Ministry of Love

The intention of this blog is to share Biblical messages at least on a weekly basis. Any response is appreciated. I do not expect everyone to agree with my interpretation of Biblical passages. I will try to respond with love and thoughtfulness.

Monday, March 03, 2008

A Church in Your Home by John

A Church in Your Home.
Romans 16:23
1. You may consider this strange, but I believe you should have a church in your home.
(1) I don't mean it is something we should vote to do as a church.
(2) I mean it should be the spontaneous response of a Christian to God's great commission.
a. You know what the great commission is, don't you?
b. "All authorized power is given to me. As you going, therefore, make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep and obey all things I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end." (My Translation)
aa. The Father gave Jesus the power to win and disciple the world! Jesus empowers us.
bb. To me, "as you are going" says "as you go out and come in," ad infinitum!
cc. Where do you go out from? No building! They went in and out of their homes!
c. Now, did we miss the commissioning? No. It comes next. "Make disciples!" is imperative!
aa. All the rest is part of making disciples.
bb. Baptizing, teaching, training.
2. Passing time brings change.
(1) As long as God's will is being accomplished, there's no need for change.
(2) But changes come, and we must meet those changes.
a. In Paul's time, they met in homes because there were no Christian church buildings.
b. Meeting houses and Cathedrals followed.
c. We fell into their tradition, but I think we need to go a step further.
d. Homes today revolve around multitudes of activities.
(3) It is time for us to make full circle and have a church in our homes like the early Christians.
3. Gaius was carrying out the Great Commission from his home! Praise the Lord for that!
4. We should do the same thing! But how?

I. WE GO OUT FROM OUR HOUSE.

1. Don't let Satan sell you his way. He would have us sit and wait for people to come to us. Jesus' way is to go get them!
2. Wherever you go, take Jesus!
(1) I can almost hear someone saying, "Aw! He's always with me anyway! That's a dumb thing to say!"
(2) It is! And He is always with us! But who knows it?
a. When you so somewhere with a friend, and you run into someone else you know, what do you do? (Do an introduction).
b. Do the people you work with know Jesus lives in you?
c. ...school?
d. ...the people who work for you?
e. ...service people?
(3) ˇÅHowˇë do they know you are a Christian?
a. They don't, unless you make Jesus plain! (Satan is working to blind them.) ill. Oil lantern I left on top of the car to guide me out of the swamp. No light! Storm clouds made the sky totally black. The wind caused it to smoke up the chimney. Is your chimney clean enough for the Light to show out? b. Tell them about Jesus, but be wise!
aa. Do it when it won't embarrass them.
bb. Do it after you've prayed about it.
cc. Do it when they open the door, or...
dd. Do it when God opens the door. (crisis)
c. A silent witness is given by living a blameless life.
aa. In this world today, it's not hard to live a life that stands out in stark contrast to run-of-the-mill folks.
bb. Good living should be our goal anyway.
3. Remember, every time you go out, Jesus goes with you, but it is up to you to let others meet Him!
(1) I like one thing orthodox Jews do. They pray when they leave the house, and again when they return.
(2) We need to develop a God-consciousness that makes us aware Jesus is with us to be introduced to others

II. BRING JESUS WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME HOME.
1. Men, your families are probably the first ones to notice you left Jesus somewhere on the way home. (1) Of course, you really didn't; That's impossible! (2) But when you come in grumpy, complaining, unwilling to share with the family, it certainly seems like Jesus is not with you.
(3) The same goes for you working wives!
2. The stress of a hard day makes showing Christ at home really tough for all of us, but!
(1) It is not impossible!
(2) And it is worth it!
3. Solve your problems at work! Leave them there! (1) If the peace of God you show at work is real, you won't be loaded up with stress when you get home, and being tired is no excuse for being unchristian!
(2) "Pray without ceasing" Paul cried out in I Thess. 5:17! That means keep your lines of communication with God open all day!
(3) You probably need to use a reminder, like the Jews do, to pray as you enter...
4. The world knows you are really yourself at home.
(1) Does your home lifestyle show Jesus?
(2) Do you welcome strangers?
(3) Are you concerned enough about your neighbors to become acquainted and share your problems with them and theirs with you?
(4) Can the world see Jesus by the way you treat your children, by the way you talk, by the way you go to church?
5. Have you ever planned a party, dinner, or a prayer or share meeting in your home for the benefit of your neighbors?
6. I believe with all my heart, there are many people who will never get to heaven unless you and I change our home life!

III. PLAN A CHURCH IN YOUR HOME.

1. Many pastors feel they need to be consulted before members start meetings in their homes.
(1) They have had or heard about bad experiences. (2) I don't worry about that! I am concerned because some of our people, you, may not be letting the Holy Spirit lead you to have a church in your home.
(3) I could be concerned if you just led some people away from the central church without good reason.
2. Our goal is to win people.
(1) When we win them, they must become part of the larger body.
(2) Small groups can become cancers in a church body, but we believe better things about our people.
3. The determination to do something must come from you!
(1) Now to whom was the great commission given?
(2) Gaius wasn't there, but he got it!
(3) It's natural for Christians to want to help other people become Christians.
4. Do you dare? Plan a church meeting in your home!

conclusion:

1. This morning, I've said we must become God-conscious. We must be ready to introduce Him when we leave the house. We must be ready to share Him when we come home, and all the time we spend there. But there's more!
2. We need to formally plan to have socials, dinners, prayer or share meetings in our homes to lead our neighbors and acquaintances to the Lord.
3. To make it work, we need to get acquainted. Take a Jericho jog around the neighborhood. Share our needs, and the needs of others in our neighborhoods.
4. Has God spoken to you about this? Then do something about it! Don't put it off! Plan to win others!
5. God will provide the power!

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