AGM - Reflection on 2017 and Vision 2018: A Declaration of dependence.
Today we were supposed to do Romans chapter 15. However, because I’ve been finishing off one job while already working increased hours at the other one, Christian being sick we couldn’t get it done. I didn’t have enough time to prepare properly, to do the text justice. It wouldn’t have been good enough. But since we had to by law have an agm (årsmøte) this morning, and since it has been a while I presented the vision for 2018, it would be good to look at what God has done among us and look forward to the rest of the year.
Our vision for 2018 can be summarized in three words: glory, joy, and dependence.
Glory because we exist to glorify God, as individuals and as a church. And he is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. The more we find our joy in him the more we honour him in loving Him with all that we have. We were created to rejoice in the Lord, and we who have the Holy Spirit are filled with joy when we remember the gospel, when we think of our Heavenly Father, Jesus our brother and Saviour, and how God loves us. Glory and Joy.
But we can only do that if we depend on him.
And maybe that's where we struggle, especially as leaders. We want to achieve so much. There are so many who need Jesus. So many are lost. We should be 100, 200 people now. I'm impatient!
But we can not do anything without Him. Everything comes from him. This is his church, not mine - nor primarily yours. It is Jesus who is the leader of the church. He is our driving force and power and leader and guide and wisdom. Therefore, we must listen to him. As on the mountain top, when Jesus was glorified before the eyes of Peter, James and John, Moses and Elijah (Law and Prophet) were with Jesus - what did God's voice say from the cloud? This is my son - listen to him! (Mark 9)
That’s why our foundation is the word of God. And as much as possible, the word of God without interpretation, without twisting. We let the scriptures as much as possible explain to themselves. We want people to say "yes, I see where it comes from" not "huh?" when we explain the text.
God's Word is our life-blood. The Spirit takes his word in power, and has created a church that is alive, that is marked by love. Where people are open and welcoming and take care of each other.
And the key is not us - it's here. It is because we are filled with the word of God.
Perhaps a good place to talk about how many were in church last year!
We had 52 Norwegian services and 50 English evening services. 102 in total! This morning service had an average of 15 adults and 10 children (25 in total). Lowest attendance was 11. Highest 69 on Good Friday last year. The highest at a normal service was 39. But there more of us than just 39 who belonging to this church! The morning service has particularly struggled in the latter half the year and the first few months of this year. It’s actually down by 2 from 2016, where average was 27. But! We had English service all year which affected the morning service. In this service we’ve had an average of 11, once as few as 4 and once 24!
Both together, minus the leaders who are at both, we had an increase of 3 from 2016, with an average of 30 on Sundays.
Now that alright, but not good.
I get worried when people aren’t at church for one, two, three or more Sundays - because I know how difficult it is to live like a Christian without meeting together as his church! Just like it's hard to live if you do not eat.
Too many Christians have almost starved to death because they do not use the opportunity they have to get good spiritual food.
I know that it is not part of our culture to view the church as important to ME. Like it’s a good cultural institution – but something I need? But it is! It is God's gift. It’s one of the primary ways God blesses you. God put us together as his family to take care of each other. That’s exactly what we learned from Romans 14 last week Treat each other with mercy and care. The same grace God has shown us we show to each other.
I know that some struggle with church because they have had a bad experience of what a church is and many have been hurt by other Christians. But don’t reject God's good gift because people have ruined it with sin!
It’s in fact a good reason to find a church where the word of God and the gospel is preached. It's like healing balm for a wounded heart. So if you know people who need spiritual healing - get them in here and see what God can do!
That’s why these three months, we spent a lot of time particularly in the morning service praying for people to come. That we would feel the need to be together and to hear from God. We have also focused on why we need church, and last Sunday evening was a real highlight when we heard from Karen. If you missed it, check it out on our Facebook – it’s well worth listening to.
Okay. Let’s get to some Bible.
Ro 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
1 Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Those are the verses the Westminster Catechism uses to answer the question “What is the chief and highest end of man” (what is our purpose)? The answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
We exist to bring glory to God. We were created in the image of God to reflect God’s glory back to him. Like the moon reflects the light of the sun, and lights up the night sky, so we should reflect the glory of God.
But I love that that is not all. It’s not just glorify God but also to enjoy him forever. We were created to enjoy Him. We were created for his pleasure to find our fulfilment and joy in him. He completes us.
Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Jn 17:21–23 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
The chief and highest end of man – our main goal, our reason for being, the highest meaning in our lives is this: to glorify God and to fully enjoy God forever. Joy.
Joy is a scarlet thread throughout the Bible. It appears again and again.
My Dad quoted last week from: Jude 24-25 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
In the Bible studies we read 1 Pe 2:3–10 now you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (literally that bring him joy or are brought joyfully).
Why? Why joy? Why not right thinking or good doctrine? Which we do think is very important. But not most important. Because it is possible to know a lot about God without loving him. It is possible to be cold and religious. In fact, the devil has a better "theology" than you and I could ever have. He knows everything about God. But he hates God.
Dt 28:47–48 If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, 48 you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. Joy is a requirement!
Devil has had more theologically accurate thoughts about God. Satan’s problem is not doctrine, but delight. We need to rejoice in God! Not just think right thoughts.
That's why we put a so much emphasis on the word - reading it the way God wrote it. Theology, doctrine is important, but it is not what keeps us alive. It's the difference between describing my wife or talking to her. Doctrine is a description of God - this (the Bible) is talking to him. And his words achieve His purposes in us. Change us reform us renew us and fill us with joy.
Our purpose, the reason we are here, is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. That is what we will spend all eternity doing. In glorifying him and in JOY! And we can experience that now.
What is the chief and highest end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
And if you’re not full of joy - think about what God has done for you.
Let me share with you some verses from what we’ve been learning in Bible study and church.
1 Pe 2:9–10 …you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes
Ro 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Rom 5:10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Ro 8:28–29 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Ro 8:38–39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord .
Benjamin shared this story at Bible study. He was in hospital, lying in bed, blind and lame. Everything had to be done for him. He was struggling. And then Philippians 4:4 came to mind “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Rejoice? Now? Rubbish. Can’t be done. And like any good Christian he resisted the command of the Lord for a bit. Won’t!
But then he thought – well I can’t do much, but I can smile! And he decided to smile. And he said in the very moment he forced his face into a smile… joy flowed through him! Even in the darkest moment God was with him!
Our vision for 2018
So how can we, as a church, glorify to God, and rejoice in him? Glory. Joy. Dependence. Exactly! In dependence and obedience.
We are not strong. But he is strong.
Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
I have no big grand plan for this year. I know what I wish would happen. But I have no power to make it happen. So many people on the outside just on the brink. So many of you ready to take the next step on your journey of faith, to grow. Oh I wish I could reach ion and grab your hearts. But I’m not God. And neither are you. So let’s pray! I pray that will happen this year. I pray we would grow in maturity. I pray that many would be saved. I hope and pray that we can grow to 100, 200 people. Wouldn’t that be amazing? But I can’t do anything. And neither can you – apart from God. But in His power. Wow!
Therefore, our vision for 2018 is to declare our dependence on God. To say, “Almighty God, our Father, we are here to honour you and bring you joy. Whatever you want us to do, we will do it. You are good, good father and we entrust ourselves to you.”
How much do you pray for the church? Yes I know. If you want to make a Christian feel guilty ask about his prayer life! But do you pray for the church? Are you praying for me? For Debby? For Christian and Johanna, Jack and Marit, Mia, all leaders of this church. Are you praying for Petter, our apprentice? And Torgeir, Bible Group Leader, and Matthew and LJ as Children’s Church Leaders, and Kirsti and Karen who are also involved. Are you praying for Colleen who leads the singing? Do you pray for wisdom and love and JOY for all of us? Do you pray that we as a church will grow in love and faith so that we shine like stars in heaven for God and people will be lining up to get in here to get hold of what we have!
No. I don’t pray like that either. So can we decide today that we will get better at this. Set aside some time every day for prayer? We have to plan. We can’t just say that we depend on God - we must show it. In prayer. In our humble attitude towards him. In that we believe in the Word of God as a salvation and not our performance - whether we are good enough or kind enough or friendly enough to wangle people into the Kingdom. Yes, those things are important, but it is the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation. Not Daniel. And not you.
And that's a relief! Thanks and praise to our great God who does the impossible and saves people, even in Notodden.
Let's call out to him now in prayer.
Lord, we are small and weak, but you are strong. Let your strength, your joy, your love flow through us. Let us be open to your leading and obedient to your word. Let us be hungry for you word, to seek it out where it may be found to suck the marrow of your life-giving words in the Bible and grow. Let us listen to you. Let us reject our own “wisdom” and obey your “foolishness” and be filled with joy as we taste and see that the Lord IS good!
Yes, fill us with joy lord. Let's be a people who are full of thanks, full of joy, full of love. Let's treat each other the way you treated us. We who were not a people have now become a people - your people. Praise you Lord!
Heavenly Father, there are so many we know who do not know you. In your mercy, we ask that this year we would see many turn from death to life. Lord Jesus, you warned us strongly about the cruelty of hell, an eternal pain, separated from you. We want no one to experience it, but many choose it for themselves and believe that being without you is freedom. It is not freedom but slavery. Forever choosing to be cut off from the source of life and the light. It is horrific! We plead with you now for those we know. In a moment of silence bring before God those whom you know and love who are on their way to hell.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Honour Him in everything you do in JOY, totally dependent on Him. It is our vision for 2018. In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.
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