LOCAL CHURCH - Membership - Lesson 2/3

As we continued in our study "Why should I "JOIN" a local church?", we looked at the seven statements you make when you join a local church. Next week we will complete this three-part study.

Beginning May 8th

LOCAL CHURCH - Membership - Lesson 1/3

Today we completed lesson one of a three-part (church-wide) series titled "Why Should I 'Join' a Local Church?"

Statistics show a growing decline in church membership across America.  With approximately 300,000 to 350,000 churches, the average attendance is estimated at 180 people each Sunday. The number is small because the majority of churches in the U.S. (280,000+) have weekly attendances of less than 500 and more than half of those churches (177,000) have attendances of less than 100. Most of the growth is found in the mega-churches having attendances exceeding 10,000. So what does this tell us? Why are church goers opting for the large mega churches? Could it be that people are looking for a place where they can be entertained and not be held accountable? Could it be that the motive for attending church is no longer to serve, but to be served?

Throughout the New Testament we see that the word "church" almost always is referring to a specific, local church, such as the church in Rome or the church in Corinth, or Ephesus, etc. As we looked today at numerous situations in scripture, we deduced that joining a local church and becoming a member of a local fellowship of believers was a fundamental commitment made by early Christians

Next week (lesson 2) we will look at what happens after a believer in Christ becomes a member of a local church.

HAPPINESS - Complete Joy!

The true source of joy (happiness) is described in 1 John 1:1-4:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

John walked with Jesus. He saw Christ with his own eyes; heard Him with his ears; touched Him with his hands. John had fellowship with Jesus on a daily basis. John is emphatic in his proclamation of the reality of Jesus Christ. He tells us that complete joy (full joy) is found in our fellowship with Christ.

As John continues to write, he tells us that we can only find this full joy--complete joy--when we are walking in the light. However, John also knows that many say they walk in the light when, in reality, they are walking in darkness. Fellowship with Jesus is not possible when we walk in darkness, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1:5)

John states that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1:9) When we acknowledge our sin and confess it, only then can we have fellowship with God.

You know your "joy is full" when the fellowship you have with God is REAL! It can only be real when we are walking in the light--confessed of our sin--and letting everything else go.

Jesus spent the last day of His earthly journey focused on sharing basic truths that are the foundation of the life of a Christian. He shared these truths in the Temple area with the those who would listen and with His disciples during the Passover feast and as they journeyed  to the Garden.

John's writings carry a strong undertone of what Jesus must have shared in those last few hours. The message Jesus shared was that we must "love one another"; that we must "walk in the light"; and that "through brokenness, God is glorified". Jesus prayed to the Father "... that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." (John 17:13).

Do you long for deep and enduring happiness? Do you want to have "complete joy"? You will find it when the fellowship you have with God is REAL."

HAPPINESS - Habits of Happiness (Part 4)

Today we completed Habits of Happiness and started the next section in our Happiness series, Showers of Blessing.

A life of blessing should be the normal life of a Christian. A blessing is the working of God where there is nothing to account for His working. Regardless of what you are doing, how diligent you do it, how much you pray about it, or the faith you have regarding what you are doing, without God's blessing, all of your efforts will be in vain. "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

When God blesses, the results are widespread, long-lasting, and very powerful. "...I will...pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) An example of the power of God's blessing was seen when Jesus took five loaves and two fishes and fed 5,000 people--with twelve baskets of food left over. Now that is a blessing!

How do you ensure that you are in a position to receive a blessing? How can you know if God will bless what you are doing? 

Next week I will show you the most graphic, substantive, potent, positive, powerful description of how you can experience the reality of God and how that reality is activated in your everyday life in the form of blessings.

HAPPINESS - Habits of Happiness (Part 3)

Today we made it to the first of four steps in "How To Be Happy No Matter What". As we looked at the state of Paul's life leading up to the point when he wrote the book of Philippians, we see a man who has every reason NOT to be happy. Regardless of his troubles, he writes, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Goodness of Christ." (Phil. 1:23) "WHATEVER"? That is a BIG word. But, yes, whatever is exactly what Paul meant. It's all about our truly embracing God's sovereignty in ALL circumstances. Living any other way is practicing practical atheism--or living as if there is no God.

We all have problems, pains, and trials--although nothing in comparison to Paul--they are real to each of us and rob us of our happiness. In the focal passage (Phil. 1:12-30) we learn from Paul that in order to be happy, no matter what, the first thing we must do is...

1. Look at every problem from God's viewpoint: "I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that EVERYTHING that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News." (Phil. 1:12)

Paul's dream was to preach in the Colosseum in Rome--the center of the modern world. God had a different plan for Paul. However, as we now know, it was a much better and more effective plan. Paul might not have stood before thousands in the Colosseum, he did, however, preach and witness to over 4,000 Praetorian Guards (prestigious guards of the emperor--Nero) assigned to guard him--one-on-one. He also had opportunities to preach to many of the Royal family members--something he more than likely could never have done outside of God's plan. It is only one of many examples of how what often appears to be a problem to us is quite different when viewed from God's perspective.

Instead of having when and what thinking, we need to learn how to be "happy in the now"--savoring life in the moment--the now! Don't let the pressures of life squeeze your thinking in such a way that your field of vision is limited to the narrow view of your worries, pains, regrets, fears, and troubles of yesterday and tomorrow (things in tomorrow that have not even happened and--most likely--never will). Choose to live in the NOW! "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Next week we will continue with the remaining 3 steps in "How To Be Happy No Matter What".

HAPPINESS - Habits of Happiness (Part 2)

We learned today that statistically, the ranking of Alabamians on the "happy meter" is next to last out of all the states in America. The survey conducted by Wallet Hub looked at emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community, environment & recreational activities. Actually, the states with the lowest ranking for happiness were clustered in the South while the most happy states were in the Midwest and North. If you want to dig into the details of the survey you can find it here: Happy Survey.

For those who are in Christ and seeking to walk in God's purpose and will, the most important variables that determine our happiness are: 1) our belief that God is sovereign in all circumstances --both good and bad-- and 2) to maintain an eternal perspective. These two attitudes are the foundation to our happiness. Every situation must be accepted as God's sovereignty. The moment we credit circumstance to chance, we are in affect saying God is not who He claims to be in His word. In our troubles, pains, and suffering God always has a divine purpose--to glorify Himself through our lives.

He wants us to come to Him in our suffering, but He also wants us to trust Him. As we do, the need for an eternal perspective is so very important. When we focus on our eternal home in Heaven and try to see the circumstances of our brief lives from God's perspective, we are rocketed to another level.

The results of our two poll questions from today's class are below:

1. When it comes to God being sovereign over EVERYTHING--Good and Bad--my level of belief is approximately...

A. 100% - I believe God controls every circumstance, without exception - 96%
B. Somewhere between 50% and 90%. Some things JUST HAPPEN. - 4%
C. Less than 50%. I think God only gets involved in important events. - 0%

2. In regard to happiness, how important is perspective?
A. It is everything! - 64%
B. It helps. - 36%
C. Happiness is based mostly on what we do, not how we think. - 0%

The results from our three poll questions from last week's class are below:

1. Do you know of habits in your life that, from time-to-time, hinder your happiness?
A. Yes. I know of one or more habits I would like to reverse. - 100%
B. No. None of my habits hinder my happiness.
C. I don't think habits, good or bad, affect a person's happiness.

2. If you know a habit (behavior) of yours might cause a fellow believer to stumble, what would you do?
A. Try to break the habit and change my behavior. - 78%
B. Try to hide the habit/behavior from those it might cause to stumble. - 22%
C. Do nothing. As long as I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm not responsible for other believers. - 0%

3. Is a Christian leader held to a higher standard than other Christians?
A. Yes. - 100%
B. No.
C. Yes, but only when serving in the leadership position.

HAPPINESS - Habits of Happiness (Part 1)

The two most important points of this lesson are:

1. God is sovereign - "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that he pleases." (Psalm 115:3)

The implication of this verse is that God has the right and power to do whatever makes Him happy. He makes all things work together for His glory. That is what it means to say that God is sovereign. If God were not sovereign, if the world He made were out of control, frustrating His design again and again, God would not be happy. Since God is sovereign and can do anything He pleases, none of His purposes can be frustrated. Thankfully so, for we--as His children--cannot enjoy fellowship with our Father if He is unhappy. Therefore we can safely say that the foundation of the happiness of God is the sovereignty of God (John Piper). Bottom line: There is no such thing as mere coincidence. If you believe that God is sovereign, then you are well on your way to living a life of happiness.

2. Keep an eternal perspective - "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." (Colossians 3:2); "Whose end is destruction...who set their mind on earthly things." (Philippians 3:19)

Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17:

¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus was very clear in His prayer. Those who are in Christ are to be in the world but not of the world. The "world" is not a location but a system. Satan is the ruler of this earth (cosmos) but can only do what God allows. The people who live a life of the world function apart from God.

The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God. We must set our minds on the things that are above (in the heavens) and not on earth. When we do, we will then begin to understand how the sovereignty of God is the key to our enduring happiness.