Building The Church Series

INTRODUCTION:

Mission Statement:

The Redeeming River Church is a family of believers committed to preaching the cross with conviction, reaching the lost with compassion, and equipping the saints with the Word!

Three results of not understanding the Mission.

1. Plateaued Growth - growth seems to reach a certain level and then drop back down

2. Internal Conflict - constant infighting caused by an ignorance of what should be happening

3. Low Moral - leaders become discouraged when structure or bureaucracy stymies their vision for growth

Introduction:

1. What do you think about yourself?

2. If you were writing a novel and had cast a person identical to yourself as the lead character, how would you describe that character?

3. Chances are, if you were honest, there would be some things that you would want to leave out. Issues of inferiority would arise. Many

4. 95% of the population struggle with feelings of inadequacy

Quotes:

1. "Self-esteem comes when a person realizes that Christ, who died an atoning death for him, comes to live in him through the Holy Spirit…(thus producing a) sense of value that comes to me when I have been restored to a relationship with God as the Heavenly Father, and I have the assurance that I am worth a lot. Christ died on the cross for me. If he thinks that much of me, I had better start thinking something good about myself." Robert Schuller

2. "Because we are created in the image of God, we possess great worth, significance, and value. We are loved by God and (thus) deserving of the love of ourselves and others." Bruce Narramore

3. "Self-love, as I understand the concept biblically and psychologically, includes the following: (1) accepting myself as a child of God who is loveable, valuable, capable; (2) being willing to give up considering myself the center of the world; (3) recognizing my need of God’s forgiveness and redemption. Christian self esteem results from translating ‘I am the greatest, wisest, strongest, best’ to ‘I am what I am, a person made in God’s image, a sinner redeemed by God’s grace, and a significant part in the body of Christ.’" David Carlson

Illustration: The Encouraged Pastor

There is an old story about a pastor leaving a church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the pillar members, “Don’t be so sad. The next pastor might be better than me.” She replied, “That’s what they said last time, but it keeps getting worse.”

Scriptures:

1. Ephesians 5:28-29 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

2. Romans 12:3 3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

I. Jesus Came To Build His Church

1. He was a carpenter - He would complete a project and with a great sense of accomplishment say; "It is finished." Sound familiar?

2. He was use to saying it is finished - John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

3. He came to build the church - The text says that Jesus is going to build His church. What is the church? The church is people. The Lord is looking to build people.

4. He accomplished his agenda - Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

5. God created His church for His glory - Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

6. He completed God’s plan - 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

7. God’s church will survive - Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

II. Satan’s Wants To Destroy The Church

1. He plants seeds of destruction - John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

2. He tears down - John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.