Sunday Service 29th June 2008

 

 Dan Smith, speaking at the graduation of Leadership Academy Students about having a passion for the house of God [37:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dan Smith: Church… God’s plan for humanity.

When Jesus ascended to heaven He sent His Holy Spirit to make us into the Church.

Time passes very quickly and it’s easy to let life pass you by
Ephesians 5: 15 -16

Make the most of the time because the days are evil.

God has given us a responsibility as to what we do with our lives.

What motivates you?
Money?
Family?
??

These are all part of life and there are so many things we can give our lives to and spend time with.

PEOPLE we live alongside are SO important.

There are things we can be proud of … the car we have, our family, our salary, house, lifestyle… all of which are important… but is this what God has put us here for?

What effect do we have on people?

Church is about that – relating to each other
Ephesians 1: 22-23

Church is the body of which He is the head, and is the fullness of Him… He is in everything … referring to people

Church is US… people!

It makes us see church in a different light – it’s all about people and can grow and make an impact.

Church is not like a business company which wants to be successful by making money.

Church is to be successful in order to impact people.

Our duty is to be the church! Not the pastor making and shaping Church, but me and you – by being the church.

We need to change our thinking.

It is our responsibility as to how things look to others… how do they see church… do you stay there or live there?

Think about the difference between a hotel and your home:

At a hotel you let the maid clear up and you can leave it a mess!

Your home is different… you own it, therefore you make it nice for people, you welcome them by caring for it… we need the same attitude about Church… how does it look? (Not just the fabric of the building, although that is vital too) Are we (you) welcoming, making Church home for people?

Two ways to see church:

1. You come to the service
2. Church is carried by everyone… each person owns it and cares for it, fabric, people, one another.

All of us are to pastor people and love one another.

The pastor can possibly connect and care for about 40 people.

Pastor’s wife can possibly also care for 40 people. Together that makes 80 connections but doesn’t give room for growth.

We can all care for each other, take time for each other; ask “How’s your week been?” “How are you?”

People have much more meaning and significance in our life than the “things” of life … they need to be our motivation.

This is a major key to church growth … each of us is responsible to have a desire for one another to do well.

Church needs to be a place where people who are totally unchurched feel at home.

God has given the church tools to reach people … the tools are you and me.

Church needs teams to encourage and serve each other to rise to the next level. Ask – what’s the next level I can rise to? What can I give? And how can I grow bigger?

Tithing/ giving … be generous … get behind the house, own it.

Make church your passion and give into that passion!

Grow in compassion in church for others; 3rd world and locally

We need to grab hold of compassion in our lives and allow it to motivate us.

What can I do for my friends?

How can I reach out to them?

LIVE FOR OTHERS… it does us good … and we become bigger people.

God is the head of the Church and is so much bigger than everything… we need to see ourselves in the light of that … we are the Church!

He is the head and we are empowered as His body to live as the Church.

Give what you have to grow the church.

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