My church and I
The Body, The Bride, The Blood, and The Bunch
Introduction: My burden, passion and focus the next few weeks will be on the ‘Body of Christ,’ ‘The Bride,’ ‘The Church.
There are two things:
The Body of Christ
The Local Church
I mentioned last week that I believe in the ‘local church’ and the necessity / critical role that it has been established to be. My heart has always been connected to the ‘local church’ and I have a compelling commitment to it and it’s success and purpose.
Hebrews 10:25, ‘Do not forsake the assembling…’
1 Timothy 4:13, ‘And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.’
Question: Why?
The role of the local church:
I. Worship
‘It is more engaging to do worship together as a group.’
Illustration: You can listen to music by yourself and enjoy, but there’s a special energy and enthusiasm when you go to a concert and hear live music with other fans.
‘When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue. Or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up’.
‘Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart’ (Ephesians 5).
Matthew 18:20, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name…’
Transition: Let me point out a second function that the church is responsible for.
II. Discipleship & Equipping
Matthew 11:28 ‘Go and make disciples…’
Ephesians 4:12 ‘to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all atain…
Transition:
III. Protection against Falsehood / Teachers / Deception
Too many false prophets, bad doctrine, ‘rouge’ groups.
Protection of ‘sound teaching.’
Transition:
IV. Religious Function
Weddings, funerals, baptisms, communion, corporate prayter, etc..
Transition:
V. Social and Community Function
‘Do not forsake the assembling together…’
Fellowship, Community helps / outreaches.
Reminds us that we are not alone!
Conclusion: Neither a ‘take it or leave it’ either. I / we are not going to
Word to the Wise
Introduction: Let me finish my thoughts on Matthew 8-10. Jesus is moved for the people and to send disciples/others into the whitened harvest field. Jesus does give additional instructions and awareness of lays before them. Question: Why did Jesus not send the disciples to Gentiles and Samaritans? In Romans 1:16 Paul writes, “I am not…
Author and Authorization
Matthew 10:1-15 Introduction: This is where I left off last week. Because there is a ripen harvest prepared by God himself… Jesus says, 9:38, ‘So pray, to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into the fields.’ Pray =Ask =Send = thrust forth – ‘The harvest is…
The Lost – A Whitened Harvest
Introduction: Last week I spoke about what the oil running down Aaron’s beard was all about. It was about the separation of objects and especially people for God’s use. Transition: In the Book of Matthew, after Jesus taught about matters like praying, not judging others, the ‘golden rule’, the problem with worrying, and some other…
Oil on Aaron’s Beard
Psalm 133:1-2; Lev. 8:10-12 Introduction: Some of you may have heard or studied this image in scripture of oil soaking Aaron’s beard and dripping down all the way to his toes. This comes from Psalm 133:1-2 & Leviticus 8:10-12. I sensed the Lord was putting this in my heart and mind and what the significance…
Nothing Formed
Isaiah 54:1-17 Introduction: The last verse of Isaiah chapter 54 is one of the verses we lean on frequently. NLT – Isaiah 54:17 ‘But in that coming day no weapon (turned, formed, forged) against you will (succeed, prosper)’. ‘You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants…
Harvest Seed
2 Corinthians 9 Introduction: Last weekend I spoke to you about Sabbath rest and how (Labor Day) was one of those days as a day of extra ‘rest’. Labor Day is also known as the last (unofficial) weekend of the summer. That’s the natural time (God’s time) we are moving into. The first official day…
Why Rest
Labor Day today is a welcomed day not only because it recognizes workers/labors, but because it gives us an extra day of ‘rest’. Judaism[edit] Main article: Shabbat See also: Hebrew calendar Jewish Shabbat (Shabbath, Shabbes, Shobos, etc.) is a weekly day of rest, observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in…
The Big Stick
Exodus 15:22-16:27 Introduction: Trustin God during Bitter Times ‘The people complained and turned against Moses.’Meaning: 1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lodge, pass the night 1a2) to abide, remain (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest or lodge 1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide 2) to grumble, complain, murmur…
The Big Wave
Exodus 14:15-31 Question: The ‘Big Wave’! God told them to tell Pharoah,‘to hold a feast’ better interpreted ‘make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast’ Exodus 5:1, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.’ Exodus 6:6-7 Ancient…