Years ago I preached a sermon with the title: “Why Good Things Happen At Church.” I have no idea what I said–I only remember the title.
I do remember we had seen good things happening at church, and I wanted to reinforce good decisions and attitudes.
Though I really don’t remember what I said or even my outline, I’m sure it went something like this (because these are reasons why good things happen at church).
First, we pray. Prayer must be the first–not the last–thing we do. Often, we make prayer a last resort. It is really the first option for those who wish to access the blessings and guidance of God. It is also the first option for those who want to see good things happen at church.
Second, we recognize “it’s not about me; it’s all about God.” You may not know why good things happen, but we all know why bad things happen at church–people think of themselves and leave God out of the church. Good things happen when we put God first. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Churches often fail because the people of the church think about themselves and ignore God.
Third, the Bible is preached and lived and the Gospel is front and center in the church. If the church is “me-centered,” it will fail. If it is God-centered, we will experience the blessings which God bestows.
Fourth, we emphasize transformed lives.
Finally, we put on the mind of Christ. Having the mind of Christ produces good attitudes and Christ-like actions. Paul urged the believers at Philippi to take up the mind of Christ. He saw the mind of Christ as the answer to disunity and self-centeredness.
There are many other reasons why good things happen at church. Would you join me in practicing all you know to make good things happen at church?
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2 Responses
Taking on the Mind of Christ is the Theme of all of Scripture.
The Greatest Commandment?
“You shall Love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 37-40 Holman
As I explained to the Muslim Lady earlier this week, who knows Jesus as a prophet and who believes we are to Love God with all our heart soul and mind, we miss the understanding of the: loving your neighbor as yourself part.
For we are to show our Love for God by taking upon ourselves the Character of God. Jesus represented the Character of God in the flesh. That same flesh representation is also required of us. We are to be “the Light of the World.” We are to Love with God’s Love which by His Design is intended to flow through us, among us (Romans 12:5) to others. Who does it flow through to? Our neighbors are to be the recipients of God’s Love through us and we are to want them to have It, even as we want and need It. Indeed, it is more Blessed to Give than to receive. The one who gives becomes the flavor of Life, Life more abundantly with flavor, real flavor that changes things, brings Joy.
It is a Joy to see the faces when the stories are told at the Jefferson Parish Museum of God in the lives represented. It was a Joy to carry the Grand Marshal and his bride of 73 years on St. Patrick’s Day this year. The forty-third year since both the St. Patrick’s Committee of Metairie was formed and the Jefferson Parish Museum was registered with the State of Louisiana. Grand Marshal Johnny recounted the meeting of Fred Matthew and his 1908 Model ‘T’ Ford by the Museum when he happened by, when it all began. Lives transformed to the Glory of their Lord. “Just as I am, come.”
“Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 Holman
Romans 12:5 in action is why good things happen at Church. Because Romans 12:5 doesn’t happen without grasping and doing all that brought Paul to that point in his teaching and acting on Romans 12: 1-4.
Blessings
Just ran across a quote that may be of interest apropos to the season:
“The hardest thing in the world to understand is income taxes.” Albert Einstein
🙂
Blessings