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Establishing Priorities Establishing Priorities In The Local Church!In The Local Church!
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
will be added to you!”(Matthew 6:33)
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
What is the top priority for this church?
1) Full-Time Preacher
2) Church Building
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
Some churches get these two things and then do nothing else for the Lord, spiritually.
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Peace – The ability to get along 1 Thessalonians 5:13
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“Think of them highly with love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”
1 Thessalonians 5:13, CEB
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Peace – The ability to get along 1 Thessalonians 5:13
2) Growth – Numerical growth Acts 2:47
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“…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Acts 2:47, KJV
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Peace – The ability to get along 1 Thessalonians 5:13
2) Growth – Numerical growth Acts 2:47
3) Soundness – Doctrinal soundness Titus 1:13; 2:1
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“This statement is true. Because of this, correct them firmly, so that they can be healthy in their faith.”
Titus 1:13, CEB
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“But you should talk in a way that is consistent with sound teaching..”
Titus 2:1, CEB
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Peace – The ability to get along 1 Thessalonians 5:13
2) Growth – Numerical growth Acts 2:47
3) Soundness – Doctrinal soundness Titus 1:13; 2:1
4) Accomplishments – Things we do Gospel meetings; VBS; Bible Correspondence
Course; Home Bible Studies; Support of Preachers
Philippians 4:15-16
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“You Philippians know from the time of my first mission work in Macedonia how no church shared in supporting my ministry except you.”
Philippians 4:15, CEB
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“You sent contributions repeatedly to take care of my needs even while I was in Thessalonica.”
Philippians 4:16, CEB
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
Questions: How would you rank the priority of
these things for this local church?
Which one would you rank # 1, # 2, # 3, and # 4?
Peace? Growth? Soundness? Accomplishments?
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Doctrinal Soundness!
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Doctrinal Soundness
Soundness ahead of peace! James 3:17
Soundness ahead of numerical growth! 1 Kings 18:22
Soundness ahead of accomplishments! 1 Samuel 15:20-22
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Doctrinal Soundness!
2) Peace!
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“What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.”
James 3:17, CEB
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PeaceHave you ever known of local
churches so torn up with internal strife that they couldn’t even begin to reach the lost?
Two Bible Examples:Corinth
1:11; 3:3; 5:1,2; 6:1; 11:18,20,21
Thessalonica1 Thess. 1:7,8; 4:9,10
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Doctrinal Soundness!
2) Peace!
3) Accomplishments!
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AccomplishmentsIt is very important that the local church be busy doing the Lord’s work!
1 Corinthians 15:58
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“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV
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AccomplishmentsIt is very important that the local church be busy doing the Lord’s work!
1 Corinthians 15:58
We are speaking of the collective work of the church, not just individual effort.
Revelation 2:5,19
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Accomplishments
We must not sacrifice doctrinal soundness for the sake of doing what some call “good works!”Some believe the end justifies the means!Colossians 3:17
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“Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17, CEB
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Doctrinal Soundness!
2) Peace!
3) Accomplishments!
4) Numerical Growth!
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GrowthHere is an interesting fact: We have Biblical commands for soundness, peace, and accomplishment, yet none at all for numerical growth!
But we do have a command for spiritual growth.2 Peter 3:18
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“…Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him belongs glory now and forever. ”
2 Peter 3:18, CEB
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GrowthDoes this mean that numerical growth is not important? Not at all!Acts 2:41; 4:4
The principle of “Divine Subtraction!”Acts 5:1-11
Numerical growth will take care of itself when all other things are in their proper place … then the glory belongs to God!
1 Corinthians 3:6
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“I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow. ”
1 Corinthians 3:6, CEB
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Growth
If local churches make numerical growth their number one priority, sooner or later doctrinal soundness is sacrificed!
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Establishing Priorities In The Local Church
1) Doctrinal Soundness!
2) Peace!
3) Accomplishments!
4) Numerical Growth!
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