The Church Continuum

II Timothy 2:2

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “…I will build my church…”

He has built, is building, and will build His church. Even in the USA, especially in the USA.

  1. In spite of staggering negative statistics such as:
  2. About ½ of all the churches in the US did not add one new person through conversion growth during the past year.
  3. It takes the combined effort of 85 Christians working for a full year to produce 1 convert.
  4. 17 out of 20 Protestant churches are plateaued or declining (only 3 in 20 are growing, obviously)
  5. Of the 3 that are growing, 2 of those 3 are growing primarily because of transfer growth.
  6. Only 1 in 20 Protestant churches in the US are growing because they are getting people saved.
  7. If we lined up the approximately 195 million unchurched people living in the US, the line would reach around the world 2 ½ times and that line grows ½ mile longer every day, 182 miles every year.

Jesus said He would build His church in spite of staggering negative statistics. In spite of:

  1. Our National Morale - Morass
  2. II Timothy 3 sets up some scriptural orange cones along the last day way.
  3. “without natural affection” – sin that used to slink down the alley-way not struts down main street
  4. “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse…” – sound anything like the rise in the number and perversion of sexual predators on the internet?
  5. “Brutal” – come anywhere close to describing our mass murderers, serial killers, and the senseless slaughter in our streets, schools, and homes today?

And that’s just 3 of 20 – there are at least 17 more moral markers set up there in II Timothy 3. Our nation is in a moral free-fall.

In spite of negative statistics, national immorality, and,

  1. Our Narcissistic Culture which pollutes our national atmosphere and it is influencing even Christians. Let’s face it,
  2. A major source of theology for many today are the sages on the Oprah Winfrey shows who are long on opinion and short on convictions. Let’s face it,
  3. Our post-modern comfort index demands that:
  4. The chairs in church be padded
  5. The sermons be more seen on stage and screen than heard through the preaching of the Word
  6. Their self-worth be stroked.
  7. Their inconsistencies be pampered
  8. Short “how to” sermons for a “do-it-yourself” religious quick fix that calls for no change in behavior, especially anything like,
  9. submission/sacrifice
  10. obedience/obligations
  11. convictions/commitments

Our U. S. churches battle a culture ofSecular humanism, Sensual hedonism, Social entitlements, Situational ethics, Pluralism, Privatization and political correctness

  1. Schizophrenic seizures that whiplash our congregations through the succeeding “definition of the month” traumas Are we or should we be Post modern, Emerging, Organic, Attractional, Neo-Pentecostal, Renewal, Just the next New Wave or Current Craze?

And then there is often:

  1. The threat from Brother Big Bucks and Sister Got Rocks to jerk their money right outta here if things don’t go their way. Some want to show up every third Sunday morning and demand excellence, this accompanied by:
  2. Sister Papoofnay’s torrid and turgid tongue stirring the latest stink. Papoofnay does it with the durability factor of that pink bunny that just keeps going, and going…

Sometimes we even shoot ourselves in the foot with:

  1. Bipolar oscillation. Churches are
  2. Either stripped by the napalm of legalism all our people know is what they are “agin” or saturated by the jaded glut of liberalism until they leave the Bible irrelevant or worth about as much as a marked-down book on the back shelf at a second-hand store.
  3. Either ping or pong with frigid formalism that leaves u s cold as a corpse, ought to be called “FirstChurch of the Frigidaire on Freon Street” where you skate down the icy aisles, past the frozen chosen, to stoically shake hands with Pastor Jack Frost , as you congeal into the congregation

Or we pong to frenetic fanaticism that leaves us with the credibility of “championship wrestling” . It ought to be called the “Church of the celebrated Cereal Box”, full of fruits and nuts, where everything is either

  1. eccentricity
  2. exotic
  3. excessive

All this is not to mention the:

  1. Attack of satanic spirits constantly intimidating preachers and leaders with chronic feelings of
  2. Inadequacy
  3. Loneliness, and,
  4. Failure

Jesus: “Dad, did you know it would be this bad?

Father: “No Son, looks like we’re on the run

In spite of all this, and more, Jesus still says, “I will build my church!”

  1. Building His church has always been
  2. An up-hill battle
  3. Behind enemy lines,
  4. On hostile terrain,
  5. Against overwhelming odds!
  6. Hope building Is hard work
  7. The redemption business requires sacrifice
  8. It is often easier to build a bigger church than it is to build a better Christian.

Jesus never said it would be easy, He just said it would be done!

Paul gives Timothy the process for the Church Continuum –

  1. Process – “a particular method of making something in which there are a number of steps.
  2. Continuum – “a continuous whole”

Paul says the church is to be:

  1. A Conservatory for the Preservation of Traditions that are true. “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou…” We must continue!
  2. Jesus designed His church – there are some things He wants to be present in His church in each succeeding generation.
  3. His church was born Pentecostal and Acts 2:37-47 decodes its DNA. Pentecostal people are people of:
  4. Promise – “The” promise. Verse 39 – “…for ‘the’ promise is unto you…your children…to all…” To Be Continued!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not option equipment for overachievers; it is standard equipment for normal believers.

  1. For a non-Pentecostal evangelical church to be the same tomorrow as it is today is status quo. For a church that is Pentecostal today to be merely evangelical tomorrow is backsliding.”
  2. Leonard Sweet – professor of post-modern Christianity, dean of the Theological school and vice-president of DrewUniversity, authored an epic book entitled Soul Tsunami. He is one who lives at the top of the Ivy League tower, and he says, for such to survive, much less thrive today, they must get EPIC.

E – experiential – life transforming encounter with God

P – participatory – not merely spectate

I – interactive – “doing worship”

C – Communal – close relationships

On page 208 he says, “Get over it, the Pentecostals have won!” He calls Pentecostalism, “the fastest growing and most important religious movement in the 20th century.”

  1. Calvin Miller – Doctor of Ministry degree, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Has served as Professor of Communications and Homiletics at Southwestern Baptist Seminary. Currently professor of divinity in preaching and pastoral ministry at SamfordUniversity. Book: Preaching; The Art of Narrative Exposition says on page 115, (while writing about Preparing the Mind and Reading the Soul) “The denominationally trained, seminary-educated missionaries with whom I had worked were models of conservative, homiletical excellence, but their churches were small and there were yards of pew per attendee at their services. Across from one of these sparsely attended churches, a group of Pentecostals had ‘claimed an old movie theater for Jesus’ and had retro-fitted it to make it serve as a kind of church…these preachers were the very models of the kind of ‘Jesus obsessed souls that marry adrenaline to naiveté. I was filled with confusion…those who know the least about theology and Bible often out-preach, or at least out-fascinate those who are well studied.”
  2. Now how is it that the Assemblies of God, who by our closest sister evangelical group are outnumbered 2 to 1with missionaries, been at it at least 70 years longer, yet we outnumber them 2 to 1 in global adherents. (I dare say the budget is close to 2 to 1 larger than ours, if not more) How?
  3. Could it possibly be the fact that we are people of the promise? Pentecostal people? That is making the difference?
  4. Why should we allow some pseudo-cerebral dead-pan, some spiritual sophisticate, to cause us to back away from our DNA? If we believed in dancing (and I know we don’t), I’d say, like the old country boy at the prom whose girl was not paying him much attention, “we oughta dance with the one what brung us to the prom.”
  1. I submit that we need more of,not less than, what is working for us internationally to be allowed to work for us nationally.
  2. To be Pentecostal people, we need to continue to be people of the promise, who hold out that promise. Pentecostal people are people of:
  3. Prayer: verse 42 “…they continued steadfastly in prayer.”
  4. Praise: verses 46, 47, “…continuing daily praising God.” Church is not a monument, museum, or mausoleum, it is a movement. Out of the book or off of the wall, our praise had better be, In the Spirit, from a true heart of praise
  5. Piety: verse 42 “…they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. NAS – “…they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” And a “sense of awe and reverential fear came upon every soul.”
  6. Call it
  7. Puritanical
  8. Prudish
  9. Priggish

Call it what you will. These people had a strong desire to be thoroughly right with God.

  1. Pentecostal people will want to practice a pure, holy, God-pleasing lifestyle!
  1. Passion: verse 46 “…and they continued daily with one accord…and in singleness of heart.”
  2. They had purpose – more intense than just purpose – passionate purpose!
  3. The “W” cubed attitudes: whatever, whenever, wherever/
  4. Small wonder then that with that attitude and atmosphere, “the Lord added to the church daily (continuously) such as should be saved.”
  5. There are some things the church must continue to do to continue to be the church. A conservatory for the preservation of traditions that are true.
  1. A Laboratory for the Presentation of Teachings that are true – II Timothy 2:2 “…the same commit thou to faithful men…” We must connect! The church is to be a Holy Spirit work in progress. It is not just the academics, assumptions or aspirations of the apostles. It is the acts of the apostles. We must connect with those we want to commit this to for this to continue.
  2. We must face our challenge
  3. Our challenge is to not be deceived by illusions

Illusion Number 1 - The belief that the new and young persons and preachers coming into our church will automatically follow the belief systems and fulfill the missions statements of those who have been in leadership the past generation. We must connect to transfer our values and vision.

Illusion Number 2 - The belief that the same styles, pace, technology, and methods our church experienced in the past generation will automatically be accepted and adopted by the coming generation. We must connect to transfer our identity and integrity.

  1. We must get close enough to hand off the torch and not be forced to throw the torch.
  2. We can:
  3. Blend without bleaching the color of our character
  4. Morph without mortifying the essence of our existence.

Illusion Number 3: The belief that we can completely compartmentalize our congregations along generational lines and keep the commitment connection going. We must connect to transfer our persona and practice. Our young people must have role models, mentors, coaches. These illusions, can be overcome by some:

  1. Inclusions – consider our Big Tent
  2. The General Council of the Assemblies of God has always been a Big Tent. We can:
  3. Lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes without tearing our tent. If we want to we can
  4. Make room for contemporary “styles” without sacrificing our traditional “substance”
  5. Make room for mosaic ministry without destroying our DNA. Yes, if we want to, we can.
  6. Our tent must be big enough to include
  7. The classic Pentecostal revivalist who believes the only way to be who we are is to be who we were; who believes that we were born in the fire and will choke in the smoke.
  8. The market place Pentecostal practitioner who believes the only way to be who we are is to be out there where they are; who wants to get Pentecost out of the upper room argumentation and into the street of application.
  9. The E-Bay Pentecostal futurist who believes the only way to be who we are is to change who we are becoming. Who believes if a wave has been in long enough to acquire a name then it is already on its way out. Who believes that no move of the Spirit is alive if it has organizational rules, an administrative hierarchy, and policy manuals

Well, surely there is room in our tent for those who want to:

  1. Retain Revival – real revival requires us to fast, pray, hunger, thirst
  2. Make Pentecost relevant in our work-a-day world because the day of Pentecost resulted in a street service where 3,000 were saved!
  3. Constantly “hear what the Spirit saith” to the church.
  4. For those precursory individuals who want to always be moving away from maintenance ministry and toward the emerging mission. Always attempting something so daring the Holy Ghost has to show up.
  5. Many of the early icons of our Assemblies of God movement were Pentecostal pioneers who always stood on the “ledge of courage” looking away from the continent of accomplishment out to the sea of challenge.

Why would we want to put that type out of our tent today? So the big tent brings us to our

  1. Big Test
  2. Will we practice nationally what we do internationally? Learn their language, acclimate to their culture, work hard at inclusion
  3. Will we move from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule?
  4. The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 – “do unto others what you would have them do to you.”
  5. The Platinum Rule: John 13:34 – “a new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you.”
  6. How did Jesus love you? John 15:13 – “greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.” So, how much as we willing to lie down so that someone else might take up? Or “move over” in our tent that others might “move in”? We must be a laboratory to present teachings that are true, we must connect to commit to the next generation, we must face our challenges, and we must focus on our core.
  7. Salvation – in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus, by grace, through faith: a teaching so sure and secure. Yet, Caveat:
  8. Salvation may be reached through a process but occurs at some point.
  9. The preaching of the law must bring about conviction before the preaching of grace can bring about conversion. Psalm 19:7, “The law of God is perfect, converting the soul.” Some see God as too nasty, some as too nice. He is neither.
  10. Salvation is not just optional enhancement for abundant living, but an absolute necessity for eternal life. Once again, the “lostness” of the lost must seize our Assembly of God souls.
  1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ. With the initial physical evidence of Speaking in a language not known to you.
  2. Concern: that we reduce the gift of speaking with tongues to a litmus test to qualify believers or an Assembly of God shibboleth – you have to “say/speak” it right before you’re considered “in.”

Dear friends, speaking with tongues is not a punishment. It is a privilege. As much a requirement as it is a right. Not a “got” to as much as a “get” to. A testimony of His personal presence and power. Why should we forfeit our opportunity to communicate directly with heaven?

  1. Concern: that we shackle tongues to the starting blocks: initial physical evidence (yes); exclusive evidence (no); evidenced in the fruit of evangelism = witness; and evidenced in the fruit of expression: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
  1. Divine healing – both naturally and supernaturally – should be preached and prayed for.
  2. The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the rapture for the church and at the Revelation with the church, which leads us to the third thing, Paul says the church is to be:
  1. An Observatory for the Projection of a Tomorrow that is true – II Timothy 2:2 – “…to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.”
  1. We must tell those coming on the truth about the future of His church.
  2. We must pass this truth from generation to generation till He comes.
  3. The church is to be an observatory from which we view the true future.
  4. We must convey this truth.
  5. The success of this succession is guaranteed by the God-man who has, is, and will build His church.

As A Man / As God
1. Became something He wasn’t before His birth – both the Son of God and Son of Man. / 1. Never became/becomes anything. Never was a when that he wasn’t, an is when he isn’t, a will be when he won’t. Can’t trace His DNA – he is the I AM
2. 100% human. (a) flesh of our flesh. (b) bone of our bone (c) everything God means when He says “man”. / 2. 100% God. (a) Very God of Very God (b) blood of God’s blood. (c) Everything man means when he says God.
3. Made of a woman, knit together in her womb. / 3. Made the woman who made Him and formed the womb that formed Him.
4. Willingly emptied Himself, limited, and humbled Himself. / 4. Is the fullness of the Godhead bodily with all power, a name above every name
5. When He was born, accounted as infant in days. / 5. Accounted the Ancient of Days.
6. Wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. / 6. Wrapped the earth with atmosphere and laid it on the foundations He had anchored.
7. A helpless child held in the arms of mortals / 7. Supreme creator who upholds all things by the Word of His power.
8. Fled for His life to Egypt’s refuge. / 8. (a) city of refuge, (b) High tower (c) Shadow of a mighty rock in our weary land.
9. Got hungry – gathered food from another man’s field. / 9. Set up a smorgasbord on a hillside – fed 5,000 with a lad’s lunch – and with 12 baskets left over.
10. Got thirsty – ask a drink from a wayward woman at a wayside well. / 10. Water from the rock slakes the thirst of the entire human race.
11. Got tired and wary of the work and the weight. / 11. “Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, I will give you rest.”
12. Rode in a borrowed boat / 12. Got out and walked on the water to rescue a perishing preacher.
13. Prayed (a) early, (b) often, and sometimes (c) all night. / 13. Never confessed one sin in His prayers.
14. Held no license to practice medicine. / 14. General practitioner healing all manner of sickness and disease. As a specialist: Operated as (a) ophthalmologist – eyes of the blind. (b) hematologist – issue of blood. (c) dermatologist – leprosy. (d) orthopedist – joints, nerves, muscles.
15. Owned no property, home, or condo. / 15. Owns the cattle on 1,000 hills, gold, silver, stones. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Supplies all your needs!
16. A carpenter who built nothing larger or more lasting than tables, chairs, and implements. / 16. Builds a church so powerful, so durable, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
17. He (a) came to His own and His own received Him not. He was (b) rejected like the scapegoat, (suffered without/outside the gate). Died outside the city wall, cloaked with the shame of sin. / 17. (a) As many as come, He will in no wise cast out. (b) Stands in the midst of the seven candlesticks and holds seven stars in His right hand. As Hebrews 13:13 says, “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”
18. Wore a common robe woven as one piece. Soldiers ripped off and gambled for it. / 18. A garment down to the foot – golden sash – King of Kings and Lord of Lord.
19. Hair of his head and face “mangled and matted with blood, spit, sweat, and tears.” / 19. White hair like wool as white as snow. The suffering savior is now the sovereign sage.
20. Dark Hebrew eyes were pools of pleading with (a) Judas, not to betray Him. (b) Peter, not to deny Him. (c) Mary for sympathy. (d) with the Heavenly Father not to forsake Him. / 20. A flame of fire, seeing all, penetrating the hearts of all humanity, exposing every dark secret.
21. Feet (a) dusty from Samaritan streets (b) bruised by stones of rough roads life made Him walk (b) split by the nails of Romans’ capital punishment. / 21. Like unto fine brass as if they burn in a furnace, with which He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of almighty God. He stands on the Mt. of Olives. (Jesus has some unfinished business with planet earth!)
22. (a) No form nor comeliness. (b) no beauty. (c) bruised, (d) beaten; (e) stripped, (f) striped, (g) visage marred so bad we turned and hid our face from Him. / 22. Countenance as seen shining at high noon on a cloudless day; (a) desire of all nations. (b) Rose of Sharon (c) Lily of the Valley, (d) fairest of 10,000, (e) altogether lovely, (f) God looked at Him and said “satisfied.”
As a man / As God
23. Lamb of God who acted like a Lion. / 23. Lion of Judah who acted like a Lamb.
24. Could not enter the temple,pass the candle stick, table of bread, golden altar, or vale to the Holy of Holies. Never adorned priestly vestments nor functioned in His father’s House of Prayer. / 24. As our High Priest, wearing His own flesh as a robe of righteousness, own sinless mind as a miter of purity, own sinless heart as a breastplate of Holiness entered, functioned – now seated at the right hand of Majesty on High, ever making intercession for us.
25. Never marshaled an army, commanded any troops, nor conquered with military force. / 25. Coming with 10,000 x 10,000 of His saints, and all the angels with Him (Matt. 25:31) Heaven emptied of its armies – no rear guard, so sure of victory and total capitulation of the army.
26. He was never the nominee of a political party, the president, prime minister, or the governor over any entity on earth.. / 26. Governments are on His shoulders, and in His time He shall show who is the blessed and only potentate – the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lord.

Rev. 11:15 – “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ…and He shall reign for ever and ever.”