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Up, In & Out: Our Threefold Focus – Part 1
Acts 2:41-47February 1st
Video clip from Hook” (Beginning with daughters play...ending when he answers his cell phone at the ballfield).
Nido Qubein insightfully said, “Nothing can add more power to your life than concentrating all your energies on a limited set of targets.” Most of us struggle to some degree with being focused. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, we don’t seem to focus on the things that are the most important. We promise ourselves we’re going to change, going to use our time more wisely. We’ll determine to spend more time with the family and less at work. More time exercising and less eating junk food. More time reading our Bible, less watching TV. But we soon discover that staying focused, staying on track, is hard work!
Churches also need to be focused. It’s imperative that we as a church, stay focused…stay on target because what we do here has eternal consequences. We’re part of a cosmic battle, a life and death struggle. What’s at stake is not just physical but eternal life. Jesus said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt. 16:18). The Church is under attack from Hell itself.
This morning as we continue our series, The Essential Church, we want to talk about our focus, our ministry priorities here at Grace. We believe that Scripture teaches that there are three primary focuses for ministry: 1) Exaltation – the ministry of worship, the act of expressing to God His infinite worth and glory. 2) Edification – the ministry of encouraging one another spiritually, of love and unity within the local body of Christ. 3) Evangelization – the ministry of outreach. This includesmissions in all forms, witnessing to and winning the lost. It’s UP – exaltation; IN – Edification; OUT – Evangelization. Up, In & Out: That’s Our Threefold Focus. These focuses can be packaged several ways: upreach, inreach and outreach; or God, ourselves and others. Worship, discipleship and witnessing. Or, love for God, love for one another and love for a lost world. It’s like a three-legged stool and each leg is essential for balance.
Because this is so important and sets the direction for our church, this morning we’re going to do something that we rarely ever do at Grace. We’re going to divide this message in half. This is our Threefold Focus – Part 1.
We’re going to start this Sunday. Next Sunday is a Youth Sunday and Mike Cote will be speaking on a Biblical Youth Philosophy and how that unpacks at Grace. So on February 15th, we’ll come back to this, review it and finish it…and there might even be a test. So if you’re taking notes.1. This threefold focus is a constant theme in the New Testament. The Acts account of the early church demonstrates this same threefold focus and commitment to ministry, Acts 2:41-47 (p. ___). Did you catch that? There was a sense of awe, worship and adoration (v. 43). There was a sense of community, belonging, unity, spiritual growth and sincerity (v. 46). There was an urgent sense of outreach and evangelism – and the Lord added to that church daily (v. 47).
John 15 unpacks this truth of this threefold focus. In vss 7-11 we’re reminded of the joy and responsibility to abide in the Vine. This requires one who knows God and strives to know Him more each day. By sensitively abiding in the vine, God is glorified (v. 8), and we’re fulfilled with sensitivity to Him. In the corporate setting this will involve God-centered activity, objective praise and an appropriate sense of awe and boldness. Then, in verses 12-17 we have the repeated call and command to love one another. It’s not given as an option; it’s a command. You and I are to love and care for one another just as Christ loves and cares for us. Talk about in-reach, education and edification! A balanced ministry will seek to lead in loving God and one another. Then, the last third of John 15 (vss. 18-27) addresses our responsibility to the world and the lost. We’re also not to be surprised if the world hates us; it hated our Lord first. We know from this passage and elsewhere we’re to be witnesses so that those who do not know our Lord may come to Him in believing faith in order that they, too, may come and worship Him. The outcome of evangelism is to make worshippers of rebels.2. UP – Exaltation, we are here to exalt our Awesome God. A. W. Tozer said, “We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.” God saved us so that we could worship Him. It’s not about us, it’s about Him!
When Christians gather to worship God, what really matters? It's a question I've asked myself for years, and all the more as I've been exposed to many styles, cultures, philosophies and methodologies of congregational worship. Looking out across the landscape of traditional, alternative, contemporary, liturgical, and free-flowing worship formats, what are the true non-negotiables of worshiping God as a local church, as a community of believers? What really matters?
In examining this question, I’ve found that it’s helpful to think about another type of corporate event: weddings. We can learn a lot about worship from weddings. Weddings come in all shapes and sizes, with an endless variety of tastes, locations, and styles. You have contemporary weddings, traditional weddings and formal weddings where every word and move are meticulously scripted. Then, you have weddings where the only sure thing is that two people who walked in unmarried will be married when the ceremony ends. Some couples take a year to plan their wedding. Some go from "I will" to "I do" in a few weeks. Others simply elope. Couples are pronounced man and wife in cozy living rooms, under the arches of vast cathedrals, and in sunlit fields of flowers by babbling brooks. There are simple, economical weddings and there are memorable, epic Sound of Music weddings, complete with lighting director, sound man, multiple coordinators, a 20-page gilt-edged program, and party favors for the happy couple's 1000 closest friends.
None of these approaches to a wedding are necessarily right or wrong. When it's time to get married, there are many legitimate options. Yet, in every case there is that inescapable common focus: as a man and a woman make their vows before God and their guests, God joins them as husband and wife. That's why the wedding was held. That's why the guests came (or, at least, it should be). Every element of a wedding, from the invitations to the last wave as the newlyweds drive away, focuses on two people being joined in matrimony. Because at a wedding what really matters is a marriage!
But when we talk about or participate in corporate worship events, it’s not as easy to see what really matters. Why did the people come? What most captures their attention while they’re there? When they leave, what will resonate in their hearts as having been the true focus of the event? Why will they come next time? What’s really important?
If we know what really matters in weddings, isn't it far more important to know what really matters in worship? To do that, we must develop a clear understanding of what God's Word says on the subject. Simple enough, right? But, we have a problem, a big problem. Our theology of worship tends to look suspiciously like our own practice and traditions. We tend to view Scripture through lenses that preserve the beliefs and worship values which we already hold. That’s why, by God's grace, we must seek to discover what’s primary and what’s only secondary in the worship of God.
It’s essential if we’re going to have the right UP Focus, we understand that worship is God's idea, not ours. So what we do in worship matters. While there are times we worship alone, that’s not normative. God’s desire is that we worship together as a local church, a community of faith. That’s why this is one of our focuses at Grace. You and I need a church family to help us center our life around God through worship.
Worship is simply building and centering your life around God. God didn’t put us on earth to live self-centered lives. He didn’t put you here for your benefit. He put you here for His benefit. We exist for God, not vice versa. God wants to be the hub of our hearts, the core of our being and the focus of our attention. He wants to be the center of your life. The Bible calls that worship. Anytime God is the center of your life you’re worshipping God.
So how do you know if God is really at the center of your life? It’s really simple. Are you ready for this? You stop worrying. Worry is that warning light on your heart’s dashboard that God is not the center of your life. In life we’re always doing one or the other: worshipping or worrying. Those are the alternatives. If God is not the center of your life – when anything else, your career, family, money, hobbies becomes the center, anytime anything except God takes center place in your life, you’re going to be prone to anxiety, fear and worry. Each time you start worrying, it’s like a siren in your soul that at that moment God is not the center of your life.
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." Notice those two key words “first” and “greatest.” God says the most important thing you can do with your life is to know and love God. Why? Because that’s to be the top priority of your life. God put us on this earth so we could have a relationship with Him. Unfortunately, many people go all through life and never get that relationship with God, and they miss out on the real purpose of their existence. You were made to know God. Not to have a religion, but a relationship with Him. That’s why He says that’s the most important thing you can do. Whenever you focus on God, whenever you put Him at the center of your life, that’s called worship.
So what’s the best way to worship? Light a little incense? Do I have to say certain chants? Do I have to wear certain robes or clothes to worship... like socks? What do I have to do to worship? God’s Word teaches us that there’s just one requirement for genuine worship. “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23). That simply means that God wants you to worship Him authentically and accurately.
a) We are to worship God authentically. To worship authentically means in spirit. That means don’t just go through the motions. Don’t say, "I love You, God," but you’re really not thinking about Him. You’re thinking about the big game or work or what’s for lunch. You’re not really focused on God, and God says don’t be a hypocrite when you worship Me. You’ve got to really mean it and do it from your heart. It’s got to be in spirit. It must be authentic and genuine. You’ve got to really mean it when you say, "God, I love You." Otherwise don’t bother. Don’t just give God lip service.
b) We are to worship God accurately. It must be in spirit and it must be in truth. That means it must be accurate. You can’t just make up your idea of God and worship that. Periodically, I’ll hear someone say, "I like to think of God as..." Who made you the expert? The truth is you’re just sucking it out of your thumb. When you make up an idea of God, there’s a word for that in the Bible…it’s called an idol. God says "Don’t make Me into your image. I want to make you into My image." It doesn’t matter what I think or what you think that God is like. What matters is what is He really like! We must worship Him in truth. You can’t just make up a god and worship that. We must worship the true God.
Jesus concludes with, “for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks." God is looking for people who want a relationship with Him. He’s looking around the world and asking, “Is there anyone out there who really wants to know Me? Who really wants to get close to Me? That’s the kind of person I want to know and I want them to know Me." That’s why our first focus as a church must be to know and love God, and worship Him.
Let me suggest some practical ways for you to prepare for worship here at Grace. We all know that if you don’t want to overspend at the grocery store, you eat before you go. That means you prepare for the experience. In the same way, we need to prepare for worship. But when it comes to worship, we need to come “hungry.” We need to come planning and desiring to meet God. For many of us that means going to bed earlier. It means cutting off the TV. It probably means limiting Saturday night activities. It means praying and asking God to reveal Himself to us before we get here. It means having our Bible and clothes ready the night before. It means making sure that there aren’t unresolved issues with our spouse or family members, or even other believers before we come. If we come expecting nothing, that’s probably what we’ll find. God, though, wants us to come and worship and do business with Him.