1 Corinthians 12:12-31
We had our Insight Meeting last week. It was so positive, but a number of you were unable to make it. So I am now going to share some of the exciting things from that so that the whole church is in the loop.
When I was a lad my mum would buy me the school uniform. I hated it. Not because of the uniform, but for most of the school year, it was too big. My shirt sleeves were over the ends of my fingers. My blazer was much the same. I’d moan at her. You know what shed say? “You’ll grow into it!”
She was right. I did. And then the last few months of the year, I had grown out of it. My shirt sleeves would not get to my wrists.
Here’s a graph of the attendance here over the last ten years. It takes into account the pandemic years, which were mainly on zoom.
Now, some have pointed out that the rapid growth I have alluded to at the various meetings is simply people returning from COVID. The truth is that some people never returned here after the pandemic. Some went to other churches, moved, or backslid. Even so, our pre and post-COVID figures are not just people returning. It’s people getting saved!
If we zero in on the years since 2022, we see a definite increase. God is blessing.
Overall attendance has increased by over 26% since 2022.
“When churches reach 80% capacity they plateau,” Alice Mann, Raising the Roof
We are actually seeing a 5% uptick on last year.
I have some news for you: tithes and offerings - although increased - have not proportionately matched the church growth. Lots of reasons for this, but when someone becomes a Christian it can take a few years for the Holy Spirit to have a say over their wallets! It is a Christian discipline to give. Check out my blog for notes from a Bible study I recently did on giving.
If you’d like to give, please see Chris or our website. If you are giving and are a UK taxpayer, see Chris about Gift Aid - you can increase your giving without increasing your giving.
Giving is about what you are seeking first. Jesus told us to seek the first the Kingdom of God, everything else you need will be added (Matthew 6:33).
I have some news for you: We have outgrown the building. We need to create some space.
The elders and I have discussed this. We then too this to our ministry team leaders. We then further took this tour base of volunteers. Then to the Insight Meeting.
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” said Sir Winston Churchill in his speech to the meeting in the House of Lords, October 28, 1943.
The elders felt we have three viable options. We considered others, but this is the pathway we felt the Lord was leading us in.
- Two morning services (short term solution)
From September, we will move to two morning services. These will be at 9am and 11:15am. At the end of this message you are going to be given a choice of which service you’ll come to. There will be Limitless Kids and Limitless Youth in both services.
- Increase the seating capacity by developing the building further (mid-term solution)
We are also consulting with Christian architects about what we can do with this building. This week detailed surveys are taking place of the building and land (which we have to pay for).
It will take about six months for a detailed proposal that I can potentially share with you because the architects themselves are giving their time for free until planning permission is granted. They are Christians who have worked with these types of older churches.
In short, the concept is:
- Reorientate Chruch so we face the other way.
- Take out the wall between here and the lounge (that we put in back in the day).
- Put in a balcony in the apse (above the lounge)
- Run seating further back underneath the balcony.
- Create an entrance at the end of the side chapel and lower that section of floor
- Have an atrium area outside and a glass corridor that goes to the current main entrance.
- Look at putting another floor above us with extended youth and children's facilities.
All this will be subject to cost and planning permission. I’m not worried about the cost at this point. I know God is generous towards you and you are generous towards the church! The planners may prove more tricky, but they have given permissions for another church in town to do something similar and they are Grade One listed; we have no listing.
The architects think we can increase seating by somewhere around 120 people, maybe more.
- Potentially move.
If costs are too high, if planning is refused and appeals fail, we will likely have to move out of here and find somewhere else. This is not a “Thus saith the Lord” moment, but it is a possibility.
Let’s focus on the two service plan for now. We need to increase space without increasing our space!
I have more news for you: As Christians we are not customers. We are part of an army. If we really believed the gospel that saved us we would want to make sure as many people as possible hear it. If we believe in the vision of this church, we would want as many people as possible to be part of it.
We cannot do this without you!
1 Peter 4:10: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Everyone is commanded to serve one another. Around you in the room are QR codes to scan which will take you to a page with serving opportunities on it. Click on what interests you. We need to get people trained up and ready, so serving starts now!
Scan the QR code! Volunteer, from now, not when two service begin.
Ask yourself this question: if everyone in All Nations served the way I do, what would this church look like?
If the two service option is to work we need your help. We cannot do it alone.
Let’s take a few moments to meditate on 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31. There’s some important principles here, which I cannot do justice to in this message, but let’s consider:
Every believer belongs in the body:
v12: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Paul explains that the church is like a human body—many parts but one body.
Each believer is placed in the church by God and everyone belongs, no matter their role.
Which means, you are not superfluous or unnecessary—God intentionally placed you in All Nations.
Every part is important:
v15-17: Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being 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 stop being 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?
Paul says the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”
Even parts that seem weaker or less visible are essential and given special honour (23-24).
Whether your role is public or behind the scenes, your service matters to the whole church.
The body works best when everyone participates:
v27-31: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Each of us has a part to play. It may not be the part we want straight away, but it is still vital.
God arranged different gifts—teaching, helping, leadership, and more—so the church can function well together.
Not everyone is going to function in the same gifts. But we all have something we can do.
When we serve we are showing love to our brothers and sisters.
Galatians 5:13-14:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Some principles from Galatians 5:
- If we do not serve because we do not feel like it, that’s indulging ourselves. We are saying serve me!
- Serving others is a sign of true humility. It kills the sense of entitlement we see so often in the world.
- Serving others is a sign of love. It means I think of others more than I think of myself.
When everyone uses their gifts, the church becomes stronger, healthier, and more loving.
In summary:
You belong in the body.
Your role matters.
The church needs your participation.
The Holy Spirit is at work.
We will need everyone to be engaged.
Serving is loving.
Let’s not neglect our church vision and priorities. We are seeing God move across church. Our vision is to make Jesus known to everyone, everywhere. This is a big vision. To focus our attention, we seek to achieve this through mission, discipleship, worship and legacy.
Landing this:
Menti survey.
Just one question! If you feel you would have liked to have asked something, see me privately, but the time for public questions was last week
Which service from September will you come to: 9am or 11:15am.
You’re not locked in, but this gives us an indication. Remember: kids and youth work in both, same service, same songs, same preacher, same Holy Spirit.
If your first thought is: “Ooh, I can lay in and come an hour later”, you’re looking at it wrong! You should be thinking, I can come early, start my day off with Jesus, and power through the rest of the day.
Comments
Post a Comment