Oriented To People

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Oriented To People</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Powered By Prayer"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Intentional in Evangelism"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, “Oriented to People,” January 28, 2001am</B></div> <bR> <div>      We desire that this be a church that has ever-increasing numbers of people involved in it and influenced by it; but we also need to be structured to minister effectively to people (because people don’t <I>have</I> to come here). We must continue to orient our ministry to meet the deepest needs of people that God loves.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Psalm 8.1-8: God has a personal concern for people</B>.</div> <div>      When we consider the greatness of God, our creator, we are surprised that he pays close attention to every human being. God values people, and so must we.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Mark 6.30-43: Our ministry is an extension of Jesus’ compassion for people</B>.</div> <div>      Jesus recognized that people needed his influence and guidance, and that they ultimately need forgiveness of sins, that he would provide through his death on the cross for those who trusted in him. That is our main message. As servants of Christ, we are an extension of his compassion. He desires to use us to show his love and compassion to others.</div> <div>      However, some churches are so consumed with their programs and activities within the walls that they soon begin to neglect the real needs of people. Our programs and activities as a church should serve people. It is not about people serving our programs and activities. That is one reason why we are developing a ministry that is based on utilizing the spiritual gifts of people, rather than merely filling spots in a ministry because we have to. Our programs have a shelf-life. They are expendable, and they will eventually decrease in their usefulness. Our ministry to people is not expendable and it is not an option.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Col 3.12-14: We must show compassion / concern for each another</B>.</div> <div>      Loving relationships attract others. It does no good for us to tell the community we care about them if we don’t show care and concern for one another. Gianna Jessen, a survivor of abortion at her birth, in her books, tells how school officials offered to find her "volunteer friends." We in the church ought to be the first to show love and grace and friendship to people in need, without it having to be arranged by someone else.</div> <bR> <div>      "Tom Collins of Bethlehem, Pa., telephoned a Manhattan department store to follow up on an order that had been placed for china. He reached a manager, who said cheerfully: 'Would you mind calling back tomorrow? I'm too busy to discuss this right now. It's Customer Appreciation Day.'" (NYTimes Metro Diary 3/95.) Let’s not be so busy with our “institution” of church that we forget what we are here for, to serve people spiritually, and to give people an opportunity to serve one another. We are about leading <I>people</I> to faith in Christ and helping them grow up in him.</div> <bR> <div> (copyright, 2001, Stan Baker)</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>