Big Church, Small Church - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4832939444439438575.post-46493004070967294122008-02-17T10:30:00.000-06:002008-03-17T13:49:11.553-06:002008-03-17T13:49:11.553-06:00Big Church, Small Church - Pastor Kenneth Woolf<a href="http://www.newlifecotr.com/media/Audio/February%202008/Big%20Church%20Small%20Church%20Pastor%20Kenneth%20Woolf%202-17-08.mp3">Download MP3 audio </a> NEW LIFE CHURCH ON THE ROCK Sunday February 17, 20008 BIG CHURCH….SMALL CHURCH INTRODUCTION: We want to be a Life-Giving Church. After the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 what we call the “Early Church” was birthed. We are going to take a look at the early church and discover a pattern we like to use for how we do church. Acts 2:41-47- Turn and Read Sounds exciting! Church should be the most exciting entity on earth. But there is a key principal we need to understand. Acts 20:20- Turn and Read The Bible wants our church to do two things-they seem opposite. WE BELIEVE OUR CHURCH MUST GROW LARGER AND SMALLER AT THE SAME TIME! Today we’re going to talk about big church and small church and why both are important. BIG CHURCH: People who prefer small church usually say... I. We need quality not quantity. I say we can have both. II. God isn’t interested in numbers. God has the hairs of your head numbered. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. If I lost one of my kids would I say well I’ve got the other one? 50% isn’t bad. No I care about every one of them! Every number is a person, every person is a soul! III. Big Church’s are impersonal. Yes they can be. But I’ve seen and been a part of many smaller churches that are impersonal and unfriendly. THAT’S WHY THERE SAMLL! They’ve bought Sea World and closed the gates and are watching the fish do tricks! TRANSITION: Here’s the truth about Big Church and why God wants it big. I. God wants everyone to be saved. The church exists to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ! Matthew 28:19,20- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you to the very end of the age.” Mark 16:15- “He said to them, God into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” As long as there are lost people we have no choice. The Church isn’t here for just us. We must always make room for other people. Luke 14:23(LB)-“Go out into the country…and urge anyone you find to come in, so that my house will be full.” “But I like a small church.” If we don’t want our churches to grow we’re telling our neighbors and our city that they can go to hell. Why does God want it big? God wants everyone to be saved. II. There is strength in numbers. There are so many things you can’t do small that you can do big! You can accomplish something bigger than just yourself! Ecclesiastes 4:12- “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Here’s the third truth about big church. III. We must make relationships a core value. God doesn’t want churches to be impersonal but we must buy into this key principal. 1Thessalonians 2:8- “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” TRANSITION: God wants everyone to be saved. There is strength in numbers. We must make relationships our core value. THAT’S BIG CHURCH! SMALL CHURCH Big churches can be very effective-But it’s not all about being big. God also wants the church to be small. How is that accomplished? SMALL GROUPS! Many people don’t want to be part of a small group. Here’s what they say. ….IT’S A WASTE OF TIME. I don’t need another thing to do. …IT’S NOT WHAT I WANT OR NEED. I want to be with my friends doing what I like. …IT’S AWKWARD We sit in a room and everybody holds hands and I’m asked to share my darkest secrets. HERE’S THE TRUTH ABOUT SMALL CHURCH I. IT’S A PLACE YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE It’s not a waste of time. Some people will never come to a church service but they’ll attend a small group. It’s a way to reach people and teach people. 1Corinthians 9:22(LB)- “…yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.” II. IT’S A PLACE YOU CAN GROW All of us need to grow in our in an area. Proverbs 27:17- “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” III. IT’S A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME Remember the words to the “Cheers” theme song? “Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same. You want to go where everybody knows your name.” That should be church, not a bar! In small groups you can be prayed for by name every week. Develop relationships that help you in a crisis. 1John 3:16(NLT)- “We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.” CONCLUSION: Now –if you’re perfect and have it all together-we’re probably not for you. If you have a few hang-ups. If you have a few loose screws. If you’d have a past you’ve like to get rid of. THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOU! Today I encourage you to be part of Big Church, Small Church. Quirinusnoreply@blogger.com