What Makes a Great Church?

Grand Parkway Baptist Church

Jan 21, 2024
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
What Makes a Great Church?
Acts 13:1-12
1. A variety of giftedness, v. 1
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
-Romans 12:4-8
Simple way to clue in to your spiritual gift…
a) what comes naturally to you?
b) what does the Church affirm about you?
c) is there anything you do that is draining and yet you are filled?
2. The practice of spiritual disciplines, v. 2-3
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
-Matthew 6:16-18
“A discipline is an activity within our power--something we can do--which brings us to a point where we can do what we at present cannot do by direct effort.”
-Dallas Willard
Disciplines of Abstinence Disciplines of Engagement
solitude study
silence worship
fasting celebration
frugality service
chastity prayer
secrecy fellowship
sacrifice Communion
watchfulness submission
“The discipline of watchfulness includes both negative and positive aspects. Negatively, we’re to ruthlessly guard our hearts from sin and temptation, making no provision for the flesh. This requires the cultivation of self-examination, where we take regular inventory of our personal tendencies towards particular sins, what the Puritan Isaac Ambrose called “Delilah sins.” Delilah sins, like Samson’s Philistine mistress, like to sit on our laps and whisper sweet nothings in our ears, but they will betray us to our foes in a heartbeat and cut off our moral strength. These are the specific sin patterns we’ve cultivated through willful and habitual sin. Like deep ruts that furrow a muddy road, these vices are etched into our lives through daily routines, self-justifying rationalization, and continual repetition.”
-Brian Hedges
3. Produces consequential people, v. 4-12
Characteristics of spiritually consequential people…
a) Gospel fluent, v. 5
b) aware of man’s need, v. 7
c) live full of the Spirit, v. 9
d) traffics in the works of Jesus and the words of Jesus, v. 12
Mental worship…
1. With what type of person is it hard for you to share the Gospel?
2. What is one spiritual discipline you want to practice this week?
3. How often do you ask yourself, “Am I full of the Spirit today?”
4. Can you be trusted with the kind