Commitment Sunday-Virgil Grant

MESSAGE TRANSCRIPTION: 

Back in the nineties. Rosanna, We used to go to Lexington, and there’s this restaurant that was really close to the university campus, and it was a quiet, quaint, charming little restaurant. And the restaurant, you could go over there, and you could get great food and the best bread breadsticks in the world. And it also had really good pizza. And about when you walked into the restaurant, there was something unique about the restaurant because it had wooden floors, had these massive art beams, and had these exquisite stained glass windows. And there was just something a little odd about going into an Italian restaurant that was located in an old church. And, you know, the place that used to dispense Amazing Grace now was dispensing pizzas and beer and mixed drinks. And there’s just something different about that. And the church that once was an agent of hope was no longer a church that offered hope. It was no longer a beacon of hope, no longer an agent of change, no longer a threat to the forces of darkness, and no longer a vibrant church, though this once dangerous church is no longer there. And Josh, it is estimated by the experts that every year between seven and 10,000 churches listen to me. Every year between seven and 10,000 churches in America will say their last prayer, seeing their last home and closing their doors forever. How does that happen? Well, I was scrolling through the television-challenged channels the other night, and I came across an old rerun of CSI. You remember CSI? Remember, CSI used to be on every night of the week. There’s CSI Las Vegas. There was CSI Miami. CSI New York. CSI Richmond, Kentucky. I mean, it was on there. I mean, it’s like every night there’s like a different one, Right? And CSI stands for what? Crime Scene Investigation.

And as you may know, when the first public autopsy was performed, you know, I didn’t think that you would, but it was performed in 1315. Now I have it on good authority. That wasn’t the first public autopsy. The first public autopsy was not conducted by an individual. It was conducted by Jesus. And he didn’t do it on a person, but he did it on the church. And here’s how Jesus begins his autopsy. He says to the angel of the church in Sardis, Rot. These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. And notice what Jesus says.

Revelation 3:1 (NIV)

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

This church had a great reputation. This church was the largest of the seven churches in Asia Minor. This church was vibrant, growing, and was a difference maker. But when Jesus wrote this letter to them, the church had actually started on a massive decline. What once was a church that offered hope, once offered addiction programs, once offered people an opportunity to restore their marriages and to bring their children up in the ways of the Lord had lost its influence. And as a result of losing its influence, Jesus comes around and goes, used to baptize all kinds of people. You used to help people discover new life. You used to do all of these wonderful things. But Jesus comes along, and he says, You have the reputation of being alive. But I know your deeds are no the true you that you’re resting on your reputation. And rather than stepping in a lean into being a legacy maker. Now, here’s the thing that I would ask you this morning is that how does a church who a few decades ago was a church that was vibrant, relevant, spirit-filled, spirit-driven making a difference, pushing back darkness.

How does a church go from impact to a church that is now relying upon self-sufficiency and is indifferent in their walk with the Lord? Well, in the church world, there is a life cycle among churches, and you may not have thought about this, but let me just explain to you the large circle. Here’s how the circle works. It begins as a movement. This is what my mom was talking about, a movement that begins in the heart, that is, birth by the Holy Spirit. Here is my mom, my dad, and the three other families. They’ve come together. There’s a total of seven of them. They have no money. They have no people. They have no place to meet. They have no pastor. They don’t have anything. No worship leader. They do have a piano, though, but they have no worship pastor. They have all of those things. And it’s a movement that is birth in their heart. And they just feel compelled by the Holy Spirit that they have to do something for young families on the east side of Madison County. And then what happens is the movement begins to gain momentum, and then you start having people to show up, and then you have to get organized because you have to help people to understand what are the priorities of the church. And we deal with this all the time. People are always bringing different ideals and thoughts. And we go. That’s wonderful. But we don’t do that here at Eastside. Here’s what we do. And then after you get organized. And then what happens is that most organizations just they forget about the why. And when you forget about the why, you lose your way. And you lose your way. And then you become an institution and institution and not be negative.

But 85% of churches in America today there are roughly 350,000 churches in America today, and 85% of them are plateaued or declining, which means that they’re reaching no. One from Jesus. They’re not baptizing anyone again and not being negative. Those are just the numbers. Those are just the stats that come out every year. And so these churches, their institutions, they’re more concerned about what they will lose than who they might reach if they make some changes. Let me say it a different way. Many churches stop dreaming about what’s possible while simply trying to preserve what is predictable. And if you don’t change and go back and embrace the movement and you stay in an institution for too long, then what happens is you become a museum. If you’ve ever been to Europe, you’ll see all the cathedrals over there that are now no longer a church but they are now a museum that you pay to go through. Friends, We can never let East Side become a museum. We can never let each side slip into an institution and then into a museum. We have to keep this as a movement of Jesus, a movement of love, a movement of grace, a movement of making a difference. A movement of change drives a movement of worship, a movement of gratitude, and a movement for children and young adults by which we’re passing the baton off. We have to remain a movement and, thus, a legacy maker. And folks, here’s the thing. If a church does not continually submit itself to being transformed and renewed by the work of the Holy Spirit, it will die. And the church at Sardi’s. Had died. But Jesus gave them a way back. I want you to look with me at verse two in verse three of Revelation chapter three.

Now, I don’t have time to teach this verse because my mom took up all my time. She’s about the only one that can get away with that. But let me just read it to you, okay? Jesus says to them.

Wake up, strengthen what remains and is about to die for. Have found your knees unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember that for what you receive and hear. Hold it past and repeat.

There are all kinds of direct commands in that particular two verses. I don’t have time to unpack. It will be at 1230. You’ll get a nightmare that we have time to unpack it. Right. I’ll call you Damien. But if not, I will go to 1230. I can talk longer than you could set. I promise you. But there is what it says. Jesus says. First of all, wake up. Why do they say wake up? Because death in the future comes from living in the past. And he says.

Revelation 3:2-3 (NIV)

*Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.”

We have to be dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Because if a church is not supernatural, then we will become superficial. And folks, I don’t want to have anything to do with the church that you come in, and you go through the motions, and you go through the songs, you go through the service, and you believe that nothing will change. I want to come and expect to see a miracle every time that I show up. And here is what Jesus was saying to the church at Sardi’s. You have forgotten about what it means to be reliant on the spirit. You’ve forgotten about what it means to be spirit driven. You have forgotten about what it means to be a vibrant, alive church because you have relied too much upon self-sufficiency, and you’ve become too indifferent to make a difference. And what he’s basically saying is, if you wanted to read the autopsy report of the churches. Sardis was full of pride. And he says. You have to have more of me and less of you if you’re going to make a difference. And see, folks here’s the thing about it is that as your pastor and I think about the future, I think about. 10,000 people in five or six, or seven campuses. When I think about the resources, it’s going to take. When I think about the money, that’s going to take the people, that’s going to take the hard work, it’s going to take hiring additional staff. When you think about everything that’s involved, can I just be honest with you? It’s overwhelming to me. Because I’m human, I’m falling, I’m sinful, I’m full of sin. Sometimes my faith is strong; sometimes, her faith is weak. But here’s the thing is that I know the only way that this thing gets done is for you and me to be on our knees because that is a good place for us to be.

I see. I realize. And I hope that you realize that East Side is a God thing. This church has always been a God thing. It hasn’t been the early founder’s thing; has it been the elder’s thing? Has been the staff thing. It’s been a God thing. And this church will always be a God thing. If you and I will remain on our knees and dependent on God. Are you with me on that? See folks. I believe Eastside is a dangerous, dangerous church. So let’s. Love dangerously. Let’s pray. Dangerously. Let’s yield and sacrifice dangerously. And you go, Well, why are we a dangerous church? Why should we be a dangerous church? I want to end with this quote, and I want you to read it out loud with me. Let’s be a dangerous church full of dangerous people who take dangerous risks to save people from a dangerous places. Can we read it one more time together? Let’s be a dangerous church full of dangerous people who take dangerous risks to save people from a dangerous places. That’s what East Side. That’s what we’ve been. This is what we need to continue to be. Not only today but in the days to come. We will make it hard for people to go to hell. And so this morning, the worship team is going to come back out. And they’re going to lead us in a song. And during the song, we’re going to have a commitment time, and you be able to scan the QR code from the screens also on your program down in the bottom right-hand corner. And we’re just asking everyone to step into generosity. That’s the ask at this moment, and we’re unapologetically asking for 100% participation. And again, it’s not about the amount and some of your, you know, you got yourself all wound up because we’re asking for money.

Don’t worry. We’re going to ask for something else different this fall. And you’re not going to like that either. You know, we’re going to ask you for something else. And you’re not going to like that because, you know, we, like my mom said, we don’t like to change, but we’re going to keep asking because we kid the invitation is open from God to step in. To be a legacy maker. So would you stand with me? I’m going to pray for Tom of commitment. We’re going to sing. Take your phone out, Scan that code, fill out that online commitment card, and let us know are the regards leaving your heart. So, Father, thank you. Thank you for this morning. Thank you for this sermon series. Thank you for. For Jesus being the ultimate legacy maker and Father, we’re going to rejoice with each and every family. Who steps into being a legacy maker. And again, it’s never about the amount. It’s never about the church needing money. This is just about what you’re doing in our lives and in our hearts. So, Lord, we love you. And we ask all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.