The Church 12 Part 3
Opening Video: David Platt -- The Church
Comment on video: Christian Hills we are God’s plan A for this community and there is no plan B so let’s get radical about the church and it’s 3 fold mission to be upward focused, inward focused and outward focused so that the Kingdom of God moves forward in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Summary of the first 6 reasons why we need the church:
1. Because Jesus created the church and set up its divine mission not mankind (upward focus –inward focus –outward focus)
2. Because to be a part of The Church of Jesus you have to repent of sin and accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior in a verbal and action orientated way (upward focus).
3. Because Jesus is the head of the church – not men, women, denominations, committees, boards, elders or deacons (upward focus).
4. Because the church has people called to it by God (you may be one of them) who steward and lead the church as directed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (inward focus).
5. Because the church is designed by Jesus to teach, correct and discipline through love the Body of Christ 9 (inward).
6. Because The church is a place to pray and to worship God together (upward)
Scripture Texts to remind us of some basic facts about The Church:
Ephesians 5:23-24: 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Colossians I: 17-18: 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:24-29: Paul’s Labor for the Church
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Introduction:
In the passage I just read we have Paul sharing how he labors and struggles, in other words how he pushes through opposition, how he fights for the church that Jesus died for and has established. How he serves Jesus the head of the church so the church could and would be that splendid Bride that God is looking for. Paul says, it’s a struggle and it’s a fight for the one Jesus loves but it is worth it. We too are to struggle and fight for the Church and for the purposes of The Church.
I read an article this week that caught my attention with the following title: “Can you really love Jesus yet hate the church?” I thought that is a good question! Philip Wagner states this and challenges us as Christians in our thinking and our criticism of the church, “I’ve noticed some conversation in the media lately that goes something like this, ‘People believe in Jesus but not the church.’ Newsweek Magazine picked up on this article entitled, ‘Forget the church, follow Jesus.’ There are some good comments in this article but the article in itself is not really the issue. It’s the overall vibe of the public conversation about the local church. There are many assessments and assumptions made that are just not accurate nor are they fair. When people start talking trash about the church- I get protective-not defensive, protective. I want to protect the reputation of the church as I would want to protect the perception about a friend who is being criticized about their attitudes, actions and motivations. I want to protect how she’s treated…Pastors for years, have heard comments from people like, “I love Jesus, I just don’t like the church.”
Here are some thoughts he says to consider before you bash and trash talk - The Church of Jesus Christ:
1. We have to recognize Jesus loves the church (He loved her enough to die for her!)
2. The ‘local church’ is the hope of the world.
3. The church is made up of people.
4. People hurt people – not the church he states, “There is no such thing as the church hurting someone. It’s like saying: “The bank really hurt me.” “Restaurants have wounded me.” “The gym hurt my feelings.” It’s people who hurt others not The Church and the Bible tells us we have to forgive them!
5. There is no “Perfect local church” the only perfect church is one without people!
Thesis: The Bible clearly supports and expects Christians to be a part of The Church. Church is a community of believers who come together on the Lords Day to worship God and to support each other. Scripture does not show Paul, Silas or Peter going into a city just to make believers and then after conversion sending them home to be lone ranger believers instead these new believers - the disciples of Jesus started churches. They united together to worship, to fellowship, to serve the Lord together, to help each other and to spread the Message of Jesus.
T.S. - So with these thoughts in mind lets progress through 6 more reasons why we need The Church.
1. (7th reason)Because The Church operates in the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Body of Christ (an inward focus of the church).
a. Quote C Peter Wagner from His book, Your Spiritual Gifts can help your Church Grow writes, “How is the Body of Christ Organized? On the one hand , God did not plan that the Body of Christ should be organized around the model of a dictatorship where just one person rules, benevolent as that person might be. On the other hand, neither did God intend that it should be a democracy where every member rules…Instead of a dictatorship or a democracy, God has chosen to make the Body of Christ an organism, Jesus being the head and each member functioning with one or more spiritual gifts. Understanding spiritual gifts, then, is the foundational key to understanding the organization of the church…Who has spiritual gifts? Not everybody has spiritual gifts. Unbelievers do not. But every Christian person who is committed to Jesus and truly a member of His Body has a least one gift, or quite possible more. The Bible says that every Christian has received a gift (see 1 Peter 4:10), and that ‘the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all’ (1 Cor. 12:7). First Corinthians 12:18 stresses that every one of the members is placed in the Body according to God’s design. Possessing a spiritual gift is planned for every Christian” (page 31).
i. It is good to be reminded that God knows and He has gifted you and I with a spiritual gift. Now it’s my responsibility to use my gift and to serve the Body of Christ - the Church- and Him for the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
ii. Using my spiritual gift will make a difference in this world and in the life of another person.
b. Scripture Texts:
i. I Corinthians 12:1 "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant...4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit...7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good..."
1. The gifts are given for the common good of all within the The Church – inward focus.
ii. 1 Corinthians 14: "1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts...26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church...40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
1. Our gifts are to be used for each other in the church for the purpose of strengthening the impact of God’s love on everyone.
iii. Romans 12:1-21:
1. Romans 12:1: “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
2. The gifts are bestowed – placed in individuals within the church for a purpose for a divine reason:
a. The Body of Christ and their spiritual gifts are to edify the church and it’s people including it’s leadership.
b. The gifts are to be in operation within the church to build up the church not tear it down.
c. The spiritual gifts of the members of the church are to be used to strengthen the church and make it more powerful in its impact on the world’s belief systems – this is done to see personal lives transformed and community transformation.
c. A church which is flowing in the spiritual gifts and being led by the Holy Spirit will transform the world with the message and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
i. I Corinthians 14:12 ‘Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”
1. Are you using your gifts to build up the church?
d. Highlight Wagner’s Spiritual gifts test and talk about the gifts from his list.
i. Show test booklet “Finding Your Spiritual Gifts” by C. Peter Wagner.
1. We have this test available in the information booth. If you do not know what your spiritual gifts are pick up a booklet and take the test home and do it then let me know what you gifts are. Then you need to find a place within the church to use your gift.
2. (8th reason)Because The Church is a place where people are being baptized and testifying to what the Lord has done in their lives (Acts 2:38, 41) (upward, inward and outward).
a. See the sequence in the word Repent and be Baptized
a. Acts 2:38, 41: 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call...” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
b. This is what our Baptismal service is about - This is what church is about - it’s being obedient to fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord.
a. People will be overcoming by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and they will briefly tell what the Lord has done in their lives at baptism.
b. Revelation 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.”
i. How they repented and received the gift of forgiveness.
ii. How that act changed their lives and hearts.
c. Baptism means – Is an outward witness of what Jesus has done in your heart and life. It is acknowledging to those observing your baptism what Jesus has done for you in your life.
i. See Romans 6:
c. The impact of Baptism – I find it amazing how many people who watch a baptismal service are impacted by what they see and hear others say at their baptism.
a. Share the story that Dan told you about the pastor baptizing people in their parking lot.
b. It changes the lives of the ones watching as much as the one who is being baptized.
i. This is God’s plan and design for Baptism services.
3. (9th reason) Because The church is a family – a fellowship of God the Father and His children.
a. God’s family the Church is where everyone is adopted, blended, and extended.
i. We are brought into God’s family by adoption, by grace, by mercy and none of us earned or deserved to be a part of this family. We are accepted because Jesus chose to die for our sins –listen to the following Scripture verses:
1. Scripture Texts:
a. Acts 2:41, 42: 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
b. Psalm 68:6: God sets the lonely in families we are told in this verse. This is what He did in Acts.
c. Romans 8:12-17: 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
i. Abba Father - this phrase means this for us today, "Hi dad I am having a rough day today can we talk? Dad
