I’ve been doing some research and, by almost anyone’s measure, the American church is stagnating. The churches that appear to be growing are—in many cases (maybe most)—growing from Christians who have transferred there from another congregation. In other words: the church isn’t growing. According studies, while church attendance across the U.S. has increased about 15% in the last three decades, the population of the country has grown by almost 90%. So to say we’ve grown is like saying it was a good football game because we scored a touchdown … while the other team ran up six or seven touchdowns and sent the second-string in because the starters got bored.

Now, I’m not going to spend any more time on these negative stats. What the church is may not be what it’s supposed to be. I don’t want to talk any more about static churches. “Churches” are buildings. Congregations are groups of people. I want to talk about a dynamic congregation and how we can become one!

What is a dynamic congregation? Dynamic congregations point people toward Christ (and the home they long for). I hope you caught that. A dynamic congregation won’t be marked by a particular preaching style or a particular singing style or a particular building style. A dynamic congregation is one that uses whatever music they sing and whatever style they preach to point people toward Christ—people inside the congregation and people outside!

Now, I want us to read about a dynamic congregation (even though, at first, you may think I’m reading from the wrong scripture passage because what does this have to do with a congregation?!?).

Philemon 4-10
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (NIV)

First key to a Dynamic Congregation: A deep appreciation for the dynamics of congregational life (v 4-5)

Who are these “saints” Paul talks about? Those are the Christians Philemon is in fellowship with, i.e. the congregation. Now, you and I might not even recognize this as a church at first. That’s because it wasn’t, it was a congregation, an assembly. They probably met in each other’s homes—probably even at Philemon’s home.

They were not marked by a building. What did mark them—set them apart?

o Prayer for others
o Deep Faith in Jesus
o Energetic Desire to Minister

When we see a big, fancy building with a steeple, we think, “There’s a church.” OK, so what? In our modern, western world it unfortunately seems important to have a building that—at the very least—is not a turn-off. While it may be tempting for us to set a goal of having a building people will be attracted to, being known for those three things I just mentioned is far more important!

Second, a Dynamic Congregation reflects and promotes a growing understanding of our benefits in Jesus Christ (v 6)

Most of us know what Jesus has done for us and are thankful. We need to be good at letting other people in on this “secret”, too. People around us are looking for a home. They’d like a temporary home but—and it may just be in the backs of their minds if at all—they would like to know something about a permanent home, too. An eternal home. What’s some good news we can give them?

o Jesus has broken the grip of sin (1 John 5:18-19)
o He’s bridged the gap between us and God (Romans 5:1-2)
o He’s given the Holy Spirit as a teacher (John 16:13)
o He’s clarified our purpose in Life (Galatians 1:16)

Third, a Dynamic Congregation has an electric atmosphere which reenergizes wounded spirits (v 7)

Remember the Bacta Tank in "Empire Strikes Back"? It was this big vat of smething called Bacta. Drop a person in it and it'll heal any injuries. We got to see it because they dropped Luke Skywalker into it after he'd been attacked by the abominable snowman and (probably) suffered from exposure. He comes out and he's well on the way to recovery.

We, the congregation under the direction of the Holy Spirit, should be a "bacta tank" for the hurting of this world.

Again, this may or may not have anything to do with the singing or the style of preaching. Ideally, those are reflective of this, not solely indicative of it. What are the marks of a Dynamic Congregation with an electric atmosphere which reenergizes wounded spirits?

o Joy—that inner well-being not dependent on external accomplishments
o Comfort—hearts have been refreshed

Those two things may seem either too innocuous to be of value, or too obvious for a church, but taken in context, we’re talking about life-altering qualities. You ask a husband, “Do you love your wife?” and he replied, “Well, of course, I love her.” There’s no “of course” about it. In marriage, love is paramount.

People are going to find that we have joy not because we’re mindless or even on something, but because we have found the one and only cure for this common and sinful life: Jesus Christ! We’re joyful about that!

Our comfort is not in our building or the temperature or just our friendships here. We’re comfortable with all those things, but—thanks to Jesus—we’re comfortable with our salvation. We’re not worried about the end because we know who wrote it!

Finally, a Dynamic Congregation has an environment which motivates changed lives (v 8-10)

o Jesus-filled atmosphere
o The right time

Paul could have ordered Philemon to do the right thing but, instead, chose to appeal to him as a Christian brother. Does the environment in our church resemble the church Paul and Philemon were part of?

What do I DO with this?
1. Ask yourself if your friends and coworkers know the benefits you have in Christ (joy, salvation, etc.)
2. Decide (through prayer) to do what you can to make NPCC a Dynamic Congregation!