Offense!
Ephesians 6:13-20 (KJV) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
To be on offense is to attack. It is to be aggressive. It is to draw the sword and swing it.
It is opposite of “defense” in that one isn’t trying to PREVENT an enemy from advancing; one is trying to ADVANCE ON the enemy!
Church, we’ve been on defense too long. It’s time to get back on offense for awhile.
Over the last few years, we have gone through a lot. Why? Was there a scandal? Did somebody do something inappropriate with money? Was there carnal “sin in the camp?” By God’s grace, no! What happened was, we preached the Word. Perfectly? Nope. Lovingly? I hope so. Boldly? Most certainly. We stood on Scripture in areas where the Satan’s attacks are greatest: Gospel, marriage, children, manhood, womanhood, and order in the church—as these things are defined by Scripture alone; Sola Scriptura indeed!
I’m not complaining, just explaining. 😀
Now, in crisis-laden 2020, it’s time to go back to business…Kingdom business…Christ’s business. Back on offense! What might an “offensive” mindset look like?
Here are a few thoughts, followed by a few areas in which those thoughts will hopefully apply:
Humility plus boldness!
Taking the intuitive!
Not being ashamed of the Gospel!
Prioritizing Christ and His Church!
Generosity!
Believing again!
Bold, powerful forgiveness!
Accountability!
Intentionality!
Passion, Joy, Gladness!
Areas:
Preaching the Gospel; helping our Community!
Handing out tracts (people have recently visited because we did this!)
Intentional Hospitality with unchurched friends and unbelievers!
Serving our church with joy!
Increasing our weekly giving!
Inviting people to church AND following up with them!***
Being on time; being prepared for worship!
Becoming more passionate about Prayer!
Reverence and godly fear!
Getting excited what God might do at CRCC!
A Caveat:
1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
I am, frankly, praying that God will cause our church to reach more people. However, God is sovereign over His church. Only He can cause growth. But we must plant and water. We must sow!
Getting back on offense is about sowing.
It’s about offering the LORD our fews fishes and loaves and seeing what He might do with them. It’s about being extremely intentional, setting our hearts to these things and acting upon them.
Let us do just that, in Jesus’ Name.
Amen!
*** In our current day, CRCC is a church that requires a bit more follow up with visiting friends. Our worship style, adherence to New Testament order, and lack of a children’s church mean a bit more explanation will be needed for most people to get comfortable.
Embrace this. It is our call as a Pattern House. Share the applicable Scriptures with visitors so they see what we are attempting to do is what the Church as always done!
