After a Building Program: Challenges

The point: Let the challenges of the new situation become matters of deep inward spiritual passion, so that as one man, the congregation may move ahead to accomplish God's purposes.

The men of Issachar (1 Chron 12:32) are used as an example of leaders who understood their times and knew what Israel ought to do, illustrating the elders' responsibility to guide the church.

verse 32, in which the writer says concerning a certain tribe of Israelites, namely the men of Issachar, 1 Chronicles 12 and verse 32. And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. Here were men who had perception of the times, but a perception that did not hang in the

3:37 - 4:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Plead with God that the increased credibility from the new building will lead men to observe the church's life and come within the orbit of the message, resulting in conversions.

The analogy of fanatical, cultic, fly-by-night religious groups using rented spaces is used to explain why a proper church building enhances credibility in a skeptical generation.

For people have seen fanatical, cultic, fly-by-night religious groups come and go using storefronts, rented schools, and rented auditoriums for their meteoric-like ministry, which came and went as quickly as it had come. And they are skittish and nervous with references, with reference to the credibility of a church group that is either not stable enough or so other-worldly-minded that it is not concerned to have a dignified, proper place for public worship and ministry. And there is nothing wrong with that suspicion.

14:31 - 15:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Plead with God that the increased credibility from the new building will lead men to observe the church's life and come within the orbit of the message, resulting in conversions.

Martin wishes the church walls could be made of plexiglass so that anyone driving by could observe their sober, joyful worship and loving interaction, emphasizing the desire for transparency and visibility.

really true and realize that eventually we'll have some drapes over that window there's a sense in which i hope the times that we need to pull the drapes are rare i loved preaching here for two sunday nights knowing anyone driving to buy could see what was going on there is a sense in which if it were not inexpedient from many standpoints there's a sense in which i wish the walls could have been made of plexiglass so that anyone can come by and observe us in our sober but joyful worship in our serious and solemn adherence to the preaching and teaching

17:23 - 18:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second challenge is increased visibility. Drawing from Matthew 5:14-15 (city on a hill, light of the world) and Acts 2:46, 5:12-13 (early church's public presence), Martin…

The children's chorus 'This Little Light of Mine' is referenced to connect with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 about being the 'light of the world' and letting one's light shine.

gospel chapter 5 our lord speaking concerning his people as his people describes them in this very graphic language many of you children one of the first bible choruses you learned had to do with this little light of mine i'm going to let it shine well it comes from this passage matthew chapter 5 i'm not saying we teach such bible choruses in our sunday school but somewhere along the line most people learn them if they come from a christian home matthew chapter 5 verse 14 you are the light of the world

20:00 - 20:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second challenge is increased visibility. Drawing from Matthew 5:14-15 (city on a hill, light of the world) and Acts 2:46, 5:12-13 (early church's public presence), Martin…

The analogy of lighting a candle during a power failure and not putting it under a bushel is used to illustrate the importance of the church's visibility and not hiding its light.

are like a city an aggregate of people set upon a hill that cannot be hid in your corporate life and identity you are to be like an elevated city so that all who pass by cannot fail to behold you then he goes on to say you are the light of the world another image is used a city set on a hill cannot be hid neither do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel but you are the light of the world lamp and put it under a bushel but on the stand and it shines unto all that are in the house some of you kids have been around when there's been a power failure mom and dad keep some

21:26 - 22:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the increased visibility and understand that people will observe the church's activities, leading to inquiry and potential exposure to the gospel.

The story of being refused permission to put out a sandwich-board sign at the Jefferson School highlights the church's past low visibility and lack of public identity.

Did you see outside a deli or something you know that has one side facing one way and one the other and a chain in between. And we asked if we could have a such a sign just to put out on Sunday to let people know that they're in the Jefferson School where some people in business worshiping God. We were refused that permission. They felt it was cause trouble.

26:29 - 26:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the increased visibility and understand that people will observe the church's activities, leading to inquiry and potential exposure to the gospel.

The anecdote of people living for years near the Elks Club without knowing the church met there further illustrates the church's past limited visibility.

So in a sense people could go by that very place where we met Sunday after Sunday. And have. No idea that there was a group of people meeting in their Solomon's porch. Now that whole neighborhood was visited systematically house by house so there was an attempt to make it known but there was no visibility and then when we went to that little old Elks Club that we renovated on Runnymede Road I have talked to people who've lived for years in that area who've never had occasion to take that little out of the way trip to go around that bit of Runnymede Road.

26:50 - 27:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the increased visibility and understand that people will observe the church's activities, leading to inquiry and potential exposure to the gospel.

Martin's personal experience of seeing the new building's lights flooding the parking lot is used to express gratitude for the increased visibility and the message it sends: 'open for business'.

This away and God is wonderfully placed us and these past Lord's Day evenings I confess I am not ashamed to confess that when I've come over the brow of the hill and started down by the school and seen those lights flooding the parking lot where people have made that trip for years and saw nothing but darkness how grateful to God I am that every ray of light from those light post is saying open for business.

28:27 - 28:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior who would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of God. Of the truth and generally speaking when men's mines are agitated with the political and soc…

Martin's memory of living through WWII and people's minds being occupied with rationing and subsistence illustrates how instability (like war) can distract people from eternal issues, reinforcing the need for stability for gospel progress.

Consideration of weighty and eternal issues some of us remember living through the second world war and you would have thought the horrors of war would have driven people to God. didn't we were exercised about how we could have enough coupons rationing coupons to get enough meat and sugar to get through the next week and enough gas for the car to if we had cars some of us went a period of seven years no cars you hoofed it or hitchhiked or took the public transportation but the mind becomes occupied with just the subsistence existence and the apostle recognized

37:07 - 37:49 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior who would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of God. Of the truth and generally speaking when men's mines are agitated with the political and soc…

Martin confesses that he often hid his fears about the church's unstable situation (taxing the school board's patience, potential agitation against church groups) from the congregation, likening it to a father protecting his children.

this and so he says pray that there may be this condition of tranquility and quietness to what end that the gospel may make great strides well you see as a church we've had a very unstable situation and I'm going to make a confession at this point something I've hidden from you because it's the responsibility of fathers to hide from their children things that might cause them to be fearful there are many times when I was fearful I wondered if we had taxed the patience of the school board beyond reasonable expectation.

37:49 - 38:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third challenge is increased stability. Martin traces periods of stability and instability in the early church (Acts 5:42, 8:1, 9:31) and cites 1 Timothy 2:1-4, where Paul…

The story of burst pipes and flooding in the new building the day before its first use is shared as a reminder from God that there is no permanence even in the building, tempering any pride in their new stability.

And it was difficult to give leadership that had stability when my own heart was in my throat much of the time. But thank God though we put no confidence in these things and how wonderfully God reminded us didn't he? When he allowed the burst pipes before we ever entered this place we had a minor tragedy. Some of you weren't aware of that thing.

39:26 - 39:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for wisdom to take the best advantage of the increased stability for teaching, long-range planning, and evangelistic thrust and outreach.

The analogy of moving ten times in ten years versus having a stable home is used to help the congregation understand the psychological and emotional benefit of the church's new stability.

We don't need to have that fear that apprehension that sense of stability that comes. All of you know what that is. With regard to your home some of you have had to move ten times in ten years. You know what that does to your family life and the sense of disruption.

41:24 - 41:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for wisdom to take the best advantage of the increased stability for teaching, long-range planning, and evangelistic thrust and outreach.

Martin shares a personal story of growing up in a small, crowded 'cracker box' house that was still 'home,' illustrating the value of stability and belonging.

And some of us know the wonderful security. We always knew where home was. We look back now and say there wasn't much glamorous about it. The batch of kids I was a part of raised in a little cracker box of a house and when the family got to eight that's when Dad and I put on a two room addition so we weren't stacked up three deep in the bedrooms.

41:40 - 42:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Long to get building expenses done and behind us, including phase two, to then give ourselves to larger concerns like church planting and specialized ministries.

The hypothetical example of using the million dollars spent on the building for church planting (e.g., $100,000 annually) is used to illustrate the increased opportunity for missions once building expenses are behind them.

The million dollars that's been given over the course of six or seven years for these premises, figure it out and start giving that kind of money every year. Seven into one million comes out somewhere around $130,000 a year, if I'm not mistaken. What a wonderful thing it would be to use $100,000. To support men and causes for the planting of churches in this vast area, and then to the very ends of the earth.

48:24 - 48:56 Read in full sermon

The point: With these increased opportunities, may there be a rising to the occasion with holy enterprising vision so that in the days to come, we may see the mighty works of God in our midst.

The Old Testament anecdote of the prophet being angry with the king for striking the ground only three times with arrows (instead of more) is used to parallel the New Testament idea of faith determining the extent of God's work ('according to your faith, be it unto you').

A man who was given the privilege and responsibility of the leadership of the armies of God. And the prophet said, you're to be the scourge of God against Syria. Take your arrows, strike them into the ground. And he took three from his quiver and shot them into the ground.

52:25 - 52:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut. I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut, that thou hast a little power.

An extended metaphor of God's 'five-ranked army of descending human weakness' (fools, weak, base, despised, things that are not from 1 Cor 1) is used to illustrate that God uses the weak and despised to accomplish His purposes, encouraging the congregation despite their perceived lack of power.

We must confess before the Lord that our faith has been weak, our unbelief at times great, our vision narrowed, our concern constricted, but our Lord has set before us an open door which none can shut. And as we offer to him our accumulated weakness, he delights to take the weak things in order to confound the mighty. One man described the army of God in the light of 1 Corinthians 1 as God's five-ranked army of descending human weakness.

55:15 - 55:56 Read in full sermon