Growing Pains

We are praying for and, therefore, expecting DFC to grow. We do need to be aware, however, that whenever a church, or any organisation, grows there will be growing pains.

In the early Church there were growing pains one of which could have led to a church split! We read in Acts chapter 6: 1-7 that some of the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked when the food was being distributed each day.

I wonder what pains we will encounter as we grow?

There will be more of everything:  visitors, babies and children, teenagers, older folk, people from different nations, people in need.  We will have to move to larger premises. We may not be able to see much of our old friends on a Sunday because we are meeting new ones!

If we are not prepared for this then our attitude could prevent our church from growing.

Serving Well

The apostles led well in the crisis that confronted them. They asked the members to choose seven me who were of good repute, ‘full of the spirit and wisdom’v3For any church to function in a healthy and fruitful way every member will need to be willing to serve. Serving begins with being willing, available and faithful.

It’s a matter of seeing a need and being willing and available to meet it!

These men got on with the task

Willing & Available

Charles Dickens once wrote: “Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest.”

Philip & Co. asked       “what needs doing?” not        “here's what I do”.

                        Who is it that serves most in your home?

                        Who is it that serves most in your church?

Faithful

Above giftedness and enthusiasm God rates faithfulness. He consider how reliable, how trustworthy and how dependable we are we as servants.

Remember the assessment of the Manager on the work of his servant in the parable of the talents:

 Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.                            Matthew 25:23

True Greatness

 There was one lesson amongst all the teachings of Jesus that his disciples would never forget. It was the day when he grabbed a towel and washed their feet. He asked them  “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet”  John 13: 1-17

He turned their values upside down and said his kingdom would be marked by honouring those who held towels not titles!

Jesus declared: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man cam not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for  many.”                        Matthew 20: 26-28

Who are the truly great members in our church? Who are the heroes? They are those who serve the most – often without profile or prominence. Caring for others. Running crèche on a Sunday. Setting up the hall, putting out the chairs. Hosting small groups during a busy week. 

As D.L. Moody wrote:  “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.”

Our church will only grow well if each of us respond like Philip & Co. Instead of waiting to be recognized or be given an important title we pick up a towel and help serve others. As Paul writes  “Instead, speaking the truth in love we will grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From whom the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”       Eph 4: 15,16

Friends, may I exhort you: don't wait for a title, a platform or a microphone, grab a towel!