Opening Day
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Church in NT used 107 times - Ekk-lesia - Two parts, To Assemble and Called out - That’s who we are - gathered together - to be called out - Guess who used word first? Jesus - peter says; Surely This is the Son of God - and Jesus says - On this rock I will build my CHURCH.
Do you know what’s even better than Church - When Church is in UNITY.
Problem is, we have real enemy, steal kill and destroy, and he knows that there is power in coming together, power in unity.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
today, talk about the WHAT we do here, and the HOW we do it.
Title: Why is Church 242 here?
My Hope: If you’re here and you are a part of our Church family that a flame gets ignited for our mission, if you are visiting, that you may find what you’re looking for but that God will minister to your heart.
**prayer**
Sermon Series: Jesus and we.
Going through what we stand for;
*Bring Purpose up on Screen*
couldn’t get past…Give glory to God - What is heart of our Church - Wouldn’t make sense - if I did not come to you and speak about the heart of this church, this movement, and yes, we want you to know our purpose, mission, values, and we want those to line up with God’s.
First thing you need to know - we are God’s Church, and Jesus Christ is the head of the church.
Well Mat, are you pentacostal? Charismatic? Baptist?
No, we are a Jesus Movement.
Everything is for Glory of God - The centre of the heart of God is God - His heartbeat is for His Glory - and at heart of God is his love for you.
God knows, that He is best thing for you - He wants to come into your story and tear down idols in your life.
I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,
In the beginning, God - You are here to give God Glory, this Church is to give God glory.
Your highest value is going to be found when your value is in Jesus Christ.
Our Culture: You be You.
No God is saying “I am the centre”
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
God is a creator - We want to be about what God is about. We want to give God glory through what He is doing through this Churhc, and it’s not “look at us” it’s “look at God”.
We want our heartbeat here to reflect the heartbeat of God’s.
I encourage you, come to an event, that’s not about you.
Embrace the most powerful message, it’s not about you - It’s about him.
Why is this good news?
It will put you in a bigger story, the rest of your life - A story that you can contribue to.
Why should we live our lives to Give God Glory? becasue we live in a dissapointing and broken world.
**Where my mum died** - If my net that I fell into stopped at just “God loves me” - Well at that moment, I might have questioned that - but thanks to Community, thanks to mentors, thanks to the word of God - I understand that I don’t understand a Sovereign God.
We aren’t always going to understand how this Sovereign God is moving, but in every moment, in life, where ever we are, we surrender to a heart of God that does love us, than we know that everything we go thorugh in life can be used to bring Glory to God.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
and I know that in that pain, in that mess, God is the only one that can comfort me.
The Same God that is on the mountaintops, is the same God in the valleys.
2. Your value is already sealed - The world can’t add one thing to your value if you know God - You are already in greatest story in the world.
In the Movie Stroy. GO - Busso movie.
You are in the movie - and God is saying that He wants to know you.
However, you can’t do it alone.
That’s What - What about How?
If we want to give God glory, how do we do it ? How is our movement doing it? 2 prayers / Paul & Jesus.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Paul prayed for Unity | Jesus praid for Unity - In a divided world, we need a united Church.
We need to realise - we have common enemy -
who are we? We are Church 242, We are the Called out ones, why 242? Acts 242 ; This is our scripture;
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Just heard the good news, 3,000 came to christ, and this was very next verse.
Devoted themselves to the Apostles Teaching - To the Word of God | Fellowship - Koinoinia - Binded together, in love, in life - to breaking of Bread, to eating together and the prayers.
If good enough for God to breath this out as His word, it makes a pretty good blueprint for us.
3 Reasons for Unity;
We where created to be dependant on Christ and Each other
You can’t do it alone;
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?
You have value here - required here - if came in empy today, I want you to know, there is filling for you here. There is prayers for you here. There is a family for you here.
2. The world needs to SEE God’s Love
Demonstrated, acted love of His family - Romans 15:7
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
How did Christ accept us? Before we had it all together, he accepted us, we walk with each other, embracing each other Where you are!
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
the world will know - If we love each other - people are sick of hearing about the love of Jesus, they want to see the love of Jesus - in action.
1- We where created to be dependednt on christ and each other
2- The world needs to SEE God’s Love
3- One of our core values;
We can accomplish infinitely more together than apart.
Honestly - We want to do everything we can to demonstrate Church.
This was heartbeat and atitude that made first century church thrive and reach people for Chirst.
What did they have? Nothing! What did they have agaisnt them - everything!!
lego illustration
Your highest Calling in your life is to know God. look at what happened to early church.
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Awe = Fear = Which means, they KNEW GOD - Signs and wonders being done - They had a heart of HUMILITY, to lay down their agenda’s, their lives for Christ and each other.
What else happened?
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
unity/not uniformity.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
And all of this isn’t even the most important thing.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
day by day, those that were being saved - Who would have thought, the greatest evangalisism method in history, is coming together?
Something happens when we dwell in unity - There is a commanded blessing - And we are all about it.
But we also realise that people go through some real things, so wherever you are, we will love you there.
Can you imagine, what the world would think by this kind of love?
Man, not sure about that whole rising from the dead thing, but man do they love each other.
Look at the result of this crazy type of love.
Inspo and Close
Inspo and Close
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
No needy person among them - Every need was met by God, in the family of God.
If you have a need, you’re in the right place.
Don’t underestimate the power of a decision to say…Church is important.
What did Jesus say?
On this rock i’ll build my CHURCH, and the GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL - Unity, is our battle plan against the enemy!
What is our purpose?
To give glory to God by facilitating growth, love and truth in God’s people, equipping them to serve Jesus and advance God’s kingdom, and be the hands and feet of Jesus for our local community.
What is our Mission?
As a church body we will be devoted to: apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer;
Creating a community that displays the love of Jesus, reflects the heart of the early church and leads people to be fully devoted followers of Christ.
What are we devoted to:
Christ, Church and Community - In that order.
If you are hurting, you are in the right place, if you are here to serve, you are in the right place, if you call Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour, you’re in the right place.
We are the called out ones, and we come together, for His Glory
**prayer**