CERRO
GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
August 28,
2022
What does it take?
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10
When we were
gone last Sunday, we went by several churches that were either finishing
services, I would guess, or had recently concluded services. Yes, I must admit,
in all honesty, we did not go and worship at any church last Sunday. With that
confession being made, as we went by some churches on the highway we were
traveling, I noticed some did not have many cars in their lots. A few others
were seemingly clear full. My first thought was “Good for them”. (The full
ones.) But my second thought was what makes one church have a few cars in their
parking lot while another is bursting at the seams? One church even had their
lots full and people parking along the road in the grass! So, I wondered, what
does it take for people to want to come that badly to a place to worship that
they will park a ways a way to be able to join in that worship. I do not know
how many of you have attended a place of worship that had not just a hundred
people there but a thousand or more on a normal Sunday morning or in some cases
Saturday evening service.
There was a
radio ministry Cathy and I really enjoyed listening to that was based in a
western suburb of Chicago, and we attended a few times when we visited our son
when he lived not terribly far away from this church. What was the first shock
to the senses was that the local police were helping get cars into their
parking lot to reduce congestion. The same reason we enjoyed listening to this
pastor on the radio, I am sure, is why the church was virtually full at every
service. The pastor made the Bible come alive with real down to earth, easy to understand
messages. Yet the messages were Bible based and faithful to scripture. Word of
mouth I am sure is why that church went from a home church to a church with
thousands of members. Have any of you attended equally well attended churches?
If so, what do you think made them so successful?
We need to
be careful to understand that having a lot of members does not automatically
mean the church is successful in God’s eyes. When we think of the scripture, we
looked at this morning from 1 Thessalonians, we see Paul, Silas and Timothy
bragging a little bit about the church in Thessalonica. How the believers in
this church have become well known throughout the entire region. But why did
they brag about this group of believers? Because once they heard the message,
they grabbed ahold of the message of salvation and, in spite of everything, did
not let go. And this was not a group of people raised in church, so to speak.
In the 9th verse we read how these Gentiles turned from worshiping
idols to believing in the true and living God. How they also realized what
Jesus had done to bring about their salvation on this earth and looked forward
to God’s coming eternal kingdom. So, in the verses we have looked at today we
can see a glimpse of what makes a congregation successful in the eyes of God.
But what does it take to make one congregation burst at its seams and another
just get by? Is it a charismatic pastor? Is it an engaged congregation? Is it
the message that is at the heart of worship? Is it the music ministry? Is it
the programs that are available? Is it a combination of all of these?
What is our
vision here in Cerro Gordo at this church? Over the next few Sundays, we are
going to bounce back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament
to see what God expects of His church and His people. I believe if we are
honoring God with our worship, He will bless His church. The challenge for the
church today is to understand that we are in the world but are not to be
changed by the world. I am also convinced we must all acknowledge that Satan is
real and is trying to deceive as many people as he can.
I am pretty
sure virtually everyone would love to see this sanctuary clear full every
Sunday. What does it take to make that happen? What would we have to do
differently to make it happen? Is there anything we can do to make that happen?
Are there things we can do while we understand it is all about simply being
faithful to God? These are some of the things we are going to look at in the
next few weeks as we seek to grow in the Lord personally. While at the same
time ask God: “What can we, as your people, do to keep doing the work you have
called us to do right here in Cerro Gordo?” In other words, “Lord, if you want
us to grow as a congregation ‘What does it take?’ ”
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
August 31—deadline for Sept newsletter submissions
September 10 8:00 a.m. Work Day—meal provided by Women’s Fellowship
September 14 Board Meeting
September 30 – October 1—The Lord’s Storehouse rummage sale at the Brethren
Church. Drop off times for clean, boxed items: 4-7 p.m. Sept. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15
(north door)
The sound system is fixed; electrical breakers are
repaired; the clavinova is awaiting repair, as is the screen. Thanks, Ron!
Shirley and Oren Wright trimmed many of the bushes.
Thank you! And to all who help in any way!
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank
you for your continued giving!
Donation Box: AC bills
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
To
keep up on Church of the Brethren news:
Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign
up for Newsline by clicking link on left side of page.
District:
iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook
Our
pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon, announcements, &
calendar) and on facebook
Keep
in Your Prayers
Oren Wright; Cecil; Devon Wright; Mike
Nuding; Michelle West; Tom West; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe
Waltz; Doug Larrick; Anna Rose Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Anna
Gentry Thompson; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea
Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene
Schultz; Sarah Rudelick; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;
Candy Dobson; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many
unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders;
the families of those who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the
virus; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; the
Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library
Military and Other
Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer
Calendar: Pray for the Charismatic Christian Center, a Filipino ministry in the
Chicago area.
Church
of the Brethren vision statement:
Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately
live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ
through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will
develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative,
adaptable, and fearless.
Our
Mission Statement:
Love
God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.
