2/5/2025
Every Sunday is important for the life of our congregation. In Sunday’s text, we saw how Jesus went to the synagogue every Sabbath. If it was important for Jesus, therefore . . . you fill in the rest!
However, this Sunday is particularly important because of what we’ll be doing afterwards (and I don’t mean eating fried chicken and potato salad). We’ll be gathering to reflect on the past year and discussing plans for this upcoming year.
It’s our annual Church Meeting.
Now, I made the mistake of listing it as a “business meeting” in the order of worship, which is funny because I’ve always hated the term “business meeting” for a church gathering.
We’re not a business. We’re a family. I’m not a CEO. That would be Jesus.
BUT! There is a business aspect to it. Since we receive offerings and there’s money involved, it’s important that we show that we’re exercising good stewardship. That’s the “business” part. But the purpose of the offerings is to carry out ministry, which means we want to keep the ministry up front.
Much of it, I’m leaving to Don, our able chairman, and the rest of the board — all of whom I’m thankful for because they take their role in our congregation’s leadership very seriously. One of our goals from the beginning was to be a lay-led congregation. I’ve seen churches become “professional,” meaning that all the leadership is carried out by paid employees. However, our lay-leaders do just that: lead. And we’ll hear from them on Sunday.
But I will be involved! I’ll share about the spiritual health of the church.
Keep in mind that the church is not the building; the church is YOU. Therefore, you can help prepare for Sunday to answer the question, “How is the church doing spiritually?” by asking yourself, “How am I doing spiritually?”
To help, I want us to think about a moment in the history of Christianity that seemed insignificant at the time but ended up having a world-wide impact.
In 1729, while John Wesley was a student at Oxford, he started a club with his brother Charles. The members of the club (and there were never more than 30) were serious about serving God. Some of their fellow collegians mockingly dubbed them “The Holy Club.” But despite the small number and despite the derision of their classmates, this was the beginnings of what would eventually be known as “Methodism.”
One of the key practices of the club was rigorous self-examination where daily they would ask themselves the following 22 questions:
Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
Do I grumble or complain constantly?
Is Christ real to me?
You know, after 300 years, those questions are still pertinent! And when we think about the health of a congregation, the health depends on the spiritual health of the individual members.
So as we prepare to meet on Sunday, I’d encourage you to ask yourself these questions. Not as any sort of legalism, but an honest and intentional self-examination of where you are spiritually. And if you were to make this a part of your daily routine, make it a part of honest evaluation of how you’re living your life . . . that wouldn’t be a bad practice at all.
See you Sunday!
Blessings,
Pastor Terry