Aug 5, 2018
TODAY'S SERMON NOTES
MATTHEW 16:18-19 NLT (Jesus said) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I WILL BUILD my CHURCH, and all the POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT. 19 And I will give you the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM of Heaven. Whatever you FORBID on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you PERMITon earth will be permitted in heaven."
CHURCH = EKKLESIA = ASSEMBLY = YOU!
Church was never to be a merely…
- A building to GO TO,
- Or corporation to be CONTROLLED BY,
- Or the spiritual finish line to MARK OFF.
The church was to be the central powerhouse for a movement. Church is about leading people through the systems, relationships and tools that transform them at the deepest levels, and thereby transforming marriages, recovering addictions, healing relationships, empowering vocational aspirations, and breathing life into inspired-dreams; giving us a purpose to live… and die for.
When church attenders UNDERSTAND, INTEGRATE and APPLY THE FUNCTIONS of this movement, it changes their lives, then they too become the embodiment of the movement to outsiders. This is how we arrive at our commission, to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
MATTHEW 16:18-19 NLT (Jesus said) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH…
CHURCH MACRO PURPOSES & SYSTEMS
- EVANGELISM
- RELATIONSHIPS
- SPIRITUAL TRAINING
- MINISTRY
- WORSHIP
THE GREAT COMMISSION
MATTHEW 28:18-20 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "GO therefore and make DISCIPLES of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "TEACHING them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
- “Go and make disciples…” - EVANGELISM
- “…baptizing them…” - RELATIONSHIPS
- “…teaching them to obey…” - SPIRITUAL TRAINING
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
MATTHEW 22:37-40 NKJV Jesus said to him, "'You shall LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
- “Love the Lord your God…” - WORSHIP
- “Love your neighbor as yourself…” - MINISTRY
5 MACRO PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH
GREAT COMMISSION & COMMANDMENT - IN SEQUENCE
- “Go and make disciples…” - EVANGELISM
- “…baptizing them…” - RELATIONSHIPS
- “…teaching them to obey…” - SPIRITUAL TRAINING
- “Love your neighbor as yourself…” – MINISTRY
- “Love the Lord your God…” - WORSHIP
PAUL AND THE 5 MACRO PURPOSES
COLOSSIANS 1:28-29 We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me.
- “We proclaim Jesus…” - EVANGELISM
- “…admonishing…” - RELATIONSHIPS
- “…teaching everyone…” - SPIRITUAL TRAINING
- “…present everyone perfect in Christ…” - MINISTRY
- “…labor…with all energy” - WORSHIP
OUR WORSHIP IS BUILT ON 5 PURPOSES
SPIRITUAL PROGRESS BULLSEYE
STATEMENTS BUILT ON PURPOSES
MISSION:
We empower people to fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION!
VISION:
We introduce people to
the REAL JESUS and the POWER OF REDEMPTION!
LIVE IN HARMONY
1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 NLT (Paul said) I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to LIVE IN HARMONY with each other. Let there be NO DIVISIONS in the CHURCH. Rather, be of ONE MIND, UNITED in THOUGHT and PURPOSE.
HARMONY = WORDS, SAYINGS, TEACHINGS
HOW WILL YOU APPLY THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR LIFE?
The greatest gift you can give yourself, your marriage, singleness, parenting, relationships, vocational dreams, spiritual life, and legacy is to engage in a movement of assembled believers, consistently participating in all 5 purposes (systems).
- Do you need to re-commit your fervor for SUNDAYS to invite and reach your friends? If so, who? If who, when?
- Do you need to re-commit to GROUP life, preparing today for the trusted relationships you will need tomorrow? If so, when?
- Do you need to re-commit to spiritual training, learning to think right, believe right and live the overcoming life? Is so, how will you be trained? WORKSHOPS!
- Do you need to re-commit to serving on a TEAM, doing the things that makes a difference in the commission of Christ? If so, what Team? If so, when?
All of these will help your daily devotions. They are the fundamental expressions of heart WORSHIP. They are intended to become your keystone habits!
MOVING FORWARD THIS WEEK
- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THIS?
- HOW WILL YOU USE IT TO HELP/SERVE OTHERS?