Preached Nov 22, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays

"How to Build a Weak Church"

Eph. 3: 14

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

1. He wants an empowered strengthened church
2. He wants a Church which is full of God.
3. God wants to receive Glory in the Church.
4. He doesn't want his church to be tainted, watered down and weak.

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I say that because we seem to forget that. WE seem to be (whether by accident or on purpose) doing a lot of things that produce just the opposite of that..

But tonight I want to look at how to have a Weak one. And With each point I want to ask the question, "Are we building a weak church or a strong church?"

First though, let's establish something… Who is the church? We are not talking about a building.. I'm not preaching on how to build a weak or a strong building.. When I say, "Here's how to build a weak church", what I'm saying is, "Here's how to build weak believers, and hence a weak Church."

I. Keep Everyone on Milk, (skim milk)

Heb. 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The average church as a whole only desires milk… They come and want to hear about Love, and Grace, salvation, and Baptism, and the very, very, very basics… There is a time for that…

I realize that some can only handle baby food. Their Spiritual stomachs won't digest it.. Spiritually it's dangerous to give them what they aren't ready for… Where are you?

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Do you want this church to be strong or weak? America is full of weak churches, Why?

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

There is a crowd that will despise you if you tell them the truth… they have plenty of church's to attend that will make them comfortable… Listen to Proverbs 9:8 "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee."

Will we be weak or strong right here?
Listen to what God has told me…

Titus 2:15 "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke (how you supposed to do that?) with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

Note this about the Lord…

Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

II. Don't Exercise the Folk..

Heb. 5: 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

You know what makes a Marine? A Drill Instructor at Paris Island…

Folk, if you are going to be strong, you are going to have to get under a load and lift..

Some folks want to get in a Big church, so that they can hide from their spiritual responsibility… You can't hide from God though…

Listen to King David talking to his son Solomon.. 1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

I love the songs like,

Are you ready to work? Or Vacation on God..

Something funny, these rich people all have a Trainer. What does he do? He pushes them when they are lazy, and they pay him money for that don't they? Friend when are you going to work? When you feel like it?

Are you willing to be pushed.. relate basketball and football and wrestling illustrations… getting in shape requires going past your weak mind telling you to quit!

III. Lower the Standard for Leadership..

Heb. 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

There is time when God is going to Hold you accountable if you are not a leader..

Leon Kilbreth, Sunday School Growth expert, teaches, "If you find a man out in the community who's not in your Church, who could teach, make him a teacher and get him in.." Friend, that will Kill a Church.

Note what is said to the Preacher… I Tim. 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

The word novice comes from neophutos {neh-of'-oo-tos} means newly planted, a new convert, neophyte (one who has recently become a Christian) --- (Friend, I was a leader before I was qualified to be a leader…., and man! I made some dumb mistakes)

We need leaders in this church for it to be strong.. Not a bunch of novices, but some have no aspirations… God Give us Men and Woman who want to be leaders..

We need and will need a lot of Deacons in this Church… The word deacon means.. Servant… Some folk want to be deacons so that they can hold an office, not because they want to serve… Note what a Deacon is to be I Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

That word Proved is dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo} tested, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals, to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

Dr. Roberson, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." By destroying leadership, we are in effect destroying a Church.

You want a weak church? Make leaders out of men who are not leaders! Leaders, Be leaders!

Have you ever worked where someone was promoted who shouldn't have been? What was the effect?

You want to kill a Church, fill it with unfaithful Sunday School teachers. We need leaders. Will you be one? Can I count on You? Can you say with Paul:

1. 1 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

2. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Can this Church set the Temperature by You?




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