The L'Edge - The Church That Takes Your Breath Away
1 Kings 10:1-10 NKJV
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.
2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.
3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her.
4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon,
the house that he had built,
5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and
their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
6 Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.
8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
I. What is the Reputation of Your Church? – vs. 1a
II. What are the Hard Questions of Your Community? – vs. 1b
III. Revealing the Wisdom of God – vs. 3
IV. The House that Solomon Built – vs. 4-5
A. The Food on His Table
B. The Seating of His Officials
C. The Service of His Waiters
D. The Uniforms
E. His Cupbearers
F. The Attitude of the Servants – vs. 8
V. Ascending into the House – vs. 5
VI. The Increase of Abundance in Your House - vs. 10
Exodus 25:1–9 NLT
The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. 3 Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them:
gold, silver, and bronze;
4 blue, purple, and scarlet thread;
fine linen and goat hair for cloth;
5 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood;
6 olive oil for the lamps;
spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;
7 onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest's chestpiece.
8 "Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.
9 You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings
exactly according to the pattern I will show you.
Where did former slaves get these riches from?
“When he ascended on high he led captivity captive, and he gave gifts to men.” Eph 4:8
Bring your wealth – Spiritual gifts & talents
Bring your gifts & let’s build something
Hebrews 8:5-6
“[Priest] who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said,
"See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
1. “Exactly” according to the Pattern
2. More Excellent
Past L’Edges I’ve dealt w/ Characteristics, Attitudes, Traits & Behaviors of Leaders
This L’Edge I am going to show you the Biblical Pattern…
for Building “The Church That Takes Your Breath Away”
First: The Mandate
The House that Solomon Built – vs. 4-5
2 Chron 5:1, 13-14
So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:
"For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," – that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
We always want the shekinah glory… when did it come?
Ex 40:33-35
[Moses] raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
The Lord always works through Sequence & Order & Systems
The Glory doesn’t fill the house until the house is finished
Ezek 37:7-10
Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
We stop at the noise and think that’s the Spirit
9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
There is always Structure before Breath
Only a “finished” completed Body can contain the breath, spirit, glory
In the Sequence, before Skin, or the covering, there must be Systems
Systems of the natural body & Systems of the Church
Cardiovascular – Circulatory
Digestive
Endocrine – Hormones
Lymphatic – Immune
Nervous
Renal
Reproductive
Respiratory
Welcoming
Worshiping
Assimilation
Nurturing
Serving / Volunteer
Stewardship
Empowerment / Leadership
Evangelism
The Importance of Order – Even in a miracle
Mark 6:37-41
He answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him,
“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.
The miracle was only as effective as the administration
The order ensured that everyone was fed
People could have been hurt trying to be fed
Order – Command
· Jesus brought order to the crowd
· He delegated authority to the Disciples
Assessment – walking in the midst of the situation
Evaluation & Measurement – how many people & how much food
You cannot build anything without measuring
Structure – Arrangement
Sat in groups – 100s & 50s
Sat on green grass
System – for distribution of food
41He looked up to heaven… All of this gave God something to breathe on
If we want the Glory & the Breath
We must ‘finish” what we start & give God something to Breathe on
Why did the Queen of Sheba come to see Solomon?
The Reputation of the Church – vs. 1a
What is your church famous for?
What does your church do well?
Do people outside of your church know it?
Why should anyone attend your church?
What do you have that they want? Not what they need
We must recognize that people do things for their reasons, not ours
They are only going to do what makes them happy or gives them satisfaction
Why should someone come to your church with their treasure?
The church wants both Time & Money from people
You have strong competition outside the church that also want their time & money
People have a limited amount of both
So, which activities will they choose? The one that interests them
So, if church doesn’t satisfy them, (not our standard of “church”),
Or if ministry does not offer a beneficial return in their exchange
They won’t come or they won’t come back
How does your church stand out in the multitude of choices?
Your competition is not the next church
People are looking for Relationships – FaceBook Friends
People want something Authentic – millennials “real”
People want something High Quality – church does Cute rather than Excellent
Do people know that you are there?
In the past, all the church needed was a nice building, a good choir
And a preacher who could give 3 points & whoop out a hymn at the end
Millennials are leaving the church
Black members are taking their talents to White churches
We must return to building the church according to the Biblical pattern
There is another problem
Even if you are relevant, how will they know it if you they don’t come ‘see’?
You must learn to “Toot Your Own Horn” to get them to come in
Jesus was deliberate about getting His message out
“He sent messengers before His face” – Luke 9:52
Jesus understood Marketing
satisfying the customer to create relationships & influence behavior
Jesus won people by dealing with their felt needs (satisfying customers)
Then He ministered to their real needs
Jesus is telling us what He told His disciples, “You give them something to eat”
Market: satisfy their felt needs, then minister to their real needs
How do you get your message out that you are relevant?
Especially in our digital culture
That bombards us with as many as 5,000 commercial messages a day
In this visually oriented generation, it’s about more than the message
It’s also about the medium
There was a time when “packaging” had nothing to do with ministry
· Branding
· Positioning
· Audience
Many of us are “Transplants” to technology
Get someone “Native” to technology – to remind us & help us understand
Previously, I asked “if people knew that you are there?”
If your church disappeared, would anybody notice?
What is the reputation of your church?
Not just in your church, but in your community
Discuss this among your group
From your position as a ministry leader, if God promised to fulfill one request, what would you ask for?
1 Kings 3:5, 9, 12-14
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said,
"Ask! What shall I give you?"
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
12 Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally
and without reproach (without finding fault NLT), and it will be given to him.
There is a process to the giving & getting of wisdom
Wisdom: the convergence of knowledge, understanding, discernment, insight
Wisdom comes from experience
see preceding verses 2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing.
James goes on to warn against being Double-minded – vs 7
When I listen to Church folk, their language indicates
they have no expectation of Divine Wisdom
1 Cor 2:9-12, 16
But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (Is 65:4)
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep (secrets) things of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
16 But we have the mind of Christ.
Isa 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Col 3:1-2
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (Eph 2:6)
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Many have used Patterns & Blueprints that have no life
Some chosen denominational models over scriptural models
We have access to the wisdom of God; can understand His patterns
Build according to “the copy and shadow of the heavenly things” – Heb 8:5
Eph 3:10
To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
A Biblical Pattern for Growth
Capture Their Attention
(Consider what we talked about in the previous session)
· How do people know that you are there?
· How do they know what you offer?
We are competing with a variety of events and noise
· What are your Mediums for disseminating that information? – getting people’s attention
Evangelism
· Environments
The message before the message (no distractions)
· What is the message when people drive onto the parking lot?
· What do people see when they enter the building?
Hold Their Attention
Excellent Weekend Experiences
· Children’s Ministry
· Worship
· Word
· Hospitality
Keep (Engage) Their Attention
· Assimilation / Connections
· Relationships / Small Groups
· Service Opportunities / Volunteers
· Excellent Weekend Follow-up
The Attitude of the Servants – vs. 8
“Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!”
Are people moved by your attitude in ministry?
As a leader, the only power you have is the power of INFLUENCE
You can’t make anybody do anything
You can only inspire or persuade through influence
Too often, we simply make good workers leaders, not people of influence and ideas
They work harder… and harder… and harder
They never learn how to lead & they never make ministry ‘look’ attractive
The end results… we do everything by ourselves
or “No one can do it like me”
Don’t just work
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do. Eph 6:7-8 NLT
An Attitude of Enthusiasm is more important than
your competence or your leadership skills
“Nothing is as contagious as enthusiasm” – Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Enthusiasm: Entheos (en + theos) “God within” or “Inspired by God”
Everyone has an attitude
Ø Bad Attitudes, Negative
Ø Good Attitudes, Positive
Ø Neutral Attitudes
Luke 7:31-32 NLT
"How can I describe [this generation]?
32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance,
so we played funeral songs, and you didn't weep.'
Ps 100:1-2
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness;
We do too many things based on our mood – Eccl 11:4
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
Ø We miss divine results
Even God is moved by your Attitude
Deut 28:47-48
“Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart,
for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies,
whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
When He is pleased He invites you into His joy – Matt 25:21, 23
The Ministry of the Face
1 Thess 2:17
We, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence,
not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
Abraham Lincoln – “Every man over 40 is responsible for his face”
Ministry of the Face is vital before your pastor & the people you lead
Neh 2:1-2
It came to pass… that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid.
Too many of us are victims of our circumstances
If we can master our attitude, we can master our lives
“He who rules his spirit is greater than he who rules a city.” Prov 16:32
Ministry Protocol for our presentation – our official procedure, a standard
“Be Happy” – 1 Kings 10:8
Change is a natural outgrowth of true leadership
New Levels, change of seasons, ‘Walking by Faith’
As leaders, when change is happening
You are responsible for the attitude in & among the congregants
You must be able to adjust – and do so with an attitude of enthusiasm & expectation
· Control the atmosphere
· Create the feeling that good things are about to happen in your church
· Inspire people to join in the excitement
If it is not exciting at your church, it is not because exciting things are not happening, it is because, as a leader, you are not excited.
You are not building “the church that’s out of breath”
Let’s build a Church that will take people’s breath away
The Food on His Tables
Milk – Word for the Babies, Unskilled, Carnal
A. 1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
B. Heb 5:12-13. Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
C. 1 Cor 3:2. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it,
Meat – Word for the Mature, Experienced, Skilled, Discerning
Heb 5:14. But solid food (strong meat) belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Bread – Deliverance
Mark 7:27. But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
I. Matt 6:11. Give us this day our daily bread.
II. John 6:48. I am the bread of life.
Fruit – Character
A. Gal 5:22-23. the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
B. Phil 4:17. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
Water – Transformation
John 1:3 (baptism); 2:7 (water to wine)
Wine – Holy Spirit
Acts 2:13-15; Eph 5:18
Honey – Ps 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Locust (Joel 2:25; Mark 1:6)
People are drawn to eating junk food
Did you get feed? Yes, but I got beat up trying to get to the table
Ascending into the House – vs. 5
A. Psalms of Ascent – Psalms 120-134
B. Worship insures the Presence of the Lord in the Completed House
The Hard Questions of Your Community – vs. 1b
The Increase of Abundance in Your House - vs. 10
A. Treasure – abundance is assured when we build according to the pattern
B. People Zech 8:20-23
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities;
21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,
"Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also."
22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.'
23 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'"