The early church was stable, active and totally dependant upon God. These keys not only brought them success numerically, they also bridged the gap generationally.  For the “Jeremiah Generation” to revive those great days of harmony and evangelistic fervor, these same keys must be applied in today’s church.

"My chariot's on fire!" may have been the last words Elisha heard from his master as he watched Elijah being carried away into the sky.  Whatever the words, they were no doubt full of excitement and enthusiasm.  Elisha, too, was inspired by this entire spectacle and it changed his ministry forever.  Read 2 Kings 2:8-15.

The second element in God's plan for church growth is action.  As is true in this lesson, the word action often implies far more than just movement.  Enthusiasm and excitement are also part of the action concept.  Notice again the historic record of the early church.

 Acts 2:46-47 

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

From this passage, we learn one very important reason for the phenomonal growth rate of the early church. They were energized with enthusiasm for the work of God.  They were on fire with a passion for Christian living and positive action was the result.

To recapture the enthusiastic flame of the First Century church, there are several things that the “Jeremiah Generation” must set on fire. 

1.  Pulpits Must Be Set On Fire!

There was a time in the ministry of Jeremiah, when he was so discouraged by the poor reception of God's people, that he tried to give up preaching.  Yet, inspite of his desire to hold back the sermons of God, the passage below says that God's message nearly burned a hole right through him.

Jeremiah 20:9

"But if I say, 'I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.  I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."

For churches to grow, pulpits must burn with the message of God.

It's funny what some people will say to a speaker on the way out of the building after a lifeless sermon.  They feel obligated to say something while shaking his hand, yet they hate to compliment a lesson that nearly put them to sleep.  The following comments are familiar to speakers who have not yet been set on fire with the message of God:

"You always manage to find something to fill up the time."

"I don't care what they say, I like your sermons."

"Did you know there are 243 pieces of tile on the ceiling of the auditorium?"

"We shouldn't make you preach so often."

Someone said, "We need sermons that comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."  Lessons that fail to move and motivate the audience have no place in the assembly of God's people.  If a speaker is not set on fire with the convictions of God and in turn sets his listeners on fire with his message, there is something gravely missing in his ministry.  God's message is not a series of lifeless black ink marks on a page.  "The Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword...." (Hebrews 4:12)  Pulpits can be set on fire if speakers will allow the Word of God to come alive in their messages.

But lifeless pulpits are not completely the fault of the speaker.  The audience also plays a significant role in keeping the pulpit fire lit.  Try the following suggestions and see if they do not kindle a flame in the next speaker you hear:

-Look him in the eyes while he is speaking. Tell him with your expressions that you are attentive to his words and you have not drifted off into another world.

-Nod your head when you agree or, better yet, do what God instructs - say, "Amen!"

-Don't be afraid to show emotion.  Smile when he makes a good point.  Laugh when he tells a joke. Feel free to cry when he touches your heart.

-Let him know what you need to hear.

-Remember, regardless of what you may think of his lesson, it was still an expression of himself.  It is hard for him not to take your criticisms personal.  Give him pointers, but always couch your comments in love.  Tact is a quality we could all use a little more of.

-Reward all positive change.  Like everyone, speaker's need to be praised.  If you acknowledge his good points, you will find that he will make more of them in the future. Give him a hug.

-Pray for him. Not everyone is gifted with a silver tongue. But a message from God is solid gold. Look for the treasure and pray for the one who guards it.

2. Pews Must Be Set On Fire!

Although the speaker often plays a prominent role in the worship sevice, there is much that the other members must do aside from the sermon to make each service a success. 

The following Scripture is often quoted to promote regular church attendance.  Although that is certainly one of the applications we should gain from this passage, it is not the reason the words were written.  Hebrews 10:24-25 is not so much about attending services as it is about why we should attend them.  Notice the verses:

Hebrews 10:24-25

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (KJV)

In this passage, we are warned not to miss services because it is there that we should receive a good stirring up that will result in "love and good works" during the rest of the week (action).  Worship is not a passive experience during which we allow something to happen to us.  Worship, by its very nature, must be interactive. 

The collective worship is also interdependant.  Songs should be sung not just toward Heaven, but also toward the persons sitting next to us.  Prayers should be prayed not just for the sake of God, but also to lead each other into the throne room of Heaven.  The word communion itself indicates a joining of hearts and minds around a common theme.  If a communion service is totally passive, it is not a communion service at all.  Worship is something we involve ourselves in, not something we allow to happen to us.

A little boy was trying to quote Matthew 20:16, "...for many be called, but few chosen."  Nervous, and a little unsure of the words, he unexpectedly made a profound observation when he said, "Many are cold, but a few are frozen."

Sad, but no less true, are the following words.  "In order for some churches to live, some of its members have to die."

We have all heard the story about the enthusiastic man who visited one of our lifeless services.  After an especially good point in the sermon, he stood up and shouted, "Praise God!"  One of the elders quickly rushed over to him and scoldingly said, "We don't do that here!"

Too many in the church view the worship service as a religious endurance test.  Like penance being paid to God, they feel holier and more religiously dignified if services cause them to suffer just a little.  Services are not lifeless because God wills it that way.  The “Jeremiah Generation” needs to set our pews on fire.  It's hard to sit still when your seat is on fire! (action)

3.  Personnel Must Be Set On Fire!

The personnel of a congregation is usually comprised of those who are viewed to have a greater degree of spiritual maturity.  Galatians 6:1 indicates that such individuals should be actively pursuing those who need restoring.  For a congregation to achieve significant church growth, its leaders must burn with a passion to save the lost.

Galatians 6:1

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

While studying at his office, an elder received an alarming phone call.  The voice on the other end informed him that his 4-year-old grandson was missing from the back yard.  Without even pausing to lock the office door, the man rushed to his car and squealed his tires as he sped out of the parking lot.  Within minutes of his arrival at the house, the little boy was found and the man collapsed on the sofa thanking God for his safe return.

Later that day, the elder returned to his office.  While parking his car, he noticed the fresh black tire marks made earlier when he rushed home to find his lost grandson.  Upon entering the building, he also noticed that in his haste to rush out and find the little boy, he didn't lock the door or even turn off the lights.  Sinking deep into his office chair, he thought to himself, "When was the last time I felt the same urgency about one of the church members who is lost in sin?"  Convicted, he vowed that day to pursue those who are spiritually lost with the same fervor that he would pursue those who are physically in danger.

For significant church growth to be realized, all of its personnel must be set on fire with a passion to save the lost. From the high-profile leaders to the members behind the scenes, every Christian must feel the urgent need to rush out into the world and offer them salvation.

Action is the second key to spanning the generation gap and returning the church to dynamic growth.  May we never be guilty of quenching the Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19), but always strive to "stir up love and good works." (Hebrews 10:24) Let’s set the church on fire!

Copyright 2006 by Childs Family Publications

Return to Jeremiah Generation Index