WHAT MAKES THE CHURCH RUN? (6 OF 12)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
This content is part of a series.
What Makes The Church Run? (6 of 12)
Series: Unlocking The Mystery
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 3:14-21
Flip Wilson was a popular black comedian several years ago, and among the routines he did were skits about a Preacher at the ''What's Happening Now Church.'' One of his skits went like this:
He'd shout out: ''If this church is going to serve God it's got to get down on its knees and crawl!!!''
And the audience shouted ''Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl!''
''And once this church has learned to crawl, it's got to get up on its feet and walk!!!''
''Make it walk preacher, make it walk'' they cried.
''And once this church has learned to walk, it's got begin to learn to run!!!''
''Oooo.. make it run, preacher, make it run!''
''And in order to run, its got to reach deep down into pockets and learn to give!!!''
(long pause) ''Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl.''
So what is that can make a church RUN?
Is it having money?
Is it a having a great preacher?
Is it having great music ministry, or great programs, or teachers, or youth groups?
ILLUS: Francis Chan once wrote: ''Years ago, my friend from India drove me to a speaking engagement in Dallas. When he heard the music and saw the lights, he said ''You Americans are funny. You won't show up unless there's a good speaker or band. In India, people get excited just to pray.''
Now, there's nothing wrong with a good speaker or a good band. BUT if that's the main thing a church has to offer - if that's why the church RUNS - they've got a problem.
ILLUS: I once knew a church that seemingly had everything. It had lots of money. Hired the best big-name preachers in our brotherhood. They had a wonderful music ministry. It even had its own evangelistic program on the radio.
It was a vibrant church of 600 people. They had doctors and lawyers and state officials as members. If any church knew how to RUN ... you'd have thought that they did!
But there was something missing in that c ...
Series: Unlocking The Mystery
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 3:14-21
Flip Wilson was a popular black comedian several years ago, and among the routines he did were skits about a Preacher at the ''What's Happening Now Church.'' One of his skits went like this:
He'd shout out: ''If this church is going to serve God it's got to get down on its knees and crawl!!!''
And the audience shouted ''Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl!''
''And once this church has learned to crawl, it's got to get up on its feet and walk!!!''
''Make it walk preacher, make it walk'' they cried.
''And once this church has learned to walk, it's got begin to learn to run!!!''
''Oooo.. make it run, preacher, make it run!''
''And in order to run, its got to reach deep down into pockets and learn to give!!!''
(long pause) ''Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl.''
So what is that can make a church RUN?
Is it having money?
Is it a having a great preacher?
Is it having great music ministry, or great programs, or teachers, or youth groups?
ILLUS: Francis Chan once wrote: ''Years ago, my friend from India drove me to a speaking engagement in Dallas. When he heard the music and saw the lights, he said ''You Americans are funny. You won't show up unless there's a good speaker or band. In India, people get excited just to pray.''
Now, there's nothing wrong with a good speaker or a good band. BUT if that's the main thing a church has to offer - if that's why the church RUNS - they've got a problem.
ILLUS: I once knew a church that seemingly had everything. It had lots of money. Hired the best big-name preachers in our brotherhood. They had a wonderful music ministry. It even had its own evangelistic program on the radio.
It was a vibrant church of 600 people. They had doctors and lawyers and state officials as members. If any church knew how to RUN ... you'd have thought that they did!
But there was something missing in that c ...
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