Chapter XII: Congregational Objectives and Activities

(_Note_: While this sermon was being presented the main headings of the following outline were on the blackboard. Before the second sermon on the same subject was delivered the following evening, a mimeographed copy of the entire outline was given to each person in the audience.)

_INTRODUCTION_

To set in order the work of the local church it is well to consider the objectives or results desired. Below is a list of scriptural congregational objectives and some of the activities that will help to reach the objectives.

I. _Evangelistic (Mk. 16:15, 16)_
1. Local
_a._ Lord’s day preaching
_b._ Protracted meetings
_c._ Newspaper and other advertising
_d._ Newspaper reports
_e._ Inviting and bringing others to meetings
_f._ Radio preaching, contact with interested listeners
_g._ Short articles in the paper
_h._ Distribution of tracts—in homes, in public buildings, by
mail, racks in lobbies
_i._ Personal evangelism
(1) Contacts at school
(2) Contacts at play
(3) Contacts at work
(4) House to house calls
_j._ Prospect file—individual and general
_k._ Community Bible classes
_l._ Prayer
2. Missionary
_a._ Tracts
_b._ Radio
_c._ Financial support to preachers and missions
(1) Should expect regular and complete reports
(2) Workers selected carefully and well supported
(3) Work carefully supervised
(4) Operating funds and assistants furnished
_d._ Selecting fields and planning work
_e._ Leadership for rural churches near Nashville
II. _Devotional (Acts 2:42)_
1. Sunday morning
2. Sunday evening
3. Wednesday evening
4. Announcements
III. _Instructional (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11-13)_
1. Preaching
2. Sunday morning classes
3. Wednesday evening classes
4. Vacation Bible school
5. Bible story hour
6. Ladies’ Bible class
7. Other special classes
IV. _Looking After Members Individually (John 10:3, 14; Acts 20:28;
Heb. 13:17)_
1. Church bulletin
2. Correspondence with men in service
3. Correspondence with, and in behalf of, other non-resident members
4. Contacts at meetings
5. Visiting—sick, indifferent, weak, disgruntled
6. Records of names and addresses of members
7. Attendance records
8. Special attention to new members, etc.
9. Discipline
V. _Practical Training (1 Tim. 3:10; Eph. 4:11-16)_
1. Wednesday evening meeting
2. Participation in other meetings
3. Special classes
4. Supervised activities in personal work, etc.
VI. _Beneficent (Jas. 1:27; 1 Cor. 16:1)_
1. Caring for widows
2. Caring for orphans
3. Helping the poor
VII. _Incidental_
1. Financial reports, records, etc.
2. Maintenance of church property
3. Other incidentals

We are very glad to have visitors with us today. I will not undertake to name those who are present from other places, lest I omit one. But we want all of you to realize that you have a very hearty welcome. We’re always glad to have you worship with us.

I was very glad indeed to hear that splendid report given by Brother Gregory. I wish we could have more frequent reports from those who are being assisted in their work by the Chapel Avenue congregation. Let us remember that the gospel is being proclaimed today at half a dozen, or maybe a dozen, different places by preachers supported, at least in part, by the congregation here. To me, that is a very encouraging thought.

I want to talk to you this morning upon the topic, “Congregational Objectives and Activities.” The work of the church may be outlined in several different ways, but the most practical outline that I have been able to develop is one based upon the _objectives_ of the church. In other words, what is the purpose of the church? What is the work that it should do, and how can it best do that work? I have listed on the board six or seven expressions according to which the scriptural objectives of the church may be classified: evangelistic, devotional, instructional, watching or looking after the members individually, practical training, beneficent, and incidental—some other activities which are incidental to these main objectives. These are Scriptural objectives. They are authorized by the word of God, and I believe that this outline covers everything which God intends for the church to do. Someone told me I had omitted recreational and social objectives. Well, I left those out on purpose, because I do not believe that they are authorized by the Bible. Hence, as far as I’m able to know, this list is complete.

Now I want to talk about one or two of these items at this time. Continuing the effort to give some practical lessons, I’m laying aside rhetoric or any other technical requirements for a good sermon which might stand in the way of practical effectiveness.

By the term evangelistic, of course, we mean preaching the gospel to the entire world. The Scriptural authority for that is found at many places in the Bible. For instance, the great commission as reported by Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned.” This commandment is very comprehensive. It says “Go into all the world” and the world includes the people who live here at Chapel Avenue, those who live next door to you, even those who are in the house with you. It includes the people of this city, and then, of course, people in other cities and other states throughout the entire world. Therefore, we shall discuss this subject of evangelization under two headings: local and missionary.

God has given us a charge to keep as a congregation. He has charged us to preach the gospel unto the people of this community, as well as the people of other communities. Now the question is: “How can we do it?” There’s the command; it’s a general one. God charges us to preach the gospel unto the people who live in East Nashville, and as little as you may have thought about it, there are many thousands of people right here within a few blocks of our building who do not know about the church in the New Testament—who do not believe and study the Bible and are not acquainted with the distinguishing characteristics of the New Testament church.