Church Hunters -- Part 1

In the last few weeks, I've reached out to people at my college asking them what they would like to learn about from the Bible. One of the topics requested was "Characteristics to look for when choosing a church." In response to this, I have written a 4 part series from the Bible about general characteristics that each Christian should look for in choosing a church. Often one may just attend a church for a few weeks, decide if we like it, and either stay or move on. Growing up as a pastor's grandkid I saw this cycle happen all the time. But what does the Bible say about where we attend church? The 4 characteristics we will be looking at are 1) The Commissioned Church (Acts 1:8), 2) The Continuing Church (Acts 2:42-47), 3) The Convinced Church (Acts 4), and 4) The Called Pastor (I Timothy 3).

What is the commissioned church? It is the church that follows the command of Christ in Acts 1:8:

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The church that follows this commission is one that the Christian should desire to attend. This church is a church that has received power from God and the Holy Ghost, meaning that they are indeed a Bible-believing, saved congregation. The members have accepted Christ's sacrifice and have the Holy Ghost dwelling inside them. That is a basic qualification.

But this church is not only one that is saved, but it also is witnessing--it is indeed following the commission of Christ. This commission is to 4 different groups of people.

1. The commission is to the community. "In Jerusalem"

Jerusalem was the city where the disciples were located. They were first to go to the people right where they were located. This is a basic mission for any church. If a church is not going to attempt to reach their local community, it is not going to grow, let alone thrive in the community.

QUESTIONS:

1. How is this church reaching out to the local community?

2. What is this church's reputation with the community?

2. The commission is to the surrounding area. "In all Judaea"

Judaea was the province that Jerusalem was located in. For we who are in the states, that would be like our state. For my home, it is Pennsylvania. For my school, it is Florida. This Judaea should be reached by the church. The local church should have fellowship with and a good reputation with other churches in their area. 

QUESTIONS:

1. Do this church have fellowship with other local, like-minded churches?

2. Do this church have a good reputation with other local, like-minded churches?

3.  The commission is to the outcasts. "In Samaria"

Regionally, Samaria could be considered the surrounding area to Judaea and Jerusalem. It's only one region over. But the Samaritans were also the outcasts of the land of Palestine in this time period. They were half-breeds, mixed Jews and Assyrians. They worshipped differently and in a different place than their half-brothers. These two countries did not get along. But Jesus went to them. He commanded His disciples to go to them. Jesus went to all the outcasts of society--the sinners, the tax collectors, the harlots, the lepers.

QUESTIONS:

1. Is this church willing to go to the outcasts of society?

2. When this church encounters outcasts, does it treat them with kindness?

4. The commission is to the world. "The uttermost part of the earth"

This is fairly simple. The same application that applied then applies today--everyone everywhere deserves to hear about Christ. Other verses in scripture say "all the world," "all nations," and "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." 

QUESTIONS:

1. What is this church's attitude toward global missions?

2. Are we encouraged to give more to missions?

3. Are we encouraged to potentially go as missionaries, on short-term, long-term, or lifetime missions trips?

4. Are we supporting as many missionaries as we possibly can?

I must clarify before we move forward in this series: negative answers to one or two of the above questions do not necessarily mean that God does not want you in that church. It may be that the desire and vision is there, but the means are not. What it does mean is that these should be questions to take up with your pastor and volunteer to lead in answering those questions in the church if God is leading you to do so.

The church being commissioned--being willing to go into the community, to the surrounding area, to the outcasts, and to the world--is a must have for every Christian. The commission is the essence of what God has left us here on earth to do. If our church is not following this commission, where does that leave us as an individual? I must also issue this encouragement: do what you can to fulfill the commission in your own life. When you are doing so, God will lead you in finding a church that is fulfilling the commission as well.

1. Photo credits: www.godtube.com/watch/?v=YKKWGPNX

2. Video credits: https://www.facebook.com/johnbcrist/videos/1026079677527111/

Book Review: The Treasure Principle

As we live our lives, we are often told "whoever dies with the most toys wins." This world is constantly telling us to acquire more possessions. But what did Jesus tell us to do? In The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn explains this very principle which he says "unlocks the secret to joyful giving."

Alcorn bases this principle on two passages in Matthew: Matthew 13:44, from the Kingdom Parables, and Matthew 6:19-21, from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 13:44 -- "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

Matthew 6:19-21 -- "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

This man in Matthew 13 sold all that he had- got rid of everything to obtain a treasure that is beyond any measure. Mr. Alcorn sees this story and advocates that we give to others, and by doing so store up our treasures in Heaven.

In order to unlock this secret of joyful giving, Alcorn lists 6 keys.

1. God owns everything. I am His money manager (ch. 3).
2. My heart always goes where I put God's money (ch. 4).
3. Heaven and the future New Earth, not this fallen earth, is my home (ch. 5).
4. I should not live for the dot [life on earth], but for the line [eternity in Heaven] (ch. 5).
5. Giving is the only antidote to materialism (ch. 5).
6. God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving (ch. 6).

This entire book is based on the fact that we must give. It's commanded by God. One excellent motivation Alcorn uses for giving is the example of generous unbelievers, such as Stephen King, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates. If these who are unsaved are giving away most of their wealth, should not we who have accepted Christ do the same?

As Alcorn wrote this book in 2000, he wrote it under the assumption that Jesus is referring to material treasures in Matthew 6. But as some rebuffed him on this, he updated the book with a new chapter to defend this view here in 2017. He finds 3 parallel passages that defend the giving of material possessions on earth to be equal with storing treasures in heaven.

Luke 12:31-34 -- "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Mark 10:21 -- "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

I Timothy 6:18-19 -- "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

These passages do advocate Christ's command to give here on earth, and echo that God will reward us for what we do here, including our giving. Now some may say this is an ungodly motivation--that desiring treasures in Heaven is a selfish motivation. But Alcorn gives this response: "If it were wrong to want them, Christ wouldn't offer rewards as motivation. Rewards are God's idea, not ours (43)."

Alcorn quotes C.T. Studd -- "Only one life, t'will soon be past; but only what's done for Christ will last (84)." He echoes this sentiment while encouraging others to give. We have only one life. We may have some possessions only once. Will we give to others while we have the chance? This book has encouraged me to do more of that. I hope it will for you too. 

To order either a hardcover or ebook copy of this book, please go to this link:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/1674/the-treasure-principle-by-randy-alcorn/#details

Bibliography:

Alcorn, Randy. The Treasure Principle. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2017.

FTC Disclosure:

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Blogging for Books book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.