0253 The Making of the Bricks

THE MAKING OF THE BRICKS

John 4:1; Matthew 28:19; Exodus 5:7

Church is Not a Sand Castle Church is build on rock (Jesus) and build of rock (disciples). Church is founded by Jesus and is build by disciples

Sand house can’t stand tribulation, tests, trials, and temptation

Sand decisions verses rock disciples:

Christians read Bible while disciples live Bible

Christians come to get while disciples come to give

Christians come to church while disciples go to the world

Christians are part of church while disciples church is a part of them

Christians are lovers of the crowd but disciples are lovers of the cross

Sand is easily offended but bricks are not easily broken. Bricks don’t break under pressure

Building is made of bricks leaning on one another

First brick leans on the foundation the rest lean on the first

Bricks must have others they lead on and others that lean on them

Bricks have bricks under them (leading) and bricks above them (following)

Unless bricks are glued they are damned for destruction

Love is what glues bricks together

Love for people under, people beside and people above you

No one can resist love

Our Commission to Make Bricks

Jesus builds the Kingdom but the church provides Him with bricks. We are not to build the church but disciples

God’s job is to save but ours is to make them into disciples. Making of disciples is only done by humans

Our commission is to turn decisions into disciples

Bricks are Made not Born

Bricks aren’t rocks that are made by nature. Bricks are made of clay by man

There is hope for clay – (unstable, weak, messy, immature). You have what it takes to become a brick

Bricks are not chance, coincidence, accident but it’s a choice, and commitment

Dirt made humans, bone made woman, clay makes vessels, victims make victors, & mess makes messengers

Jacob wasn’t born strong but he was made strong (bricks are made not born)

Peter wasn’t born strong but he was made strong (clay made into brick)

Great vessels in God’s house are made of weak clay

The Process of Making of the Bricks

Winning

You have to dig clay out of the ground You can’t make disciples without going Don’t look for gold but dirt Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty with clay Preparing

First step is to take them out of Egypt second step is to take Egypt out of them Remove stones from clay (offenses and hurt is removed) Clay is mixed with water and sand (filled with the word and Spirit) Molding

Put into the wooden share Mind is renewed, heart is transformed, circle of friends is changed You look like a disciples from outside but you’re not one from within yet You look like disciples in this church Drying (2-4 days) – nothing is happening. Purpose is making to a brick

Every great brick visited wilderness: Moses, Israel, David, Jesus, John Baptist, Wilderness is season of dryness, fruitlessness, drought, & waterlessness Wilderness makes you strong and reveals your weakness Some things can’t dry up in your life until you face dryness Wilderness kills the weak and makes the strong stronger (Matthew 13:6) Burning (900 C) – bad is happening

Fire makes strong bricks. Trials make strong disciples In the furnace of fire only robes that bind you will be burned In the furnace you will be able to see Jesus Though I walk through the valley I will not fear evil