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June 19,
2005
The Times are Changing
Matthew 16:13-20
Introduction
She sits on the corner of Lexington Avenue and Third Street in Danville, Kentucky.
She was an impressive structure. I drove by her everyday when I was in seminary.
Her yard was well groomed. I am sure there was no dust and her windows were spotless. Her spire reached into the sky and could be seen by everyone. Her stained glass windows were inspirational. The First United Presbyterian Church had everything needed to be a successful ministry. It only lacked one thing, people. The congregation had left years earlier and merged with another dying United Presbyterian Church in Danville. They abandoned that impressive structure, because the other church building was closer to the college. Instead of two dying churches, there was now only one. The old building was sold to a local furniture store. They sold beds where the altar once sat.
I never worshipped at First United Presbyterian Church in Danville, Kentucky, but
I can say that church changed my life. That church stands as a constant reminder to me that every church is a generation away from closing. That church was once “the church” in town, but now it is a furniture store. If it could happen there, it can
happen anywhere. It can happen here.
Body
Let me say something that will not shock you. The world is changing. Can I ask you a question? Why is it that the last group to change is the church? Generally speaking, it is my experience that churches do not like change. Churches are suspicious of change, churches are distrustful of change. Churches are fearful of change.
Churches are leery of change. Good folks don’t understand why we have to change.
If it was good enough for us in 1957, then why isn’t it good enough now? The church has come to her point in history where she must decide. Are we going to keep the folks happy who are already in the church or are we going to change and make the Gospel speak in a new generation? If we do not change then we are going to be as hip as the Amish.
This is not an easy time to be in ministry. I hope you don’t misunderstand me. I am not talking about changing the Gospel message. The Gospel speaks to all generations. I am talking about how we package the Gospel to those generations. What we need is a changing church for a changing world. If we are open to change, then God will use us. If we are not open to change then we will be as successful as First United Presbyterian Church in Danville, Kentucky.
The scripture I have selected for this morning is a familiar piece of scripture. We call it Peter’s great confession. It is one of the greatest scenes in the entire Bible. However, it is more than just a scene in a great story. It teaches us about ministry, itself. This passage teaches us three divine truths that we need to remember here at Western Reserve. There are three great points that cannot be overlooked. They demand our attention and will challenge our understanding of church. You may not like them but they are part of divine truth. Let us look at them one at a time.
Divine Truth Number One: Complacency is a church killer. Verses 13 & 14 say, “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied,”Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Now stop and think about that for a few minutes. Those were some good answers. They had compared Jesus with some of their heroes from the past. Some were content with the past, the ways things used to be. Those people were content with an Old Testament relationship with God. Complacency is a church killer.
The story tells us we cannot be content with the way things are. The world is
changing and we cannot afford to be content. Our world has many problems!
We can’t be content to just sit back and remember the past. What the world
needs is Jesus now! We have fourteen-year old girls having babies. We have prisons filling up and high school graduates that can’t read. We have marriages that are falling apart and diseases that have no cure. We have people who are starving in our world and people being abused in our own community. We can’t afford to be content as there is too much work to do. We have good church people who don’t understand who Jesus really is. They have put the Master on the same level as other religious leaders. We can’t afford to be content. In the life of the
church, we have people who major in minor things and are missing the big picture.
I was visiting a friend about fifteen years ago. He was a United Methodist pastor
and we were sitting in his office. We were just talking when the door suddenly
flew open. In came a serious looking woman holding a pot. She took that pot
and shoved it in his face. Using some powerful language she told the story about the pot. It had been purchased by some of the women of the church. Some unidentified fool in the church used it. That unidentified fool in the church had burned something in it and now it was ruined. The women of the church bought that pot and now someone had used it and burned something in that pot. For fifteen minutes, she talked about that pot. She wanted to know who ruined the pot and what he was going to do about it. Do
you know what he did? He stood up, straightened his tie and said, “We have
people going to hell, I don’t care about your pot.” For some reason she left.
In other words what he told her was complacency is a church killer. If we
could get people as excited about Jesus as they are about pots (or other minor
issues) we could solve some of our world’s ills. The church needs people with a
passion for Jesus. Complacency is a church killer. And, all of God’s people said,
“Amen!”
Divine Truth Number Two: Closed minds are ministry blockers. Verse 15 & 16 says, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Peter only got that answer one way. His mind was open. An open mind is something that God can use. A closed mind is of no use to God. A closed mind is more concerned about their opinions than God’s leading. A closed-mind says” If I can not see it, it is my job to block it.” What the church needs is open minds!
What would have happened if Moses had a closed mind at the Red Sea? What would have happened if Joshua had had a closed mind at Jericho? What would have happened if Noah would have had a closed mind when the rain started to fall?
God has always used open-minded people. He still does today.
How many negative examples do you need to illustrate this truth? The church is filled with examples. Perhaps you are an example. You came up with a wonderful idea for a new ministry. You took your idea to the church and other good church people couldn’t see it so they started to frustrate you with their opinions and concerns. They said, “That will never work here!” Or they said, “We don’t have the money! This is a poor church!” You came excited about your new idea but you left saying, “Why did I even try?” You know I am telling the truth.” It happens all the time. It happened to me.
When I first told people I was going into the ministry, do you know what my family and friends did? They laughed. I told them this is what God wants me to do. They said, “I am sorry I don’t see it. You are not smart enough. You don’t read enough. You are not serious enough. I can’t see you as a minister.” I graduated from seminary and was ordained with no help from family or friends, only God. I had leaders in this annual conference that couldn’t see me in the ministry. They put road blocks up to frustrate me and it worked. I was frustrated. But next week I will be at annual conference at Lakeside and I will see some of those people. I am going to be reappointed to this church for my twelfth year. This church is growing and we are making progress but their churches are stagnant or dieing. One of those doubters is now a district Superintendent and she wishes I would service a church in her area. I know I shouldn’t admit this but I will shove my success in their faces and their closed minds. What the church needs at every level are some open minds. And, all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
Divine Truth Number Three: Unempowered saints are vision busters. Verse seventeen tells us that Jesus is going to give him the power to do the work of the church. Empowered saints understand that God will provide. Unempowered saints will give you two-hundred reasons why we will fail. You have heard them. We don’t have the people to pull that off. How are we ever going to pay for that? The church should be run like a business. Unempowered saints are preoccupied with ministers from the past. Empowered saints understand that God isn’t through with us yet. God is still empowering the church to minister to our changing world. Underpowered saints are vision busters. We need some empowered saints in the life of this church. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
Conclusion
The First United Presbyterian Church of Danville, Kentucky changed
my life. Her lawn was well groomed. Her windows were clean and there wasn’t any dust. Her spire reached into the heavens and inspired the entire community.
The only thing they were missing was people. That wonderful church building was now a furniture store.
They needed to hear what we need to hear. Complacency is a church killer. The church needs people who have a passion for Jesus. Closed minds are ministry blockers. The church needs people with an open mind. Underpowered saints are vision busters. The church needs empowered people, who know God isn’t done with us yet. The is in the disciple making business, nothing else really matters. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
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