THE CHURCH

Matthew 16:13–18 (NLT) — 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 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.

The Church is an amazing thing

It's this building. this people. Gathered together because of an event that happened 2000 years ago. What are the odds of that happening? That something like this could keep going, gain momentum, withstand opposition and continue to move forward after 2000 years.

I REMEMBER THE MOMENT I GOT SAVED

Inside this Church chapel. Red carpet. Smelled a little musty. And i heard a Gospel message I had heard hundreds of times but for some reason this time something was different. God moved in my heart in a way I couldn't explain and the message of what Jesus had done for me hit me in a way it never had.

I kneeled down and I gave my life to Jesus I remember that moment.

And as I look back I can see all that went into that moment. Years and years and years of messages I had heard prepared me for that moment. In that place. People who don't know me, have never met me, and don't even know I got saved that night gave for years so that church could be built. Faithfully trusted that God could do more with their giving than they could on their own. people for years served to build that church. Prayed for that church. And years later 15 year old me walked into that room and I was changed forever. That moment changed everything but that moment was built by people I've never met. And because of their faithfulness years before I was forever changed. WILL PEOPLE HAVE THAT STORY ABOUT NPC? WE GET TO DECIDE.

What we are doing this morning is not random, it is not meaningless, and it is not just people in a room. It's a result of a world changing, eternity changing event.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY POPULATION

350,000. 24 PEOPLE PER DAY

MURFREESBORO TN POPULATION

160,000. 10 PEOPLE PER DAY

The influx of people to this area has brought challenges in a lot of ways. Not enough homes. Prices go up when the supply is low. But I also remember, and it may still be this way, during the lockdowns there was shortages on building supplies. Not enough supplies, not enough builders = houses not being built.

Im afraid that the Church today has the same problem. People need a home, but theres a shortage of supplies and builders. And today God is calling us to supply and build the church. Why? Because the Church is the hope of the world

WHEN WE DECIDE TO FOLLOW JESUS EVERYTHING CHANGES.

But i'm afraid that most believers today or really pumped and interested in heaven and eternity but not so interested or excited about what God want's to do here and now. That we are ready for haven but not realizing God want's to use us to bring heaven to this broken world.

WE ARE CALLED TO HERE AND NOW. Don't get me wrong heaven is going to be amazing. Things will be perfect and we will worship God forever. But the second you enter eternity you will never be able to tell another person about Jesus. You will never be able to point someone to hope. You will never be able to go and pray for your neighbor. You will never again be able to see God work through you to change someone else's eternity.

While we are on this side of eternity we instead get focused on other things. Building other things. Lots of people roll the dice on investments or business ideas and hope that their work, their finances that they gave, that it all works out but when it comes to the church and what Jesus wants to do in and through you in the church you always have a return on investment you always know it's going to succeed.

Matthew 9:37 (CSB) — 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.

WE ARE THE CHURCH FOR THE JOB

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS THAT LAUNCHED THE CHURCH IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL, IMPORTANT AND LIFE CHANGING EVENT IN ALL OF HISTORY!

Jesus has left his mark on history. We base what year it is based on when he came. The biggest holiday we celebrate whether you are a believer or not is Christmas and no matter why you celebrate it, it's a holiday because Jesus was born. We give gifts because gifts were given to Jesus. Whether people take it seriously or not we swear on God's word to tell the truth in our court system. There is no doubt that Jesus has left his mark and now he's called us to carry his message the message that Jesus saves, that he is the only way. That he offers forgiveness, he offers life, he offers purpose here on earth, CHURCH WE get to bring that message to the world.

He created this thing called the local church to carry that message. And 2000ish years ago he called his disciples to launch the first church and now we gather here today as a result. But the work is not done. No it's just getting started and we have a part to play in it.

This thing called the CHURCH is special. It's unique.

Nothing can stand against it! It was built by the hands of Jesus. And He is still building His church today and we get to be a part of that.

THE CHURCH IS THE HOPE OF THE WORLD

The Mission of the church - Evangelism. Growth yes. Worship Yes. But reaching people is the purpose of the Church.

This is the greatest evangelistic tool on the planet and it's the primary way that Jesus get's his message out into the world. Through leading people to Jesus in our services and training up believers to them go out into the world and bring people back to the church or witnessing to them outside of the church.

In this broken messed up world we have a message of hope and healing. in a time where what is truth changes daily we over a timeless truth that has never changed. In a era where it seems like there is no way we offer a way that changes everything. PEOPLE THE CHURCH IS THE HOPE OF THE WORLD

THE GATES OF HELL DON'T STAND A CHANCE

Nothing can stand against it. The devil may try to stop it. He may try to build up walls. But when God's people rise up and decide to take His mission seriously nothing can stand against what God is building.

Nothing that Jesus builds will fall. THE DEVIL USES BELIEVERS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE TO CLOSE CHURCHES. THROUGH INDIFFERENCE AND COMPLACENCY.

Acts 5:38–39 (CSB) — 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

Christianity is not a a battle of light vs dark thats some even fight and we hope light overcomes. I've read the book and I know the ending and darkness can throw everything it's got but in the end Jesus wins. JESUS WINS.

I WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE BUILDING THE CHURCH

On our own we can accomplish a little

But when we come together as the church we can do so much more.

We can see this city changed, we can see middle Tennessee reached. We can see families restored. Marriages fixed. Souls saved. Eternities changed. Generations changed. Lives healed. Come on New Purpose together we can see God do so much more through us.

I want to spend my life building that.

JESUS' disciples had questions for Him. Like "Jesus... what's next? What are we supposed to do? What are you gonna do?

Acts 1:7–8 (CSB) — 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Your concern shouldn't be "When Will God" but "When will I?".

Jesus has given the call. He's given the orders. He's given us the mission. So the question isn't "God when will you move?" it's when will WE move.

JERUSALEM

Right here. Out community in our church, this city.

Meals and Gifts to help people in need in our church

prayer

Babies

NPC Kids

Ministry inside of our church

Our neighbors

Friends

Co-workers

SUPER SWEET SUNDAY

food Trucks / games / raffles / candy and cards

PORTICO

MENS AND WOMENS EVENTS

Because there are people who need to hope of Jesus and we are called to carry it so we are going to carry it every place and every way that we can.

JUDEA & SAMARIA

Middle Tennessee. Taking New Purpose and the message of Jesus to all around this area.

Franklin Revival

Other Events

REST OF THE WORLD

Missions. C3. Outreach opportunities. Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

I KNOW WHAT IM GONNA DO. BUT TODAY I WANT TO ASK... WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO. Cause Emily and I can't do it alone.

When we moved here we dropped in. Just Emily and I. No team. No Group. No dream team. Just a vision of what God could do through a group of people who said "What can I do for you God?"

The harvest is ready. But are we going to step out and do it. And I believe we are the Church for the job. We can do so much more together than we could ever do alone. So Church let's do it. This is why He died. And Church we are running out of time. There will be a day where Jesus returns and we will never be able to tell another person about Jesus.

So let's build His church. Let's do it.