INTRODUCTION

a. We live in a time when people "DO" things

1. Let's "do" lunch
2. Let's "do" a date
3. Nike says "Just do it"
4. Some are just "doing"

c. Doing church means many different things -

1. A husband and his wife arose one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church. It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn't moved a finger toward getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, "Why aren't you getting dressed for church?" He said, "Cause I don't want to go. She asked, "Do you have any reasons?" He said, "Yes, I have three good reasons. First, the congregation is cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don't want to go.

The wife replied, wisely, "Well, honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First, the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And third, you're the pastor! So get dressed!"

2. A certain congregation was about to erect a new church edifice. The building committee, in consecutive meetings, passed the following resolutions:

1. We shall build a new church.

2. The new building is to be located on the site of the old one.

3. The material in the old building is to be used in the new one.

4. We shall continue to use the old building until the new one is completed.

e. It is interesting that these two are nearly the same even though some may think otherwise.

f. Let's look at these together

I. WHAT PEOPLE DESIRE IN A CHURCH

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

b. George Gallup in a recent survey found that the vitality of churches, depends very much on how effectively they respond to six spiritual needs of Americans.

They are listed as:

1. The need to believe that life is meaningful and has a purpose.

a. In a world where life is cheap, violence is rampant, despair is epidemic, families split, and people turn to sex, drugs and rock n roll looking for love, acceptance and meaning - The real question is - CAN I FIND MEANING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE

b. People want their lives to count for something - to be part of something bigger than themselves

c. People want substance to their lives

a. People want to belong and know that someone cares about them - They want to develop friendships

b. A family had gone to the movies, and on the way in the young man of the family stopped by the refreshment stand to pick up some popcorn. By the time he got into the theater the lights were already dim. He scanned the theater and evidently couldn't find his family. The lady who tells the story says she watched him pace up and down the aisles searching the crowd in the near-darkness. As the lights began to go down even further he stopped and asked out loud, "Does anyone recognize me?"

c. The TV show "Cheers" - Where everybody knows your name

a. Common courtesy and manners are displayed

b. Talents are recognized and used

a. Can express yourself without fear -

b. People listen and consider what you say

c. Given direction and correction when necessary

a. Challenged to be who God wants them to be

b. Places and times to express faith - this gives the feeling that you are growing

a. SS and Wed Night - Men's and Women's groups

b. Children and Youth ministries

c. Special Events that give help in growing

a. Look at the scripture we read this morning

1. It may sound like it is meant for the individual but it is in the context of the church relationships

2. We are to:

a. Live wisely - behavior governed by God's Word

b. Be filled with the Spirit

c. Encourage each other in our interactions - speak in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

d. Lift our hearts in praise to God together

e. Give thanks to God always

b. Some more things God desires

1. Worship that glorifies God

2. A place to be taught and to grow

3. Caring for the needs of the people

a. Physical needs - Acts 2 - "held everything in common"

b. Emotional - Celebrate and cry together in times of triumph and loss

4. A place of Fellowship - Where deep personal relationships can be developed

5. A place of mission - Personal ministries and corporate missions in the town, area and world

a. To "DO" church means we intentionally seek to follow God's desires not our own

1. We must first accept Jesus as Savior and Lord

2. We must come together - Heb. 10:25 - "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together"

a. We must be here with our families - not enough to send them or to come alone

3. We must each fulfill our responsibilities faithfully

4. We meet the World with the Word and Power of God

1. During Vacation Bible School last week my wife had an experience with her primary class that she says she will never forget. Her class was interrupted on Wednesday about an hour before dismissal when a new student was brought in. The little boy had one arm missing, and since the class was almost over, she had no opportunity to learn any of the details about the cause or his state of adjustment. She was very nervous and afraid that one of the other children would comment on his handicap and embarrass him. There was no opportunity to caution them, so she proceeded as carefully as possible. As the class time came to a close, she began to relax. She asked the class to join her in their usual closing ceremony. "Let's make our churches," she said. "Here's the church and here's the steeple, open the doors and there's..." The awful truth of her own actions struck her. The very thing she had feared that the children would do, she had done. As she stood there speechless, the little girl sitting next to the boy reached over with her left hand and placed it up to his right hand and said, "Davey, let's make the church together."

BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER

HYMN # 338 "TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE"