As I think of Rock Valley Bible Church, I am acutely aware that we are a young church in the formative stages of our ministry. We have no building. We are still financially dependent upon Kishwaukee Bible Church. We lack a plurality of elders.

In some ways, our church is like a little child, who is in constant need of counsel and wisdom from his parents, who are older and wiser than he is. A child can learn wisdom by one of two ways: (1) He can listen to the advice of his parents and follow their counsel, thereby obtaining wisdom. Or, (2) he can refuse their counsel and suffer the consequences of his foolish behavior. The wisdom he gains in this instance is through discerning the folly of his ways.

As a church, we can learn wisdom through the same two avenues: (1) we can listen to the advice of those who have more experience in church ministry than we do. Or, (2) we can refuse their counsel and learn the same lessons through the school of hard knocks. The Proverbs constantly speak about the first option of receiving advice and counsel from others. For instance, ...

Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory (Prov. 11:14).
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Prov. 12:15).
Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed (Prov. 15:22).
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days (Prov. 19:20).
Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance (Prov. 20:18).
For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory (Prov. 24:6).
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend (Prov. 27:9).

As a church, we ought to be open to the advice of others, especially when those giving the advice have demonstrated themselves faithful and trustworthy. Many of you know that Grace Church of DuPage is the church that planted Kishwaukee Bible Church, which is the church that planted Rock Valley Bible Church. When Grace Church of DuPage was a young, small church, a faithful and trustworthy pastor gave some advice to them, which they sought to implement. He gave them ten goals to pursue. These goals were not in any particular order, but they were important to keep in the front on their minds as they established Grace Church of DuPage. It is very appropriate for us to hear this advice as if it were directed toward us. I have obtained a list of the goals this pastor gave. This list is derived from a set of notes taken by someone who was present at that time. I will state the goal and fill it in with some appropriate details for us.

1. A high view of God
This simply means that we need to believe that God is everything that the Bible describes Him to be. He created the world and owns the world (Ps. 24:1; 33:6). He works among the affairs of men, declaring the end from the beginning (Is. 46:10). No one can ward off His hand (Dan. 4:35) or question Him in any way whatsoever (Rom. 9:20). Such an understanding of God will humble us and will create a reverential awe in our worship of Him.

2. A commitment to the authority of God’s word
The Scriptures are the infallible source of revelation that God has given to us. As such, the Bible is to be studied, understood, believed, and followed with our whole hearts. We cannot compromise its truth, and we should not be ashamed of its teachings. All of the church’s activities ought to be regulated by the truth contained within God’s word. We teach God’s word to let it have authority in our lives.

3. Doctrinal clarity
Have you heard the phrase, doctrine divides? It does divide, but it also unites. It is when people are carried about by every wind of doctrine that the church is tossed here and there by waves and is divided (Eph. 4:14). But doctrinal clarity helps us attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13). It is through the clear teaching of the Bible that our hearts will be united in our common faith in Christ Jesus, who alone accomplished our redemption for us.

4. Priority of holiness
Robert Murray M’Cheyne once said, It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. M’Cheyne spoke of the individual, but this is also true of the church. God will bless a church that is filled with those seeking His holiness in their lives. This happens by realizing that our sin is cancelled, having been nailed to the cross of Christ (Col. 2:14) and by putting on the new self, who is being renewed (Col. 3:10), as we strive against sin (Heb. 12:4).

5. Spiritual leadership
More churches are destroyed through ungodly, carnal leadership than all other reasons combined. As such, we need to be careful in affirmation of our future elders and deacons. These men must qualify both by the letter and by the spirit of the qualifications for church leaders given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Though there will only be a few of you who are eventually recognized as elders and deacons, we all ought to pray for the purity of our spiritual leaders.

6. Ministries to people
The church is not programs. Rather, the church is people. As such, our ministry efforts need to be focussed upon serving other people, whether they be within our church or outside of our church. In order to do this, people from the church need to be involved in this service. Furthermore, I would encourage you to find a way to serve others. Don’t wait for the church to organize a program for you to fit in. Go and find others whom you can serve in Jesus’ name.

7. Discipleship
A healthy church is a church where the members are growing. People grow in their faith as they are discipled in their faith. This happens when you learn from the lives of others. Jesus said that it is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher (Matt. 10:25). Parents, you are the ones who are responsible for discipling your children. Don’t expect AWANA to do it for you. Currently, we are providing discipleship for the men through Men’s Equippers and for the ladies in our monthly Bible studies.

8. Vision for the lost
Jesus said that believers are salt and light (Matt. 5:10-12). Both of these substances change their surroundings. Salt changes the taste of food and preserves it, while light allows us to see. Unfortunately, our salt can easily become tasteless and our light can quickly dim. We must ever be reminded of the destination that awaits those who die a Christless death and pray for God to open to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ (Col. 4:3).

9. Sacrificial giving
Down through the ages, people have sacrificed much for the church of Jesus Christ. Some have faced ridicule. Some have experienced great financial lost. Some have even given their lives. It is no different today. The church isn’t built without great sacrifice. Jesus led the way by purchasing the church with His life (Acts 20:28). He calls us to give up all we own to be His disciples (Luke 14:33). This includes our time, our talents and our treasures.

10. Fellowship
The Greek word for fellowship is koinwnia (koinonia), which means, sharing. As a church, we are a community of faith, which ought to share our lives completely with one another (John 13:34-35). We ought to pray for one another. We ought to love one another. We ought to build up one another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with him; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:26).