I Will Not Let Church Be About My Preferences*
I Will Not Let Church Be About My Preferences
Mark 9:35
As some children because of immaturity and poor training can be selfish and demanding, people in church can behave in the same ways if not worse.
- The Motif of the Servant
The Word Servant Occurs 57x in NT, Serve occurs 58
Jesus said that we were to be a servant to ALL
Paul said we must be servants as well
Ephesians 3:7
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
- The Message of the Survey
10 dominant behavior patterns of members in declining churches
- Worship wars.
- Prolonged minutia meetings.
Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
- Facility focus.
- Program driven.
- Inwardly focused budget.
- Inordinate demands for pastoral care.
- Attitudes of entitlement.
- Greater concern about change than the gospel.
- Anger & hostility.
- Evangelistic apathy.
- The Mind of Christ
This attitude should be representative, not remarkable
Philippians 2:5–11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Pledge
I am a church member. I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires.
That is self-serving. I am a member in this church to serve others and to serve Christ.
My Savior went to a cross for me. I can deal with any inconveniences and matters that just aren’t my preference or style.
Heavily excerpted from I am a church member by Thom Rainer