I have never been so haunted by such a scripture as Joshua 24, and I will share a little more in detail here in a little bit, but the command in this passage has plagued my mind for going on a year now.
Choose this Day – Whom You Will Serve.
I came across this passage earlier in the year during a quiet time, and then Brandon preached this passage during his Journey through the Word Series, and it also happened to be the theme of this year’s church camp.
Everywhere I went this passage followed. God has a way of getting his message across one way or another, and I believe it is something we all need to hear.
Joshua 24:14-15 Read/Pray Choose this Day – Whom you will serve.
The Sunday School answer quickly comes to our minds, “of course we choose to serve God”, but have you weighed the consequences of serving God? We are so quick to say, “Yes, I will serve God”, without any thought of what is required of us in order to serve God.
In Order for us to serve God the Scripture clearly tells us that we must:
God created us to be people who give. We are to give our time, attention, possessions, money, and love for God’s service. Jesus began this ministry of giving when he gave his life for us. (1 John 3:16-17) Jesus is generous, and he expects us to be generous as well. Giving is a tangible way to display that Jesus is first in our lives. It is also to demonstrate our dependence upon God, and not on ourselves. The easiest way to get started giving is to do just that and give. Start by tithing a tenth of your finances to the church you attend. Ten percent is a rule of thumb set up in the Old Testament – but don’t let that stop you from giving more. Acts 4:32-35 (NLT) – “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were NO NEEDY people among them, because those who … (gave – PH) would bring the money to the apostles (church) to give to those in need.”
Steps to God-like Generosity: Acts 4:32-35
1. Be united in Heart and Mind – Acts 4:32a
Being united in fellowship with fellow believers reveals the necessity to give
Our Hearts and minds should be centered on God and His Word
Our hearts should be in tune with what the Holy Spirit has for us to do
When our hearts and minds are centered on God and His word, and we are in tune with the Holy Spirit our awareness of the needs around us will be made more aware to us.
2. Recognize that everything you have is not your own – Acts 4:32b
Everything you own is a blessing from God
Everything you have belongs to God
God has the power to give and to take away Job 1:21
3. Share Everything you have – Acts 4:32c
Graciously – Give above and beyond. Don’t just give a simple 10 percent; however give everything that God lays upon your heart to give. 2 Cor. 9:7 “Each must decide how much to give”
Willingly – 2 Cor. 9:7 “don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure.” But we are to give willingly not out of fear of reproach.
Cheerfully – “If I give everything I have I will have nothing left.” – 2 Cor. 9:7b-8 “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (NLT)
Freely – When you are united in Heart and mind, in tune with God, and you recognize everything you have is not your own then you will have no problem giving freely to those who are in need. 2 Cor. 9:9 “They share freely and give generously”
We desperately need to give of our time, resources, money, energy, and love. Everyone that we encounter on a daily basis is in need of something. It is our job to be compassionate toward others, determine their need, and give. There is one thing that everyone is in need of, and that is Jesus Christ. Let’s get out there and give.
Result of Being Ungenerous:
Malachi 3:8-10 (ESV) – “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions (generosity). You are cursed with a curse for robbing me.”
We wonder why God is not providing for us, we wonder why we are struggling financially, we wonder why God is not answering our prayers… it is because we are being ungenerous and are robbing God. I am not promoting this name it and claim it faith, but God’s Word is saying that we are to give, and when we give He will provide, and when we don’t we are cursed.
Result of Having God-like Generosity:
Acts 4:33 – God’s great blessing was upon them
Acts 4: 34 – There were no needy people among them
2 Cor. 9:8 – God will generously provide all you need
2 Cor. 9:8 – You will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Cor. 9:9 – Because of their generosity “their generosity will be remembered forever.” Example: “The Widow’s Mite: – Mark 12: 41-44
How to Excel When Going Back 2 School – from the Life of Daniel (Dan.1)
In the third year (605 B.C.) of the reign of Jehoiakim King Judah, King Neuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah, and after this the King commanded Ashpenaz the chief eunuch to assemble a group of youth together for education purposes. So Daniel along with several other young men was chosen to serve in Nebuchadnessar’s court (Babylon High). In a sense Ashpenaz was like an instructor/mentor/overseer, and Nebuchadnessar was like the principle. v.1-3
We also see from scripture that each of these students were skillful, knowledgeable, and capable of surviving school. However it is not about simply surviving; it is about how you survive. Often times as students you tend to do just enough to get by, but find yourself unsatisfied with where you are in life, and that is because you are not living up to your full potential. Daniel along with these other students would be cared for and educated for three years. The Bible says that each of them were competent to stand, but have you ever wanted to do more than just stand? I don’t want to just stand, I want to soar. V.4-5
Daniel along with his 3 friends could of easily gone along with the crowd, but they had set in their hearts that they didn’t just want to stand with the crowd, but they wanted to soar/excel above the rest.
We can learn a lot from Daniels example when it comes to Excelling in School.
1. Be competent in your ability to stand against the crowd. v.4 (Phil. 4:13)
2. Form a core group of friends that will be able to support one another. v.6-7
3. Inform a teacher/mentor/counselor/advisor of your desire to excel in school v.8-9
When you seek counsel from such individuals, God will see your desire to change, and will be likely to work in the hearts of that/those individual(s) to have compassion upon you. Some may show apprehension (v.10), however when you prove faithful you will have gained their approval and respect.
4. Determine what areas of your life you wish to advance or excel in. (Physical/Mental/Spiritual)
Daniel wanted to be closer to God, and wanted to grow spiritually, but he also knew that by eating healthy he would not be as sluggish, and it would help him physically and mentally.v.12
5. Prove to be faithful, by challenging individuals to hold you accountable. V.11-14
6. Stay committed to the cause. v.14-16
As a result, they were healthier and brighter than the rest. They were blessed with learning and skill. There was none like them. They were 10 times better than the rest. v.17-20
Reflections:
What is one thing you can do in your life that is going to make you more confident in your ability to stand against the crowd?
Name 2-4 core people you could trust in to be your friend and help support you in your decision to excel in your life? Name 1 teacher/mentor/counselor/advisor who would be able to hold you accountable at school?
What 1-2 areas in your life would you like to see most excel over the next school year?
What are some ways you can challenge your friends/mentors to hold you accountable?
What are some ways that you can stay committed to the cause?
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Defending the Body of Christ
The Corinthian Church was stewing with controversy and strife, and Paul wrote several letters to this struggling church and in this section he argues that the greatest threat to the church is usually from within. Each body of believers has their own Judas Iscariot running around with in them proclaiming to be Christ-like, when in reality it is just a matter of time before they are betraying the leadership and trust of the church. We don’t like to admit it or acknowledge it, but they exist. In the last part of chapter 3 the Apostle Paul counsels the church on how to defend against such trouble makers by asking 3 essential questions. (Segments from Christians Gone Wild Series – by Mark Driscoll)
Paul’s teaching concerning this issue is a timely message that can be carried on throughout the ages. The statistics within the church are alarming. 80% of churches have plateaued or are declining, and some 3,500 churches die every year.
You might be asking “why are we talking about this when everything is going good?”, but in reality if we wait to talk about it until crisis hits it’s too late.
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 / Pray
Question #1: Why should we care if the church is being destroyed? v.16-17
The One Body is not an actual building but rather the people who live their lives together in worship to Jesus. The most significant part of the body of Christ is that it is the place God has chosen as His home upon earth. Paul compares the body to the Old Testament temple in which God dwelt. We must care for the maturity, purity, and health of our body, because an attack upon it is nothing less than an attack on the holiness of God.
Question #2: What causes someone to destroy a descent Church? v.18-20
What makes decisive church people so dangerous and difficult to deal with is that they are so skilled at deception that they have in fact been deceived themselves, much like Satan is both self-deceived and a deceiver. They are very convincing about their holiness and good intentions. Such people are often well-versed in the latest ideas, are intelligent, and competently defend their beliefs. But what they lack is humility to agree with God and His wisdom. Instead they favor prideful thinking that is contrary to God. Such people are often more concerned about what others think of them (particularly non-believers), and they abandon clear Biblical teaching. – 1 Cor. 10:12 “Take heed” – Each of us are capable of being deceived.
Question #3: How can a church prevent its own destruction? v.21-23
Thankfully God has provided us with the means to defend ourselves from destructive people, and still remain faithful to Him. The key to overcoming this is ultimately “humility”, the humility to learn from many of God’s faithful servants. God has richly provided an abundance of resources for His church.
Paul concludes his counsel by focusing on Jesus Christ. “Because Jesus who is our God, was willing to humbly become a person to live, die, and rise in our place for our sins, He connects us to God. He serves as our example of a humble person who is willing to be despised and ridiculed by many in order to be loved and approved by the Father.
I have spent a lot of time on the road here lately, and I am looking forward to slowing down and spending some time with the family preparing for the arrival of Trinity Lynn.
I was in Kansas City for our mission trip 3 weeks ago where we worked with a homeless shelter, community project, and hosted a youth rally where many decisions were made in faith. 2 weeks ago I spent some quality time in Little Rock with our North American Missions director Larry Barker, and the BMA National Missions director John David Smith discussing “Churches Planting Churches”, “Effectively Reaching Your Community”, and “Building the church” which so happens to be the topic we are discussing today. And Last week I had the awesome privilege to serve as assistant camp superintendent where we experienced 45 salvations and numerous decisions for Christ. Talk about building the body of Christ!!
I have been amazed at how God has worked over the summer. I have truly experienced the working hand of God these past few weeks, and if we hope to continue to see God working through each of us it is going to require just that work.
Quote: Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
When it comes to Building the Body of Christ it requires work.
I remember early in my teenage years I had the privilege to help build a church that I was working in, and at that point I had never swung a hammer before in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I was no stranger to hard work. I grew up on a farm, and I was familiar with that type of hard labor, but never constructive labor. I realized real quickly that it required skill and hard work to build an infrastructure. We didn’t have all of the power tools that you see nowadays, just a simple hammer and nail.
It is vitally important that we recognize that if we want to build One Body – the body of Christ it isn’t going to be easy. It is going to require teamwork, leadership, effective workhands, open mindedness, perseverance, and I can’t express enough “hard work”
So let us get into context of what is going on in 1 Corinthians 3
Early in the book of Corinthians, Paul defines for his people both what it means to be a spiritual Christian and a worldly Christian. This was important because the Corinthians had a wrong understanding of what it meant to be spiritual. The Corinthians were very Spiritual! Worldly wisdom defined for the Corinthians what it meant to be spiritual, so in Paul’s letter he instructs them concerning
spiritual wisdom in spiritual words for the growth of spiritual people and the building of a spiritual body of believers.
And in the first part of Chapter three Paul also discusses the difference between the immature (babes) and the mature Christians, the worldly and the Godly. Many of the Christians w/in the Corinthian Church had been saved for almost two years, and they are acting like a bunch of babies. Many within churches today are like babies – they suck the resources out of it, suck the life out of it – make a bunch of messes and expect everyone else to clean up after them – make noise and expect everyone to come running to meet their needs.
This also reminds me of how I was, when I experienced my first construction opportunity helping build that church. I sucked up all the resources with all the bent nails that I was wasting, made a huge mess out of the materials I was working with, and I made a whole lot of noise and accomplished very little. Often time we see this even in our church; however we can’t allow immature Christians hold us back from “Building the Body of Christ.”
The building of the body of Christ was being hindered because the Corinthians had become selfish and lost sight of their mission to make their church an effective outreach to their city, Paul instructs them with an example from a garden and construction site. He calls his people to think long-term about the work God has called them to – to build a church that can be used by God to introduce people to Jesus and build more churches
In these two parallels here in chapter 3 referring to growing and building the scripture immediately illustrate the work required; everything from pulling weeds, planting seeds, and watering to laboring, building, and constructing.
So let us look at 3 Building blocks to Building the Body of Christ.
Read these in Ch. 2:9; 3:5-15 / PRAY
God has great things prepared for us if we are willing to build upon them (things that we can’t even imagine, things that are unheard of). He is just waiting to give the increase if we will be obedient in doing His will and building HIS Church. v. 2:9 / 3:5-6
In order to build the church it is going to require getting dirty – Some people just don’t want to get their hands dirty. They want to enjoy the garden, and they want to enjoy the structure, but they don’t want do anything that might require effort.
1st Building Block
One Purpose v. 8-9a Quote NIV “one purpose”
Grow / Build as One in Unity and Spirit v.9a
Glorify / Worshipping God realizing We are nothing and that it is God that gives the Increase v.8
Each One a Minister / Each is required to labour v.8
2nd Building Block
One Building v.9-10
One Body – One Building
The Church is people not programs v.9b
The church should be about Building People not buildings
Open to the leadership and vision laid forth by a master builder / architect
Built upon the foundation v.10
3rd Building Block
One Foundation v.10-15
Jesus Christ – v.11 (Power of the Cross & Christ Crucified)
Most Important Part
If everything else fails we will suffer loss, but will be saved v.15
Take Heed How we build upon v.10b
Spiritual Wisdom and Maturity (Chapter 2&3:1-5)
Not like babes – Making noise / messy / needy / selfish
Will of God
(Vision) Blueprints of the Architect
Organized
Done w/ Excellence
w/ One Purpose
as One Building
The one thing we can’t get wrong v.15
When we build upon One Foundation the scripture tells us that we will be “Tried & Tested”, v.12-15 like a building inspector.
v.13 “try” Greek word dak-im-ad’-zo to test or examine
Fire doesn’t refer to hell or purification, but simply a means of testing or examining v.15
When we come together with One Purpose, as One Body, built upon One Foundation we will be Healthy, Solid, and Stabile, and when we are tested we will endure, receive reward, and Grow as the Body of Christ.
As a church if we were to be tested right now would we endure?
These principles apply in many aspects of our lives.
As a family if you were to be tested would you endure?
If your marriage were to be tested would it endure?
If not you need to come before the Lord seeking One Purpose / One Building / One Foundation.
Maybe you’re here this morning, and you have never accepted the foundation of Christ Jesus, may you come and start building upon Him today. The Bible tells us here in v. 11 that there is no greater foundation which is laid than Christ Jesus.
Intro / Illustration: We are all the body of Christ (If you are a child of God), and each of us have a vital part to play. Some body parts are more obvious than others, however each play a distinct part in the body. Without each part we would not be able to function properly. Sure there are some parts we think we can do without, but we can’t. We must look at the church as a healthy functioning body, one that is not divided. (Not an unhealthy) This is Bob, Considering Bob was real, what is missing? Without arms he will never be able to hold those who are hurting, pick someone up who has fallen, reach out a hand to those in need. This is often how the church is today, and we wonder why we are not being as effective as we should. When you do not fulfill your purpose the church becomes handicapped.
Context
Apostle Paul is writing this during his 3rd missionary journey while he was in Ephesus. Just prior to his letter he spent 18 months in Corinth establishing 1st Baptist Church of Corinth. Corinth was a roman colony that was located between the Aegean Sea and Adriatic Sea with multiple ports. Corinth was a trade center in which it had many routes going from the east to west. It was a prosperous city; however it was very immoral much like our society today.
The church here was likely a smaller congregation, however it quickly became divided. Once Paul departed the people quickly began to turn on one another, and pursue heresy and moral sin.
There were a few who were so bothered with what was taking place in their church that they made contact with Paul to notify him of the mess and seek his counsel. In response Paul wrote 1&2 Corinthians.
Read & Pray: 1 Cor. 1:1-9
4 Phases of Being the Body of Christ
1. Accept the Call v. 1-3
Repentance
Holiness – Call to be Saints (hag-ee-os = pure, blameless, holy, consecrated
Pro-Peter – Original Apostle, Rich Hebrew Descent – Traditionalist
Self-Righteous – Christ as head – no human authority
Possessiveness (Our Church syndrome)
The Church does not belong to me, you, leaders, pastor, denomination, community, (The Church Belongs to God v.2)
Agendas / Preferences –
Quote – “The Death of every church is personal agendas”
God, this is your church what do you have in store for us.
Unrighteousness & Sin 6:8-11 (Paraphrase) (Does whatever he wants and don’t care)
Self-Righteousness (Does whatever he wants, but judges others to cover their own sin)
The underlying issue the Corinthian church faced is that they became so focused on themselves, their sinful desires, and their confused culture that they lost sight of the authority of Christ as head of the church. Paul reminds them of Jesus 9 times in the first 9 verses, because the only hope for the church to survive and thrive is Jesus. We must remain focused on Christ.
I have never been so haunted by such a scripture as Joshua 24, and I will share a little more in detail here in a little bit, but the command in this passage has plagued my mind for going on a year now.
Giving – Having God-like Generosity
