Homecoming
Today is Deep River's Homecoming! It's an event where we can 're-gather', regroup, reconnect and set our minds once again on our God given mission! And that mission is to KNOW Jesus, to GROW in our relationship with God and with others and to Go serve and to Go share the message of hope through the love of Jesus! It's not really a complicated mission but it does take intentionality to live it out in our daily lives!
Traditionally, 'homecoming' has been linked with football. I looked into the tradition which started with colleges and universities, and they typically feature the 'home team' playing a considerably weaker opponent. You are the 'home team' and our opponent - the one we're actually fighting against - is the devil. He is very real and is also considerably weaker than the God we serve! So it's guaranteed to be a blowout win in the end!
When it comes to the NFL, I found a list of the top 10 highest-paid positions in the league. It's no surprise to see that quarterbacks are at the top of the list. There's no arguing that you have to have a great quarterback to play in that league. - But, is it all about the quarterback?
You could have the greatest quarterback in the world and still lose if you don't have a solid team working together. There's a reason the game isn't played with just two guys throwing the ball back and forth - that might be a little boring. It takes defensive teams and offensive teams and special teams and coaches and coordinators and trainers - all sorts of different people each playing their specific role in order to win a game.
In the Church - we also have different roles. Some may see the preacher kind of as the quarterback - but I don't think that's accurate. I see the preacher as more of a teacher/coach but mostly a cheerleader - with the exception of the short skirt and pom-poms... I want to encourage you as you battle it out in the spiritual arena of your life.
I just said you have to have a great quarterback in order to win - but when it comes to how the Church works, it's vitally important we have a…
I. Biblical understanding
In the NFL they say things like "Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs" and "Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals" - and I understand it's about great quarterbacks and leadership - but I don't think anyone goes around saying, "Ron Buche and the Deep River Church of Christ". - Nor should they. The Church, any Church, is bigger than any particular preacher – or at least it should be. As your preacher – I may do a lot of up front things, but it's not all about me.
I want to look at the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 12:3-8 (NIV)...
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
(6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (7) If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; (8) if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
I may have an obvious, well-known role in this Church as your preacher, but that doesn't elevate me above anyone else. We all have very different roles, but all of us are a part of the body, and, of course…
A. The head of the Church is Jesus
The Church isn't looking for a head, someone who's in charge – that job is already filled by Jesus. Neither I nor our elders will or can override what is explicitly taught in the Bible. We don't get to pick and choose Biblical teachings - that authority has not been given to me or any other man. God's Word is very clear about our purpose as a Church and our role as His children – that's already been defined by the Bible.
In Colossians chapter 1, vs. 15 – 18 we find these words about Jesus…
Colossians 1:15-18 (NIV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (17) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
I have a lot of opinions about a lot of different things but not once has God ever stopped to ask me what those opinions are. I've never had God call and ask what He should do in any given circumstance. I am educated and consider myself a reasonably intelligent individual – but it's not my job to be the head of the Church. Jesus Christ is in charge!
Then what is my role and the role of our elders? Well, a large part for any Church leaders is to...
B. Encourage and equip
Frequently, the Bible refers to Church leaders in terms of servants. We are not in charge, but charged with the task of overseeing, teaching, encouraging and equipping God's flock.
I have an old note that was taped to a moving box when I started here at Deep River over 19 years ago. It's still stuck together with tape, because I don't want to damage it. I've kept it on a shelf in my office because it's a note from my dad. It says, "Ron - Give Him your best! Make sure they see Jesus. Dad."
We all need encouragement, so let's turn to Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)...
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Leadership, in fact each of us, is to encourage each other to be here - to gather together very regularly; to be more loving and to serve one another. And leadership, in particular, is also to teach and equip as we see in this challenge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV)...
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, (15) and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We could dig much deeper into scripture to find more specific details on the role of leadership, but suffice it to say, Church leadership is not about 'ownership' or 'being in charge' – it's about serving and teaching; leading and encouraging.
So, when it comes to the Church body - when it comes to "Team Deep River" we're clear that it's not all about me, but also…
II. It's not about a hand
Let me explain. I'm referring to Paul's metaphor from 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 (NIV)...
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
(18) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. (19) If they were all one part, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (21) The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" (22) On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
(24) while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, (25) so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (26) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Quite a few years back I had a relatively minor surgery on my throat. Dr's didn't have to open my chest, I didn't have big staples – all I have as evidence is a little scar. Prior to that surgery, if you'd have asked me what was the most important part of the body– I'm sure I would have answered, without hesitation, the brain or the heart. While those things are vital, now I'd have to put a working throat pretty high on my list.
When my throat was swollen, I lost over 17 pounds in 10 days - I was miserable. When I couldn't eat – all the parts of my body suffered. Now does that make the throat the most important? No, but it definitely has a huge role that is greatly missed when it's not working.
The brain, the heart, the throat – they all have a role in the body. The role of the throat really is to serve the rest of the body by swallowing food. In the Church body, there are some whose role it is to lead, some to teach and still others to serve. - Does that mean that many times we're to put the needs of others ahead of our own needs? Yes, that's exactly what it means. Then comes the obvious question, but what about my needs? If my role is to serve others, how do my needs get met?
Back to Paul's metaphor – life is not all about a hand. The human body does not exist for the sole purpose of meeting the needs of the hand. But if you think about it - the hand actually exists to meet the needs of the body and in so doing then gets its own needs met. As long as the hand is connected to the body, it will get what it needs even though it serves the body.
The Church, the Body of Christ, does not exist solely to meet our needs. We exist, as a Church, to carry out the work of the Body and in doing so our own needs will be met.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (12) to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (13) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Church, the body of Christ is not about a hand or a foot or an eye – it's about the head of the body – it's about Jesus! We are all essential parts of the body and need to fulfill our God given roles to serve our God given purpose in the body of Christ. The best advice I have for us is…
A. Work as a team
If the parts of the body are more concerned with which is most important, or with its own rights or getting credit, or only taking care of themselves – the body won't survive. If, however, each part does its role – the body will thrive. The body of Christ, the Deep River Church of Christ, has been given a mission. Sometimes, as we seek to accomplish this mission – we will be attacked by the enemy. And a strong reminder -"They" and "us" are not the enemy.
Those outside the Church are not our enemies - they are our mission. And those inside the Church are not our enemies, rivals, opponent or competition but our brothers and sisters - all part of the body. Let's be very careful that our time is not taken up with 'us fighting ourselves' or condemning those outside of the Church. "They" and "us" are not the enemy.
He gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Nowhere in that list did I see the role of referee. Too many Churches are so consumed with arguing amongst themselves to be of any real use for God's purposes. We are not our enemy – be very gracious with your brothers and sisters in Christ. They are not perfect and neither are you - neither am I. - Work as a team.
AND - those outside of the Church are not our enemy. Nowhere in that list of roles did I see judge, jury or executioner – but I did see 'evangelist', one who takes the Gospel message out to the lost. We are to preach God's Word, to call sin what it is - 'sin', but also to love the lost enough to sacrifice for them. Jesus died to save the lost! As a team, as the body of Christ – what are we willing to do for them?
B. We all have a job to do!
A Church historian studied hundreds of different congregations to find out the reason why some Churches grow and others don't. He believed he found the answer, and claimed that one word defines the difference – that word is "invite".
We all have different roles in the body of Christ, but all of us have the responsibility to invite others.
"The Church Growth Institute" surveyed over 42,000 Christians and asked them, "What or who was responsible for your coming to Christ and your Church?" A few said it was the preacher. Some said it was the programs. But over 75% said it was specifically because of an invitation from a friend or a family member.
I love it when someone, with a big grin on their face, introduces me to a friend or family member that they've brought on a Sunday morning! We all have a job to do! We are the body of Christ and we need to work as a team for His purposes!
So What?
During the Second World War, while serving as a military commander, Dwight Eisenhower strongly rebuked one of his Generals for referring to a soldier as "just a Private." He reminded him that the Army could function better without its Generals than it could without its foot soldiers. He said, "If this war is won, it will be won by Privates."
In the same way, the common, 'ordinary', 'average' Christians are the essential backbone of the church. In this world, there are some great preachers and evangelists who have a lot of influence. In this world, we have mega-churches led by teams of dynamic elders. We have some very wealthy Christians who are able to finance great mission projects. But the vast majority of our calling, to take the Gospel message to the lost – if that task is to be accomplished – it will be done by the 'average' Christian.
God has given you the role you are to play in His Church. He has also given you the exact gifts and talents and abilities you need to accomplish the purpose He has for you. The only thing He requires of you is your willingness to submit your will to His and to serve Him. The choice is up to you… Go Team!!!