Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 1 Why Have Announcements In The Assembly Text : John 11: 47-53, I Corinthians 16: 1-4 S#1. A. This series of lessons has been to emphasize the need for biblical authority. S#2. 1. This is important because God will not accept unauthorized worship. 2. When God gives a command ALL else is forbidden. 3. We are not permitted to do something just because it has long been tradition. 4. It s being popular does not make a thing pleasing or even acceptable to God. B. This being true, why do we have announcements in every assembly? 1. Have you ever visited anywhere that did not have announcement? Everyone does it. 2. There is no command in scripture requiring or permitting announcements. 3. There is no clear example in the N.T. of announcements in the assembly. a. Luke 2: 8ff.. Yes, God announced the birth of His Son, but that was in a field. b. Acts 14: 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they S#3. began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples. ( Special assembly.. not Sunday ) 4. Are we doing wrong by injecting an unauthorized addition into God s assembly? C. God grants us the liberty to do some things just because they are expedient. S#4. Thus, this lesson will deal with the when, what and how of expediencies. 1. We will first deal with the concept of expediency. 2. Then observe that a thing must be lawful before it can be expedient. 3. The announcements are an expedient way to fulfill God s commandments. 4. Finally, we will observe that the announcements are part of the worship. I. God leaves many things to the discretion of elders and disciples.. S#5. A. There is no specific set of regulations for how to conduct an assembly. S#6. 1. We are commanded to partake of the Lord s Supper when we assemble. 2. We are told that we are to take up a collection every week while assembled. 3. We are commanded to teach each other using songs, but not given specifics. 4. But, much of the way we conduct our assembly is not covered by command. B. Example : 1. We are instructed to partake of the Lord s Supper in a weekly assembly.
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 2 a. The logistics were left up to the churches? ( not as part of our love feast ) b. It would be difficult to serve the Lord s Supper to 3000 out of one cup. 2. We are commanded to care for the poor and those who can t care for themselves. a. James 1: 27, Gal. 6: 10, etc. b. We chose food donations via CEFS as an expedient way to distribute aide. C. What does it mean to do something as an expedient? S#7. 1. Definition : expedient ( sumphero ) 1 to bear or bring together. 2 to bear together or at the same time. 2A to carry with others. 2B to collect or contribute in order to help. 2C to help, be profitable, be expedient 2. English word definition Expedient : Something advantageous, or advisable on practical rather than moral grounds, or something suitable, appropriate, or finally a means of attaining an end to a means 3. sumphero ( expedient ) is translated in several different ways : a. Expedient x7 b. Profit or profitable x7 c. Good x1, Better x1 d. Brought together x1 ( verb ) D. Thus, the church may do some things just because they re advantageous. S#8. II. Something must be lawful before it can be expedient.. S#9. A. The expediencies we practice are tied to things lawful for a church to do. S#10. 1. The time of the assembly is left to the churches It s an expediency a. Some in the N.T. met at night because they were required to work. Acts 20 b. Brethren in Canada met at noon for lunch after which they had assembly. c. In some places they spend the day together. 2. Where the church assembles is an expediency. a. In the N.T. they met in the temple and in homes. ( no buildings until later ) b. In Acts 20 they met in a third story room. c. In tropical places the church often meets outside. ( Under a tree ) d. Some today meet in a variety of rented facilities. ( some strange.. gas station ) e. Most congregations want to have their own building.
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 3 S#11. C. If the scriptures give direct instructions, expediency is no excuse to change it. 1. David brought the Ark of the Covenant back in the most expedient way. a. When the Philistines returned the Ark, it was left at the home of Abinadab 20 yrs b. David prepared a new cart and hired the sons of Abinadab to bring it to Jerusalem. c. Uzzah was struck dead for his irreverence; ( grandson of Saul, caretaker of ark ) d. David s actions were expedient, but not lawful and God rejected it. 2. Today many try to justify instrumental music as an expediency. a. Our singing is not good; we need an instrument to help us sing better. b. We need good music to attract visitors. ( some hire professional musicians ) c. The scriptures forbid instruments. Eph. 5: 19 Be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; d. No expediency can contradict, change or overrule a clear command of God. 3. The religious world has tried to change God s command about baptism. a. The mode of baptism is not important, sprinkling is most expedient. S#12. b. The only mode of immersion is to immerse. βαπτίζω [baptizo] 1 to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk). c. Example : Acts 8: 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both S#13. went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no.. d. Rom 6: 3-4 Baptism represents a burial of one s self and a resurrection as HIS B. An expedient can never be bound as law. S#14. 1. Only God can make a law and no one can change His law. 2. Elders can decide the best way ( expedient ) to implement God s law in their place. 3. They cannot implement their decision in any congregation other than their own. 4. Example : Congregation needed a new building so they saved money to pay cash. They could not condemn others who financed their building. 5. There are brethren who try to make laws about how church buildings should be used. a. Church buildings are an expediency so there are NO biblical rules for their use. b. No congregation has the right to condemn another for the way they use their bldg.
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 4 6. Each congregation has the right to choose the style of building and how to equip it. a. Some choose to equip their building for technology; others do not. 1) We use PowerPoint, but others think it is digression from the truth. 2) I m old enough I remember disputes over having air conditioning in bldg. 3) Some here objected to having a drinking fountain in the building. b. Most congregations build kitchens in their buildings others oppose having them. 1) Fellowship is commanded, but how it s done is an expedient. 2) To eat together is good but we re forbidden to have our meal during the assembly 2) REMEMBER We do not have a right to make laws for God. ( Pharisees ) S#15. C. Nothing can be expedient if it causes someone to stumble, to sin or to fall away. 1. Love for God and others is the most important principle guiding the Christian life. 2. We cannot be so caught up in what we want that we are willing to offend to get it. I Cor. 6: 12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. S#16. ( profitable = expedient ) All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 3. We must be willing to surrender our liberty to prevent causing another to stumble. I Cor. 8: 13 wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. III. Having announcements as part of the assembly is an expedient.. S#17. A. The assembly is for much more than just performing acts of worship. S#18. 1. When we come together we come together as a church. a. I Cor. 11: 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, S#19. I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. b. When we come together as a church we come as the family of God. I Tim. 3: 15 In case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 2. The assembly of the church must edify all who attend. I Cor. 14: 26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, S#20. each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a, tongue has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 3. The assembly must motivate. Heb. 10: 24 Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together,
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 5 S#21. B. The assembly provides an avenue for fulfilling the 24 one another commands. 1. The sheer volume of one another commands emphasizes their importance. a. Love, Accept, Honor, Same mind, b. Admonish, Encourage, Build up, Spur on c. Pray for, Care for, Comfort, Fellowship 2. Rom 12: 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. S#22. 3. Rom 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; Rom 13: 7 Render to all what is due them:. ; honor to whom honor. 4. It is expedient that we do this while we are assembled during the announcements. C. The announcements provide a time for interaction between brethren. S#23. 1. All the things we do in the assembly are important to our relationship with God. a. Sing His praise b. Fellowship around His table c. Learn His will, etc. 2. The announcements are important to our relationship with each other. D. The announcements enable us to know what is going on in the wider church. #24. S#25. IV. Because the announcements are part of the assembly, they must be done well.. S#26. A. Those doing the announcements should be made to understand it is important. 1. The attitude projected during closing announcements is what is taken home. a. You re the personality of the congregation. b. In part you determine the attitude visitors have toward the church. c. Making announcements is obviously mportant: How to make announcements is taught in all leadership training courses 2. The announcements promote fellowship and family unity. a. It is where the congregation s concern for those in need is expressed. b. When the brethren have a chance to share their needs and concerns. B. Those doing the announcements needs to prepare themselves for the task. S#27. 1. They need to be enthusiastic and project that they care, that they re interested, etc.
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 6 2. The announcer must speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard and understood. 3. The announcer needs to know and understand what needs to be announced. 4. He should avoid gory details unless absolutely necessary. 5. Have the announcement written and organized in an orderly manner. C. The announcements are for the members, but be mindful of the visitors. S#28. 1. Make sure to acknowledge and welcome visitors. 2. Be informative about the church. 3. Create for visitors a positive mental image of the congregation. D. The formula for announcements is the same as for preaching: ( 3 Ss ) S#29. Stand up, Speak up, and Shut up 1. Do not rush through the announcements as if you are in a hurry to get out. 2. NEVER stretch the announcements out. ( ramble on needlessly ) 3. Those few minutes are valuable. a. Glorify God b. Encourage the brethren c. Convince the visitors to return CONCLUSION : A. What have we covered? S#30. 1. God leaves many things to the discretion of the elders. ( expediencies ) 2. A thing must be lawful before it can be expedient; elders can t make law. 3. Having announcements in the assembly is an expedient way obey commands. 4. As a part of the assembly, announcements must be done so as to glorify God. B. The most important announcement is that God wants to save all men. S#31. 1. God is willing to forgive all your sins if you will turn from them to Him. 2. If you need the forgiveness of your sins, Jesus invites you. INVITATION : S#32. Communion Slide
Sermon : Why Have Announcements In the Assembly Page 7 Lesson Text : John 11: 47-53 47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 "If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. I Corinthians 16: 1-4 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.