Coleman Memorial Chapel:A Great Church
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them
all.”–Acts 4:33.
I believe the Coleman Memorial Chapel is a great church! God is doing great things! But there is greater still to come…revival is in progress, but it needs to continue and grow…mercy drops need to give way to showers of blessing!
What is a great church? Some like a big church, some a small church. You have to wonder about the ones who want to stay small, not reaching out! Some like a country church, some a city church…I’ve been in both. I’m glad we have all types around here and all are welcome!
You might be in a country church if:
The Call to Worship is ,”Y’all come on in!”
The Preacher says, “I’d like to ask Bubba to pray for the
offering” - and five guys stand up.
Opening day of deer hunting season is recognized as an
official church holiday.
A member requests to be buried in his truck
because, “I ain’t never been in a hole I couldn’t get me out of”.
Never in its entire 100-year history has one of its pastors had
to buy any meat or vegetables.
A singing group is known as “The O.K. Chorale.”
There’s dried tobacco juice down both sides of the church van.
The church directory doesn’t have last names.
The only time people lock their cars in the parking lot is during the
summer and only so no one leaves them another bag of tomatoes!
Baptism is referred to as “branding.”
There is a special fund-raiser for a new septic tank.
Finding and returning lost sheep is not just a parable.
High notes on the organ set dogs in the parking lot to howling.
People wonder when Jesus fed the 5,000 whether the two
fish were bass or catfish.
The great church at Jerusalem is our God-given example of
“how to do it.” These folk got in touch with Heaven, received
their orders and the power to carry them out and please God. In
this day, when hundreds of churches are like dead batteries,
giving out their sermonettes to Christianettes by preacherettes
so they can get out and smoke their cigarettes, we need some
“prophets” who will stand up like the Rock of Gibraltar and build a
mighty fortress for God.
Let me share with you seven things that made the early New
Testament church one of the greatest the world has ever known.
I. THEY HAD A GREAT PURPOSE
Their purpose was to obey the Savior. Jesus had asked them
to tarry in the Upper Room. He said, “But tarry ye in the city
of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke
24:49). Obedience is always a vital link to power and blessing
from God. Someone has said, “Ours is not to reason why; ours is but to do or die.”
Then, their purpose was to obtain the promise. The promise,
of course, was the blessed Holy Spirit. Jesus had promised in
Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you . . .” This promise is made to every person
who desires to receive it from the Lord.
Their purpose was to offer the Gospel. They were to be
witnesses . . .”both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Peter stood before the great crowd in the streets of Jerusalem
and offered the Gospel to the Jews from many nations. The sermon
was simple, and his purpose was plain. He wanted to help people
get to Heaven.
II. THEY HAD GREAT PREACHING
Peter was an ordinary man and not really a great preacher,
but the content of his sermon was great preaching. Great preaching in the early church had a 3 fold characteristic: It exalted the Savior, it edified the saints, and it exposed sin. These great
characteristics are present in all great sermons. [The last 2 are important: Make sure you can be lifted up by cutting the ties that hold you down.] Three thousand people responded to the invitation and then five thousand, at a later sermon. No one can deny that this is great preaching!
III. THEY HAD GREAT POWER
The power at Pentecost was the same used at creation, to
divide the Red Sea, to keep Daniel safe in the lions’ den, and to
rescue the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace. This
was also the same power that turned the water to wine, healed multitudes, fed the five thousand, gave sight to the blind man and raised Lazarus from the dead. This great power is available to every Christian who will seek God and pay the price. Notice this power depends on certain things. It is dependent upon…a clean life. God will not fill a dirty vessel with His Holy Spirit power. We must be clean. It depends on consistent walking. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The fly-by-night, blow-hot-blow-cold, in-and-out kind of Christianity does not know the power of God. Then, great power depends on continual asking. Great power comes thru great prayer. Will you pray for me, for your church, and for its members every day?
Jesus said, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? . . .How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11,13).
Consider David…God used him greatly for good reasons:
David had a willing heart. When the Lord looked into his heart,
He saw a boy . . .”after his own heart” (I Sam. 13:14). His
motives were pure, his life was clean, and he was ready to go
where the Lord led. David also had a wise head. He was wise enough to wait
until the proper time to claim the throne. His experience of
victory over the bear and the lion, as well as over Goliath,
expresses a note of wisdom. David had working hands. Notice that out of eight boys,
he was the one working. This is an indication that he was more suited to be king. When the Lord recruits His workers, surely these areas of the heart, the head and the hands are of major
importance. Do this: allow preaching to speak to your head, your heart, and your hands! God is looking for a clean heart, a clear head and calloused hands. Let the Word of God put you into the Work of God by prompting you to action!
The story is told of a rich farmer in Greece who was about
to die. He told both of his sons that he had buried his
treasures in the fields. Before he could tell which field, he
passed away. The boys began to dig and turn the soil. For weeks they
worked, seeking treasures. At last and near exhaustion, they
realized that planting time was upon them. Since they had
literally plowed the fields with their digging, they agreed to
plant and wait until after the harvest to dig again.
The harvest came forth, in great abundance, because of
the deep turning of the soil. It was then that they awoke to the truth.
He had inspired them to work and labor
in the fields, and they had found a great treasure of wealth there!
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. “Work for the night is coming…”
John 4:35
IV. THEY HAD GREAT PERSECUTION
It is sad that those who do the work of God upon the earth are persecuted, but this is history. Christians have always been persecuted. Jesus said to His disciples, “In the world ye shall
have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33). The Apostle Paul promised, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him . . .” (II Tim. 2:12). These early Christians went through deep waters, and eleven
of the twelve apostles were killed in a violent way. When people really go all out to please God, there will be criticism and threatening, as there was in the early New Testament church.
And the blood of millions of Christian martyr’s was shed, and continues to be today…this concept may soon come to a country near you!And today, though Christ doesn’t ask us to die for Him, He does ask us to live for Him, which still involves paying a price of persecution. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 If you aren’t being booed at all…you’re not in the game!
V. THEY HAD GREAT PEOPLE
The people in this early Christian group were those willing to give up their very life’s work. Peter left his nets and followed Jesus. James and John were willing to forsake their fishing business and become fishers of men. These folk were willing to give up their wealth. Barnabas sold his house and laid his money at the offering table to be used for the work of God. They were willing to give up their very life. Stephen was willing to lay down his life in the street and give up his soul unto the Lord. What a blessing to look out over the congregation of people at our church and see those who have been willing to do these very same things to further the cause of Christ. It takes great people to make a great church. So many sacrifice every week, day after day, to see God’s church here succeed! We’re blessed with a faithful people that make every effort to come out to every service…thank you! We have a great message, a great mission, and great members. A church is people, not a building. We have a great people, and that makes up a great church!
VI. THEY HAD GREAT PRAISE
We read that “They continued daily with one accord . .
Praising God, and having favor with all the people . . .” (Acts
2:46,47.) As miracles took place, such as the healing of the
blind man at the gate of the Temple, all of the people joined him in praising God. David must have caught the spirit of this when he wrote Psalm 107. Five times he cried out in that Psalm, “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”There ought to be great praise for God, for the Gospel, and for His goodness. How good God is! But the world is evil. So there ought to be great praise for His grace to get us thru this world.
One shabby little old lady with gray hair listened to the testimonies of people in the church about the goodness of God. She stood to her feet and said, “I don’t have much of this world’s goods. My health is not so good. I only have two teeth, one up and one down; but, praise God, they meet together in the middle!” This certainly ought to be the attitude of all true Christians. There is always something to be thankful for. A good, positive attitude of gratitude will keep this a great church!
VII. THEY HAD GREAT PROMISES
These people had a promise of Heaven, and so do we. These people had a promise of the Holy Spirit, and so do we. They had a promise of genuine happiness, and so do we. “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (I John 2:25). Thousands of promises in the Bible are for your benefit and mine. Surely the need of this day is to analyze carefully these seven great things that this great early church had, and apply them to our situation, that we too, might always have a great church for our great and marvelous God.
Just Too Easy..
Some time ago I read about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said that all you had to do was add water and bake and you had your cake. The company couldn’t understand why it didn’t sell — until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that required only water. Apparently people thought it was too easy. So the company altered the formula and changed the directions to call for adding an egg to the mix in addition to the water. The idea worked and sales jumped dramatically.
That story reminds me of how some people react to the plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be true, even though the Bible says, “By grace you have been saved through faith…; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Eph. 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more they must do, something they must add to God’s “recipe” for salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain God’s favor and earn eternal life. But the Bible is clear — we are saved, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). Unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God has not changed His “formula” to make salvation more marketable. The gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it may sound too easy.
Positive Outlook on Life
There are some positive action steps that you can use to deal with problems in your life today.
1. Get facts and expert advice to prevent worrying unrealistically about a situation.
2. Set deadlines to make decisions , rather than ruminating endlessly.
3. Limit worrying to a “worry list” and take that list to the Lord in prayer every day until your problem is resolved.
4. Delegate chores and other responsibilities.
5. Give yourself permission to relax, and make mistakes.
6. Eat, sleep and exercise properly.
7. Try to see the humor in a situation and keep a sense of perspective.
8. De-clutter and organize your life by using calendars and to do lists.
9. Realize that you will not please everyone in your life all of the time.
10. Learn to say No.
11. Ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen and is it likely to happen.
12. Mentally, put your worries in a box with a lid and put them on the top shelf of your closet. No peeking!
To say that we are waiting on the Lord and then to go around with a sense of dread is to contradict the truth.
Philippians 4:6-9
2 Timothy 1:7
1 Peter 5:7
Great Way to Start a Fight!
1. Be sure to develop and maintain a healthy fear of conflict, letting your own feelings build up so you are in an explosive frame of mind.
2. If you must state your concerns, be as vague and general as possible. Then the other person cannot do anything practical to change the situation. 3. Assume you know all the facts and you are totally right. The use of a clinching Bible verse is helpful. Speak prophetically for truth and justice; do most of the talking.
4. With a touch of defiance, announce your willingness to talk with anyone who wishes to discuss the problem with you. But do not take steps to initiate such conversation.
5. Latch tenaciously onto whatever evidence you can find that shows the other person is merely jealous of you.
6. Judge the motivation of the other party on any previous experience that showed failure or unkindness. Keep track of any angry words.
7. If the discussion should, alas, become serious, view the issue as a win/lose struggle. Avoid possible solutions and go for total victory and unconditional surrender. Don’t get too many options on the table.
8. Pass the buck! If you are about to get cornered into a solution, indicate you are without power to settle; you need your partner, spouse, bank, whatever.
Why Should I Go To Church?
Yet membership in a confessing body is fundamental to the faithful Christian life. Failure to do so defies the explicit warning not to forsake “our assembling together.” His understanding of this prompted Martin Luther to say, “Apart from the church, salvation is impossible.” Not that the church provides salvation; God does. But because the “saved” one can’t fulfill what it means to be a Christian apart from the church, membership becomes the indispensable mark of salvation. “So highly does the Lord esteem the communion of His church,” Calvin wrote,” that He considers everyone a traitor and apostate from religion who perversely withdraws himself from any Christian society which preserves the true ministry of the word and sacraments.” Charles W. Colson, The Body, 1992, Word Publishing, p. 70.
What Do You Value?
A story is told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody named Guten-something had printed it.” “Not Gutenberg!” the book lover exclaimed in horror. “That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!” His friend was unimpressed. “Mine wouldn’t have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German.”