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Introduction: Over and again you
hear people talk about goals. To get anywhere, we have to have
some. What are our goals at the Franklin Church of Christ? No
doubt we could list goals in various ways, but allow me to express
our main goal in an understandable way. Our goal is to fill this
building with saved people and then move on to some other location
to fill with saved people. We have spent a great deal of God’s
money to build this. Frankly, it was a waste to do so if we are
going to allow it to sit slightly more than half full. We cannot
simply wave a magic wand and add another 200 people to the
congregation. To do so, we will need more elders, deacons and
evangelists. We also want to support more non-local evangelists to
be involved in saving people in other places. These goals may seem
lofty, but remember Ephesians
3:20-21. God can do more than we ask or think.
It is too easy to think of these goals in congregational
terms subconsciously removing ourselves from the picture of
attaining these goals. Our goal, however, will only be reached by
your individual work. So, as we look into a new year, let us look
at what you must do in 2008. You must make plans in three areas:
personal growth, aggressive evangelism and congregational
involvement. Discussion: I. Plans for personal growth. A.
Ephesians
4:15-16
points out that a local body is only as strong as what the
individual joints supply. Congregational growth begins with your
growth. You must plan to grow in three areas. B.
You
must improve your prayer life. We
are to pray without ceasing (I
Thessalonians 5:17). Wherever your prayer life is now,
make plans to improve it. Maybe you need to start praying
individually. Maybe you need to simply pray more. Maybe you need
to start praying with your family or with your brethren. Whatever
your individual need for improvement is, make it. C.
I
Peter 2:2
says, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow…” (ESV). This directive applies to all
of us. So, you must improve your Bible study. How much time
do you spend in your Bible? How do you read your Bible? Wherever
you are in your study habits, you need to improve them. Maybe you
need to start reading every day. Maybe you need to spend more time
reading. Maybe you need to improve how you read. Whatever your
individual need for improvement is, make it. D.
You
must plan to actively participate in every assembly and class of
this congregation. We have learned from the
Jerusalem church that success comes from devotion to worship
and learning (Acts
2:42). Don’t allow Satan to convince you that missing
won’t hurt you. Plan to be at every assembly, class, meeting,
singing and special service this congregation has. In fact, plan
to be early, so you don’t miss any part of it. And do more than
simply attend, participate actively. II.
Plans for
aggressive evangelism. A.
The Great
commission was not a suggestion (Mark
16:15). It was a command. Additionally, unless people are
converted we will not really grow. Note three areas of
improvement. B.
You
must invite and recommend this church to more people. Don’t be caught up in your fears of personal
rejection. Selflessly look at people’s souls and let them know
what is going on here. We will not find the one in a hundred who
will become a Christian by trying to figure out who is the one and
then inviting him. We find the one in a hundred, by inviting the
hundred. Make a personal goal to invite 100 people to this
congregation in the next year, only two people per week. Invite
family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, cashiers, people you stand
next to in line, etc. Look at their souls and their eternity and
this will be an easy goal to accomplish. C.
Once someone
has accepted an invitation, they will worship with us as our
guest. That one in a hundred is going to show up here to see if we
have what he is looking for: Love (John
13:35). They will not see our love if we are so caught up
in talking to one another that we let them get away without a
word. If we are going to save more souls, we have to pay attention
to the souls who come. You must meet and greet at least one
guest at every assembly. D.
Finally,
there is no evangelism unless someone teaches someone else (Romans
10:13-15). If this congregation is going to effectively
evangelize our community, you must increase your ability to
teach others. I understand that by the end of 2008 actually
conducting a study may be an unattainable goal for some. Many of
us believe we simply cannot teach. Perhaps, at present, you are
correct. If you can conduct a study, then do so. If you cannot,
then grow so you can in 2009. You must understand the great
commission was given to you as well as to preachers (Matthew
28:19-20). It is not an option. Your goal for the year may
not be to have an actual study with someone. Maybe your goal will
be to focus on personal study so you can better defend what you
believe. Maybe it will be to go with someone who is conducting a
study. Maybe you can learn how to use a prewritten series of
studies. Maybe you need to memorize scriptures that will help you
teach. Whatever the case, you must make goals to evangelize and
teach. III.
Plans for
congregational involvement. A.
We must make
goals and plans of congregational involvement, going beyond the
attendance about which we spoke earlier. Again, there are three
areas of improvement. B.
The first of
these areas is something I really do not want to talk about,
because there are so many ways it can be taken incorrectly. I have
to talk about the contribution. No one really likes to talk about
money. However, it is a necessary part of our plans. If we are
going to reach our goals congregationally, you and I must
increase our contribution. We want to be able to support more
evangelists. We want to be able to do more work locally, using
newspaper, radio, television. We want to be able to help brethren
in need whenever the need arises. This can only happen through
your contribution. I would like to simply say, “Every one needs
to increase their giving by such and such percent.” However, I
recognize that doesn’t really hit at the heart of the matter.
Nor does it explain what each of us really needs to do. Each of us
needs to review our giving and improve it. Perhaps you need to
start giving. Perhaps you need to increase your giving by a
certain percent. Perhaps you really haven’t given as you have
been prospered and you need to increase 100%, doubling your
contribution. Remember II
Corinthians 8:12. God expects from us according to what we
have, not what we don’t have. At this time of year perhaps we
can be honest about what we have when we consider the money we
devoted to decorations and gifts. We have a great deal. Each of us
needs to consider our giving, wherever you are take that step up
and grow. C.
When we
studied the Jerusalem
church two years ago, we learned that our elders and preachers
cannot meet the needs of every member in this congregation. One of
Jerusalem’s keys to success was their relationship with one
another from house to house (Acts
2:46-47). It is one thing to talk in theory about doing
things from house-to-house, it is something completely different
to actually do it. If this congregation is to grow, you must do
something with other Christians from house to house on a regular
basis. Accept the invitations of others, but do not wait for
them. You make plans to do something with other Christians. D.
Finally, as
we learn to relate with one another from house to house and to
work in circles of influence, if we are going to grow, you must
serve others. Ephesians
4:11-12 demonstrates that the work of ministry is not
exclusive to elders and preachers. Rather, it is their job to
equip us to serve. This congregation will grow based on that which
every joint supplies (Ephesians
4:15-16). What are you supplying? According to Romans
12:6-8 and I Peter 4:10-11, each of us has
different abilities and gifts from God. Our obligation is to use
them to serve each other. This week, examine yourself and see what
you are good at. What gifts and abilities do you have? How can you
use those gifts to serve others? Do not leave out any ability. Can
you cook, clean, sew, do woodwork, cut grass, visit hospitals and
nursing homes? Can you make phone calls or write notes of
encouragement? Can you invite people into your home for
encouragement? Can you lead a group study or prayer circle? Can
you spend time with someone simply listening to their problems,
advising them, encouraging them and praying with them? Can you
give someone a ride to worship? Use all of these gifts and
abilities to serve others. Conclusion: Satan wants you to believe this is too much. But remember, God’s hand is with us (Acts 11:21). By His strength and power we will reach our goals (Ephesians 3:20-21). To do it, we need you to do your part in 2008. Take time this week to establish your goals. Then get with a brother or sister in Christ to help hold you accountable. Finally, follow through. It will be an exciting year.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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