Ready to Stand for the Church?

Good morning church. It sure is good to be back, I missed you guys while we were away, recharging the old batteries. We appreciate all those who stand up and lead in while we are gone, I heard it was a great sermon, thanks you Dave. Every time I take vacation, it reminds me how blessed it is that I get to give the Word on Sunday and that the Good Lord see fit to provide for me while I serve, it is an amazing calling to be in and I encourage all who have had thoughts to join me in this great calling or see if this calling is for you. For each of us has to be Ready for the calling God has for us, Are you read? If not, God has called us to be ready the same as He called Jeremiah to be ready as it reads in : read

Ready to Stand for The Church

Pray

There are many ways to be ready in life. In the military they always taught us to be ready for just about anything. But on the flight line we came up with innovative ways to be ready. I used to carry around this very back-pack on the flight line. I want you to notice a couple things right of the bat, first is the reflective belt, it helped us to be safe at night and the ear muffs, which well as you can imagine, working around aircraft can get noisy. Then inside I would always have parts and gloves and coveralls and the like, ready to do my job. But today, I want to ask, are you spiritually ready? Do you have your spiritual backpack with you? What do you mean pastor, well let me tell you a quick story. I remember a man who I met a while back ago, His name is Jeremiah, not unlike the man in our story. He had a great many questions to ask, but the most important one he asked, is how do you believe in all this God stuff, what is your proof. As I went through my Spiritual bag, I realized I didn’t really have an answer for him. I was looking for something profound, something that would change His life, but I got nothing because I wasn’t ready. Fast forward to about two years ago, a young lady stopped by after music practice one night and asked the same question, how do I believe in all this God stuff and my response was quite different, I quoted . Nothing profound and nothing she wouldn’t know. She asked why I used that scripture and I said, it is the most honest and believable thing I have ever heard and it made since with the rest of what God had to say. From there we had a great conversation and she ended up going to church with a buddy of mine. The questions is, are we ready to deal with the Spiritual battle that is going on in this world. Are we ready to handle the spiritual questions, this morning are we ready to stand? Stand first for the principles of the Church, in Luke warns of a treacherous generation and that we must be ready to defend ourselves against such wickedness, He says: Read

I. Principles of the Church

A. Core Values

1. Why

a. Central theme

b. Live by a set of minimum standards

2. What do they do

a. Jesus sets standards

ii. Jesus doesn’t just feed physically

iii. Gives them Spiritual food first

b. Our standard of life

i. Follow as Christ did

ii. Follow as the Apostles taught

3. How they guide us

a. Operating Instructions

i. Basis for everything we do

ii. Is it in our core values

iii. How we act with honor towards Christ

b. Our principles

i. Every act we ask the question

ii. Set of acceptable behaviors

4. Our buy-in

a. Can I accept these values

b. Do I want to live by these standards

B. What are the Core Values of the Church -

1. Apostle’s Teachings

2. Fellowship

3. Breaking of Bread

4. Prayer

II. Mission of the Church –

A. Making Disciples

1. Are we succeeding at this?

a. Not just Pastor

b. But each of us

2. Is this a priority in my life? –

a. Do I share the Gospel

b. Do I want people to be saved

B. Keep Building up believers –

1. Discipling one another

a. Ask about faith

b. Ask about relationship

c. Encourage each other to pray

i. Don’t just say we will

ii. do it right then

2. Acknowledge each other as brothers and sisters

- ,

a. Words mean things

b. Let use good terminology

c. Creates responsibility

. Support each other

1. Other than Sunday

2. Meet together in study

a. Where are the Men’s Groups?

b. We have forsaken meeting with each other

3. Lift each other up

4. Do not Quarrel – ,

1. Let us focus on the Cross

2. Each person’s way is different

3. But each person must bring the Gospel

4. Do not judge you brother for their way

a. Stand up for them

b. Stand beside them and give the Gospel too

C. Serving the Community

1. Get involved

a. Again not just for pastors

b. Young people too

2. Get in the know of what we are doing

3. Bring ideas to the table

a. Used to have committees

b. Now no one has time

c. More laborers = easy work

d. Supports building each other up

1. Other than Sunday

2. Meet together in study

a. Where are the Men’s Groups?

b. We have forsaken meeting with each other

3. Lift each other up

B. Do not Quarrel – ,

1. Let us focus on the Cross

2. Each person’s way is different

3. But each person must bring the Gospel

4. Do not judge you brother for their way

a. Stand up for them

b. Stand beside them and give the Gospel too

C. Show the World

1. We love each other –

2. It is our litmus test

3. People should see Christ

a. We are His reflection

b. Do that through love

4. Most important part of the healing

a. Revel in our differences

b. Realize that each can be used for Christ

c. Jesus is what is important, not the package

Conclusion: Are you ready? If not, God has called us to be ready, just as He did with Jeremiah. He had an unpopular message to deliver to Israel and He was willing and ready. We too must be ready, but our message is much more encouraging, and it begins with us. Are we ready to stand for the principles, for the core values of the Church, I say we are ready! Are we ready to stand for the for the mission in Christ to deliver souls, I say we are ready and the people will be important in our mission? Are we ready to stand for each other, I say we are and we are going to continue to encourage one another in the way they give the Gospel, and, in the way, we worship together, embracing our differences and growing steadfast in the love of the Lord. We do this so that all those who are looking in see Christ in us, they see that we are diverse and powerful in the Gospel that comes from the One who unites and does not divide. His Gospel is our way, our truth and our Life so that we can be the light and the door to salvation for all who would hear the Good News of Christ.

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Ready to Stand for the Church?

I. Principles of the Church

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