Why Church?: Myths, Models, & Measures

July 10th, 2022/Casey Middle School

Pray:

Title: Myths, Models, & Measures

Big Idea:

My goal for us today is to bring Scriptural truth to 5 myths that I commonly hear and to help provide clarity around models and measures for local churches.

Main Points:

1. 5 Myths

   1. Everyone’s A Hypocrite:
      1. It is a myth, but it is also not entirely false.
      2. The myth isn’t that it’s not totally accurate, it's just that it’s not complete. The reality is that everyone on earth is a hypocrite sometimes.

      3. Hypocrite is defined as someone that puts on a mask to hide their real self. Hypocrisy is also those that claim to know and follow certain beliefs, but their actions and lifestyle are far from the convictions they hold.

         1. I’ve heard it said that “Authenticity is the apologetic of our day.” That is, if you want to defend the faith, then live the faith you proclaim. 4. Question: Who in the house has been guilty of being a hypocrite? 5. “Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” - Mark 7:6 6. “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.” - Titus 1:15-16 7. Hypocrisy distorts your view of self, damages your relationships, and destroys your witness. 8. Application: We are called to be honest before God and authentic with each other!

         2. If you are struggling in your walk with God, tell somebody! If you’re struggling in your desire to love and serve others, then bring others along that journey with you!

            2. Christians Hate Certain Groups of People:
               1. Story: Interaction with a non-believer considering faith. “I’m very interested in Jesus, but if I become a follower of Him then why do I have to hate certain groups of people?”

         3. “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” - 1 John 4:20

         4. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! - Matthew 5:43-44
         5. Question: Who does God call us to hate? NOBODY!

         6. There’s so much to unpack here, but I’m going to highlight two things. Polarization and Confrontation. 2. Polarization: Everything is so polarized right now, that to disagree with someone is to hate them.

         7. You can disagree with someone and still show radical love, humility, and grace.

         8. You can both not affirm a certain lifestyle or decisions people make and wash their feet.

         9. When Christians draw a line in the sand on love then we have missed grace and the unfathomable love shown to us by God! 3. Confrontation: Loving people enough to be honest with them.

         10. Which is more loving? Letting someone spiral their lives with excessive drinking habits or confronting them in grace and love?

         11. Which is more loving? Allowing my kids to say and do whatever they please or to teach them biblical truths and to obey and respect their parents?

         12. Confrontation and correction done in grace and truth is the most loving thing that we can do for the people around us. Affirming harmful or unbiblical behavior is not loving! And gently correcting that behavior is not hate.

             3. The Church Just Wants My Money & Time:
                1. I want to speak to two different groups of people in the room.
                2. If you are not a follower of Jesus then I want to put your mind at ease this morning. We don’t need your money or time. We are just grateful that you are here.

         13. We believe that God is building His Church. We trust Him with who He wants to join in that mission. I hope you feel zero pressure or obligation from us to partner on that mission until God tells you otherwise. 3. If you are a follower of Jesus then I want to put your mind at ease this morning. We don’t need your money or time either. We are just grateful that you are here.

         14. We believe that God is building His Church. We trust Him with who He wants to join in on that mission. I hope you feel zero pressure from us. Giving is between you and God, and He does call His people to give. 4. We believe that God is moving and that it will bless you to join in God’s activity here in Boulder. So we will keep inviting you, but we do not want you to say “yes” just because we asked, but because you believe that God is calling you to join Him.

         15. God doesn’t just want your money and time, He wants all of you. He isn’t interested in monetary resources, He’s after your heart. Read the bible, pray, and ask God “What would you have me do?” “What would you have me give?” “Who would you have me serve?” And as He speaks to you, respond in immediate obedience to His voice. 5. Passages:

         16. “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
         17. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” - Matthew 6:21

         18. “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7

             4. It’s All About Entertainment:
                1. Is a style of worship more worshipful than another? Is a stage design more God honoring than another? Is an instrument more pleasing to God than another?
                2. There are so many factors to this myth that it is incredibly challenging to address them all in one sermon.
                3. Preference:

         19. Is my preference the goal?

         20. Illust: Contemporary vs Traditional Service at Triad 4. Motive:

         21. Why am I singing? 5. Focus:

         22. Who is my audience? 6. “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:19-20 7. “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!” - Psalm 98:4

             5. I Can Grow Spiritually Apart From Sunday Gatherings:
                1. “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” - 1 Timothy 4:13
                2. “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.” - Acts 20:7
                3. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:25
                4. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” - Acts 2:42
                5. “With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart.” - Acts 2:46
                6. As it has been said, “To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.”
                7. “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness.” - John Wesley, Preface to Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)
                8. “We don’t come to church, to be a church. We come to Christ, and then we are built up as a church. If we come to church just to be with one another, one another is all we’ll get. And it isn’t enough. Inevitably, our hearts will grow empty, and then angry. If we put community first, we will destroy community. But if we come to Christ first and submit ourselves to Him and draw life from Him, community gets traction.” - Source unknown
                9. Illust: Just as a seed does not grow in your hand, believers will not grow apart from being planted.

2. 4 Models

   1. When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? 5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. - 1 Corinthians 3:4-9 NLT
   2. Traditional (Go & Tell)
      1. 100 names in 100 days.
      2. Engage the city with paper and pen.
      3. Find simple ways to be a blessing.
      4. Share the GOSPEL!
      5. Invest in a few people.
   3. Attractional (Come & See)
      1. Build and develop a team
      2. Launch with 30-60 on the core team
      3. Focus on systems and structures
      4. Considers event space aesthetics
      5. Be a bringer!
   4. Missional Incarnational (Live & Serve)
      1. Live, work, and play in the context
      2. Plant the church near your home
      3. Intentionally serve those in need
      4. Be generous with businesses & non-profits
      5. Love and serve your neighbors well
   5. Organic Church (Make & Multiply Disciples)
      1. Keep it simple
      2. Focus on making disciples
      3. Prayer is the priority
      4. Movement is the goal
      5. 3-5 people around the bible

   6. Each model has strengths and weaknesses. Each model can be affirmed biblically. Each model can have both positive and negative motives. Each model may or may not work in every context. So which one would you choose?

      1. No model works well in total isolation. The goal isn’t the model, but the mission.

      2. Celebrate the diversity in giftings and personalities. Work hard to support one another and build up the areas that we lack. But never allow a critical spirit to divide the work of God in our church or other churches in our city.

         7. Notice how I didn’t mention much Scripture to support each model. Because the Bible doesn’t outline a model for us to follow, but it does give us governing principles and guidelines appointing spiritual authority.

      3. Story: Agenda 1 Retreat where the Boulder churches were celebrating our differences.

         8. Growth Track Step 1 Pitch
      4. Come hear our story and why we chose a certain model.

3. 3 Measures

   1. “Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.” - Acts 16:4-5 NLT

   2. Numbers matter because numbers are people and people matter to God.

      1. All significant movements in our day are all counted. They are tracked by a detailed system for the purpose of discipleship and healthy growth.
         3. Salvations/Baptisms (New Believers)
      2. “all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” - Acts 2:47 NLT
      3. “So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.” - Luke 14:23 NLT
         4. Sundays/Crews (Assembly of Saints)
      4. “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity” - Acts 2:46 NLT
      5. “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” - Acts 17:11
         5. Growth Track/Love Boulder (Active Service)
      6. “And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” - Acts 6:3-4 NLT
      7. “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” - Ephesians 4:12-13 NLT

Closing: