State of the Church – 2008
by Pastor Ty

I want to thank all of you for coming here.

By your presence you make a statement. “That I care! I care: about the FBC of Red Bank, this community, about my family, about God’s family, God’s church, and His Kingdom growth”.  We know that God cares about and loves us so much that Jesus gave up His life for us. Greater love has no man than this: to give up his life for another. Jesus’ life was sacrificial and so should ours. We are His people and we are to be about His purposes.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.   13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.

Isaiah 55:11 – so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Philippians 2:1-5 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

I watched a documentary on the life of the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. recently. He was a man of peace, wanting to obey God, and sought His vision. He said about Jesus Christ, “Before there was an Easter there had to be a Good Friday. Before we can receive our crowns there has to be a cross.” Are we willing to bear our crosses like Christ commanded?

Luke 9:23-26 - Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

We have the opportunity, it’s right in front of us to take up our cross, die to ourselves – our comfort zones, preferences, prejudices, laziness, grudges, traditions, sins, pride, stubbornness, and excuses that keep us from His perfect plan.

He calls for us to follow Him in obedience, faithfulness, keeping our focus firmly on Jesus and Him alone. Not looking to the right (seeing what others churches are doing or saying) not looking to the left (gossiping about others) but straight ahead to God and His plan & purpose for your individual and church’s life.

You heard me speak this morning about being a breakout church. Before I came to interview with your pulpit search committee a year ago, I asked them to read the Breakout Churches book, and tell me if they thought this is where the FBC of Red Bank should be heading.
They did and were enthusiastic about the possibilities of being a breakout church. Because you see, that is God’s will for this church. I can say that assuredly because it’s His plan for every church! I have privately and publicly declared my desire to be a breakout pastor. By doing that you can expect the following from me:

1. Preach and teach core Biblical values.
2. Pray for a Christ like spirit in all areas of my ministry, personal life, & this
    church.
3. To love and pray for people of the church no matter what.
4. Lead this church with an outward focus. (Locally, state, nationally, and around
    the world)
5. In God’s will, make a commitment to stay with the church long-term.

This is something that I can do, but the following is something we all must do:

1. Be aware of church growth (or decline) and of the status of it’s ministries.
    (good to great)
2. To financially support the ministry of your church (tithing).
3. Be a life-long learner. (involvement with church Sunday school, Wednesday
    nights, other small groups & activities)
4. Pray for Spiritual growth and that God will see us through His “breakout”
    (along with crisis and critics that come with it).

There are many things that will come with being a breakout church, dealing with problems, developing a high expectation culture within the church, working simultaneously on the “physical” and “people” issues, discovering our ministry passions, gifts, needs of the community, learn that each success God gives is often a beginning point for another opportunity for success. (we’ve had many already)

When John Maxwell was a young Pastor he was asked by another Minister to come to his declining church to help them with ideas to stimulate growth. A group of leaders were assembled and Maxwell laid out a plan to help them reach their community. When he asked if there were any questions, an older man stood up and said, “What if we try theses ideas, and they don’t work.” Maxwell replied, “What you’re doing now surely isn’t working, so why not try something else!”

I’ve heard it said that the last words of dying churches are “We’ve never done it that way before.” When translated it means “We’re not changing!” This attitude has been with us since Moses led Israel out of Egypt.
We see in Exodus 17 that the Israelite community quarreling and grumbling about having no water. They looked at all the old ways for provision, but there were no rain clouds, no streams, no lakes, and no wells. They said that they would rather be slaves back in Egypt. What they failed to realize is that God doesn’t always work in ways we understand.  Israel needed to (as does His church today) trust in Him.  Moses went before the people as instructed by the Lord, and struck a rock with his staff. Water poured out from the rock, and provided for all their needs. God is able and willing to do that for us today, but we continue to look backwards instead of focusing on Him.

Later in Numbers 20, the same scenario happened again. This time not only the people were quarreling, but the leaders forgot to listen and obey God. Moses and Aaron were told to speak to the rock, but instead Moses decided to “do it the old way” and struck the rock with his staff. They did get water, but Moses and Aaron were forbidden to go into the promised land because of their disobedience. The key to God’s provision and direction is our obedience. We must keep our focus on Him not the past.

In Numbers 21 we see the nation quarreling and complaining again. This time the Lord sent venomous snakes that bit and killed many Israelites. The people confessed their sins, and asked Moses to pray to God for forgiveness. He was instructed to place a bronze snake on a pole, lift it up high, and anyone bitten could look at it and live. God’s people need to do that today. We must confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and place our trust in the One who was lifted up on the cross; Jesus Christ, in order to have eternal life. By focusing on the Savior we must look forward because He is our hope and eternity.

Jesus didn’t die for us to be comfortable, but to be convicted in sharing the Gospel with a lost and dying world. We need to not quarrel and complain, but listen and obey. By forsaking our preferences and being directed by His purposes we will see many come into His kingdom. That is His hearts desire, and it should be ours also. Let’s do it God’s way. Amen?

Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream...a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." What is our character & purpose? - to do the will of the Father. Jesus said, “If you love me then you will obey my commands.” Are we ready to lock arms in obedience and be His church? It can start today. Instead of being satisfied let’s glorify Him to His utmost and highest! Amen?