IT'S MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP (3 OF 8)
by William Wyne
Scripture: Luke 9:23-27
This content is part of a series.
It's More Than Membership (3 of 8)
Series: Membership
Luke 9:23-27
William Wyne
In the gathering of church Conventions, or church growth development seminars, often the conversation regarding numbers of members finds its way into the setting. Its part for the course in this present church culture, phrases like, “how many do you see on Sunday in your worship service or services? How many can you seat on Sundays? Are there multiple services or sites on Sunday? It’s a part of that information and church world and language. It’s not bragging rights or boasting rights; it’s just what often surfaces in these gatherings.
And on one occasion, a Pastor was asked by someone, how many members do you have? The Pastor responded with a classic response that was profound and insightful. He did not respond with a definitive answer. He responded by rephrasing the question in a way that was insightful. The question was, how many members do you have? His response was, do you want to know how many I have in the army, or how many I have on the battlefield?
Those that are in the army and those that are on the battlefield have a different understanding and commitment to ministry. You know the army can have lots of soldiers wearing the uniform and enlisted in the service, but everyone enlisted are not prepared or fit for the battlefield.
Jesus was not trying just to increase the numbers in the army just to be enlisted in the army of the Lord; he was aiming for battlefield people.
Paul uses that analogy of a believer as a soldier, when he says, put on the whole armor of God. Because, if you are his soldier, if you are his disciples, there will be some battles that you must face and fight as a believer.
Jesus desire was to develop and disciple those who followed that they would be more than members of the movement; he wanted them to become disciples. Even Jesus realized that there were those who were in the army but did not want to be on the battlefield. When Jesus ...
Series: Membership
Luke 9:23-27
William Wyne
In the gathering of church Conventions, or church growth development seminars, often the conversation regarding numbers of members finds its way into the setting. Its part for the course in this present church culture, phrases like, “how many do you see on Sunday in your worship service or services? How many can you seat on Sundays? Are there multiple services or sites on Sunday? It’s a part of that information and church world and language. It’s not bragging rights or boasting rights; it’s just what often surfaces in these gatherings.
And on one occasion, a Pastor was asked by someone, how many members do you have? The Pastor responded with a classic response that was profound and insightful. He did not respond with a definitive answer. He responded by rephrasing the question in a way that was insightful. The question was, how many members do you have? His response was, do you want to know how many I have in the army, or how many I have on the battlefield?
Those that are in the army and those that are on the battlefield have a different understanding and commitment to ministry. You know the army can have lots of soldiers wearing the uniform and enlisted in the service, but everyone enlisted are not prepared or fit for the battlefield.
Jesus was not trying just to increase the numbers in the army just to be enlisted in the army of the Lord; he was aiming for battlefield people.
Paul uses that analogy of a believer as a soldier, when he says, put on the whole armor of God. Because, if you are his soldier, if you are his disciples, there will be some battles that you must face and fight as a believer.
Jesus desire was to develop and disciple those who followed that they would be more than members of the movement; he wanted them to become disciples. Even Jesus realized that there were those who were in the army but did not want to be on the battlefield. When Jesus ...
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