Last Sunday we had a pitch-in dinner and then followed that up with a visit to our new house of worship that included a Q&A time as well as a time for the folks to walk through the building and around the property. It was a pretty exciting time for our fellowship since we have never had a place of our own. After six years we will have our own place. It is going to seem odd going to an office we can call our own. It is going to seem odd not having to get there at 8:00 on a Sunday morning to set up chairs. It is going to seem odd not having to set up and tear down the sound equipment and drums and store everything in a little room. That date now looks to be October 3rd and not the original September 12th date, since we have some renovating and cosmetic things that need taken care of before we move in.
My original intent was to preach a 3-part series on “The Story of a House”- taking the story of the Tabernacle and Temple and applying it to our situation, then do one message on “Why We Exist” (our first Sunday in the new building), then follow that up with a series called 2:42. The first series was designed to prepare us for the move and the second was to remind us why we are here. I think it goes without saying that a subtle danger can develop if we are not careful: the concern and care of the church building can take the place of concern and care of /for individuals-both inside and outside the church fellowship. I would hope that this fellowship would be wise enough to remember that one of the reasons it started was because of the undue emphasis placed on the previous church building. It was everything to some people-from the stained glass windows (that would take about $90k to refurbish) to the words of one of the elder’s wives: “I will never ‘go to church’ in that building (they had built a multi-purpose building) since there are no stained glass windows.” Say what???? Since when does stained glass windows have anything to do with worship? Anyway, one would hope that a lesson learned would stick but human nature being what it is…well, you know. 🙂 So, I want to avoid that syndrome, as well as the idea that “we have arrived.”
With that in mind this first message is called “FOUNDATIONS.” Charles Reade once said
Sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.
We have got to start out right or we will be wobbling like a drunken sailor. If the church, like a house, is not on firm footing it will collapse. If the church (local or worldwide) ever loses sight of its purpose for being here it is doomed. If we ever lose the firm foundation upon which we are to stand, then it is will crumble. This week I am focusing on Jesus’ words in Matthew 7: 24-27, as well as His discussion with His followers in Matthew 16: 16-18. I will also be bringing in the importance of the Ark as it represented the presence of God and the Tabernacle as the temporary home of that Ark. I will be spending some time in I Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 6-7. The latter will actually be sort of an introduction to the next couple of messages. I would appreciate your prayers for me, for us, as we begin this series and this new chapter in our church life. Thanks ahead of time.
How do you counteract the feeling of worshiping the church building (without neglecting its upkeep) if you are a pastor? If you aren’t a pastor, how do you keep yourself focused on what is important?
Dan Drewes did an outstanding job on the banner for this series don’t you think? Check out his work at his site.
That is something we had to overcome going from a building to a gym.
Unusual Michael going from a building to a gym. Curious how that happened
I have not been in your situation – that is moving a church without a permit home to a permit home. I see a danger in the not setting up and tearing down because I would bet that great fellowship happens then. I would say that you make maintaining the church like setting up and tearing down – you make it a part of the fellowship. We invite the church out several times a year to work on the building and grounds as a way of fellowship.
Now to try to answer the question you ask – I try to always point to the value of relationships and the value of people. I will mention often how the church is not a building but the people. I say it a lot so that the repetition begins to sink in I am in a church that has had a building since 1925 – it has been updated a few times and with the growth we are experiencing – we are looking at expanding the Sanctuary. In all that I continue the same mantra – people are the church and a build is not – we are the temple – it is not Old Testament times.
Hope I did not ramble and this makes sense.
Jim: You didn’t ramble. The set up and tear down became “only a few” setting up and more tearing down. For those of us who were involved it was good. On the other: saying it and saying it and saying it again is a key. Thanks.
Scriptures teach that we need a strong foundation, and a strong sense of stewardship. It’s not only important to build in the appropriate place with the correct materials, it is vital to maintain what we build.
That applies to our spiritual life as well as those things which we have been entrusted with by God.
While we need to be cautious about worshiping a building, or a group, or anything else besides/before God, we need to care for and work to grow what He has allowed us to be a part of.
Hoping to stress the stewardship aspect Dusty as being more than just giving money. Being faithful is what we are all called to be. Thanks for the reminder.
Praying for you and this new exciting adventure, my friend!
Trusting and believing that you are “building” it all on the One Solid Rock.
Thank you Michelle. Will always attempt to do that.
Bill, first of all, congratulations on the new worship center!
Second, I had similar feelings as we formalized our relationship with our tribe a year or so ago.
How do we keep that sense of mission? how do we keep that anticipation of change (instead of a fear of it)? How do we keep from feeling like we’re “grown up” now?
I don’t think there is a formula, but a mindset. As long as I don’t feel those things, and as long as I keep mission on my tongue, we’ll keep from “settling in.” that’s my take.
Thanks Herb. I too agree that it is a mindset and not a formula. If formulas was all it took…
Bill, our church plant meets at a local school every Sunday and we certainly don’t worship the cafeteria! Though we yearn to have our own place, we are content because we know the building is not the church…the people are.
Congrats on the new digs and many blessings on you and your congregation!
Jay: I think with the place we were meeting it was easier to remember the church was not the building. The challenge will be heightened now. In a way it was much easier before. Thanks for the good words.
So excited for you, Bill! As far as keeping focus on the proper things, I’m just now in this situation after we rented for a number of years and now have a starting place of our own. We still need to add on for it to be fully functional, but it’s a wonderful (and miraculous) start for us. The building only exists to facilitate the mission of the church, it can never be the church. That’s what I keep reminding people of.
Thanks.
Jason: Thanks. I know you know the excitement that is there. We too need to add on badly as the building is too small for our body to meet in. But we will do what we have to do until God says, “Go.” Thanks for the next to last sentence. 🙂
Glad to hear your project is moving along. As to worshiping the building/doing the upkeep. I would hope there are some men in the church that have the ability, step up, make that their giving and relieve you of having to worry about it. As a steward there is work to do and satisfaction in getting it done.
Hopefully the building gets lots of use. Not sure of the plans but use it, use it, use it.
The lady with the stained glass fetish would make a great comedy routine. Remember the SNL Church lady.
How do I keep focused? Things are not important. People are. I don’t think it is about loving things.It is about loving people. I might be wrong but that is my take on what’s important.
Jeff: we have had men step forward already doing things to save money and because it makes them feel a part of things. My office is one of the places. 🙂 Am praying for that continued desire to help and serve. Sorry I never saw SNL (can’t stay up that late). I also hope your attitude is one we can keep: things are not important…people are. Thanks for the input.
“It is church life like this [Philippians 2:16-30] that really conquers the world, as it did the ancient world. Men and women saw something in the Christian society that they had never seen anywhere else.”
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Life of Joy and Peace (Grand Rapids, 1989), page 225
Ike: Good thot. I like Jones. He has written some powerful stuff.
I had to laugh at the comment that said, “I will never go to that church with no stained-glass windows.”
LOLLLLLLL. That’s funny. What has windows got to do with ‘true’ church? Lol.
Jaycee: I dropped my jaw when I first heard it too. However, it is true and sad that an elder’s wife has missed the picture of what church is all about. Good to hear from you!