Sept. 1, 2019, | Pastor Nathan Elms 1st Church CLT
Theodore Levitt is an economist and a professor at Harvard Business School. He did a research project called “Market Myopia.” His discovery: Business leaders often do not understand what business they were in.
For example, the railroad people didn’t understand that they were in the transportation business. Had they realized it, they would have invested in the airplane.
The telegraph people thought that they were in the telegraph business. They failed to realize that they were in the communications business. In 1886 or so, they could have bought all of the telephone patents for about $40,000.
But they didn’t know what business they were in.
I. What is the main business of the church?
• Care for its members? Counsel for the confused? Prayer for the sick? Marrying and burying? Fellowship for the lonely? Teaching paths of righteousness?
Without a doubt, these are functions of the church – but not the main business of the church; and if we start acting as if they were, we will miss our main business. We are in the people business.
We are always in danger of slipping into a maintenance mentality in the church. Where we focus on maintaining our religious club and preserving its sacred traditions, and we forget about the lost.
We don’t need a maintenance mentality we need a missions mentality!
What is the difference between a “maintenance mentality” and a “missions mentality?”
• A “maintenance mentality” is the delusion that is the church is here for us.
• A “missions mentality” is the belief that we ARE the church and we are here for THE WORLD!”
II. If we seek the Lord we will discover the heart of God. We will be commissioned.
In Acts 13 we read about a direct command of the Holy Spirit to the NT church: “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen are going to stay in Antioch. Paul and Barnabas are going to start a missionary journey. This is a moment of spiritual commission.
Key Takeaway: Your mission is just as much a part of your Christian identity as your good-living, your fruit of the spirit, your lifestyle of prudence. A Christian without a commission is like a sinner claiming to be righteous.
We are not just set apart by living Godly lives. We are set apart by a Godly mission. Just as it is a shame for a Christian to live in sin; It is a shame for a Christian to have no burden for the mission.
III. Where Do I Start?
A. Commit to Action. It has to start somewhere. Decide it will start with you. Our church structure is designed to involve your talents, your ministry. Dream Team serves every Sunday. Small groups are for you. Serve Days are for your generosity. Prayer services are for you.
B. Commit to modeling. Find someone who is making a difference and model what they are doing.
C. Commit to prayer. "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16
D. Commit to learning. Great leaders are great learners. They read. They listen. They reflect. And to be a learner requires a certain level of humility. Those who think they know everything don't learn anything.
E. Commit to loving people. Maybe that's why Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 20:25-27 the key to Christian leadership. He told them, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
The Book of Acts does not end with an “Amen” It was intended to continue.
