Mark 2:1-7
Introduction:
There are many, many types of churches today. Some that use instruments, and some that don’t. Some that are liturgical, and some that are non-liturgical. Some that are right and some that are wrong.
There are the: Assembly of God, Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of God in Christ, Church of God of Prophecy, Church of the Living God, Baptist, Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, Full Gospel Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Episcopal, Reformed Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Reformed Lutheran, Methodist, Weslyian, Methodist, Pentecostal, United Pentecostal, Faith Churches, Word Churches, Hope Churches, Victory Churches, Christian churches, Church of the way, Church of the Savior, Church of the King, and the Church of what’s happening Now!
Just like there are many types of churches today, there are many types of pastors too.
The Pastor that leads, the pastor that follows, the pastor that feeds and the pastor that bellows. The one who cares the one who shares, and the one who has funny hair.
If Jesus were a Pastor over a church, today, what would it be like?
In the ministry of Jesus here, on earth He used Peter’s house as a “headquarters” of His ministry. Peter’s house was in Capernaum, on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus would regularly go back to Capernaum to minister by preaching the Word of God, and healing.
Let us look at Jesus’ church…
1. Jesus’ church was an evangelistic church
2. Jesus’ church was filled with people
3. Jesus’ church was filled with faith
4. Jesus’ church was a healing center
5. Jesus’ church was a place to find forgiveness for sin
6. Jesus’ church had critics
7. Jesus’ church had praise and worship
Verse 1. Jesus’ church was an evangelistic church
A. The purpose of the church is two-fold, to be a gathering place for corporate worship and to evangelize the nations.
B. The mission is giving to us as the church.
C. Jesus’ church set the example of a church that evangelized
D. In the KJV of the bible, it says, “it was noised” that Jesus was in the house.
E. They went out into the city, and made a noise that or that they told people that Jesus was in the house.
F. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives us the mission to go into all of the world, preaching, teaching, baptizing, and to make disciples of all men.
G. Is our church like that of Jesus’?
H. Are you a person that evangelizes?
Verse 2. Jesus’ church was a church filled with people
A. Because of their evangelistic efforts, the church was filled with people.
B. Not only was it because of their efforts, but because Jesus was in the house
C. Where God is moving, the people will go to
D. The Brownsville Revival is a good example of people flocking to the true, and powerful move of God
E. They stand on the streets for hours just in hopes of getting in to the place.
F. Let’s pray for a true move of God, that even the sinner will come in
Why don’t people come to the church anymore?
G. Because people are tired of the same old, religious routine
H. They are tired of the hypocrisy from the clergy and the congregation
I. In Jesus’ church the preacher always set the example
Verse 3-5 Jesus’ church was filled with faith
A. An excited church is a faith-filled church
B. Here in Jesus’ church, they KNEW that the paralytic was going to be healed, all they had to do is get him to Jesus
C. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…”
D. That must mean that a FAITH-FILLED church must really make God’s heart pleased
E. Faith must be the key to all of our churches, but it starts in the heart of all our church members
F. Jesus recognized these men’s persistent faith
G. Jesus WILL Always recognize persistent Faith
H. Is our church filled with Faith
I. Are you filled with Faith
Jesus’ church was a healing center
A. In Jesus’ church, miracles happened
B. I believe that this was so because of two things:
1. Faith within the members
2. Authentic move of God
C. Our churches should be healing centers for the sick
D. Why does it seem, that God has limited this type of miracles to certain men of God?
E. The fact of the matter, is that it is open for all of us
F. Mark 9:23, "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
G. All we have to do is believe, accept, recognize, realize, and familiarize ourselves with the power of God, and then we can expect the miracles of God
Verse 5. Jesus’ church was a place to find forgiveness for sin
A. So many of America’s churches are filled with condemnation, and pre-judgements
B. The lost come in, to find forgiveness, but rather they feel rejected and thrown away
C. Jesus never intended for the church to be like a “club-med.,” but a hospital for the sick, and lost soul
D. If a man can’t find forgiveness in the church, where can he go
E. Jesus says, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you” Matthew 6:14-15
F. Are we a church that forgives?
G. Are you a person that forgives?
Verse 6-7 Jesus’ church had critics
A. Every church will have its share of critics
B. You would think that some of you are in the construction business, cause all you do is criticize.
C. There are people that criticize the move of God, and there are the ones who criticize the reaction of people to the move of God
D. Are you a critic? Stop.
E. There are people who think they know what is in a men’s heart, well – you DON’T
F. Only God knows the condition of a person, spiritually speaking
G. The Bible talks about criticism, but it uses the word JUDGING others
H. Get the plank out your eye!
Verse 12 Jesus’ church had praise and worship
A. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people
B. Can you say like David in Psalms 34 “ I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
C. Jesus’ church was a church that praised the Lord
D. We ought to be like that
E. Let us praise Him when we are up
F. Let us praise Him when we are down
G. Let us praise Him when we are rich
H. And let us praise Him when we are poor
