In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy delivered these famous words in 1961, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” It is one of the most famous quotes in American history and is a call to patriotic service. Kennedy was trying to change the hearts of Americans in order to change the country. In the same spirit, may I say: “Ask not what the church can do for you; ask what you can do for the church.”
Our modern culture looks at choosing a church as if the Lord’s body were a menu at a restaurant. “What can a church bring to my table?” “How will this congregation best satisfy my wants, needs, and desires?” This is a complete distortion of the church. Congregations are not service providers. They are groups of sheep who need to be fed and led. Instead the question should be, “How can I be of service to the work of the Lord at this location?” Just like Kennedy’s quote, how I view the question completely changes what I see as the solution!
Never forget the church is an assembly of people. Human beings have the need for support, encouragement, purpose, belonging, and acceptance. These things can only be given by other people and it must be reciprocal. I cannot come to the church and just take. I must give love in order to receive. Otherwise, the small group of givers will be exhausted by the takers.
So, what can I do? Get busy! Write someone a card. Organize a potluck. Invite someone into your home. Start a Bible study. Volunteer to teach a class, lead singing, preach on a third Sunday. Invite someone to services. Prepare for Bible study. Come to Bible study. Ask this question, “If this church were made up of people like me, what would it look like?”
Each Christian is commanded to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,”-Matthew 28:19. We are to always be, “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”-Hebrews 10:25. God has provided us with local congregations of people with which to work on these commands. The local church is a pillar of Bible teaching in Clarksville. Why not invite your friends? North Second Street is a group of human beings that need to be encouraged. Why not exhort, love, and support our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Like any group of people, the church must grow to even maintain the status quo. No farmer wants a flock that never grows. With no new births, a flock will dwindle away to nothing. The same applies at North Second Street. If we aren’t bringing in new members, the church will die. The new birth of Christianity provides for new life and growth. Farmers rejoice when a new birth occurs and they do everything within their power to make sure more happen. We must approach the Lord’s body the same way. New Christians are a blessing. Yes, some of them will need to be bottle fed for a while. We need to do everything in our power to make sure we are bearing fruit for Jesus.
I have always liked Paul’s closing words to the Thessalonians: “Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”-I Thessalonians 5:13-22 That about covers it. Love ya!
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