building a great church

The Equipping Christian Ministry

The G–R– E– A– T Church

Three Churches and

Three CHURCH WORKERS

Jerry Akinsola, [email protected]

+2348033804982

mailto:[email protected]

The Equipping Christian Ministry 04/18/2023TECM: Jerry Akinsola 2

THE STORY OF HIGHPOINT CHURCH OF CHRIST

• The Highpoint Church of Christ exceeded her 2013 financial budget by forty percent. That year her total income was more than ninety million Naira.

• Last year she experienced many surprises.– Someone donated a Bus to the church.– Another group awarded financial scholarships

to 15 students. – The church also acquired more landed property.


THE STORY OF HIGHPOINT CHURCH OF CHRIST

But• About 80% of her members are usually not

available for any other church ministry except for Sunday morning worship.

• The youth and adult treat each other with suspicion on issues of doctrines.

• Most members vote along ethnic lines on almost every issue.


THE STORY OF HIGHPOINT CHURCH OF CHRIST … contd

• Less than 10% of the members are available for service responsibilities. Her officers are often recycled

• Most of her ‘volunteer workers ‘feed’ on the church. (They make themselves available because of what they will ‘gain’ materially)

• There are even rumours of secret love affairs amongst Elders and members of the church


Reflections

In your opinion• What would Christ think of this Church?• What are some factors that could be

responsible for the situation of this church?


Reflections

• What is the future of Highpoint Church of Christ if the situation is not arrested and reversed?

• In what way(s) is your church like Highpoint Church of Christ?

• What must we do to avoid becoming like Highpoint Church of Christ?


God is watching

• Revelation 2 and 3 reveals that God examines churches.

• The report card of a church is usually the sum total of the people who worship there.

• Sick Churches irritate God. God expects every church to grow.


What does God see…? Three Common Churches

Categories of Local ChurchesDying• Most Leaders are unsaved• Morally Unfit• Worship Men or Money• Governed by ‘tradition’• Celebrates the past



Categories of Local ChurchesDying• Most Leaders are

unsaved• Morally Unfit• Worship Men or

Money• Governed by

‘tradition’• Celebrates the past

Paralysed• Spiritual Babes Lead• Members lack commitment• Worship as Entertainment• Legalism• Distracted by accomplishments



Categories of Local ChurchesDying• Most Leaders are

unsaved• Morally Unfit• Worship Men or

Money• Governed by

‘tradition’• Celebrates the

past

Paralysed• Spiritual Babes Lead• Members lack

commitment• Worship as

Entertainment• Legalism• Distracted by

accomplishments

G R E A T


The G R E A T Church is the Church that…

• Grows through Evangelism – Luke 14:23– "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the

roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. Luke 14:23 (NIV)

• Relevant Ministries - 1 Cor.9:19-22– I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as

possible. To the Jews … To those under the law… To those not having the law.… To the weak… I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (NIV)



• Equips Believers for Service- Eph. 4:12– … to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for

building up the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:12 (NRSV)

• Absorbs New Members- Acts 2:47– … praising God and having the goodwill of all the

people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 (NRSV)



• Teach and Preach Christ -Acts 5:42–And every day in the temple and at

home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. Acts 5:42 (NRSV)



Grows through Evangelism – Luke 14:23

Relevant Ministries - 1 Cor.9:19-22

Equips Believers for Service- Eph. 4:12

Absorbs New Members- Acts 2:47

Teach and Preach Christ - Acts 5:42


Five Activities (Habits) of G R E A T Churches

• Invite - They Make Contact and Promote

• Inspire – They connect with the ‘inner man’ through their worship, stories and conduct

• Instruct – They Communicate Christ and expectations (brand)


Five Activities (Habits) of G R E A T Churches

• Involve – They encourage or demand participation in group life.

• Invest - They in upgrade their Leaders competence


What do we need to become a G R E A T Church? - PEOPLE

We cannot have a church without people.

• A church cannot be greater than the quality of its leaders and members.

• What type of a leader or member are you?


A Portrait of Three Church Workers

• In the third letter of John we have a picture of three Church members and their impact on the ministry.

• The reason for this study is to examine ourselves in light of these three Church members. We will pay special attention to the impact of their actions on others. We will also suggest ways of becoming the kind of worker that is pleasing to God.


A PORTRAIT OF THREE CHURCH WORKERS

Name Description RelationshipWith Others

PossibleResult

GAIUS Vs1-8

Demetrius Vs. 12

DiotrephesVs 9-11

TruthfulGenerous

Warm

Well spoken

Dominating: Loves to be Centre of Attention

Needs will be met;Church grows

Stability maintained

Destroys

LovingHospitable

Truthful

PHDHostileDiscouragesScatters


Those who think they are too big to do little things, are actually too little to be asked to do big things.


5 Common Practices of Members of G R E A T Churches

• Praise : They commend what is good• Pinch: They speak redemptively against

what is wrong• Pray: They intercede for the church• Promote: They magnify the strength of

others• Provide: The meet the needs of their

ministers, missionaries and the needy


What I will do to make our Church GREAT….

• I will seek to honour God by obeying Him and being a solution rather than the problem. I will be light.

• I will be a participant and not a spectator. I will participate in worship and ministries.

• I will use my gifts, talents and resources to promote Kingdom causes (Ministers and ministries) and meet needs


What I will do to make our Church GREAT….

• I will be a life-long learner.

• I will seek to develop others to enable them to be Christ- Like and fruitful

• I will be Accommodating.


Three by Three :Examination

• Which of these three is our church: Dying, Paralysed or Growing?

• Are you a Gaius- giving generously? A Demetrius-loving the truth? Or a Dioptrephes – desiring attention

• If this church is going to be the church our Master wants it to be the journey must start and continue with you.

• Be a Gauis so that we can have a G R E A T church. Be committed.

building a great church

Spiritual

church ministry

church workers jerry

sick churches

unfit worship men

morning worship

entertainment legalism

accomplishments g r

financial scholarships