Christ's Call to Repentance and Reformation

In Pastor John MacArthur's recent T4G sermon MacArthur zeroed in on Christ’s reformational call to the churches of Asia Minor in the first three chapters of Revelation.   In this plenary session Pastor John exhorted church leaders and pastors to call their churches to repentance if need be. “We all like calling the nation to repentance,” MacArthur suggests, “but what about calling the church to repentance?” "Have you ever heard of a church—a whole church—that repented? Have you ever been part of a church that openly, genuinely, and contritely repented for sins against its head—the Lord Jesus Christ?"

This message resonated with me for a number of reasons:  
1) Because that is what happened with the congregation I have the joy of serving in NW Illinois.  It has also happened with other churches and seminaries (note for example Dr. Al Mohler/SBTS and the story of FBC, Durham).   

In our context we examined the Word together and acknowledged areas of faith and practice that were not in harmony with the precepts of Scripture (1 Pet. 4:17).  We confessed these shortcomings and asked God for wisdom, strength, perseverance, and grace to make the necessary changes.  Some of the transformations that have taken place have been recounted in this revitalization blog.  I have also sought to be candid concerning some of the challenges I/we have faced along the way.   Biblical change is seldom easy.  I promise you the last thing Satan wants is to witness a local church return to it's founding principles and to reestablish biblical priorities (Colossians 1:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-16; Matthew 28:18-20).  The Evil One will throw all HELL against such efforts (see articles below; note the lyrics in Luther'sm A Mighty Fortress is Our God).

2) Because Revelation 2-3 is one of the most relevant texts in the entire New Testament and yet it often overlooked.  

8 Years-8 Transformations

Photo Credit: factsandtrends.net

In a previous post I highlighted some of the ways God has been refining the Senior Pastor at FBC, Freeport.  Today I want to mention some of the ways God has been refining the ministry.  Over the past 8 years how has God changed and reformed the church itself?

After much blood, sweat, and tears:

 1) Our worship service is Word-driven and God-centered; (8+ years ago our worship services had become too man-centered; see Gary Gilley's book, this little church went to the market: the church in the age of modern entertainment).  My primary priorities in coming to First were to preach the Word faithfully (establish an expository pulpit), to develop personal relationships (to be a pastor-teacher), to help train men to be effective shepherd-leaders, and to reform our Sunday morning liturgy.  

Paul charged Titus in Titus 1:5 to "set in order what remains" (which suggests he was to put a broken bone back in place) and to appoint qualified lay leaders (elders) who would help this young pastor reform the church in Crete.  Today this kind of local church ministry is often called church revitalization.

In order for a church to go from "embers to a flame" a congregation must humbly acknowledge that they are sick and in need of biblical medicine, that they are lost and need spiritual direction, and/or that they have drifted and need to be brought near to the Good Shepherd once again.  Dr. Harry Reeder makes this very point in his helpful book, "From Embers to a Flame: How God can Revitalize Your Church."