CHRIST CENTERED, KINGDOM FOCUSED, MISSION DRIVEN
Pastor's Corner
Dr. Charles Johnson
Message
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Me To You… …for a number of weeks I shared with our congregation a sermon series developed from a George Barna book titled “The Second Coming of the Church.” Looking at the past history of the church as a whole, he identified six important “common” factors that made the church successful. He called them “the Six Pillars of the Church! I want to provide them to our church family reminding everyone, as I did as these messages were delivered, that they are not in any particular order: Pillar #1– Worship! God is concerned with worship. It is part of the first Commandment found in the Old Testament. All of us should make weekly worship a priority. Pillar #2 - Evangelism! It is the clearest call to the church and the last directive given by Jesus Christ as he ascended to Heaven. It is misunderstood by a great majority of church members. One of the best evangelism techniques is “lifestyle evangelism!” Live everyday so that other will see Jesus through your everyday actions (words and deeds)! Pillar #3—Service! One of the first problems the church faced was a breakdown in those willing to serve. Jesus Christ came to “serve” and not to be served! Every church member has a gift they can use in service to others within and outside the church. Pillar #4 - Education & Training! Every church member should seek to grow daily. Bible Study and prayer are the basics for growing in the knowl-edge of God. Weekly Bible Study (Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings) are critical for continued spiritual strength and growth. Pillar #5 - Building Community! We are an “assembly of people that are called for a special purpose”! We are born with a need for relationships, love and fellowship. The church was established by Jesus Christ to serve this purpose. It is all inclusive! Our purpose is to build up the community of faith by reaching out into the world around us to draw those that are in need of a family of faith in which they can belong! Pillar #6 - Stewardship! NOT just your money. Steward simply means “one who manages another’s property! God has given us time, things, relationship, and yes “finances,” to manage. HE established a process by which the church would be provided for throughout the ages. It is a system of “wise” management of time, things, relationships and “the tithe.” We should always be aware of what we are called to give back to God in the areas of time, material things, relationships and “the dollar!” When we are good “stewards” the kingdom of God is the recipient of God’s blessings. One of the most important “truths” I share with young couples, as they begin life together as man and wife, is to start their budget with their “tithe” to the church. God designed it to be part of the best budget plan ever designed. You will find that the remaining 90% goes far beyond what you expect! Keep these “Six Pillars” in you thoughts, prayers and daily schedule. As you do watch the church begin to grow! God Bless, Pastor Charles |