FIREY FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING A CHURCH

Matthew 16:18

The fireplace is a very interesting object. I have found that the more I observe it, the more it reminds me of a New Testament Church. There are some very basic fundamentals of church building that are present in a fireplace. Follow me carefully as we examine these few thoughts.

I. IT MUST HAVE A SOURCE OF BEGINNING   Kindling wood.

II. IT REQUIRES SMALL WOOD AND LARGE WOOD   If you put all small wood it burns up rapidly. If you put all large wood it tends to smoother it out. It takes both.

            A. We need great and small people.

            B. We need lay leadership.

III. IT TAKES NEW WOOD REGULARLY  If I don’t add new wood on The fire it will die out. The flame will be gone.

            A. New Members.

            B. Old members renewed.

IV. THE WOOD MUST BE SHAPED BEFORE USED.  A fireplace requires certain length of wood. It also has to be a certain size. I have to split some of the pieces to fit.

            A. We will have to shape our people.           

            B. Some pruning may be necessary.

V. THE WOOD MUST BE KEPT CLOSE TOGETHER.  After burning for several minutes some of the wood will move or drop away from the main body of fire. When that happens the fire begins to dwindle and decrease. I have to get up from my recliner and go over and reunite all pieces again.

            A. We must have unity.

            B. We don’t want union. Union and unity are different. Union means you could be tied onto anything or any fashion. or culture.  If you were to tie a dog and a cat's tails together you would have union but certainly not unity. 

VI. THE FIRE MUST BE STIRRED UP OFTEN.