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Theology of an Active Church
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Now later on today, in the course of our parish meeting, we will present ourselves and the ministries of this parish to God for service throughout this year.
Therefore, as we prepare to come and make our presentations to God, I want to make sure that we understand exactly what it is that we are presenting and why it is so important.
As such, this morning I want us to renew and refocus our understanding of what it means to be an Active Church.
That is, by the end of our sermon this morning I want you to have a clear understanding of
· Why Scripture insists on an active church
· and why God calls you to be personally involved in it.
I. Basis of an Active Church– notice at once that when we turn to Scripture we find that the basis or reason that Scripture gives for being an active Church is directly tied to the nature of the salvation that is ours in Christ. In other words, being actively involved in your church is a fundamental and nonnegotiable aspect of salvation. Why? FN#1
A] The grace that saves you is a grace that changes you. Therefore, you are expected to bear fruit.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain,
B] The grace that saves you is a grace that includes you. That is, salvation means that you have been included in Christ and His people. As such, you share in both the blessings of God’s people as well as their responsibilities and mission.
Revelation 1:5 Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, 6 has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.
Importance: remember the two primary functions of a Priest are: that they serve God and minister to God’s people. In other words, God has saved you into relationship with Himself and His people and God intends you to be of use.
C] The grace that saves you is a grace that equips you. Scripture assures you that if you are saved then you have been given a spiritual gift. That is, God not only calls you to serve, He has also equipped you to serve.
1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one is given the manifestation (public disclosure) of the Spirit for the common good.
In other words, a spiritual gift is a specific way that God intends to work through you to promote godliness in others.
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Notice the results:
1. God promises that our faithful efforts to serve Him are not alone or in vain. Rather, God is at work in us and through us
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
2. God promises that there are no ordinary tasks in His house. Rather, when we are faithfully seeking God’s Kingdom, God spiritually endows even our most unassuming duties
Matthew 14:17 And the disciples said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
3. The third result is Joy- God intends our service to be fulfilling. That is, God intends our faithful service to yield true joy/fulfillment both to self and to others.
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.11 “These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Notice then our Vision for All Saints’
· Our Vision for All Saints’ is a vision of a congregation of active members. Why? because grace is active
· Our Vision for All Saints’ is a vision that includes you. Why? because Christ has included you in His people and has equipped you to serve
· Our Vision for All Saints’ is a vision of joy. Why? There is no better place for you to be than walking with the Messiah and there is no better or more fulfilling use of your time on this earth than to be involved in the things He is involved in.
Footnotes
1] There is a fundamental difference between an active church and a church full of activities. If all you have are programs and activities for folks to attend, then you are far short of what God intends. By contrast, an active church is one where the members are actively engaged in the work/ministry that God has given His people to do (both at church and at home).