Revelation 2 “To the [a]angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
The title of my message this morning is, “Why Save a Church?” Or you could say, “Why save this church?” We have begun to have meetings where we are discussing the future of Parkview Baptist Church. We look around us and see a lot of gray hair, walkers, and wheelchairs.
Many of us can remember a day, many years ago, when this sanctuary was full. When Clyde McClain was pastor here some 40 years ago, we built the children’s wing of our facility. And the architectural drawings for that wing included a long range plan for another wing coming off of the kitchen area, and a big worship center right where Freddie’s stands today.
We had a full Sunday School, and Sunday worship. We had Sunday evening Discipleship training and church. We had the Wednesday evening fellowship meal, prayer meeting, RA’s, GA’s, youth group. We had adult, youth, and children’s choirs that performed cantatas and plays. We had VBS and youth activities. We had WMU, Comforts R Us, visitation, and deacon’s meetings. We emphasized Lottie Moon, and Annie Armstrong offerings each year. We had revivals, and annual January Bible studies. And we had a finance committee, building committee, flower committee, nursery committee, personnel committee, and church council. We had a full-time pastor and education minister. We had a full- time secretary and financial secretary and a youth minister.
Over the years we have had to let many of those things go, as our attendance and involvement declined. And now we face the prospect that if things continue to go as they have, we won’t be able to maintain even what we are doing now.
And that brings sadness, doesn’t it?
As we discussed two weeks ago in our meeting after Sunday morning service, we are not in a desperate place. We have money in the bank, and we are generally maintaining those finances. And, the people who are presently attending our church seem to be committed to continuing. So, God has given us the blessing of a little time. Time to think about the future, and what we hope to see happening here, in this facility, in five years.
We discussed five possible outcomes over the next five years. In composing these five outcomes I wanted to think of all the possibilities. We don’t know which will happen at our church; that is in God’s hands. But here is what they were;
1. We could dissolve. We could dwindle in number until the remaining members decide that they cannot continue to maintain everything. They would decide to turn the keys of the facility, and the finances over to our denomination. At which point, our denomination would likely try to start a new church here or have to sell the facility.
2. We could tread water. Things could go up and down over the next five years and we could generally maintain or numbers. But we would still be in the same predicament that we are now.
3. We could revitalize. The Southern Baptist denominational leaders have recognized that 80% of Southern Baptist churches have plateaued or are in decline. So, they put together some material for churches to review. That material, along with outside church leaders coming in with a fresh set of eyes, could help us to revitalize this church.
4. We could replant. Replanting would involve getting a group together from our people, and possibly outside people, to conceive of a new church, either planted here, or in a new location.
5. We could pass the baton. We might come to the conclusion that we don’t have the energy or know-how to revitalize or replant. So, we would invite an outside Southern Baptist group to plan and start a new and different church, in this facility. And the goal would be to eventually “pass the baton.” Eventually the keys and bank book would be handed to this new work.
As we talked about these five possible pathways, I concluded by asking if anyone saw another option. And I continue to ask that today. We are meeting today after the service to further discuss the future. We invite you to stay.
But the point of my message this morning is to answer the question; “Why save a church?” “Why save this church?” That question may be a little startling to you. But the reason I ask it is because that question really opens up our hearts so we can look at our motives for wanting to save Parkview.
Why do you want to save this church? Think about that for a moment. Because, if we are going to be successful in “saving” our church, God willing, we have to take a deep look within ourselves and at our motives. I contend that there are three major classifications of reasons for saving Parkview; Self-centered reasons, people-centered reasons, and God-centered reasons.
Prayer
We read earlier out of the second chapter of Revelation. In chapters two and three of that book, the Lord Jesus Christ, in a vision, addresses the problems that existed in seven churches of the first century. Each church had different issues; coldness, persecution, doctrinal compromise, immorality, lifelessness, opposition, and pride. And with each church, Christ calls on them to repent or be removed as one of the Lord’s churches.
Now some of these churches had some really bad problems. After you’ve done some study of them, you might have been tempted to say to the Lord, “Lord, that one’s pretty well gone. You might as well pull the plug now.” In fact, with some of those churches, that would have been the easiest course of action.
That’s true today to. Did you know that there are people, in our denomination, who make it their profession, to start new churches? Some of us in established churches have asked the question, “Why start new ones?” “Why not help revive the old ones?” Well church planters have a saying,
Church planter’s maxim: It’s easier to plant a new church than to revive a dying one.
And it’s true. You may say, “Why?” and there is a very long answer for that, but I can put it in a nutshell for you. They would rather start new churches because they don’t have to deal with one statement that they here repeatedly from people in established churches. If they go into an established church to try and help revive it, over and over again they hear, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Or, “You want to get rid of this or that? We’ve always done this or that. I like this and that. I’m not going to let you do away with this and that!”
So, the church planter says, “Okay, I’ll just start a new work.” And they can pick the people, and exclude the people who won’t follow the program.
So, we’re back to the question; “Why save this church?” And I want you to really think about your reasons. The first class of reasons are self-centered reasons.
I. Self-centered reasons
A good Biblical example of self-centered reasons comes in the change in our Bible from Old Testament to New Testament. When we switch from Old Testament to New Testament in your Bible, it marks a major change in God’s economy. In the Old Testament, God witnessed to the world through the nation of Israel, and the law. In the New Testament He witnessed to the world through the Church and the gospel. It was a huge change. It really upset the apple cart for a lot of people. Do you know who it upset the most? Orthodox, traditional, law-loving Jews.
Jesus rocked their world. Listen to these verses.
Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
“Jesus, we’ve never done it this way before.” We are most comfortable with the old ways. Paul was an example of someone, before he was converted, would fight, and become violent against anyone breaking the traditions of Judaism.
Galatians 1:14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Jesus wreaked traditional Judaism. The Sabbath traditions changed for the church. The way they dressed, circumcision. Synagogue used to have very established lines of separation between Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. Now, in the church, many of those walls were torn down.
A converted Jew had the way they thought about all aspects of their lives turned upside down, from diet, to the way they dressed.
A. Nostalgia
We may want to save this church for nostalgia’s sake. And this is normal human behavior. It’s the same reason many children don’t want to see their parents sell the family home and move to Boca Raton. That house is full of memories. This building is full of memories. My children were baptized in that baptistry. I taught Vacation Bible School in that children’s wing. I was here under the ministry of Brother so and so, and I remember when he tripped and almost fell off of this stage. I helped build that sound-booth.
And it can be nostalgia over “the way we have always done it” as well.
We remember that the old ways of doing things worked once. We had Vacation Bible School during the day. We took flyers out to the neighborhood. We had lots of kids come. We followed up by visiting in their homes. And families joined the church.
Now we do those things, and it no longer works. But we want to hold on to the way we know.
B. Sadness
The second self-centered reason is sadness. Since we have these memories, to think of changing these walls, or the way we do things is sad, and a little frightening.
C. Ego
The third self-centered reason for saving the church is ego. We are just not comfortable with different music, or too many new faces. We know that the church is declining. But we would prefer that it stay the same, while we’re around. Let it change after I’m gone.
But, my friends, nostalgia is not a good reason to save a church. The purpose of this church can’t be simply survival for its present members. That is the mindset that brings a church to a state of decline.
What is the second class of reasons to save this church?
II. People-centered reasons
When I think Scripturally about this, I think of the story of Samson in Judges 16. Do you remember this story? Samson was a judge in Israel. And judges had two main functions in Israel; they called the people back to God, and they went out as a warrior/general to fight Israel’s enemies.
Remember that Samson, from birth, never had his hair cut. He wasn’t to touch any dead body. And he wasn’t to eat any product of grapes; the fruit of the vine. And, we often don’t mention this, but judges, along with all the Israelites, were to follow God’s laws.
Well, Samson failed on most of those counts. Despite that, he was used by God to fight and destroy many of Israel’s enemies. He was given great strength for that purpose. In that way, he was liberating people. He was breaking the shackles of the Philistine people figuratively placed on the hands of the Jewish people. And that was a good thing.
But I believe Samson’s greatest failure was that he forgot where his power came from. He violated all the rules of his calling; he touched a dead body. He drank wine. He committed fornication. But there was one thing he kept. He never cut his hair. And I really believe that he thought that was the source of his strength. But was it? No. God was the source of his strength. Listen to what it says in Scripture. He told Delilah, his latest affair, what he believed the source of his great strength was; his hair.
19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then [c]she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
The Lord had departed from him.
21 Then the Philistines took him and [d]put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
Now, you might ask, “Why did God choose to take his strength then?” Samson had violated so many of God’s commands before. Was the hair, the last straw?”
We don’t know. But you might also ask, “Had any of Samson’s motives changed?” No. He had been the same man throughout his entire career as judge. He was motivated by the same thing. “I’m here to vanquish enemies, and to save God’s people from enslavement and oppression.
And those are good motives. But they are not the great motive.
We can have good motives for saving a church.
A. Witness/Missions
Didn’t Scripture say that we are to be witnesses in all the world? Are we not to go into all the world and preach the gospel? Didn’t the Lord promise power to do exactly that? Isn’t that the purpose of the church?
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
We may say, “I want to save this church, because there needs to be a light that continues to shine here in Southwest Wichita.”
We have witnessed and heard about so many churches closing their doors. We have heard that the gospel is being rejected by the coming generation. So, it seems to be the most noble of causes to say, “This church needs to continue to be a witness.” And the emotion behind that statement is compassion for the lost.
B. Compassion for the lost
We think, even if it’s only one or two souls. If one or two children come to faith in Christ, it’s worth it. We’ve got to keep going, working, doing.
And that is a Biblical motive. And it has sustained many of us for many dry years. But I have been reading a book entitled “Reclaiming Glory, Revitalizing Dying Churches.” It is written by Mark Clifton. Mark Clifton is the senior director of Replanting/ Revitalization at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. And he said something about the motives for saving a church that I hadn’t internalized before. And he drew it out of the letter written to the church in Ephesus we read in Revelation 2 before. Let me read that again.
“To the [a]angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
This was the letter written to the church in Ephesus. And let me point out a couple of things that Jesus said to them about their church. First, they were doing everything right.
2 “I know your works, your labor, your [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
They works were good. Their intensity was good. They worked hard. Their attitudes were good; they were patient and persevering. Their doctrine and devotion to right doctrine was good. They not only knew the difference between truth and error, they tested and ousted those who were teaching error. They labored for the name’s sake of the Lord. That indicates to me that they were a witness church. They carried the gospel out and worked hard to win and make disciples. They are doing everything right.
They were doing everything right except one thing. And that one thing was enough for the Lord to say to them, “If you don’t fix this, I am going to end your church.” What was that one thing?
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
They lost their first love. Who was their first love? The Lord Jesus Christ. They came to the faith because of the love of the Lord.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
It all started with the love of the Lord toward us, and our return of love to Him.
It all comes back to our relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelism and witness are a good motive. But they are not the great motive; love of God, and desire for His glory.
III. God’s glory
God’s glory is the purpose of the church. That‘s what I read in Mark Clifton’s book that jogged my memory, and made me consider my own motivation for saving a church. Yes, it would be a good thing for a gospel witness to continue in this area, but is that going to be that which brings the greatest glory to God? That’s what we have to ask. Because bringing God glory is the highest and ultimate aim of the Church and of every Christian.
In Mark Clifton’s book he quotes another author from a book entitled, “Let the Nations be Glad.”
Piper, Let the Nations be Glad!
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship (giving God glory) is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, (giving God glory) therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.
More than 50 times the Scripture tells us that everything that was created, was created for His glory.”
Don’t believe me, or Clifton, listen to the Word of God.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Psalm 29:1 Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Matthew 5:16 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 16:27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 2:10-12 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 21:23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
So, why should we save this church, or any church? Only if it brings God glory. Why do we seek to win the world to Christ? Because there is a world of God’s creation who are not giving Him the glory due His name.
How can we bring glory to God? By working for the salvation of the lost, so they come to love the Lord, and bring Him glory.
Is God’s glory our motivation for saving this church? If it isn’t, before we proceed with any efforts for revitalization, or replant, or even passing the baton, we need to do what Jesus commanded the church in Ephesus.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Remember and repent. One of the things that I will propose we do out of our meeting today is to enter a season of prayer. And a good part of that season of prayer has to be these two things.
We have to remember our first love. And we need to call to mind all of those times in the past when we were motivated by the Love and glory of the Lord. Bring that attitude and emotion back to the front of our minds again.
And we have to repent. We also need to think back to how we stepped away from the love of God and His glory as our primary motivations. When did it just become “going through the motions” for us? When did we quit making church about pleasing God, rather than ourselves? When did we decide it was more important that we be comfortable and undisturbed rather than making ourselves uncomfortable to reach people for the glory of God?