BUILDING BLOCKS

Ephesians 4:11-16

INTRODUCTION

a. In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn't.

"What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.

"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."

"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.

Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

b. What does it take to "build a church"

1. A clear vision of the need

2. A Plan to meet the need

3. The sacrifice of the people to meet the need

4. Perseverance to see the project through

c. It is a miracle that any church building is ever built - In industry the top person makes the decision and the whole organization works toward it whether they like it or not -

1. A church is not so - must come to some agreement first and no one is ever forced to help - It is a miracle that you can get 150 families to come together to "build a church"

d. Focus on the Family Magazine recently reported that , baby boomers expect 6 things in a church: good music, social groups, big meeting rooms, a quality kitchen, ample parking, and clean restrooms.

e. I believe that we are well on the way and are in step three of the four I listed - Are we willing to sacrifice to see these needs met?

f. The question for this morning is - What are the "building blocks" it takes to build a church?

I. THE BLOCKS

a. A building also has many component parts

1. A Foundation

2. A Support structure and mechanicals (heat, cool, electricity)

3. A protective exterior covering

4. Interior walls for usability

b. What can we glean from the Scriptures concerning these parts for both the Church and its meeting place

1. The foundation is Christ - 1 Cor 3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

2. The support structure and mechanicals

1. We build around what we believe - Bible is source

2. Our doctrine comes from the Bible

3. The Mechanicals ( power sources) are the Holy Spirit

3. The exterior and interior are you and me

1. We are the bricks and shingles and drywall and flooring

2. We are placed where we will do the most good

c. Hear the Scripture again in that light

1. Read Eph 4:11-16 again

d. It takes everyone doing their part - no one bailing out - everyone pitching in and doing whatever it takes

II. PITFALLS IN BUILDING

a. Can you imagine a building where each part decides where it wants to be rather than an architect deciding

1. A roofing shingle complains - it is always hot and no shade and than it rains on me - I want to be inside where it is cool and dry

2. Or the drywall - I never get outside and it is so dark in here I want to be on the roof

3. Paul illustrated it this way :1 Cor 12:15-18 "If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

b. Building a gas station when you need a hospital -

III. BUILDING THE CHURCH

a. It happens only when - Every person is faithful to the task God has given them

b. It happens when we address the felt needs of the people around us

c. The only resource God has to use is you and me

d. Our foundation is Christ and our support structure is our beliefs

1. Jesus gave us a clear teaching tool about our beliefs and why He is the foundation - We call it "Communion" or the "Lord's Supper"

SHARE THE BREAD

SHARE THE CUP

GIVE THE INVITATION

HYMN # 132 "AMAZING GRACE"