A Mature Church Reproduces
God's Blueprint for a Mature Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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.Introduction
We are embarking on a new series through the letter of 1st Timothy.
The series title is God’s Blueprint for a Mature Church
So each message will cover one aspect of what it means to be a mature church.
In fact, you can look in your Sermon book and you will see how Paul defines what a mature church is to his young son in the faith, Timothy.
Frankly in our culture we are seeing an epidemic of dying churches.
Why is this so?
I think it is not a complex reason.
Churches are passionately avoiding doing church the way the Bible tells them to do church.
If churches would stop doing gimmicky, programatic, entertainment driven, kitschy ways of ministry and start doing what Paul lays out in this letter, I believe the church of Jesus Christ would thrive in the American church and make the impact she was designed to make.
She would be the salt and light God intender her to be.
That’s what this series is about. I want our church to not only understand what a mature church is, but start to act like the mature church God has called us to be.
And we will learn this not from polling people to find out what they want in a church.
Offering all kinds of rewards for coming and serving in the church.
By becoming the Burger King of churches where you can “have it your way.”
No, we are not here to entertain or be pleasing to you. We are here to worship and please God.
And by studying and implementing what God has divinely given in this book through the Apostle Paul, we will become God’s kind of church!
I do not want to give my life as your pastor to a church that will eventually decline and die. I do not want for us to become a statistic. And, honestly, the odds are not in our favor.
Plus Satan will do whatever and use whomever he can to pull this place apart.
Praise God I’d don’t believe in odds, and in regards to Satan, “Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the World.”
So, brothers and sisters, lets start this series with the prayerful expectation that God is about to do some amazing things with Allendale Baptist Church!
Let’s ask God together that He would make us like the church we see in Paul’s description.
Let’s follow the Blueprint and anticipate that God will grow us into a mature, God-pleasing body.
Today we will focus on the first two verses in this letter.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christian - Follower of Christ - Jesus left you on this earth with one job to do. And by doing this one job, you will bring glory to God in amazing ways.
Do you know what that job is?
Your job as a Christian is to reproduce.
I’m not talking about having babies. Although, that is one way to grow the church!
I’m talking about bringing others to faith and teaching them about the Savior that we profess and confess to love.
Did you know there are things we cannot do in heaven?
One activity you will not be able to do in Heaven is the very thing God commands you to do on earth - MAKE DISCIPLES!
Folks, this is our highest calling and most amazing privilege.
Main Idea: There is No Greater Call for Believers Than to Help Others Connect with God
How can I say this?
Because we see this clearly in the life of the Apostle Paul. This is what He did with His life and his ministry 2000 years ago and is why we are sitting here this morning.
So, in light of this, there are two things we can and should understand well…
1. God Commands Us To Do Great Things for His Glory (vs. 1)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Other than Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul has influenced Christianity like no other. By some accounts during his three decade ministry, Paul planted or was a part of planting scores of churches. Twenty personally and many others through his apprentice leaders that he discipled.
He wrote the theology of the New Testament and if one takes the position that he wrote the letter to the Hebrews, then he is responsible for the majority of the New Testament. Paul was a Jewish rabbi par excellence.
Top of his class with Gamaliel (his rabbi). Zealous for the way of Judaism. So zealous that he was willing to do whatever was necessary to stamp it out.
But God had other plans for this zealous, Jewish Rabbi. Powerful plans that would and still does, turn the world upside down.
Paul was considered an Apostle. Why is this significant? Because he was brought into, not by his will, but by the will of God, an exclusive club. One never to be repeated. He was brought into the club of the Apostles.
What was an Apostle? Well the term means “sent one,” “envoy,” “to send out.”
Yet for the Twelve that Jesus called during his earthly ministry, He had and still has special plans for these men.
What were Jesus’ plans for the Twelve?
The Apostles Were to be With Jesus and Learn from Him: The Apostles were selected to be Jesus' close companions, learning directly from Him about the kingdom of God, understanding His teachings, and witnessing His miracles. This was essential for their formation as leaders who would later spread His teachings.
The Apostles Were to Preach the Gospel: Jesus commissioned the Apostles to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God. This involved proclaiming Jesus' teachings, His death and resurrection, and the salvation offered through Him.
The Apostles Were to Perform Miracles: Along with preaching, they were given authority to heal the sick and cast out demons as a demonstration of the Kingdom of God's power. This helped authenticate their message and showed compassion to those in need.
The Apostles Were to Make Disciples of All Nations: After His resurrection, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), instructing them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He had commanded.
The Apostles Were to Establish the Church: The Apostles were foundational in establishing the early Christian Church, setting up communities of believers, appointing leaders, and addressing doctrinal and practical issues within the Church. The Book of Acts and the Epistles provide numerous examples of this work.
The Apostles Were to Bear Witness to Christ: Perhaps their most crucial role was to be witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their eyewitness testimony was vital for the credibility of the Christian faith.
The Apostles Were to Write and Contribute to the New Testament: Though not a responsibility given by Jesus during His ministry, several Apostles (or their close associates) were moved by the Holy Spirit to write or contribute to writings that now form the New Testament. These texts are foundational to Christian doctrine and practice.
And even though Paul was not part of the original twelve apostles, He became an apostle by the will of God.
In fact, Paul clearly says his apostleship was “by command of our God…”
It was not the will of Paul to take on this monumental task of Apostleship. It was God’s!
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
God saved Paul from eternal death and put him in the ministry.
God desired to accomplish the most monumental ideological, theological shift in the history of the World and He planned to use Paul (in large part) to accomplish it.
Can you imagine it? What if you were in Paul’s shoes? What if you had this task? Would you chase after it or would you shrink back because it would be too difficult?
To be honest, knowing what Paul accomplished over the course of his ministry seems daunting. I don’t think I am cut from Paul’s cloth.
To be fair, not many of us are. However, God used Paul in a very special way to accomplish a very special task. That task? To transition the church from Judaism to Christianity.
To help the church understand and worship “God the Savior and Christ Jesus our Hope.”
Look again at verse one and think this through with me…
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Paul was an official, big “A” Apostle of the Messiah to make disciples of all the nations of the world.
It was a command of…
God - This is a clear reference that God the Father is involved in the salvation process with the Son.
our
Savior - “One who delivers or rescues.”
Delivers or rescues from what? The wrath of God.
What qualifies Jesus as Savior? Many things, but His name reveals a lot…
Christ Jesus - “King” and “God Saves”
Our Hope - “Joyful expectation” Notice Paul uses the pronoun - “Our” hope. Salvation from the wrath of God is the joyful expectation of EVERY Christian.
And God used Paul to accomplish the propagation of the church of Jesus Christ.
I wonder what God wants to accomplish with you?
Sometimes we look at the life of a man like Paul and think, “Woah, I could never do anything that important for Jesus and His Church!”
And so, because we can’t turn the world upside down like Paul did, we don’t do anything.
Well, let’s not think like that. Yes, God had a special plan for Paul and used him mightily.
God has a special plan for you as well. It may not be to the level of the Apostle Paul’s accomplishments, but that is no concern of yours.
You must be faithful in the circle of influence He has entrusted to you. You must be faithful in accomplishing His will for your life. You must be faithful in being obedient to His call for you.
Wait, Pastor Mark, Paul had a special call. I don’t have a special call for ministry!
What? Are you serious?
If you are a born again follower of Jesus Christ, you have a special call on your life. God desires to use you in profound ways. Ways well beyond your comprehension.
For example…
That neighbor of yours who needs hope and encouragement. The true hope and encouragement only the gospel and the church of Christ can give. You are the conduit of that hope. You are the pipeline of encouragement that they so desperately need.
That child that God has strategically and providentially placed in your life. They need to see what a real and authentic follower of Christ is like. Telling them to behave and actually showing them how to be Christlike are two different things.
Remember, talk is cheap but what happens, teaches.
What about that Connection Group you are in? You notice there is a young mom that could use some encouragement and as an older woman, you decide to take her out to lunch and listen to her story and earn the right to speak truth into her life.
What about the youth of our church? Have you considered that God might want you to invest your time in their lives? Maybe you’re an older dude and you take some of your wealth and spend the day with a young man that could use some love and wisdom.
There are so many examples of how you could make a “Pauline” impact in the lives of others.
You may never know the impact you might have on another.
But I will tell you this, if you only live for yourself, you will never accomplish great things for the Glory of God.
Think about this. Did you know that there is an impact in heaven when you lead someone to Jesus?
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Do you see this? When you turn someone away from eternal condemnation, there is a joy-filled party in heaven taking place!
Your calling matters!
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The greatest call we can have as humans is to help those around us in our circle of influence, connect with God!
There is no greater calling!
If the wrath of God is a reality in everyone’s life, and it is…
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Then the greatest thing we can do for that person is help them believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so that the wrath of God no longer is upon them.
In other words, the greatest calling you have is to help others connect with God. Either in salvation or sanctification.
One person at a time, one day at a time, one word at a time.
Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work.
Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.
Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea.
The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”
The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)
https://eventsforchange.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/the-starfish-story-one-step-towards-changing-the-world/
Maybe instead of looking at the life of Paul and saying, “I could never do what he did (cause you can’t).” Maybe you should focus in on what you can do?
What can you do? You cannot possibly reach everyone in the world who needs Christ, but you can reach for one or two or three? Who is your starfish that you are rescuing? Who are you reaching for Christ or discipling (hopefully both).
Let me remind you, God’s great commission wasn’t go evangelize all the nations. God’s great commission was go and make disciples of all nations.
That is exactly what Paul did and that is what you, Christian, are called to do. That is not the pastor’s job, it is your job.
How are you doing? We will help you. We will give you the necessary tools. But you need to do this work.
Are you? There is no greater use of your life and of your time.
Will you commit with me to reach that one? Or two? or three? Will you prayerfully reach out to one in your circle of influence? This will be great in the eyes of God!
Review - There is No Greater Call for Believers Than to Help Others Connect with God
God Commands Us To Do Great Things for His Glory
2. God’s Command for Believers is to Invest Themselves in Others (vs. 2)
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was an investor. Not in money, but in people. Sometimes his investments didn’t pay off so well.
Guys like Hymenaeus and Alexander. These were men in the early church in Ephesus who had “suffered shipwreck” with regard to the faith” and so were “handed over to Satan” by the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:19-20).
I too have invested in people over the course of my twenty-five years of ministry that end up turning on me and the Lord. It’s part of the reality of discipleship.
But, there are also great returns on investement as well. For Paul, Timothy was one of the greatest returns on his investment.
Paul’s disciple, his “true child in the faith” was a blessing and a joy to his heart. Timothy grew from disciple and child to a co-worker in God’s vineyard of faith.
At the time of this writing, Timothy was now the pastor of Ephesus.
Show Map of Ephesus from ESV study bible
“Paul likely wrote 1 Timothy during a fourth missionary journey not recorded in the book of Acts (c. A.D. 62-64). Writing from an unknown location, Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus to instruct him on how to lead the church there. Ephesus was a wealthy and highly influential port city in the Roman province of Asia, renowned for its temple of Artemis (Diana).” - ESVSB
Why did Paul write to pastor Timothy at the church of Ephesus? To disciple him in the way of running a church. To help him with a philosophy of ministry that would work itself out in practical processes, position, attitudes, and character.
In short, Paul writes Timothy to give him a blueprint of a mature church.
Do you think a building like ours just happens? No! Much work, creativity, and energy goes into developing a structure such as ours. It doesn’t just happen. The crew didn’t just show up and start building something in hopes to end up with a beautiful, useable facility.
And that planning started on paper. We had an idea. We communicated that idea to an architect and he drew it up.
Pencil to paper as it were, well before the ground was ever broken.
While a physical building and a church organization are not apples to apples, it is important to remember that a church doesn’t just happen.
God has a clear blueprint for what a biblical church looks like and how she functions.
That is the point of this letter and that is why Paul is writing to his “true child in the faith.”
Paul wants Pastor Timothy to understand how to “do church!” And so this letter was born.
We, in the 21st century can benefit tremendously from obeying the truth in this writing.
Folks, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, 75-80% of churches like ours are in decline and closing.
And I’ve thought about this a lot because it grieves me so much.
My conclusion is there must be a systemic problem with the church in America today.
Do you know what I think the systemic problem is?
Churches try to do church without obeying what God says about HIS CHURCH!
Instead of doing church we run country clubs, self-help clinics, and “Ted-talks and Cold Play concerts.”
And we wonder why we are losing the next generation to the cause of Christ.
We wonder why young people are deconstructing from the faith when we don’t bother to teach them the Word of God which produces the faith.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
So, we will study this letter for what it says (not for what we want it to say).
We will study this letter with a learners spirit much like Timothy was a learner from Paul.
Can you imagine what it was like to receive this caliber of correspondence from his mentor? He, and the leadership from the church in Ephesus must have soaked it all up!
For our church, I will do my best to study, write, and deliver sermons that accurately depict the correct understanding of the text. I will do my best to invest in you in this way.
But my investment in you cannot stay with you. My investment in you from this pulpit must go out from you as you invest in others.
Paul invested in Timothy and Timothy invested in his church and his church invested in their circles of influence.
Church is not simply about coming on Sunday, hearing a message, telling the pastor it was a good message and then do nothing with it.
Rinse and repeat week in and week out ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
No, we come to church, hear a word from God and then go from here to do it. Remember, we are to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
Hearing means we take what we have learned from the Word of God and invest it into the lives of those God has entrusted to us.
Can you imagine if each one of us here this morning invest what we hear from the sermon and the word of God into the lives of people who need Christ’s loving salvation?
Can you imagine if each one of us had a Timothy in our lives? A young believer that needs discipleship? A new believer that needs to grow in the faith?
This is where the church starts to fall down.
This is where the church says, Pastor Mark, Pastor Larry, that is why we pay you. You are supposed to evangelize the lost. You are supposed to make disciples.
After all, you have degrees in theology, I don’t. This is your job, not mine.
Aren’t you glad that Paul didn’t have that mentality?
Paul invested in Timothy who, in turn invested in others, who invested in others.
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
And women, you have the same responsibility.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
Christian, this is not optional for you. You must invest yourself in others.
They must hear from you (this requires trusting relationships).
They must see it in you (this is where you are “walking your talk”).
They must be challenged by you (you must lovingly hold them accountable).
Do you know why I think the older, younger discipleship doesn’t happen in the church today?
We fail to build relationships outside our comfort zone.
We tend to be more comfortable with people in our own age range.
Younger like to hang with younger because they are going through the same experiences.
Older like to hang with older because they have experienced the same things.
But why does God want the old and younger to mix it up?
The older can encourage the younger with their wisdom.
The younger can inspire the older because of their passion and energy.
Together we can be a force for righteousness.
By the way, what is the evil one’s modus operandi? What is his best tool in his toolbox?
DIVIDE and CONQUER
God wants older and younger to rub shoulders with one another and learn from one another.
The evil one fights against it.
Let’s not give in to the desires of Satan. Let’s follow the plan of God instead.
How do we do this? One word.
Intentionality!
Be intentional about building relationships outside of your age range.
Paul did this with Timothy and Titus.
He intentionally invested in them. He spent time with them. He built relationships with them. God used Paul to change these young men.
And you know what? God used these young men to change and encourage Paul.
At the end of Paul’s life, he pens these amazing words…
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
And do you know the very next thing Paul says to Timothy?
Do your best to come to me soon.
Why? Because everyone else has left him and he needed and wanted the companionship and encouragement from his young son in the faith.
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul’s desire for Timothy is the the triad of divine blessing! Grace (undeserved favor), Mercy (withholding of just punishment), and peace (a sense of calm because he is no longer at war with God). This is the gospel, friends and it is not something we humans have concocted. The gospel came from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the way, Lord means the one who is in charge. When we trust Christ as our savior, He is also our Lord - the one we obey! At salvation, our allegiance is change from self to Savior. Jesus is our King and we do what He commands.
I’m going to brag on my Mother-in-law…
Trudy and the football team…
A Very simple application for you this morning.
Who are you investing in for their Spiritual growth?
Make a list and start praying through who the Lord would like you to disciple.
Maybe you are thinking, woah, wait a minute. I need to be discipled.
Great! Start asking people. Go to pastor Larry or come to me and we can help get you connected to someone who will invest the ways of our God in you.
Don’t sit on this, it is crucial that you pursue it now!
Review - There is No Greater Call for Believers Than to Help Others Connect with God
God Commands Us To Do Great Things for His Glory
God’s Command for Believers is to Invest Themselves in Others
Conclusion
To be a disciple means that we deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests in other people.
Oswald Chambers
Do you want to ensure that this church never closes and, in fact becomes the church planting, church revitalization ministry I believe she is to be?
Then you MUST obey God and invest your faith in others.
There is simply no other way.
That has been the foundational principle of truly Christian expansion ever since: new followers of Jesus bear witness of him to others, who in turn become disciples and repeat the process.
D. A. Carson
Connection Group Reflection Questions