Building An Enduring Church
May 24, 2020
The strength of our faith is not determined by how we respond to the victories and successes in life. Faith can only be made stronger through trials and hardships. To have an enduring, resilient faith means having a faith that is tested. What is true for individuals is also true for any church. An enduring church is a church that has been tested. Join us for a message exploring how God is using COVID-19 to stretch and strengthen the faith of His church.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:10-16
Principle (KNOW):
The only way to know if you have a faith that will endure is to have a faith that is tested.
Practice (DO):
Take time to prayerfully answer the following questions:
- Has COVID-19 revealed any weaknesses in the foundation of your faith?
- How are the building materials of your life standing this current test?
- What will you do in response to these revelations?
- How will you use the rest of this unexpected Pause to address any areas of weakness?
Suggested Reading List for “Pause”:
Center Church, Tim Keller
Built to Last, Jim Collins
Deep and Wide, Andy Stanley
The Emotionally Healthy Church, Peter Scazzero
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day, Peter Scazzero
Other sermons you may want to check out:
Awakening (2015)
Built to Last (2015)
Daily Reading:
Monday: Acts 3-4
Tuesday: Acts 5-6
Wednesday: Acts 7-8
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 1
Friday: 1 Corinthians 2
Saturday: 1 Corinthians 3
Sunday: Hebrews 11-12