example of Christ?
• If everyone was to follow your influence, would
it be for the better or for the worse?
If every member were like me, what time would
they arrive to the services?
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done
decently and in order.
Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I
seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs
for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is
no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the
sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go into the house of the LORD."
If every member were like me, what time would
they arrive to the services?
If every member were like me, how often would
we have services?
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in
order to stir up love and good works, 25 not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the
Day approaching.
Pliny, a secular writer about 112 A.D., made a
report to the emperor Trajan in which he
unconsciously bore witness to certain vital
aspects of Christianity. Of special interest was the
witness he bore to the tenacity maintained by the
Christians in regard to their assemblies. They
attended the regular worship services in spite of
every hindrance. Legal meetings on a publicly
recognized day of rest, as in these days, were
impossible. Christians met in the darkness of predawn assemblies; and no impediment whatever
was allowed to interfere. As Pliny said, "On an
appointed day they had been accustomed to meet
before daybreak."
He went ahead to relate that their services were
nothing of a scandalous or improper kind, that
they partook of a meal of the most harmless and
ordinary variety, that each sang a hymn to Christ
as God, and that they bound themselves with a
promise not to commit fornication or theft or any
other crime. This witness of Pliny reaches back to
within a very few years of the apostles
themselves and is a valuable independent
testimony bearing
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you,
and be submissive, for they watch out for your
souls, as those who must give account. Let them
do so with joy and not with grief, for that would
be unprofitable for you.
Are you opposed to learning more about God?
Are you opposed to spending more time with your
brethren?
Out of 168 hours in a week, we only have to find
4 hrs to worship God and study about Him. That
works out to be about 2.3% of the total time in a
week.
Can we honestly say that we are being a good
example and influence when we neglect the
worship service and Bible class when we could
make it?
What are you going to say to Jesus if He comes
back at 6:15 on Sunday night and you chose to
stay home for no valid reason?
What excuse could you possibly give to the
person who died for you and purchased the
church with His own blood?
If every member studied their Bible like me, how
often would they study and how much would they
know?
A young man took some young people down into
the basement of their church building and
everything was gone except the chairs. He told
them there has been a nuclear war and this
basement is a fallout shelter. All we have is food
and water. All the Bibles have been destroyed and
it up to us to reproduce the Bible. So he asked
them, how many Scriptures can you quote to me?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that
is in you, with meekness and fear;
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation
for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and
also for the Greek.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge. Because you have rejected
knowledge, I also will reject you from being
priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law
of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 "
The more they increased, The more they sinned
against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their
heart on their iniquity. 9 And it shall be: like
people, like priest. So I will punish them for their
ways, And reward them for their deeds. 10 For
they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall
commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they
have ceased obeying the LORD.
John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not
receive My words, has that which judges him -the word that I have spoken will judge him in the
last day.
IF EVERY MEMBER WERE LIKE ME WHAT KIND OF
CHURCH WOULD THERE BE?
IF EVERY MEMBER WERE LIKE ME WHAT
KIND OF CHURCH WOULD THERE BE?
1. If every member were like me, what time
would we arrive at our services?
2. If every member were like me, how often
would we have services?
3. If every member were like me, how often
would we study our Bibles?
If every member took part in singing like me,
what kind of singing would there be?
Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in
which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always
for all things to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ,
If every member prayed like me, what would
their prayer life be?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, 18 in
everything give thanks; for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let
him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who
doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed
by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that
he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on
His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless,
not as I will, but as You will."
If every member gave like me, how much giving
would there be?
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let
each one of you lay something aside, storing up
as he may prosper, that there be no collections
when I come.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who
sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So
let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver.
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this
world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we
shall be content.
If every member gave like me, how much giving
would there be?
If every member partook of the Lord’s Supper like
me, how much remembrance would there be?
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord
that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord
Jesus on the same night in which He was
betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given
thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My
body which is broken for you; do this in
remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He
also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup
is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often
as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as
often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you
proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
If every member acted like me, what kind of
influence or example would they be?
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my
example, and note those who so walk, as you
have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of
whom I have told you often, and now tell you
even weeping, that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction,
whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in
their shame -- who set their mind on earthly
things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from
which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ,
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely
show the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the
ear.
Fine counsel is confusing, but examples are so
clear.
And the best of all the preachers are the men who
do the deeds.
For to see good in action is what everybody
needs.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
If every member that is a parent were like me,
what kind of example would they be?
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke
your children to wrath, but bring them up in the
training and admonition of the Lord.
If every member invited people to services like
me, how much inviting would there be?
Matthew 28:19 "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;
There are many ways that you and I can get
involved in personal work such as:
• Give a friend a tract
• Invite someone to the services
• Share with a neighbor in need
• Have a Bible study with friends in your home
• Visit newcomers to the community
• Encourage someone to take a Bible
Correspondence course
• Encourage new Christians to stay faithful
• Being there for a family who has lost a loved
one
Why Churches Grow
How does the Average American go about
choosing a Church? In their book, “The Search for
America’s Faith,” George Gallup and David Poling
find an amazingly simple answer to that question.
When their pollsters put that question to
thousands of Americans, the answer which came
again and again was: “I was invited to the church
by a member and I liked the people.”
That short statement says so much which is
important to the growth of the Church. We can
say “everyone is welcome” until our throats are
dry, we can write it on our marquee, print it in
our bulletins and our tracts, but the fact remains
that few non-members will come who are not
personally invited. This is the way people are.
Most of us don’t like to go where we feel like
strangers. No need to kid ourselves! If we want
people to come, we must bring them with us or
be at the door to meet them when they arrive.
Many people will accept an invitation to come at
least once with a friend, but whether or not they
come back will depend upon the impression the
congregation makes. It was said of the Jerusalem
church, “…they were taking their meals together
in gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God,
and having favor with all the people.” Little
wonder it enjoyed such rapid growth. It naturally
and spontaneously demonstrated those qualities
– gladness, sincerity, reverence, warmth,
gratitude, closeness – which attract strangers
and awakens in them the desire to belong.
You can read a stack of books on “Church
Growth” and not know that simple statement: “I
was invited to the church by a member and liked
the people.” (Tom Turner)
If every member were like me, where will they
spend eternity?
Matthew 25:34 Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:41 Depart from Me, you cursed, into
the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels:
IF EVERY MEMBER WERE LIKE ME WHAT KIND OF
CHURCH WOULD THERE BE?