“MONDAY MORNING CHURCH”

Acts 2:41-47
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (ESV)

Bruce Larson wrote a book about missions in his church, and the first person that he mentioned was a woman who sacked items in the grocery store. She said that she prayed for everybody who walked through the line and whose groceries she sacked. She took this as a ministry for God and an extension of the kingdom of God. Too many times when we think about ministry, we think about the people we pay at church, or the person who hands out bulletins, or teaches a class; in a sense, that is ministry, but it is in-house. What we need is to get people to say and be, in reality, God’s people out in the marketplace. Every Christian needs to feel that he or she is a missionary and has a calling to the place where they work or live or spend their leisure time.
As we begin tonight to adjust our aim for visitation, we are joining in with FBC and Calvary to reach every home in Childress by Easter 2010. We will start our part on March 8, when we will do a blitz with as many people as we can going from door to door. But we need everyone who can to meet at Donny and Trica’s tonight so that we can all know what we are doing and how. All too often we have the attitude that it isn’t our job; that it belongs to someone else, but if you read the pastor’s pen this morning, you know different.

Lloyd Ogilvie tells of going to the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California, and finding that inwardly the church was strong with lots of people coming, but no real vitality. He took his leaders on a retreat to answer his four questions:

1. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
Verse 42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

1 Timothy 4:6-8
“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (ESV)

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Romans 8:2
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (NKJV)

Romans 8:3-4
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (ESV)

Romans 8:5-6
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (ESV)

Romans 8:7-8
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (ESV)

Romans 12:1-2
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)

2. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE?
Verse 46-47, “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.”

1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (ESV)


3. WHAT KIND OF LEADERS DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THAT KIND OF CHURCH?
Verse 43, “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

Who are the leaders? The leaders are the deacons, and those who are in a possession of leadership.
It takes leaders who are not afraid to make the tough decisions, to do the things that may not be popular.

4. WHAT KIND OF STAFF DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THOSE KINDS OF LEADERS?
1 Timothy 6:11-12
“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (ESV)


These four questions changed Lloyd Ogilvie’s church, answering these four questions can change our lives and our church.
One of the problems with American Christianity is that we have come to think too much of the church as an institution. That is, it is something I go to with a leader to listen to. But the church needs to be seen as a mission. It is a body of Christ working out in the world.
The question is, “Where is the church on Monday?” It is down on the car lot, it is at school, it at the store, it is wherever you are, wherever you are working.
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Sermon outline on 2/24/2009