WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WILL GOD USE?
II Timothy 1:3-14; 2:1-4
II Timothy 1:7	“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and 				of self-discipline.”
Purpose:	To urge us to live as effective Christians.
Introduction:
	1. In the 1950’s Sunday School attendance averaged 57% of all Americans.
	2. In the 1960’s personal evangelism captured the attention of the church world.
	3. In the 1970’s the emphasis turned to nurturing believers (discipling) and to the use of spiritual 	gifts.
	4. In the 1980’s the church celebrated in worship as thousands of new songs and choruses 	floated 	across the sanctuaries of America.
	5. The 1990’s brought a renewed prayer and compassionate ministry emphasis. 	
	6. Church planting characterized the 2000’s. 
	7.  The first decade of new millennium burst into pluralism and diversity.  Church was done in 	lots of unique, new and old ways. 
	8. How the second decade of this millennium will be classified is unknown.
	9. What does God want this church to be, at this time and for this community?  
I.  A praying church (3).
     A. Paul prayed for Timothy.										# C. Peter Wagner said, “The most under-utilized source of spiritual power is 			intercession for Christian leaders.”
     B. Paul prayed constantly.											
II. A joyful church when together.
	# Our family attended Pismo Beach New Life Church one Sunday.  The associate pastor preached 	on the need for the church to be an agent of encouragement.  Hebrews 10:25 tells people to go 	to church to be encouraged. Our congregation would improve our ministry if we learned to be 	encouraging. 

III. A church that employs its spiritual gifts (6)
	A. “Fan into flame the gift of God” (6)
	B. The spiritual gifts are like smoldering embers.
		1. Their potential for heat, light and usefulness are latent.
		2. We have the responsibility of fanning the flame.
	C. The gifts God has given us are not trophies to be admired, but tools to be used.
IV. An aggressive, but disciplined church (7)
	A. Our reserve, fears, hesitancy, and feelings of inadequacy originate from us and are 			heightened by Satan.
	B. God gives us love and power to minister.
	C. Self-discipline…
		1. Tempers the aggressive behavior that love and power create.
		2. Sustains the behaviors love and power produce.
V. A church unashamed to testify (8)
	A. We must decide we belong to God—that is whose we are and He is the One we are going 			to please.
		1. We then stop ducking and dodging opportunities to openly acknowledge our 				relationship with God.
		2. We start looking for chances to tell about God changing us.
	B. We cannot be closed mouthed and at the same time win people to Jesus Christ.
VI. A church willing to suffer (8)
	A. Our hesitancy to talk to people about God is due to our desire to protect ourselves.
	B. Suffering is part of the cost of belonging to Christ.
VII. A church that will live a holy life (9)
A.	Holy living means being committed to God.
		# The late 1980’s exposed the moral decay of prominent spiritual leaders.  Personal 			holiness and integrity of character became a focus of the Church in 1990’s and beyond.
		1. We may have been selling the sizzle apart from the substance.
		2. We have preached forgiveness without required obedience.
	B. Holy living includes forsaking sins.
VIII. A Church that trusts God (12)
	A. When we suffer, we are called on to trust God anyway.
	B. We are never to think God does not care, because we go through hardships.
	C. God guards and protects what we entrust to Him.
		# You have lived rightly and your reputation is at stake.  Give your reputation to God.  			He can protect it.
		# Your fragile emotional state can be guarded by God if you give it to Him.
IX. A Church that is strong in Christ’s grace (2:1)
	A. Our lives are secure in the Lord’s love for us.
	B. Our lives are to powerfully display the love of Christ through self-giving ministry.
X. A Church that trains reliable people (2:2)
	A. Leadership continues the ministry of Christ.
	B. Leadership must reproduce itself in others who will teach yet others.
Conclusion:
	1. We are to be a church that seeks to please God (2:4).
	2. We choose not our convenience.
	3. We are not compelled by the convictions of people.
	4. We are committed to one great purpose—to please God.