Family Meeting

Introduction

Well, as we uh have been announcing, and for our members here, uh, this I think is our third family meeting since we started this format where we address the congregation during our worship service. And uh for those visiting with us, we hope that uh you will find some benefit from this as we uh set out to talk about spiritual things with the congregation here and the work that’s being done in this community. And for uh today’s talk, we uh have selected the topic of Halfirma Foundation, which is our theme for this year, and as we uh looked back over the uh course of the forming of this theme uh last year, we met as shepherds and settled on this theme, and we just want to share with you some of the reasons why.

Of course, uh our our faith, our hope, our eternity, our daily living, and our church family here at South Bumby are all built on a foundation. And when you don’t get the foundation right, of course, everything else suffers. Nobody would set out to build a house and uh skip this the step of laying a foundation. If they did, then of course the house would not last very long, the walls would collapse, and that’s certainly not uh the type of house anybody would want to live in. And so, as we think about our spiritual lives, we think about uh that foundation, the foundation of Jesus Christ. And so, our first question this morning is for Walcott. Walcott, as we, as elders think about the focus of having a firm foundation, why do we think that’s necessary?

1. Constant Reminder of the Foundational Things

And what does this look like in our daily Christian living? And then how is that different from the foundation that some of our religious firms, friends, some of our religious friends hold to? First of all, is everyone hearing me well? Most of the time I’m the one that people say, you know what? I could not hear what you were saying. So, for people in the back, can you hear me? Cara, can you hear me? Okay, we’re good. Um Hebrews 11 6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. In 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 5 and 7, we’re encouraged to give all diligence to add to our faith virtue and knowledge and self-control and perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Yes, I think it is right, as long as I’m in this tent to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus showed me. Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you will always have a reminder of these things after my disease. Now, we don’t know whether or not we’re going to put off our tent shortly. Only God knows that. But thinking of what of Peter’s word, we must be reminded of the foundational things of our faith. It reads as if Peter’s audience was already established in the truth. And some here might be established in the truth. But we know that there’s some.

Okay. Seems as if I disappeared for a while. It seems as if, yes, Peter is addressing a group of people who were already established in the truth. And as I said, some here might be, but we know that there’s some who are not yet established. And as shepherds, we think it is necessary that we continue to encourage this. Therefore, we must have that constant reminder of the foundational things of our faith. Also, let’s consider what Jesus said in Matthew 7, and John Sauter alluded to that in his introductory remarks. In John, in Matthew 7, verse 24 to 27, a familiar passage to us. Therefore, whoever hears these saints of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.

The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall. For it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came, descended on, descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell, and great was the fall. So, as Christians, as we live in this world, there’s no doubt that the rain is descending. The flood waters are rising, the winds are blowing and beating on our house or our faith. The who and what our faith our faith is built on or is being built on is of utmost importance.

2. Our Foundation Is Built on Jesus and His Word

As we set out to start this theme, um, the first lesson Ken preached, the first of the year was Jesus, our cornerstone. So the second thing it’s important that our foundation is built on Jesus and his word. So Ralph, um, carrying on what Walkart’s been talking about, how would you say that the foundation that we’re encouraging members here at South Bumbi to establish is different than what other religious friends of ours might hold to as their foundation? Well, our foundation, obviously, as Walcott suggested or read in the scriptures, is on Jesus. It’s not on other things that are going on in the world or other people or other worldly priorities or desires. You know, I think that’s what’s fundamental. We are looking to Jesus to be the foundation of our faith.

Now, where do we get that? We get that from God’s Word. And so we need to look to God’s word always to find out and determine who is it we’re supposed to be, what are our priorities supposed to be, how do we live our lives? In the uh uh uh the high school class today, they led a good discussion with the teenagers about uh priorities and having the humility in one of the readings to cleanse yourself or put yourself aside to do the things and live our lives in ways that God desires us to do. Yeah, Ralph mentions the uh the high school class in our college class or young adult class, we’re studying false doctrines, and uh one of the things that we’re seeing in many false doctrines is they’ve added some other text, whether it’s something they claim to be inspired, such as the Book of Mormon or some creed book that men have written and added to the Word of God, they use those texts as part of what they establish as the foundation.

3. Elders Hold Fast the Faithful Word

We can only uh establish our foundation on Jesus Christ and His written word, the Bible. So, switching uh to our second question, David, do you believe that our congregation here at South Bumbi has a firm spiritual foundation? Or do you believe we need to establish it? You know, when you talk about a foundation of the congregation, you have to consider not only the whole, but individuals. Because when we speak of our foundation, we’re really talking about strength. Not just how we hold to his truth, but where does one’s desire to hold to the truth come from? As a congregation, we the elders are charged with oversight. What this means is if air is present and there’s no change, we’re instructed as the elders to hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught.

That’s in Titus chapter 1 and verse 9, that we, the elders, may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Why? Why do we have to do this? Verse 10 tells us, for there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. Because, in verse 15 and 16, to the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. But even their minds and conscience are defiled. Verse 16 says, they profess to know God. Get that? They profess to know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. These are those who profess to know God, yet God sees them as being abominable and dishonest to him.

So we the elders have to make sure that everyone who professes to know God does his will and not their own.

Not as compulsion, not out of compulsion. When Paul met with the elders in Ephesus, you remember in Acts chapter 20, verse 28, he said to them to take heed to yourselves and to all the flock. Why? He says, Because savage wolves will come in among you. You know, these wolves will not always look threatening. In fact, there will be times when these wolves actually look enticing. Thus, we have to be watchful for you, and you have to be watchful for yourself. And for as the elders, we have to be watchful for ourselves.

So for the good of the whole, the elders must watch out for sin, which may find its way into these walls. For the good of the whole, we encourage all of us to read God’s word and have a love for him because he created us and his son died for us. This is why we encourage all, all of us, all of this congregation, not to worship online out of laziness, but to be here to worship with us. Of course, we know that there’s hindrances that can keep that from happening. This is why we encourage all to take part in their work groups or to study with us once a month on Sunday evenings, which as a plug, the current uh study is issues facing the 21st century Christian.

This is why we encourage all to be a part of the, or the men to be a part of the men’s prayer breakfast held at individuals’ homes or at restaurants. And the same for the women in their studies. These are things to help all of us, to hold to that to that first love. You know, the second part as individuals, a part of the congregation, but not the whole. You know, it was mentioned in Titus chapter 1 and verse 9, we must be faithful to Jesus and his Father. Faithful meaning we need to be loyal to, holding to, or remaining true to.

God says hold fast to his faithful word. His faithful word. Everything he says is truth. If our goal is to be with our Father and His Son when our lives are over, we all need to be loyal to, to hold to, and to be true to His Word. So if Jesus says, if you love me, keep my commandments found in John chapter 14 and verse 15. We then need to, as individuals, love him enough to keep his commandments. Now, foundationally, this holding tight to our first love to Christ, to the love of Christ, should cause us not just to do, but should cause us to want to do, leading to obey. So in Fesians chapter 4, and which was uh during the five-minute meditation, Ephesians chapter 4, I think was that for 2 Corinthians.

One of the readings, one of the readings made was uh Ephesians chapter 4. If you have a habit of stealing, then don’t steal anymore. You have a habit of lying, don’t do it anymore. If you have a habit of gossiping or speaking evil of others, then stop it. Whatever the sin. Quit these things, not just because God tells you to, because, but because you love God and you want to please him. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another at the very end of chapter 4. It concludes by saying, just as God forgives us through Christ His Son. You know, these are all foundational teachings which we as elders hold to. Paul speaks uh of this to Timothy, that there are those in the church who teach profane things who babble.

He mentions uh Hymenius and uh Philetus who teach against the resurrection, which hurts the faith of some. He tells Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 19, he says, Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal, the Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. This is our goal, which we all need to set our focus on. To be sure that the Lord, that we know that the Lord knows that we are his. So, to answer the question, yes, the Lord’s body meeting here at South Bumby, I believe has a firm spiritual foundation. Because our goal is to be sure we all love and worship God and truth and spirit. But just like any congregation which we read of in God’s word, and as well as any in the world today, we need to be watchful, not to leave our first love.

So individually and congregationally, Paul mentioned savage wolves will come, not sparing the flock, as we looked at. Peter compares the devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Because of this, we as individuals need to constantly fight that good fight of faith. Not to look righteousness, but to be righteous. Everyone who understands this has a good and firm foundation. It’s up to each and every one of us to apply it. And it’s up to the elders, us as the elders, to see that if it’s not applied, that this lack of individual application does not affect the foundation of this congregation. So sin, we know all have sinned, and the elders will deal with those in sin in the appropriate way, with the hopes of helping, but evil.

There is no uh dealing with it since the one who is evil does not want to overcome. So our responsibility, as your shepherds, is to purge it from our midst in the way that God has set forth so that we can keep this good foundation intact. Thank you, David. Walk out as you think about the things that David talked about in regards to how we establish this firm foundation, specifically as individuals, the things that we can be doing to um improve our spiritual lives. I want you to talk about how, as a father raising four children, all of who are grown and and moved away from home, although some have come back today. Um what what should parents of young children be doing to establish a firm foundation in their homes and in their children?

4. Pointing Our Kids to Jesus

You know, as I stated earlier, Jesus is our foundation. In David’s talk, as he mentioned, some of the things that are needed to establish a foundation of the solid foundation of a church of a congregation, and that is focusing on God’s word, doing the things that we have as pattern in the New Testament. But when it comes to our lives as individuals, we too have to follow those things. And setting up a foundation, um, this this morning we were even talking about that in the middle school class that I’m teaching along with Blake Roberts, that it is important for them, even as young people, to establish a foundation. It starts with some of the simple things. Parents, are you praying with your kids? Are you spending time reading God’s word together?

All the things that we do, we come here, we talk about Bible classes. Let’s say we use I’m gonna use the phrase, oh, we come to church. Those things and those sayings are important, but the most important thing is pointing our kids to Jesus.

It’s not gonna convert them. We as parents, the most we can do is point them to Jesus. Because we might be further along the way, but they have to answer for themselves. And hence the instructions, fathers, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

It is so imperative as we are diligent to set the course of life for kids. Sometimes they’re not even out of the womb yet, and we might be thinking, okay, college, gonna play sports or not. Oh, what might whatever that might be. But the most important thing.

Am I going to lead them? Am I going to show them the way towards Jesus? And as I don’t know how much experience you can say I have, but four kids are gone, and Bonnie and I have done the best we could in at least laying those foundations, that foundation for them to build on. And that’s what we have to do as parents. That you know, as as parents, we think about the maturity of our children and the growth of our children and how important it is for them to be valuable citizens in the community and to have an education and be able to support themselves. And but let us not forget the most important thing is helping them get to heaven. And that starts at the home.

Moving on to our next question, Ralph, how can members of our congregation put this congregational theme into practice outside of listening to Ken’s sermons? Ken’s been preaching uh many valuable lessons on how firm a foundation, but outside of just listening to sermons, how can they put that into practice? And if you’re struggling to establish a firm foundation, what hindrances do you believe that Christians face in this regard? Multiple questions.

5. Self-Examination That Leads to Action

First of all, you know, when we were talking about this, I was reminded of John 15, where you know, one of the parables is about the vine of the branches. You know, Jesus is the vine. We Christians are the branches. We all have jobs to do, we all have roles. If we do less than we are capable of doing, or if we’re not doing anything at all, the entire vine is not as fruitful as it otherwise could be. So the principle there is we all have roles, and we all need to determine what our roles are. We need to find our roles based on our individual abilities, our individual strengths, and then we have to be willing to take action. I shared with the elders when we were talking about some of this a couple of weeks ago.

I remember a quote from a uh Biblical Insights magazine a number of years ago, and the quote was ability without availability is worthless to God. You know, what’s what’s the point there? We can have all the talents, we have all the resources individually that one could ask for, but if we’re not putting them to work for God, for Jesus, with Jesus as our foundation, those abilities and talents are worthless. And so how do we determine what we’re supposed to be doing, what our abilities and our strengths are? One of the recommendations that I think about frequently is we have to do self-examination. Second Corinthians 13 5 tells us we need to test, we need to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. We have to ask ourselves, how strong is my faith?

Am I living my faith? Am I doing the things that I need to do to strengthen and maintain my faith? Hence the how firm a foundation principle here. And we need to ask ourselves am I hot? Am I cold? Am I lukewarm? That’s a scriptural concept. You know, we need to know where we are, and so that requires self-examination. Now that sounds easy enough, but I remember when Brother Russ Bowman was with us last fall for gospel meetings, he was talking about this this principle of self-examination, and he stressed self-honesty. And I wrote down a quote that he said, we’re not good at self-evaluation and the honesty it requires. We tend to see what we want to see, especially when it comes to our work service and love and support of one another.

It’s hard to look in the mirror and see what the truth is as opposed to what we want to see, and it requires a special level of self-honesty to do that. For all of us, our goal should be to grow closer to God, and we should want to do that. We should desire to do that and be committing, committed to it. Being lukewarm or being cold is not a church issue, that’s an individual issue. If we’re looking in the mirror and we see ourselves as cold or lukewarm, that’s on us as individuals. So we can’t blame the church for that. Now, what should self examination lead us to? It should lead us to action, which is you know, really where we’re where we started here. John’s question was what do we do beyond listening to these sermons and you know, nodding our heads in approval that yes, you know, that’s the way we’re supposed to be.

We have to act on that. We have to take action. James 1 22 tells us to be doers, not just hearers of the word. 1 Peter 1 13 says, prepare our minds for action, action in service, action in work. I want to read Romans 12, uh, open your Bibles with me. Romans 12, a few verses starting in verse 10 here, because this is one way we can take action. Romans 12, verse 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality, serve one another, take care of one another. Look at the words in that reading there.

Be devoted, give preference, be diligent, be fervent, serve, rejoice, persevere, be devoted, contribute, practice. Okay, those are all action words. And start with, if you’re not sure what to do, start with one another. There are wonderful opportunities here. The bottom line is we need to work, we need to do something. Brother Harkrider, when he was here many times through the years, he had uh he used a quote and often used it as a challenge. If everybody is doing what I’m doing, what kind of church would this be? That can be a sobering thought. Or it can be a wonderful thing, depending on where you are. Bottom line there is actions, actions speak louder than our words. If we say we’re anchored, if we say we have a firm foundation, we will be doing things.

We will let that be seen in our action and not just through our words. Now, you ask about hindrances. What are some hindrances? I have a few thoughts. First of all, not being honest in our self-evaluations that we talked about a minute ago. That can be a hindrance because we’re going to get a false picture and a false perspective. And we can convince ourselves that we’re great when we’re not. So we have to be honest and really look at ourselves objectively. Secondly, I think we need to be careful about passing judgment on others or condemning others. That’s an easy trap to fall into. Luke 6.37 warns against that. Do not judge and you will not be judged, and do not condemn and you will not be condemned.

Pardon and you will be pardoned. Jesus is for is forbidding self-righteous fault finding that leads to us judging one another’s hearts and motives. And Jesus tells us very clearly, we’re not equipped to do that. Only God can do that. Serve one another with the right heart. Don’t judge, don’t condemn. And 1 Timothy 6 3 through 5 warns us words, disputes, controversial questions, and friction are threats to the church. We have to guard against those things. Those are very human things. We can easily get caught up in those. We’re all different people. We have to be careful. And those are things that can tear us apart and allow cracks to creep into our foundations. A final thought, don’t be a critic. You see things that are wrong, take action.

6. Let Love Be Without Hypocrisy

Being a critic is easy. Fixing things, doing things about what you are being critical of is much harder. That’s the commitment I think we need to have. So those are some thoughts that I had about hindrances. David, just to add on to what Ralph said in terms of when we do this self-examination and determine that our foundation is not what it needs to be, how do we motivate ourselves to take action? Oftentimes people they kind of know what to do, they just don’t actually do it. What would you suggest as motivation to take action? I believe that we’re taught in the scriptures to know the Word of God, to study His will and to be like Christ. I mean, we carry the name Christian, meaning be like Christ.

With what Ralph was saying, you know, when he was reading Romans chapter 12, verse 9 started off with saying, let love be without hypocrisy. Check your heart, search your heart. Are you doing these things out of habit? Are you doing these things only because it’s expected of you? If you are, you need to work on yourself and learn to love. Learn to do right because that’s the way Christ is. And if we’re going to came uh carry the name Christian, we need to conform our lives to the way Christ was. And he loved unconditionally. Not only if you do me well, I will do you well, but he loved unconditionally. And I I believe that if we could all have that mindset, we would all be the better for it.

Conclusion

And that’s that’s the crux. That’s the cornerstone. Jesus being the cornerstone, he was love. And that’s that should be our cornerstone as well. In closing, I’ll go back to the Luke chapter 6 passage that Ralph alluded to because it ties in to our theme. Ralph mentioned, judge not and you shall not be judged. And certainly the world tells us you should not judge other people. But a good Bible student understands that what Jesus is talking about here is hypocritical judgment. If you skip down to verse 41, why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?

Hypocrite. First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eyes. We we have to make judgments. And verse 43 continues that it’s about the fruits that we produce. For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. And then lastly, in verse 46, this is where we we opened our uh talk this morning.

But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like. He’s like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. These are the thoughts that we leave you with this morning. We’re going to turn uh things over to Brother Ken.

He’s going to offer an invitation. We appreciate your kind attention and listening, and we encourage you always to come and talk to us about anything, but specifically about our congregational theme, how firm a foundation, and how you can be a better part of this congregation and continue to build on that foundation that we hope to establish in this congregation here at South Bumby. Thank you.