Using the Methods of God, Part 2

Acts 19:8-9 Ephesians 1 & 2

Pastor Martin continues his series on 'Using the Methods of God,' focusing on the third aspect of God's method for establishing His church: the careful organization of converts into functioning churches. Drawing primarily from Acts 19-20, 1 Thessalonians 5, and Titus 1, Martin demonstrates Paul's deliberate strategy of separating disciples, appointing elders, and providing detailed instruction on church order. He argues that the church is the 'pillar and ground of the truth' and essential for sanctification, rebuking modern evangelistic movements that neglect church planting and membership. The sermon concludes with an exhortation for believers to be vitally involved in functioning assemblies and to support endeavors that align with this biblical method.

3 illustrations in this sermon

The Funnel Method: A Principle of Apostolic Evangelism

compare analogy

The Funnel Method of Evangelism

Driving home: But his concern was, that all of the fruits, of that evangelism, should come down, into the narrow neck of the funnel, and drop down into what? Vital, organized, functioning churches.

Paul's evangelistic method is compared to a funnel: the wide end represents broad gospel proclamation, and the narrow neck represents the careful organization of converts into vital, functioning churches. This illustrates that Paul's goal was not just conversions but established church bodies.

He was not content, to have, this platform to preach in the synagogue, and in the school of Tyrannus, this was his burden, and the best way I know to illustrate it, is the illustration of a funnel. Now, will you picture, a big blackboard up here, and on that blackboard is a big funnel, the top of the funnel, is about the width of my arms, and then the funnel is, coming down like this, and here's the spout at the bottom. Now, Paul's method, directed, by the spirit, was the funnel method. In his evangelism, he held out the wide end of the funnel, and wherever he could get a sounding board, for t...

17:40 - 18:41 Read in full sermon

Conclusion: God's Delight in His Gathered People

palette metaphor

Northern New Jersey as a Cesspool

Driving home: You see a body of people sitting here this morning, gathered in his name, with hearts subject to his dear son, trusting in his son, subject to his word, and seeking to govern all of their corporate life according to that…

The New York metropolitan area is described as a 'cesspool of iniquity' to contrast with what truly delights God. This sets up the point that God is not impressed by worldly achievements like skyscrapers but by His gathered people.

the delight God gets this morning when he looks down in this area, God doesn't look down, we're using anthropomorphism, anthropomorphisms, I know. God's not, he's here, he fills heaven and earth, so I'm speaking now in those human terms. But what delights God as he looks down upon this cesspool of iniquity, the new northern New Jersey, New York metropolitan area. Cesspool of iniquity.

37:58 - 38:26 Read in full sermon

lightbulb example

Skyscrapers Don't Impress God

The construction of the world's tallest buildings is used as an example of human achievement that does not bring delight to God, emphasizing that God's pleasure is found in His obedient people, not material grandeur.

What brings God delight? Is it those two big skyscrapers going up that are going to be the tallest buildings in the world? No, God doesn't even sniff at those. He could make some ten thousand times higher than that by a snap of his fingers and by a word of his mouth.

38:26 - 38:41 Read in full sermon

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