REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD by Pastor Dave Richardson
First Baptist Church of Stilwell is a place where REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD.
That's not some sappy bumper sticker slogan we made up because it looks good on church literature or on the sign out front. It's the best way I can possibly sum up what goes on inside the four walls of God's house at First Baptist Church of Stilwell. This REALLY IS the place whereREAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD
You're probably skeptically asking the question "Yeah right, how on earth does THAT happen?" The short answer is come and see for yourself. If you aren't a reader and don't want to read the rest of what I've written to explain myself - just do this - COME SEE FOR YOURSELF. We're not your grandfather's church. We're not your father's church. We're not even your older brother's church! And we aren't playing games. This REALLY IS the place where REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD. And if you want to put that statement to the test, come and see for yourself. We're here every Sunday at 10:45 AM and 5:00 PM.
Now if you want to take the time to read WHY I claim that this REALLY IS the place where REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD then read on. It happens in four ways which I describe using four words - "Music, Mystery, Maturity and Ministry."
MUSIC
Aside from the Spirit of God, nothing is of greater importance in the worship service than music. It is a potent element in a worship service because it has an incredible, matchless capacity to open the human spirit to God, accessing the soul more quickly, deeply and permanently than any other art form or human speech and that includes the sermon. We have amazingly good music in this church. Music IS the language of the soul - meaning it is one of the best ways we have of communicating and experiencing our deepest feelings. Thus music is the perfect means of preparing our spirits for being with God on Sundays and that's literally what it's all about when we come into His house for worship.
MYSTERY
Secondly, REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD when we come expecting to encounter the mystery of God. By 'mystery' I mean the sense of awe and humility that one feels in the presence of a power you can't see or touch but know is here. There IS something mysterious and mystical and spine tingling about being in the presence of the real God. I fear that all too often on Sundays the focus of those in the pews is on those in the pews and many churches re-enforce this by trying to please those in the pews. I don't believe in that.We're not here to make you feel important or to entertain you. Worship is about the mysterious and amazing Almighty God and He is not some fable or myth or figment of our imaginations. He is real and present and authentic and can be experienced in an undeniable way IF when you come into His house, you come expecting the mystery of His presence and come sincerely asking Him to reveal Himself to you. The purpose for coming here on Sunday morning gets lost when the attention strays from Jesus Christ. To quote one of my favorite authors, 'A sense of God's supernatural present is the first essential of real worship. When the person of God is revealed in our worship, there is electricity, an atmosphere of expectancy, joy, hope and peace. Without a sense of God's nearness, worship is about as exciting as reading the minutes of the last board meeting. We might as well go home and balance our checkbooks or clean out the garage.'
When I stand to present what God has given me to preach on a given day, I do so painfully aware of the presence and mystery of God. The mystery of which I speak is not that we come into a special building on a special day at a special time seeking God but rather that He chooses to come to us in that special building on that special day at that special time. The mystery is that God is present with us on Sunday. It really is possible for REAL LIFE TO MEET THE REAL GOD and it happens here at First Baptist of Stilwell.
MATURITY
The third way that REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD is through the process of 'maturity'. The average church today makes no expectations of its membership. It is my belief that churches that have low or no expectations of their members are often perceived to be irrelevant or nonessential. It is incumbent upon a church to put an educational structure in place to move members systematically along the road to spiritual maturity. Babes in Christ need something beyond milk and Christian entertainment. If someone makes a commitment to follow Jesus and desires to make a change in their life, they need training; they need mentors and they need the means by which they can follow through on that commitment. The Twelve Step Program for addicts and alcoholics is effective because it gives practical advice, specific training, defines expectations, holds converts accountable and then provides a mentor or guide to help the convert to achieve what he or she has set out to do which is to change the course of their lives for the better. Should the church of Jesus Christ do any less?
I believe that higher expectations will lead to higher commitment, greater understanding and more dedicated servants for Christ. To say the same thing another way, when each of us were high school students, from which teacher did we learn the most? The answer is the one who demanded the most of us. It is no different in the Christian world. Churches need teachers and leaders that set high standards. Prospective members need to know that being a member of this church and disciple of Jesus requires service and sacrifice. Set the bar high if you want to achieve something great for God. Leaders have to teach others how to lead if the church is to reach large numbers of unsaved. Jesus was looking for real men and women to follow Him. He was looking for risk takers - bold thinkers - difference makers. At First Baptist of Stilwell we are striving to be a first century Christian church and become difference makers for the Kingdom, and we're still looking for risk takers and bold thinkers and dedicated servants.
MINISTRY
Finally, REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD through ministry. I'm not talking about MY ministry. I'm talking about the ministry of each believer. Ministry means using your time, talents and treasures to advance the kingdom of God in some way that excites YOU. It doesn't mean being a missionary or a preacher. It simply means allowing God to use you to make a difference in the world using your natural abilities, your personal passion and your spiritual gift. Helping believers to grow in spiritual maturity is a fundamental responsibility of Christ's church and will eventually lead believers to the point where they are going to be equipped to do ministry and want to do ministry. It has been my observation that when believers are encouraged to love their fellow man as Christ loved them, when they are taught how to have a devotional life of daily Bible study and intercessory prayer, when they are led to discover their God-given natural abilities and spiritual gifts, when they are shown the areas of the church where their blessings can best be used, then they develop a hunger to be used by God in His service. They want to become servants of the Living God and to use what they have been given by Him for His glory. Rick Warren puts it this way, 'You will be most effective and fulfilled in ministry when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart's desire in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences.'
I am convinced that REAL LIFE MEETS THE REAL GOD at First Baptist Church of Stilwell every Sunday. Come find out for yourself - and in the process let God change you into the man or woman He created you to be. Don't think it's possible? Put my bold claim to the test and come see for yourself.
