July 3, 2006

Today is the 3d of July, the day before Independence Day in the United States. We give thanks to all of the men and women who have given their lives to keep our country free. Of even greater significance is the fact that Jesus gave His life that all who believe in Him might be freed from sin and Hell.

Thanks for joining us today. We will continue to talk about when God builds a church.

Encourage your workers. Volunteers and staff members are motivated by genuine encouragement. Talk about them positively. Mention them frequently in sermons. To be effective and genuine, your encouragement needs to be specific, not general; honest, not flattering; occasional, not incessant; and balanced with occasional correction. If people know that you will tell them the true when they need to be corrected, your encouragement means a lot more to them.

 

Prepare people properly by making sure that they get proper training. Give them the tools that they need to do their jobs effectively. Volunteers get frustrated if they feel that they have not been properly prepared. On the other hand, they are encouraged when they feel like they have been properly prepared. Reward your volunteers generously with creative thank-you notes and appreciation banquets.

 

For your church to grow, your members must grow spiritually so they can do the work of the ministry. If your church is going to reach its maximum potential, then all members must begin to see themselves as ministers and priests, doing their part to see that the work of the ministry is done.

 

If you want your church to grow, then learn how to love one another. You need the fellowship of other believers to grow and to be held accountable and other Christians need you. You can’t have life away from the body. How can you do that unless you regularly fellowship with one another and build relationships with each other? It’s a boost to your spirit if every week you see people who share your values and are trying to walk in the light.

 

The research of Thom Rainer has shown that the most effective way of closing the back door and assimilating people was the old-fashioned Sunday-school method. That’s where people get to know each other the best. The Sunday-school class is a natural first step for people who want to move from the congregation to deeper relationships. In the classroom setting, you can still maintain a certain amount of privacy and anonymity when you first attend, and you can take the time to develop natural friendships. The Sunday-school is the only environment where a certain type of objective study of God’s Word can be accomplished.

 

People will join in recreational events like softball leagues and volleyball leagues more quickly then they’ll join a Sunday-school class. If it brings people into the church, then a sports program is beneficial. Recreation also provides wonderful opportunities for relationship building within the church. Have a devotional and prayer before every practice and ask for prayer requests. Recreational ministry is especially beneficial to men.

 

The church should be a place of healing. Too often the pastor tries to be the only one ministering to the hurting when it should be the duty of the entire church. Those who are battling against sinful habits or who are dealing with deep emotional hurts deal best with those hurts if they can surround themselves with others who are fighting and winning similar battles. Regularly scheduled support groups.

 

We are being hypocritical if we attempt to minister to someone’s spiritual needs but are unwilling to minister to their physical needs. The benevolence committee prays with all who interview and gives them a Bible, tracts about how to become a Christian, information about the church, and notices about upcoming financial seminars. You can write checks directly to their creditors, have a food pantry, give gas vouchers, and gift certificates.

Remember to visit www.thegreatcommissionchurch.org our wonderful sponsors.  Until tomorrow, thanks, and God bless.Pastor Bob Emery