THE IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH

Transcription

1 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 204 Odessa Avenue - Pittsburg, CA Rev. Henry L. Perkins, Senior Pastor/Teacher BIBLE STUDY - SPRING 2012 SUBJECT: TEXTBOOKS: CONTEXT: OBJECTIVE: GOAL: The Irresistible Church 1) The Irresistible Church, Wayne Cordeiro 2) Doing Church as a Team, Wayne Cordeiro 3) The Holistic Approach, Rev. Henry L. Perkins The Holy Spirit For students to embrace the concept of 12 traits that lead to being an irresistible church; developing characteristics that please God. For students to develop a personal action plan that leads to their contribution of influencing change that heaven applauds. 1

2 SCHEDULE PART I Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 Feb. 29 Mar. 7 Mar. 14 Mar. 21 Mar. 28 Apr. 4 Class Overview Introduction Hunger for the Presence of God Remembering Who We Are Living by our Hearts Practicing Gratefulness Promoting Healthy Relationships Promoting Learning as a Priority Promoting the Spiritual Man Connecting Everything to a Soul! Choosing to Love Taking Risk(s) Humility Planning for Success Reading or Worship Week PART II DOING CHURCH AS A TEAM Apr. 11 Apr. 18 Apr. 25 May 2 May 9 May 16 May 23 May 30 Developing Servant-Leaders Building a Team Alignment: The Power of Moving Together Transitioning a Church Culture Part I Transitioning a Church Culture Part II Nurturing the Team The Church A Moving Target Post Evaluation Doing Church as a Team 2

3 DEFINITIONS CHURCH: 1) a building for public Christian worship; 2) public worship of God or a religious service in such a building: to attend church regularly; 3) the whole body of Christian believers; 4) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; 5) that part of the whole Christian body, or of a particular denomination, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.; 6) a band of baptized believers in Christ Jesus. IRRESISTIBLE: Alluring, magnetic, relentless in it s persuasion, can t be refused, irresistibly inviting. GOAL: To become a church that is irresistible to heaven which becomes a profit to the world. IT S ORIGIN: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 KJV) IT S FUNCTIONS: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46 KJV) IT S GOAL: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) 3

4 REALITY: Success for a church may include marketing, facilities, and programs, but that is not what exclusively determines success. It is credited more to what I call the Hand of God factor. For more than thirty-six years (the time I ve been in pastoral ministry), I ve been an avid student of the Hand of God. Over the years, I ve seen the Hand of God bless a church so that there is a favored season that lasts for decades. I ve also witnessed other times when God s hand was on a ministry for the first several years and then lifted. I ve observed this with church after church. During this process, I ve collected principles to keep us postured for His grace and to rectify things when His hand seems to be lifting. CHARACTERISTICS: Needs Improvement Adequate Good You grow spiritually You witness to a sense of mission You long to be present You want to invest in the church for the long haul Needs Improvement Adequate Good You tell others about your church You relax at your church; confident, it s a model of growth, not perfect! You are challenged at your church You have the power to help create the irresistible church you long to be a part of. 4

5 The focus of this study is to develop an attitude of contributing vs. receiving with the goal in mind of "pleasing God." CREATING AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH THROUGH: Influence Information Inspiration OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CREATION: Promoting the Principles Encouraging the People CREATING THE TRAITS FOR AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH REQUIRES HONEST SELF-EVALUATION: (Define) Honesty Change Cooperation When an idea enters our head, it's called information...when it touches our heart, it's called inspiration...when it bleeds out our toes, fingernails, it's called... 5

6 CHANGE THAT FITS IS BASED ON OUR: Assignment Gifting Faithfulness CHANGE THAT STICKS IS BASED ON OUR: Stewardship unto God Stewardship for God Stewardship by God RESULTS OF AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH: Needs Improvement Adequate Good Irresistible churches are champions at leading people closer to God, being conduits for the Holy Spirit to change lives for the better and impact society for good. 6

7 RESULTS OF AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) NEXT WEEK'S LESSON "Hunger for the Presence of God" Scripture to Review: Galatians 5:22-23 "Fruit of God" Matthew 18:20 "People of God" Jeremiah 23:24 "Passion of God" 7