Surviving the Pandemic as a Congregation.
Surviving the Pandemic as a Congregation • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRODUCTION:
1. Everything that is going on around us in the world today.
A. The covid-19 virus.
B. The economy being shut down.
C. People staying home.
D. Internet Church service— no matter your opinion whether it is right or wrong it is still affecting the Lord’s church.
E. Wearing mask.
F. The riots going on.
G. Racism.
2. This week’s lesson—If we desire to survive as a congregation we must be proactive as individual Christians.
A. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines proactive as—creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it.
B. We as a individuals must learn how to act instead of react.
1. Often times in congregations we don’t become concerned about something until it happens and then we find ourselves reacting to the problem instead of being proactive like the ant.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
A. Problem—apathy
B. Solution—Being proud to be a follower of Christ.
C. Problem—Very little of the Lord’s work is being accomplished.
D. Solution—Work like we are proud to be a follower of Christ and take responsibility for the work.
E. Problem— Spiritually lazy Christians.
F. Solution—Don’t be one.
C. Over the next 2 weeks we will discuss these problems and how to be proactive in fixing them.
2. Then in week four we will discuss—if we desire to survive as a congregation we must be proactive as a congregation.
A. We need to have the foresight to see problems in advance and then we need to plan ahead.
1. Problem—We have an aging congregation.
2. Solution— have a plan for evangelism.
3. Problem—not very many men to serve in worship.
4. Solution—have a plan to help every capable person participate.
5. Problem—no qualified men for elders.
6. Solution—have a plan for helping men to become qualified.
7. Problem— weak attendance among members to church facilitated events.
8. Solution—have a plan to help people learn how to become family.
3. We must address these problems if we are going to survive as a congregation.
BODY:
1. Problem—apathy
A. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines apathy as—lack of interest or enthusiasm.
1. This is a death sentence to the Church and a problem that is wide spread throughout our nation.
2. It is shown in the lack of interest in Spiritual things.
A. To many people claim to be Christian but show little interest in the Scriptures.
1. Reading the Scriptures on a daily basis.
2. Studying the Scriptures for deeper understanding.
A. Coming to bible class before worship though it is not a command in order to strengthen the church.
B. Discussing the Scriptures with friends or family during free time.
1. Sacrificing entertainment time for deepening of spiritual bonds with friends and family.
B. To many people claim to be Christian but show little to no enthusiasm for worship.
1. Being at worship but not serving in worship.
2. Not singing during worship.
3. Skipping worship.
4. Skipping Sunday Evening or Wednesday claiming we are only commanded to assemble once on Sunday.
C. To many people claim to be Christian but show little to no enthusiasm for the church organized functions or programs.
1. Fellowship meals.
2. Friends and family days
3. Gospel meetings
4. Youth Rallies or events
5. Men’s Business Meetings
6. Work Days
D. To many people claim to be Christian but show little to no interest or enthusiasm for the work of the Lord in the community.
1. Evangelism
2. Visiting
2. Solution to the Problem—be proud to be a follower of Christ.
A. When one is proud of something, interest or enthusiasm follows.
1. Paul was proud to be follower of Christ.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
A. He was proud of God’s Word.
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.
2. Being proud of being a follower of Christ prompted Paul to be interested or enthusiastic about the work of the Lord.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
3. Being proud of being a follower of Christ prompted Paul to want to share the message of the Gospel with as many people as possible.
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
A. This was Paul imitating Christ showing his devout love for Christ.
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
4. Paul so enthusiastic about the worship of the Lord that on one occasion he delayed his travels seven days in order to break bread with the church at Troas.
6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
A. The people there were so excited to hear Paul speak that they listened to him until midnight.
CONCLUSION:
1. If we will be proud of being a follower of the Lord we will survive the pandemic because...
A. We will be interested/enthusiastic in spiritual things.
1. We will be interested/enthusiastic in the scriptures.
2. We will be interested/enthusiastic in worship.
3. We will be interested/enthusiastic in church organized functions or programs.
4. We will be interested/enthusiastic in the word of the Lord in the community.