THE CHEMISTRY FOR BIG

THE CHEMISTRY OF A BIG CHURCH 

‘When I was a child’ says the Apostle, ‘I spoke as a child – I thought as a child.’ The Apostle is, of course, reflecting on how the passage of time has brought with it stages of maturing. A person is born into this world utterly small – and not just physically small. A child’s view of the world is small. Their scope of consideration is small. Their vocabulary is small. The experiences are small. Thus, under the tutelage of their parents, their world becomes bigger. In fact, it is one of the primary roles of any parent to help their child to grow into a bigger person. 

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ,
Ephesians 4:15

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BUILDING BIGGER

Growing bigger requires building. The Apostle said that can only happen when a person is nurtured and built up with truth (Eph. 4:15). A child needs to hear the truth – especially these truths-

1. The world does not revolve around you.
   Be considerate of others. (Phil. 2:3)
   Big people celebrate the triumphs and joys of others.
2. You always have reasons to be grateful.
   Despite how unfair you think life is, be more thankful. (Col. 3:15)
   Big people are thankful for what they have rather than what they think they should have.
3. Your wealth is not measured by how much you get, but by how of it you give.
   Share your toys with others. (1Tim. 6:18)
   “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar
4. Speak well of others who have done better than you.
   Bless and do not curse. (Rom. 12:14)
5. Let go of offences and forgive as a lifestyle.
   Choose not to recall or rehearse to others how someone has hurt you. (Eph. 4:32)
   Big people are more bruised and bumped more than small people. The difference is that small people talk about their bruises more. 

Big people build people.

Big Churches aren’t about numbers because they are really churches of big people.

“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”
-Zig Ziglar

INVESTING BIGGER

¶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Second Corinthians 9:6

Children don’t see the big picture of life. Their view of life is very immediate and small. As a person grows up and gets a bigger outlook on life and their place in it, they realise that most of life’s difficulties come to pass not to stay. Big people recognise that life has seasons. There are times of sunshine. There are times of rain. There are times of flourishing and blooming. There are times of dormancy. Children don’t understand life’s seasons. Children rarely realise that life’s seasons have little to do with lengths of time and more to do with lessons over time.  

Big people don’t become big by accident, elapsed time, or just by the company they keep. They become big by investing into their souls, their hearts, their minds, their relationships, and their futures. 

Big churches aren’t limited by how last Sunday’s, or the coming Sunday’s, service went. They are limited by how much they invest. 

GROWING BIGGER

A person becomes bigger by becoming smaller. One of the clearest signs that you are in the presence of a big person is that they display the traits of teachability, keenness to learn, openness to new ways and ideas. When challenged to keep growing, the big person steps up and steps out into a time of stretching. This is why the description childishis not determined by age, but by bigness of attitude. That’s why big is not the same as old. It’s also why a person who stops growing in character and attitude becomes old before their time.

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:16

One of the hallmarks of a growing church is that its people are growing – especially its leaders. As Ephesians 4:16 challenges, there is always room for the growing believer to grow in love toward Christ and others. A big Christian leader is characterised by humility and love. 

BUILDING, INVESTING, GROWING

Please pray for me to be building my life, investing into my life, and taking the humble steps to grow my life. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same. The world is getting smaller in many ways. I think that as we each commit to our journey with Christ we can only get bigger. As we do we, will stand tall in this world of people who think they are big but are really only small. Not until they see the difference will they realise there is a difference. 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John The Baptist (speaking of Christ) John 3:30

Pastor Andrew 

Every Great Church Has These Three

THREE CHEERS FOR THESE THREE

I’m not sure why car wheels need balancing after their tyres are fitted, but without those little balancing weights strategically placed around the rim of the wheel, a car’s steering would vibrate and the car would veer one way or the other. These little counter-weights serve an invaluable role and deserve some credit. But counter-weights or “make-weights” don’t just occur on car wheels – they can be found in churches! In fact, every pastor whom God has used to lead a church to growth has never been able to do so with without those in their congregation who were counter-weights! 

PERSONALITIES, PORNOGRAPHY & PRIDE

The Corinthian Church was plagued with problems. It had suffered several church splits. There were people openly committing sexual immorality. Their church services had become known for occasions of debauchery and gluttony. And, worst of all, arrogance had set in – especially among those claiming to be the most spiritual. Yet the church was graced with three noble counter-weights: 

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.
First Corinthians 16:17-18

Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus were counter (or, as they used to be called, “make”) weights. Despite all the ungraciousness happening in their church, they were gracious and made up for its lack. The Apostle said that such people should be given due recognition. But they rarely are. They the hardy souls who make churches sweet and positive. They always lend a hand where they can. Nothing is too hard. F.W. Borehamsays of them-

It still happens that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus make up that which is lacking in our churches. But how do they do it? Never by negative methods. It is always done by something positive in their behaviour. They do not criticize or find fault or stress the weaknesses of the church to which they have attached themselves. They do not shout from the housetops that the church is cold and inhospitable; that nobody ever speaks to them; that the prayer-meeting is poorly attended and that few of the congregation read their Bibles. No, no; Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus adopt a more excellent way.F.W. Boreham, “MAKEWEIGHTS”, ‘Cliffs of Opal’, 1948, p. 66

Just like the little counter-weights on a car’s wheels, there are always some people in every church who seem to add joy and grace to that congregation. No pastor can succeed without such people! The challenge for such blessing-founts is that they rarely receive what the Apostle exhorted the rest of the church to give them: recognition. But the beauty of such people is that rarely look for it, and actually seem to shun it. 

If a car is rendered almost undriveable without these little balancing weights strategically placed around each wheel’s rim, it could be that many other facets of life are also unworkable without the “little” contributions that so many unrecognised people gladly make. I know that this is true of churches. In fact, I have come to believe that this is one of the greatest indicators of a church’s depth and maturity. While people may look at a church’s facilities, or judge it by the popularity of its preacher, or rate it by the breadth of its programs for youth and children, or even its music, I think most people evaluate a church by its tone and temperature. This is where our modern day Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus play their part. Without such grace-drenched souls in a church its tone is harsh and unforgiving and its temperature is always too cold.

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. ¶ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty
First Corinthians 12:18-23

As I have watched Geoffrey construct our new auditorium with wood, hammers and nails, I wonder how many of us will look up in our newly completely house of worship at one of those nails in the ceiling and thank God for that nail? Probably none of us. It’s no different in a spiritual house. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus just keep serving, encouraging, listening and caring, mostly without any attention or recognition at all. They are always making up for that which is lacking.

Dr. Boreham goes on to say about these noble servants of Christ that although Christ’s redemptive work was finished on the Cross, it wasn’t completed. 

‘It is finished!’ the Saviour exclaimed. It was the triumphant cry of the workman who had brought His masterpiece to absolute perfection with that finishing touch.
But think again! If Jesus, the Son of God, had died His bitter death on Calvary’s tree, and left it at that, would that have saved the world? Of course not. The world at large would never have heard of it. The tragic incident would have passed into oblivion within a year or two. Just another political execution in a Roman province! In order that the redeeming sacrifice might be made effective, and the world saved by means of it, it was necessary for the Apostles to suffer and to die in proclaiming it, for the martyrs to lay down their lives in defending it, and for missionaries like Xavier and Livingstone and Petteson and Williams and Chalmers to seal with their blood their testimony to its virtue.F.W. Boreham, “MAKEWEIGHTS”, ‘Cliffs of Opal’, 1948, p. 68

Thus, I would like to propose three cheers. One for our Stephanases. One for our Fortunatuses. And one for our Achaicuses! May God bless each one of them, for they are greatly needed by the Lord in every church as any pastor can tell you.

Pastor Andrew.

SOME OF THE BEST GIFTS

Some of the best gifts I've ever received have been ones I never wanted! I'm a gadget guy. So when I receive a gift that has no "on" button, I'm quietly confused. But I have to admit that all of the best gifts I have ever received have not been gadgets! Take the present that David Outhred gave Kim and me for our wedding. It was earthenware, pink, and went in a bathroom. It held tooth-brushes and tooth-paste...we used that gift for the first 15 years of our marriage! Then recently, Lynne Parry gave me a small, hand-made, wooden box. I had no idea what it was. But I now use this box nearly everyday! Some of the greatest, most practical, helpful, gifts in life come camouflaged with apparent ordinaryness. There is a profound life lesson here.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...
Romans 12:6a

At our home group the other week, we asked the ice-breaker question: If you could have two super-hero powers, which two would you choose? Those in our group mentioned- flying, x-ray vision, mind-reading, auto-repair, super-fast, hyper-learning-capabilities, super-strength, and so on. Disappointingly, God doesn't offer us any of these super-hero powers in the list of gift categories in the Bible. I also wonder if we sometimes regard the gifts that God has given each of us as if they were of no value - in much the same way I responded to my earthenware and wooden box?

I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
First Corinthians 7:7

I suspect that the list of 'spiritual' gifts in the New Testament are not exhaustive. That is, of the gifts mentioned in Romans 12, First Corinthians 12, and First Peter 4, I strongly suspect that God has not limited the type of gifts He gives to His children just to those mentioned in these lists. Thus, God may give someone a unique gift. It may look like a glazed pink, earthenware thingy with holes in it, or a thin, teak coloured, hinged, wooden box. And like these sort of gifts, over time you grow to deeply appreciate them - or at least you should appreciate them. I have met people who are clearly gifted - but they didn't recognise it! They do not recognise the incredible value of their 'spiritual' gift. Compared to the publicly acclaimed gifts, they feel their abilities are not even gifts - they are merely the result of training or experience. But which gift isn't developed by the God ordained means of training and experience?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17

I admire people who are great gift givers. I don't know how they do it (maybe they hav a gift for it?). They don't need to spend a lot of money to get someone a really valuable present. But imagine how they feel when the recipient of their much-thought-out gift seems to reject the gift they have been given. I wonder how God feels when His children also almost seem to despise His gifts to them? Have you met someone gifted with compassion but it was packaged in making teas and coffees (or baking, or cooking a meal, or baby-sitting)? Have you ever met someone who was gifted at organising but their gift was the package for preparing rosters, keeping records, buying supplies, putting up posters, setting out chairs, being on committees?

There are some people who cherish their God-given gifts. These are the people who gladly use them. The don't despise them. They are content with them. They regard the exercise of their gifts as a privilege. Therefore, while they appreciate it when they get it, they don't depend on the applause / acclaim / acknowledgements, of others for the significance of their gift.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
First Peter 4:10 ¶

God gives particular gifts for very good reasons. More often than not, we may never know exactly what those reasons are. But because we know God, we know that He only gives gifts strategically. For example, I suspect that those with the gift of giving may have an extraordinary ability to make money. But I similarly suspect that if they fail to recognise this as an essential part of their God-given gift, they may think that their money is merely the means for them to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Inevitably, such a squandered gift leads to anguish and frustration - not comfortable contentment! The one with the gift of stewardship (managing things) may rise in the ranks of their company or organisation. They may never realise that their God-given gifts have been strategically bestowed upon them to help further the Church's potential to fulfil the Great Commission.

Do you know what gift/s God has given you? Have you embraced this gift? Are you using your gifts in the way the above Bible verses prescribe? God has an amazing (perhaps, uncanny) ability to place His children in the exact place where our particular gift is needed. The Apostle Paul discusses this in his famous chapter on how the body of Christ is fitted together with people who have different gifts. He reminds us that some gifts are prominent while most gifts are not. He helps us to see that each person's gift is needed and valuable. It reminds me of the story of King David leaving the baggage behind with those who were too tired to go on. After completing his rescue mission with his weary warriors, his men were reluctant to share their spoils with those who had remained back with the baggage.

And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike."
First Samuel 25:13, 30:24

Our church will only grow to our potential when we each contribute and pool our gifts. Those with the gift of faith tell us that they see our church much larger than what it is now. Those with the gift of encouragement remind us of this. Whatever your gift from God, it is strategically vital for God's purposes at this time that you gladly use it and surrender it back to God. Please, I beg you, do not feel that your contribution doesn't matter - or worse still - is not needed! We needed ushers who have a deep sense of their God-given gifts - and who recognise that by simply showing someone (who is struggling to see where they can sit) to where there are seats available, they may have just made it possible for a soul to come to Christ! We need intercessors to get to work. We need leaders to lead. We need those with the gift of music to play. We need those with the gift of serving to serve as if they were serving Jesus Himself. And then we each need to gain from the gifts of our brothers and sisters and pool our gifts back into our church so that we make the gear-change from being a good church to becoming a great church! By doing so, you will be playing your part in our team and literally making a difference for eternity in the lives of those yet to come to know Christ.

Ps. Andrew