MOVING TO ACCOMPLISH THE IMPOSSIBLE Dr. Ken Culver Hebrews 12:2 (NKJ) Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. INTRODUCTION 1. At W.C.C. we exist to accomplish five purposes: 1. Celebrate God s Presence (Worship) 2. Demonstrate God s Love (Ministry) 3. Communicate God s Word (Evangelism) 4. Incorporate God s Family (Fellowship) 2. Two purposes that cover all five: _Evangelism_ or E_ Discipleship D In Jesus public ministry no matter what action or function He took part in, it either fit into the category of Evangelism, Discipleship, or both. Matthew 14:25-33 (NKJ) [emphasis vv 31,33] We are living and active and operate on the basis of relationship not rules. We exist to cultivate and encourage personal relationships between God and man and between brothers and sisters. We encourage our spiritual family to commit to personal maturity through devotion and to personal obedience through lifestyle evangelism. 3. The #1 reason why W.C.C. needs a facility: 80% of Fayette County is unchurched. The #2 reason: We need a place to call home. Matthew 28:19 (NKJ) [underline Go and make disciples] The implication is that you need to reach em before you can teach em. Page 1 of 9
4. [Power point as I say them maybe like a typewriter] Follow Jesus wholeheartedly Observe the faith in C.L.A.S.S. Connect together in small groups. Unite the Body as one Serve with passion and love Pray to see the harvest. Open your heart to the lost. Invite others into your world. Notice the work of the Spirit. Tell the hope we have in Christ. FOLLOW JESUS WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISCIPLESHIP You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart Matt 22:37 (NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21 (NKJV) Caleb wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. Joshua 14:14 (NKJV) OBSERVE THE FAITH IN C.L.A.S.S. (Christian Life and Service Seminars) CLASS 201 Introduction to Spiritual Maturity The second of W.C.C. s basic courses focuses on four basic habits CLASS 101 every Christian needs to grow to spiritual maturity. Time in God s Church Family Word, prayer, tithing, and fellowship. Introduction to Our This is the first base class of W.C.C. s basic courses. It teaches CLASS 301 salvation, baptism, the Lord s Discovering My SHAPE for ministry Supper, along with purposes, This is the third of W.C.C s basic courses. targets, structure, and affiliations The goals of this class are to help discover our unique of our church SHAPE for ministry and commit to developing and using our God-given gifts and abilities in serving CLASS 401 God and others in the church family. Discovering My Life Mission This course takes members around home primary my faith plate. The class has three emphases: 1)Learning to share Page 2 of 9
Christian, and [Insert Baseball Diamond] my life. 2)Becoming a world-class 3)Discovering God s mission for This is a life-changing class. Page 3 of 9
MATURITY 201 discovering my shape for ministry Introduction to spiritual maturity MINISTRY 301 MAGNIFICATION MEMBERSHIP 101 Discovering My life mission Introduction to Our church family MISSIONS 401 Page 4 of 9
CONNECT TOGETHER IN SMALL GROUPS At W.C.C. we believe that our church should grow larger and smaller at the same time. Greet the church that meets in their home. Romans 16:5 Purpose of Small Groups Acts 2:42-47 1. Bible Study They devoted themselves to the Apostle s teaching 2. Fellowship and to fellowship 3. Communion and to the breaking of bread 4. Prayer and to prayer 5. Support they gave to anyone as he had need 6. Social they ate together with glad and sincere hearts 7. Singing and Praising praising God and enjoying the favor of all people. 8. Outreach And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. UNITE THE BODY AS ONE In essentials beliefs we have unity. There is one body and one Spirit there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all Eph 4:4-6 In nonessential beliefs we have liberty. Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters who are you to judge someone else s servant? To his own master he stands or falls So then each of us will give an account to God So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Rom 14:1, 4,12,22 In all our beliefs we show charity (love) If I hold in my hand not only all human knowledge, but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. I Cor. 13:2 SERVE WITH PASSION AND LOVE Greek word to serve diakonos We serve in 3 directions: 1. We serve the Lord Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord 2. We serve other believers Heb 6:10 you have ministered to the saints Page 5 of 9
3. We serve unbelievers Matt. 5:13 You are the salt of the earth WE MINISTER TO 3 AREAS OF NEED: To people s emotional needs. (God says)i was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink needed clothes and you clothed me sick and you cared for me in prison and you visited me Whenever you have done this to the least person, you did it to me. Matt. 25:24-26, 40 If, as my representative, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded. Matt. 10:42 (LB) To people s emotional needs. Warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with all. I Thess. 5:14 (GN) To people s spiritual needs. God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:18. We proclaim Christ, counseling and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ Col. 1:28,29 THE PURPOSE OF MINISTRY There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. The Holy Spirit displays God s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church. All of you together are the one Body of Christ and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. I Cor. 12:4-7 GOD WANTS TO USE ME TO BUILD UP HIS BODY THE PRIORITY OF MINISTRY 1. I ve been created for ministry! For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do Eph 2:10 2. I ve been saved for ministry! It is He who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we derserved it, but because that was His plan long before the world began 2 Tim. 1:9 (LB) Saved to Serve 3. I ve been called into ministry! God, in His grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him. Gal. 1:15 (GN) Page 6 of 9
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Eph 4:1 You have been chosen by God Himself you are priests of the King you are God s very own all this so that you may show others how God called you out of darkness into His wonderful light! Once you were less than nothing; now you are God s own! I Peter 2:9-10 (LB) you will serve as holy priests I Peter 2:5 (GN) I am not who I think I am I am not who you think I am But I really am who God says I am! A LIFE CHANGING TRUTH MY PRIMARY IDENTITY: I AM A MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST! 4. I ve been gifted for ministry! God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God s many kinds of blessing. I Peter 4:10 (LB) 5. I ve been authorized for ministry! (Jesus said) All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples Matt. 28:18-19 We are therefore Christ s ambassadors 2 Cor. 5:20 6. I m commanded to minister! (Jesus) Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve Matt. 20:28 (LB) (To Archippus) Take heed to the ministry you ve received from the Lord and fulfill it. Col. 4:17 (KJV) 7. I m to be prepared for ministry! God gave pastors and teachers to prepare God s people for works of ministry, so that the Body of Christ may be built up Eph. 4:11-12 8. The Body of Christ needs my ministry! All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it. I Cor. 12:27 (LB) Ministry always functions in the context of the church family. Page 7 of 9
When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said, The harvest is great but the workers are few. Ask the Lord to send our workers into His harvest fields. Matt. 9:26-37 9. I am rewarded for ministry! Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Col. 3:23,24 EVANGELISM PRAY TO SEE THE HARVEST lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35b (NKJV) OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE LOST But when he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matt 9:36 (NKJV) INVITE OTHERS INTO YOUR WORLD The Good Samaritan Story Luke 10:29-37 3 Attitudes in this story 1. Thief What s yours is mine and I m going to take it. 2. Priests & Levite What s mine is mine and I m going to keep it. 3. Samaritan What s mine is yours and I will give it. NOTICE THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. TELL THE HOPE WE HAVE IN CHRIST. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27 (NKJV) Page 8 of 9
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13 (NKJV) Page 9 of 9