June 24, 2018
The Church There and Here
June 24, 2018
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Open:
What dreams are in your bucket list? How long have some of them been a special hope?
Today and next week we are going to look at the “dreams” we have for our church, both for now and for the future. We want to celebrate what God has done through this healthy, vibrant church, and establish new visions as we go forward.
Focal Passages: Matthew 16:18-19; Ephesians 4:7-16.
Discuss:
It is Christ Who builds the church
- Read Matt. 16:18. Why was Peter’s confession so important, both as an apostle and as a believer? Reminder: what is the church?
- When did Jesus mean when He said He would build His church? Why is it comforting to know that not even Satan can destroy the body of believers which make up the church?
Christ has chosen us to be His tools
- Read Eph. 4:7. Why do you think God chose us—mere humans, to be the instruments by which He would build the church?
- Read Romans 10:13-15. How would unbelievers hear the good news that Jesus can save all men unless someone takes the Scriptures and tells them? Who will go? If not you, will God eventually choose someone else?
He has equipped us for the job
- Read Eph. 4:11-12. What is the primary job of the pastors, teachers, and evangelists?
- Read 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Besides being equipped through the teaching of the Word, what are the two most important ways we can prepare ourselves?
He uses the church to grow us
- Read Eph. 4:13. What result in our own lives are we looking for, so that we know we are ready to be used?
- Most Christians are afraid of witnessing because they fear not knowing the answer to a question (just as school children fear tests when they have not properly studied!) What is the solution?
And then He uses us to grow the church
- Read 4:15-16. What are the reasons why we want to see spiritual growth in ourselves?
- What are some of the opportunities our own church provides so that we can get comfortable being used in different situations?
Close:
The church is likened to the body of a person, as the many parts—some external, most internal—function together for the person to carry out daily living. Some of our parts seem insignificant, until they hurt. Suddenly we realize they have a very real reason to be in our body! In the same way, all members of the body of Christ who make up the church, have responsibilities. Each one is necessary to function together to spread the good news of salvation found in Jesus Christ. If some do not carry out their task, others must pick up the slack and take over the job. Although we do so because we want to see the gospel going forward, the person who has not fulfilled their God-given role will eventually be replaced and lose many precious rewards in serving. Proverbs 11:30 tells us that he who wins souls is wise.
We look at our world and think the end of it as we know it is drawing near, and the urgency to sow the seed of the gospel to all we meet is becoming more and more critical. Hebrews 3:13 admonishes us to “work while it is called today,” because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Take up the challenge to help our church achieve the goal of planting 10,000 churches by the year 2020—a goal very attainable if we all “work, for the night is coming, when man works no more!”*
Key Verse: Matthew 16:18: And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [confession] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (NKJV)
*Hymn, Lowell Mason