THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS A SUMMARY OF FOUR MESSAGES GIVEN BY PASTOR BURCHETT. WE REPRODUCE IT HERE TO ENCOURAGE PASTORS AND MEMBERS OF CHURCHES.
Toward what is your church aiming? Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Getting loads of people converted is not all there is to it, surely. Are you positively certain that you want more of what you already have in the Church?
As important as evangelistic zeal is, there are other vital features missing from churches today. The living, local Bodies, with each member functioning, are described in the epistles but rarely seen in existence. What a glory when a group of believers is taught and elevated to exercise “care for one another” (I Corinthians 12:25) with each one ministering to the other in a spiritual manner! This is more than attending church or doing Sunday School work.
The average church member is grotesquely shriveled from lack of spiritual functioning. Repeatedly he is challenged to deepen his personal life with God. Poor soul who seeks a Charles Finney type revival experience on the in-put side of his life, and then as an output, he is asked to be secretary of the intermediate department!
We need to take in privately from God and from one another. But still further, we need to give out to each other. I need it and my brother needs it.
Why must we continue hopping on one leg in vague circles? Scripture sets before us the legs of two ministries. The public ministry and then the private, individual ministry. Both are needed.
God’s Word also indicates two manners in which each type of ministry is to be performed; viz, spontaneous and planned.
Regarding the public functions, no doubt there were planned, studied expositions of Scripture given in the early church. But let us notice also the pattern encouraged a public sharing among members. This is not in the vein of the mod, talk-back sermon fad. I speak of the deeply spiritual sharing o£ Scripture and of wisdom-insights into Christian experience. When this is prayed and worked for in a sober, deliberate way, God begins to speak through His members to the rest of the Body.
This must be combined with private, individual sharing. A usual substitute for personal edification is high-powered organization and platform shine. But what does it add up to?
Let it be insisted that getting believers to the place where they can carry God’s Word deep into the lives of one another is the Bible way. In commendation, Paul said to the Romans “you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another,” (15:14). Study also Hebrews 10:24, 25. Said the Apostle to the Thessalonians in 2:11 of the first letter, “we dealt with each one of you personally” (Phillips). Or, as in the New English Bible, “we dealt with you one by one.” Ever see any of that today?
Too busy? This seeming long way is the short way. The only way. God’s way.
Now, it must be kept in mind that this one-to-one-ing spoken of here is that which heads into a spiritual structure as described in the Bible. The woods are full of programs of individual training of other sorts.
Without a doubt, this type of church life will never occur apart from definite planning and prayer. Look for it in the Scriptures. If it is there, work for it in your situation.
Set down in writing a list of basic doctrines. Next, list important duties. What basic experiences has God brought into your life? List all the important life-lessons you can think of. Turn to a Bible book, perhaps John, reading it through several times until you can determine what key texts throughout the book give an opportunity to touch on the various items on your lists. This can be your guide for a series of sharing times.
Strange, is it not, that we know all the ABC steps of evangelism but have only vague notions regarding edification? There will never be healthy evangelism until we learn to edify one another.
Of course, anyone who takes up this ministry of individual edification must himself be right with God. A secretly fallen man may continue to function publicly but he will be mighty quick to shrink from private, face to face meetings with a brother. That is the real test of 2 Timothy 1:7.
After one’s own showdown with God, the eyes see more clearly the major areas of Christian life: the seriousness of sin, our identity with Christ, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the nature of the Church and its life, the spiritual warfare, what prayer is all about. Sharing Scriptural teachings in all these areas of spiritual experience has an astonishing impact on any life if done in the Spirit in this intensive, personal manner.
No lecture notes are required. Limit the sessions to a single, brisk hour, or even less. Faithfully avoid all bull sessions, hair-splitting and refreshments. Do it all by questions and sharing what you have learned from the Word and Christian experience. Keep asking how your friend looks at it so as to make your arrows strike where he really is. Be open and truly concerned for his needs. With definite purpose of heart, see him through to higher ground.
Later on – and only then — challenge him to go and do likewise with another friend. Help him do it. Then, there will be two of you in this true ministry.
The public ministry will soon feel a great life from this private, unannounced work.
Always, I would urge a man to begin right in his own home with his wife. This can be rough but it’s fine for humbling! (Later, take each of your own children individually.) After all, she is next to you in the Body of Christ. This is now true church-life begins. Afterwards, she can take on other wives. Never make the studies a four-some. Always meet man-to-man using separate rooms or have the wives get together at a different time from the men.
After the initial friendly contact, the sharing times can be carried on in a serious way without taking the entire morning or evening. One hour is enough if agreed on in advance.
May the Head of the Church lead many into the high and serious endeavor of building His Body.