Foundations for a Strong Ministry

This sermon was prepared and preached by Pastor Mike Rose at First Federated Church in Des
Moines, Iowa, on Sunday, December 30, 2007.
Copyright © 2007, First Federated Church

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and one of the things people do at this time of year is make New
Year’s resolutions

The following story is from Reader’s Digest:

Last year when I called my parents to wish them a happy New Year, my dad answered the
phone. "Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?" I asked him. "To make your mother as
happy as I can all year," he answered proudly. Then mom got on, and I said, "What’s your
resolution, Mom?" "To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution."

That story is a little corny, but there’s truth here that we need to consider as we prepare to cross
the threshold of a New Year.

FACT: It’s easy to discover and select a pathway we need to walk in, but as time goes by, it’s
also easy to be distracted, explore new paths, and without intending to, depart from the original
path we chose.

The man in the story had resolved to make his wife happy the entire year long, but the wife knew
if he was going to keep his resolution, he would need repeated reminders to stay on track ⎯
Can anyone relate?

Application to First Federated Church: To stay on track, we need reminders of what our core
foundations are and what our core commitments are to one another.

So, on this last Sunday of ’07 and next week, the first Sunday of ’08, I will be playing the role of
the “wife,” reminding us of our core foundations and core commitments so we can stay on
track with the direction God is leading us.

Today’s message is titled, Foundations for a Strong Ministry, and it revisits my first five weeks
of ministry at Federated and the foundation of our new beginning together.

On Sunday October 15, 2006, this church and this pastor experienced a “New Beginning.”

If you were here, you’ll recall the four banners hanging at the back of the platform. They now
hang in our foyer. Four banners that identified the four pillars or foundations of our new
beginning together.

Let me quickly identify them, and then we’ll spend a few minutes considering their significance
in our present and future ministry.

Truth - Grace - Transparency - Ministry

Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 1

Foundation No. 1 – Truth. John 17:17 – New King James Version (NKJV) ⎯ In what has
become known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, Jesus made this request of The Father: “Sanctify
them by Your truth, Your word is truth.”

• The word “them” is a reference to those who become (past, present, future) followers of
Christ.
• The word “sanctify” is a reference to the process by which a follower of Christ is
transformed over time to more accurately and consistently reflect the image of Christ.
• And clearly, the word “truth” is a reference to the Word of God, which Jesus identifies as
TRUTH!

Important Truth: It is the will of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, that we be transformed. Not just
“saved from our sins,” but transformed from the sinful, rebellious, unrighteous people we used to
be, to a people who accurately and consistently reflect the image of Christ to our world.

This transformation occurs as God’s Word of Truth is discovered and applied in our lives. Take
note of Psalm 119:
9
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word and following its rules. 10 …don’t
let me wander from Your commands. 11I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not
sin against You. 12Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your principles. 13I have recited aloud
all the laws You have given us. 14I have rejoiced in Your decrees as much as in riches. 15I will
study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways. 16I will delight in Your principles and not
forget Your word. 17Be good to Your servant, that I may live and obey Your word. 18Open my
eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your law.

Do you see how important God’s Word is? It is the knowledge and application of God’s truth
that keeps us pure and protects us from sinning against God.

Now if Satan had his way, he would distract us with “religious traditions,” “customs of our
culture” and “the popular opinions of man.” But we cannot and will not build this ministry on
the opinions of man, the customs of our culture, nor the traditions of numerous religious
denominations.

We must build our lives and this ministry on the sure foundation of the Word of God, which has
been revealed and preserved so we can know the mind of God and the path we should walk in
to His glory and our benefit.

Truth – God’s Word is Pillar No. 1 that we are seeking to build our lives and this church upon.

Foundation No. 2 – Grace: Hebrews 4:16, NKJV says: Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

As we think about “The Truth” which is the Word of God, a truth that is declared again and
again is the grace of God.

FACT: God is full of GRACE toward the humble and repentant heart, but full of WRATH
toward the proud and sinful heart.
Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 2
Proverbs 28:13, NKJV – He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and
forsakes them will have mercy.

Proverbs 3:34 declares it, and both James and Peter include it in the scriptural books that bear
their names: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.

The Word of God teaches us that God is abundant in mercy and filled with grace to those who
acknowledge their sin. As His Church, we are to be no less.

Galatians 6:1-3, New Living Translation (NLT) – 1Dear brothers and sisters, if another
Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person
back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2Share
each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3If you think you are
too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.

GRACE – extending to others what God has so generously extended to us is Pillar No. 2 that we
are seeking to build our lives and this church upon.

Foundation No. 3 – Transparency: Matthew 5:37, NKJV – “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and
your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Transparency is all about being real, genuine, authentic. Being transparent is NOT being phony.

Picture of a Phony – John 12:1-6 gives us a classic picture of a phony – Jesus was in the town
of Bethany, at the home of Lazarus, the man He raised from the dead, and his sisters, Mary and
Martha. Mary, who was overcome with a sense of wonder and awe in Jesus’ presence that she
decided to take a very costly perfume (worth a year’s salary) and use it to anoint (wash) the feet
of Jesus.

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was indignant! Notice verses 5-6: “5Why was this fragrant oil not
sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6This he said, not that he cared for the
poor, but because he was a thief , and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

There’s a new word that the younger generations are using in place of “phony.” It’s the word
“poser.” A “poser” is someone who tries to display on the outside something different than
what’s on the inside.

There’s another word that communicates these same thoughts. It’s the word “hypocrite.”
Matthew 5:37 – Jesus says, “Let your yes, be yes and your no, no.” In other words, say what
you mean, mean what you say. If you represent yourself one way in a meeting, don’t represent
yourself differently over the phone with your allies after the meeting.

Illustration: (In the meeting) Oh, yes, Deacon Bill, I agree that we should do this project
instead of that project, it only makes sense. (After the meeting) Can you believe what Bill
suggested in that meeting? Who does he think he is, suggesting that we do this project instead of
that one?

Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 3

Transparency is a commitment I make to be honest and forthright with you, whether it makes
me look good in your eyes, or not.

It’s a commitment we all need to make so we don’t become pawns in the hand of Satan to bring
division, discord and destruction to our unity in Christ.

More harm has been done to the Church and the cause of Christ because of a lack of healthy
transparency, than any of the other numerous enemies of Christian unity.

TRANSPARENCY – A commitment to say what I mean and mean what I say, to be honest,
forthright and genuine. A commitment to NOT be a poser, is Pillar No. 3 that we are seeking to
build our lives and this church upon.

Foundation No. 4 – Ministry: 1 Corinthians 12:7 – NLT says, “A spiritual gift is given to each
of us (Christians) as a means of helping the entire church.”

Life experience has taught us that we are born with certain abilities, tendencies, talents that are
resident within us. On April 18, 1960, I was born with certain abilities, tendencies, talents, that,
as I grew, developed and made me the person that I am. These are things that God chose to
invest in me as a human being. In that same way of thinking, there are certain things that God did
not invest in me. The things I lack also have much to do with the person I am today.

The Bible teaches us that when we are “born again,” we receive from the Holy Spirit certain
“spiritual gifts” – spiritual abilities, tendencies, talents – these are things God chooses to invest
in me as His child. And just like the abilities I was born with, the spiritual gifts given when I was
born again, are for a specific purpose. The most basic of all purposes: to be used!

In fact, Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us very clearly that we are “saved,” “born again,” not for the
purpose of escaping Hell and gaining Heaven. Rather, we are “saved” to serve God, and most
often, that means meeting the needs of those who are made in God’s image.
8
God saved you by His special favor (Grace) when you believed (Faith). And you can’t take
credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done,
so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in
Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Just what are the things He planned for us long ago? The “one another” passages of the New
Testament give us a great place to start. Here are just a few:

1. Serve one another (Gal 5:13)

2. Encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11)
3. Teach one another (Rom 15:14)
4. Be devoted to one another (Rom 12:10)
5. Honor one another (Rom 16:16)
6. Bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)

Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 4

The Christian life is one of service, of ministry. It’s not primarily about the destination. It’s
about the journey, and along the way, we are called and equipped to be the hands, feet, lips of
Jesus.

I rejoice when I walk down the halls on Wednesday night and see so many servants helping to
love and teach children in AWANA. Many of senior saints, people in the late 70s and into their
80s, give of themselves to this ministry. Amen!

The men and women who prepare meals for families in their time of need, when they’ve lost a
loved one. AMEN!

The men and women, young people, who went out last summer and ministered in the parks, and
housing complexes. AMEN!

The Homebuilders ABF that is reaching out to inmates who volunteer every month for some
project around the church. AMEN!

The people who give of themselves to take care of the lawn, manage the bushes and trees, help
plan and execute special events. The list goes on and on. AMEN!

The four or five volunteers who work at the church almost every day. People who are up in years
and probably should be at home being served by others, but they’re here, making a difference,
doing what they can. AMEN!

Federated is blessed with many faithful people who do ministry, but there are many others who
need to find their places and use their gifts in the service of the Lord and their fellowman.

My vision is that we develop a culture at Federated that we won’t have to go looking for servants
to do the work of the ministry, but there will be so many who are eager to serve that we will have
to go looking for ministry for them to do.

MINISTRY – A commitment to use my God-given, natural abilites, and my Holy-Spirit-given

ifts to serve the Lord, serve His church, reach out in loving service to my community. This is
Pillar No. 4 that we are seeking to build our lives and this church upon.

Conclusion

On Sunday, October 15, 2006, these four pillars were the foundation of our new beginning.
Today, they are the pillars of our continued, evolving ministry together.

As we prepare to say good-bye to 2007 and greet 2008, I call upon First Federated Church to
whole-heartedly, enthusiastically and aggressively embrace these points as the pillars of the life
you are building with Christ and the Life you are building with your church family.

Truth – Grace – Transparency – Ministry.

These are the Foundations For A Strong Ministry.

Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 5

The First Federated Church copyright, above, is for the sermon itself, not for any items quoted in
the sermon, unless otherwise stated. All quoted items are done so in good faith, and the source is
attributed when it is known.

Foundations for a Strong Ministry | FFC | 12.30.2007 6