A message by Pastor Michael Palmer

Given to Green Ridge Baptist Church

August 16, 2009

 

A VIBRANT CHURCH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Acts 2; Ephesians 4:1-16

(Message is taken from Chapters 5 & 6 in the book Vibrant Church

by Dr. Thom S. Rainer and Dr. Daniel L. Akin)

 

A vibrant church will always need to be a BIBLICAL CHURCH.  A biblical church will be a Great Commission church at its very core.  This will be carried out by the following purposes or tasks of a local church.

 

EXALT THE SAVIOR – Acts 2:22-36

Peter’s first sermon:

Jesus’ accreditation (v. 22)

Jesus’ crucifixion (v. 23)

Jesus’ resurrection (vv. 24-32)

Jesus’ exaltation (vv. 33-36)

 

EXPOSIT THE SCRIPTURES –Acts 2:17-21,25-28,33-36

The church, in order to be vibrant, must be a Scripture-saturated church.

 

EDIFY THE SAINTS – Acts 2:42-47

A teaching church (v. 42)

A loving church (v. 42)

A praying church (vv. 42-43)

A giving church (vv. 44-45)

A worshipping church (vv. 46-47)

 

EMBRACE THE SPIRIT – Acts 2:14-21,33,38

 

EVANGELIZE SINNERS – Acts 2:37-41,47

A vibrant church will be a church that brings people to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

WHAT SHOULD A VIBRANT CHURCH LOOK LIKE IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

 

I.            A VIBRANT CHURCH IS CHARACTERIZED BY UNITY –  Ephesians 4:16

 

Common convictions and commitments (life priorities are similar)

     Oneness of humility or behavior (vv. 1-3)

In Ephesians, belief is discussed in chapters 1-3 and now in chapters 4-6 duty or behavior is discussed.  Doctrine always precedes life change . . . “walk worthy.”

     Oneness of theology or belief (vv. 4-6)

Seven theological essentials that unite a vibrant church:

1.    One body

2.    One Spirit

3.    One hope

4.    One Lord

5.    One faith (see Jude 3; 2 Timothy 2:2)

6.    One baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13)

7.    One God and Father

 

II.            A VIBRANT CHURCH IS CHARACTERIZED BY DIVERSITY – Ephesians 4:7-11

 

He gave gifts! . . . AMEN.  Spiritual gifts are mentioned in four passages: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.

 

1.    Apostle and prophets are foundational to the church’s mission.    Apostle, in a technical sense, refers to the twelve disciples; in a general sense, to anyone who is sent.  It can be used to describe missionaries today.

 

2.    Prophets are forth-tellers even more than future-tellers.  Prophets are bold proclaimers of God’s revelation.

 

3.    Evangelists are “spiritual obstetricians” gifted in bringing forth new births.  Some, like Billy Graham, Luis Palau, and Jay Stack, do it before large crowds.  Others, like Bobby Welch and Bill Fay, are gifted in sharing their faith one-on-one.

 

4.    “Pastors and teachers” is best translated “pastor-teachers.”  They are “spiritual pediatricians” who lead and feed, provide for and protect.  They minister to us and with us but not for us.

 

III.            A VIBRANT CHURCH IS CHARACTERIZED BY MINISTRY – Ephesians 4:12-14

 

Be Equipped (v. 12)

Be Edified (v. 12)

When we all do our part the church grows:

·        It grows up (Worship)

·        It grows out (Evangelism)

·        It grows within (Discipleship)

Be Educated (v. 13)

Unity

Knowledge of the Son

Maturity – perfect, complete

Be Enlarged (v. 13)

We must grow after the model of our Savior.

Be Established (v. 14)

No longer tossed around!

 

IV.            A VIBRANT CHURCH IS CHARACTERIZED BY MATURITY – Ephesians 4:15-16

 

  • Speaking the truth in love
  • Growing into Christ likeness
  • Each member serving with a sacrificial spirit laboring faithfully for the gospel
  • The labor produced by each member while serving the Lord with the right heart motive produces more than the sum of their labors.  There is a supernatural multiplication effect – “causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

 

The question that I want to ask you today is this – why should this outline of a Vibrant Church mean anything to us today?  What is the big deal?  Well, it’s very simple; Jesus Himself has called us out and changed us.  He has given us a whole new perspective on living – it is called THE GOSPEL.  We are a body of people called out to live the gospel, proclaim the gospel, teach the gospel, love others for the gospel, and do all we can to integrate the gospel into our lives and the lives of others.  The gospel is the Cross of Christ – the way I have been saved and am still being changed.  The gospel is Jesus – He is still working on and in us.  And the greatest thrill we should get is when God uses us (individually and as His collective body) to impact lives for the gospel.

 

To be a church member is to be a born again, radically saved, burdened for others, gospel centered, sin hating, Word devouring, Spirit-filled servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died, and He died for all, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE SHOULD LIVE NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED AND ROSE AGAIN.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

 

If that is what happened to us, then we will want A VIBRANT CHURCH, witnessing changed lives locally and globally.