Belong Series

BELONG

#BecomingTheChurchHeIntended

I want to start off our time today by reading three passages that pretty much set up where we are heading this morning.

The first is from Isaiah chapter 43…

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.

Great advice btw to listen to the Lord, the one who created you…

O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ – Isaiah 43:1-7

QUESTION – why did God create you?

For His glory…

To make a difference

AND – here the next one (it’s about who you are as a Jesus-follower)… NOW – it’s a very familiar passage, but it is till true and still holds power…

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:13-16

The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

AND HERE’S – the last one…

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? – Luke 9:23-25

OKAY – so did you hear what those passages were saying?

AMEN… and may our holy, righteous, glorious and all powerful God…. bless the reading of His living, active and enduring forever Word!

Prayer

SO – on April 28th we set as our destination ‘becoming the church that Jesus intended…’

AND LISTEN – taking this journey requires us to both individually and collectively… figure out where are… and making any course correction as necessary.

AND – this book is our GPS, amen?!

Proceed to the route…

OKAY – let me tell you where we are heading in this series.

FOR - the next several weeks we will be unpacking the truth that the church that Jesus intended is made up of people who are living their lives on MISSION…

I will never forget the first time I was ever introduced to the concept of MISSION. I was 20 years old (just got married) and after 2 years of training in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program I was reporting to my first Submarine, The USS Woodrow Wilson SSBN 624.

HERE – is a picture of her… Beautiful.

SO in August of 1980. I stepped in the off-crew offices of the Blue Crew in Charleston SC. The Gold Crew was underway with the Sub at the time…

AND – on my very first day I there. Commander Alan Moore The CO of our crew invited me into his office.

I was pretty much, freaking out.

BUT – Captain was a great CO and he quickly made me feel at ease…

AND THEN – for the next 30 minutes he talked with me about THE MISSION of the Woodrow Wilson and what her role was in our national defense.

YOU SEE – since I was a member of the crew I needed to be fully aware of what our MISSION was.

It’s crazy… that was 39 years ago…

BUT – I still remember it like it was last week.

Maple Grove…

Fellow Jesus-followers

WE – are part of Christ’s Crew (if you will)…

AND LISTEN – in His church, in His body and it is imperative that we understand what our MISSION is.

AND LISTEN – as we look into the bible we are going to find that our MISSION as a church… AS – a group of people who have surrendered their lives to Christ…