New Expressions Of The Church Lesson 4 Series

A. INTRODUCTION: ORIGINAL EXPRESSION

1. Gathered. “Where two or three gather . . . I am there” (Matt. 18:20).

2. House to house (Acts 2:46; 5:42).

3. Divided and grew. “The church . . . grew in numbers” (Acts 9:71).

4. Other places. “River bank” (16:13), “Synagogues” (17:2, 10), “public squares” (17:17), “home of Titus Justus” (18:7), “lecture hall of Tyrannus” (19:9), “upstairs room” (Troas) (20:8).

5. The church is described with characteristics of a body (Eph. 1:22), a bride (Rev. 21:9), a flock (Acts 20:28), a garden (John 15:1-5), and a family (John 1:12, 3:3-7).

6. All believers in the church are intimately identified/indwelt with Jesus, “You in Me and I in you” (John 14:20).

7. Therefore, the church has many sizes, shapes, locations, qualities, and purposes.

a. Not see all of church in one place.

b. No one church does all functions.

c. Every church has both more and less of all it is designed to be.

8. There is a doctrinal church and functional church.

B. MULTISITE CHURCH, ONE CHURCH

One organization and one brand, yet located in many locations with separate worship, fellowship, teaching and ministries to individuals; yet one leader, one budget, one vision and purpose, one style of worship led by lead pastor (video venue).

1. The Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, Alabama 53 locations (in 19 prisons). Pastor Chris Hodges leads 55,000 members.

2. Seacoast Church, Charleston, South Carolina, 28 locations in 3 states, 10,000 believers.

3. Life.Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 40 campuses, 100,000 worshipers.

4. Advantages: (a) overcome barriers (land, economic, ethnic), (b) tap unused talent, (c) worship style options, (d) climate for diversity, (e) attract visitors to nearby locations, (f) reach cultural niches.

5. Weakness: (a) personality of leader holds it together – what happens with new leaders? (b) Depends on speaking ability of lead pastor, (c) a site does not attract the people and their “bond” will attract.

C. THE INTERNET CHURCH

One main location that interfaces with believers worldwide by online worship, membership classes, financial giving, all sharing same vision, ministry objectives and fellowship. Online they baptize, serve communion, pray together, meet in small group gatherings, and share testimonies.

1. Glory of Zion, Corinth, Texas, Chuck Pierce, pastor, 60,000 members.

2. Key word align. Search for scattered sheep (John 10:16).

a. Scattered means must be gathered.

b. Why driven away?

c. The heart of God seeks them (Luke 16:1-7).

3. “Worship is our core and attraction.”

D. CELL CHURCH

One major church (for proclamation), many small groups for (involvement).

1. Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea, 760,000 members, 34,000 cell groups.

2. Active ministry. (a) Teach, (b) sing/worship, (c) prayer, (d) offering, (e) relationship evangelism.

3. The body grows by the division of cells, i.e., not growth of each cell.

4. The Church of the Highlands: (a) All 55,000 in cells, (b) recruit by finding spiritual giftedness. “Find the purpose God designed for you and do/be. (c) Focus on the young, “they want to be involved.”

5. Biblical basis: Multitude (Acts 5:16), multitude(s) (Acts 5:14)

E. CHURCH/MINISTRIES

1. There are churches that function like a local church and/or a mission agency and/or a denomination at the same time. It is almost impossible to determine how they connect, sometimes by internet, sometimes by television viewing.

2. They seem to be limitless and inclusive on purpose (perhaps, because they haven’t matured or organized that extensively).

3. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, 50,000 weekly attendance, planted 42,000 perish churches around the world.

4. World Harvest Center, Fiji, planted 7,000 churches around the Pacific Rim. One of the poorest nations, sending church planters to take “laborers jobs” to plant churches.

5. Hillsong, Sydney Australia, 150,000 worshipers planted a satellite in many major metropolitan area of world. Uses television and social media. Hillsong is worship. Three mandates: (1) preach Jesus, (2) listen to the Holy Spirit, and (3) live supernaturally.

6. Love Fellowship, New Delhi, translating Scriptures, 30,000 house churches and 5,000 street churches, (a) Alex Abraham, medical doctor, (b) all 738 native languages by 2030.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.