How does our church "measure up" in the eyes of the Lord? Remember, the church is made up of people. That's you and me, so the question is really "How do we ‘measure up’ by His standards?"
"And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." (2 Cor 8:5)
I. A CHURCH CAN BE MEASURED BY HER VISION.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish…" (Prov 29:18a)
A. We need a "vision" of the unsaved at home and on the foreign field.
B. We need a vision of what our church can be, and should be, for the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. We need a vision of adding more missionaries.
1. We support 51 foreign missionaries and 12 different home missionary projects.
2. But we really need to add some more.
3. The only way we can do this is to increase our mission giving.
II. A CHURCH CAN BE MEASURED BY HER COMPASSION.
A. We need "compassion" for the lost.
"Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:31)
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." (Rom 10:1)
"And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 1:21-23)
B. We need "compassion " for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
"That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."(1 Co 12:25-27)
C. We need "compassion" for those in our city.
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." (Mat 9:36).
IV. A CHURCH CAN BE MEASURED BY HER ALTAR.
A. The "altar" is where we offer ourselves draw near to God, and examine our hearts.
B. The "altar" speaks of confession and making things right with God. (1 John 1:9)
C. The "altar" speaks of surrender.
"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:6)
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Gal 2:20)
D. The church exists for two basic purposes.
1. Gathering in.
2. Sending out.
How do we measure up as a church? What about personally? Are we doing what God would have us do?