Tucson Mountain Baptist Church

BEING THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY
The five functions of the church are defined by the great commandment and the great commission.
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt. 22:37-40
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28: 19-20 (NIV)
A Life Development Church differs in the manner and style and way that those five functions are Fulfilled.
We need to Define our vision “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB)
A. Worship is Expressing and Displaying our love to God.
“But, dear brothers, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1st Cor. 1:10 (TLB)
“Be wise in the way you act towards those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have.” Colossians 4:5 (Good News)
We need to make Christianity (Christ Offer of salvation) available on an introductory level. We need to be willing to adapt.
“To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1st Cor. 9:20-22 (NIV)
People have to Understand the words in order to know the meaning. “But if I don’t understand the language, it’s not going to do me much good.” 1st Cor. 14:11 (MSG)
I preach and teach for life change and for action. In almost every single message I give, I want you to do – something. Why? Because God says; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (NKJ)
Any decent Pastor, Preacher or teacher does so to Challenge, Encourage, and Change you…God didn’t say, “I’ve come that you might have more information” Jesus Said ,.” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2nd Tim. 3:16
We need to cause an atmosphere of Acceptance.
B. Evangelism is Communicating God’s Love.
So we want to present and practice a more of a relational approach to evangelism.
I am not convinced that guilt (negative) motivation can motivate as much as realizing and coming to know the (positive) benefits of accepting Christ as Savior. Jesus did not say, “I came to scare you to death.” He said, “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Fear motivated evangelism usually only lasts as long as the fear does.
It is inevitable that the Holy Spirit is going to speak to them. It’s a matter of Him working in His time. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NKJ)
Did You receive Christ the first time you heard the good news?
Any need, any felt need people have may be used as an evangelistic tool.
Our church will never grow beyond our capacity to meet those felt needs!
We should accept people where they are and show them the way to faith in Jesus and then allow Jesus to change their lifestyles that’s not our job.
However, there’s a difference between acceptance and approval.
People are generally turned off to religion. People say, I’m just not into organized religion.” Jesus didn’t have much to really say about religion except that He was against it.”
Christianity is all about a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ that causes us to accept a lifestyle different than the worlds.
C. Discipleship is Educating God’s people. We seek to educate people for maturity in our church.
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17 (NKJ)
To teach people facts and truths about scripture and not teach them how to apply those things will actually cause them to sin. The Bible says,
“…Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” 1st Cor 8:1b (NIV)
We’re interested in the process that leads people through the four phases of spiritual development– Membership to Maturity to Ministry to Missions.
God meant for us to develop our spiritual muscles.
In fact, you’re not really mature until you’re involved in ministry somehow. Jesus said, “Just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” Matt. 20:28
D. Ministry is all about Demonstrating God’s love to others.
We believe ministry is to be performed everywhere. You can have a ministry in your office, at school, your neighborhood, in your home. Ministry is wherever a cup of cold water is given in the name of Jesus Christ. You are called as a minister to full time Christian service. The culmination of all these functions cause the fifth function to be manifested
E. The believers Form the Fellowship. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47