Building One Another

Rev. Shine Thomas

As part of the military training program every soldier has to take an obstacle course. Soldiers are divided into groups of 8 to 12 people and are asked to take the test together. In one such test a soldier completed the course far ahead of everyone else. But as he stood feeling satisfied within himself, he was immediately confronted by his drill sergeant who asked, “Where are all your friends, soldier?” “Back there, sergeant,” the soldier replied. “I won!” The sergeant shouted, “Soldier, the obstacle course isn’t about coming in first! It’s about finishing together! Guess what? Everybody finishes or nobody wins. So go back and run it again, and this time, help the guys who are struggling along the way!”

Vince Lombardi, football coach for the NFL of US, “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society."

Well this morning I want to speak to you about the goal and purpose of our church.

Last month I started a 3 message series on CHAG Purpose and we studied why we exist as a church and we concluded that we are here to seek the lost. Praise God, every week more and more people are added and we plan to keep growing.

The church in Jerusalem began on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 with 3000 members. By the time we get to Acts 4 the church had grown to 5000 men, women and children extra. People were being saved everyday and added to the church. Now there were a lot of new believers who never knew the scriptures very much and taking care of these believers were a big challenge. The early church did a good job for that. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Illustration: One of the most interesting times in life is when a new baby is born. The father and mother rejoice and the entire family rejoices over it. Then they take the baby home and reality sets in. They’re changing diapers and losing sleep, and trying to figure out what is wrong with the crying child. The joy of the new birth is followed by the responsibility of caring and raising the child.

This is the same case in the church. People come to Christ and we rejoice. But then we have a responsibility to nurture these new believers and to give the support, acceptance, and fellowship to all come to us for worship. Who is going to nurture them? Who is going to encourage them? We have to help them grow in Christ.

That is our purpose – Building One Another. My goal is to help you build so that you can reach your highest potential in Christ Jesus.

How God intends to build us?

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.

To build one another God has given us: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Note all these offices are given by God not appointed by people. Our worship team, cell leaders, pastors are all given by God so that we all may grow in Christ.

Let us study them one by one:

Apostles: The term ‘apostle’ means ‘sent one.’ These individuals go out from a church or a mission organization into unreached territory and establish the Church of God. An apostle is a present day missionary. I praise God for all missionaries here at CHAG and I also praise God for our missionaries out in North Karnataka and India.

Prophets: The prophet takes God’s message and reveals it to people. Prophets in the OT reminded people of their sins. Understand God does not speak to prophets as and when we want or they want. After Elijah spoke to King Ahab, God spoke to Elijah to go to Kerith Ravine and hide. The Bible says after a long time in the third year the word of God came to Elijah. Three long years God was silent. So do not run after prophets. If God has to speak something to you he will send prophets to you.

Coming back there are many of you who are hearing from God either as a dream or a voice or a vision or a word from the Bible. I request you to come and tell me what you see so that we all can be build up one another through what God wants to speak to us.

Evangelists: In many people’s minds an evangelist a person who speaks to thousands in a big stage who has a big worldwide TV program. This is for sure an evangelist who does this but they alone are not evangelists. Everyone has a calling of an evangelist. It does not matter if you are qualified or not, it does not matter if you are an old or new believer we are all called to speak about the love of Jesus to others. We are all evangelists for God.

Pastor/Teachers: I put both pastors and teachers together. When it comes to a Bible college setting we have full time teachers but they also do a pastoral job by mentoring their students. When it comes to a church, a pastor exhorts his people and pastors also teach the people. So I feel the pastor-teacher gift operates together.

The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are supposed to work in and through the church so that we can all grow together. All ministries must have connection with the local church. All ministries must work with the church and should lead people to the church.

Role of Different Ministries

Now what are the Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers supposed to do?

Ephesians 4:12-13 To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The goal of having such ministry is to prepare God’s people/church for God’s work. God has a plan for you and my intentions in preaching to you must be to prepare you for God’s work so that the body of Christ may be built up. I preach so that we can build one another for God. If I do not do my job I am answerable to God.

Now we are all here in the church because we know of the truth in Jesus Christ and we want to grow in the Lord. How really can I grow in the Lord?

a. We grow by studying the Word of God. If you have been a Christian for 5 to 10 years and all that you know is John 3:16, then you are still a spiritual baby, drinking milk. Many of us are still spiritual babies. I will tell you some qualities of baby Christians:

• Baby Christians fight with other Christians.
• Baby Christians enjoy being the centre of attention.
• Baby Christians are easily offended
• Baby Christians have trouble staying clean.
• Baby Christians become jealous over other's success.

It is time for you to grow up. That is why we have different opportunities here at City Harvest. Please be a part of these programs so that we can grow.

b. We grow by close fellowship with other Christians. There are many Christians who do not want fellowship. They just want to come to church on a Sunday and that is it. The Bible teaches we are to do many things that cannot be accomplished with just coming to worship on a Sunday. The Bible says – Love one another, pray for one another, bear with one another’s burden, extend hospitality to one another, forgive one another and so on. This can be done only when we spend time meeting people and talking to people in the church in fellowship. When we get into fellowship with one another we grow.

Fellowship gets stronger and deeper as we become more involved in groups within the church – Sunday school, women’s fellowship, prayer cells, choir, Dunamis, family get-togethers, and other meetings of the church whenever possible. This is your church; get involved, get to know people, and grow as saints of God.

c. We grow by using our God-given gifts in the church. People usually think they are not needed in a church. People think if I could sing and had good talents I could be here in the front in the church every Sunday but I don’t have any. We feel there are so many people the church do not need me. That is not true. There are many opportunities to exercise your gift here and you can find a meaningful ministry here. Please discover what you are good at and start utilizing that in the house of God.

Some of you maybe telling me pastor I have grown and I am an old believer. But how do you know whether you are growing in your faith? Let me show you some evidence of growth.

Proof of Growth.

a. Getting involved. Involvement shows growth.
A parent’s responsibility when a child is born is to help the new born baby grow up, so that one day he can face life alone. Slowly the child gets involved in the affairs and duties of the house and the parents can entrust their children with responsibilities.

In the same way when church grows there will be many ministries in the church. Everyone gets involved in different ministries within and outside the church and work together in harmony. You have been attending City Harvest - yes for sure - but have you really involved yourself in anything? Have you taken responsibility in the house of God? A growing believer takes responsibility and involves himself in the church activities. Your involvement is very important for God.

b. Being Regular. A growing believer is a regular member at one church. I think the attitude of going to church on a Sunday for many is way too casual.

For some people going to one church is difficult. Sunday morning they will get up and think – Which church should I attend today? They then finalize one church and attend. The next week they go to some other church. Monthly once City Harvest. The people who mature and grow will never kept switching churches.

Some people go to only one church but they go only if it is convenient for them. If the weather is good, if there are not any other things that day they go to church. Going to church for such people is not a top priority. It is only something they do if it is convenient to them.

Illustration: In my childhood days in Kerala preparation for Sunday worship used to start on Saturdays. Everybody got their Sunday clothes out, made sure they were pressed because we were going to meet the Lord and needed to look our best and smell our best. Sunday worship was the highpoint of our life. We used to get up early on Sunday morning and walk one hour to church.

I think we have become far too casual. We have failed to grasp the importance of His plan and the One who meets us here. When we sit in the group of saints here and worship God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords come down in our midst. Therefore rain will not stop me from coming to church, inconvenience will not stop me. I am going to be here even if I was awake until late last night because I have an appointment with God today. Coming to church will become the top priority in my life.

c. Good prayer life and studying the word.
A praying Christian is a growing Christian. Prayer and Bible study develops faith. No circumstances will pull him down because he has faith in his God.

Ephesians 4:14-16 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

God wants us all to and grow as mature Christians to the fullness of Christ. This is the purpose of our church - Building one another. We are going to grow together as a family. Let us get involved, let us use our gifts in the house of God. God bless you!