We Are Moving to a New Future (2)
Notes
Transcript
We Are Moving to a New Future
1 Corinthians 12:12-20
Restructuring Team
Timeline of Next Steps
Next Sunday, November 6 - New Structure will be introduced in AM service.
November 6 at 6:15 - New Structure Q and A.
Sunday, November 13 - Business Meeting - 6:15 - Opportunity to make amendments and ask more questions.
Sunday, November 20 - Structure voted in closed ballot during Sunday morning worship service.
Louis XIV
Reign: May 14, 1643 – September 1, 1715
Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King,
reigned as King of France for 72 years, longer than any other European monarch.
Under his reign, France became the most powerful country in Europe.
Louis believed strongly in the divine right of kings, saying that he was the sun and that his courtiers and France should revolve around him like planets.
Hitler- had a very clear vision of a world in which he and the Arian race would control all of Europe, Eastern USA, North half of Africa. He wanted to eliminate everyone who could stand in his way. Jews, Gypsies, all religions, everyone who had disabilities. His picture of the world is what caused the rest of the world to unite against him.
The Kingdom of God= the picture of a world in which Jesus is Lord. Sermon on the Mount.
Our vision is a picture of the future we are working toward.
We see a day when Del Norte Baptist Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is propelled by God’s Word to:
Become a multi-generational and multicultural community serving together to impact our world with the Gospel.
Raise up all generations to participate in the worship of God and to be lifelong followers of Jesus.
Build intergenerational relationships as we live life together.
Provide dynamic ministries that strengthen families and invest in individuals (children, youth, college and adults).
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
4 Priorities of our Vision
4 Priorities of our Vision
1- Unity (12)
1- Unity (12)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
“unified community of believers”
We cannot achieve our vision without unity.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
2- Spiritual Needs (13a)
2- Spiritual Needs (13a)
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
We have a spiritual calling, spiritual powering, spiritual purpose to meet the spiritual needs of this world.
Great Commission
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Both are visions of an obedient church.
Others’ needs over our own.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Example is Jesus’ death on the cross.
Meeting physical needs is part of meeting spiritual needs.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
The Spiritual need of Christians is discipleship.
Purpose of discipleship is obedience.
3- Diversity (13b-14)
3- Diversity (13b-14)
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Multi-generational
This does not mean generations being separated but mixed.
multicultural
The picture of worship in heaven is diversity.
All nations and tongues.
Allow everyone else’s culture to be reflected in who we are.
families/children/youth/college/adults
Each groups has specific needs that must be met.
But these are not to remain apart. They are part of the church.
Youth ministry should not be a para-church organization of the church. The goal is for them to be part of the ministries of the church.
4- Participation (18-20)
4- Participation (18-20)
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Life Together
We are not spectators.
We participate in worship.
We participate in discipleship.
We participate in outreach.
It is the job of the pastors to equip the saints to do the ministry.
We do life together.
Life Together=the body of Christ.
Congregation is just people unless we are doing life together.
Intimacy comes when we do life together.
Pictures in Acts of a fruitful church was a church doing life together.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
CONCLUSION
What is God asking you to do as we move to the future he desires for us?
Have you surrendered your life first to Jesus, and then to serve your part in His body?
Have you surrendered your life first to Jesus, and then to serve your part in His body?