God’s Big Story: The Church, The Word, The Mission.

God  created all that is. Therefore, all that is is His (Genesis 1-2).

Adam and Eve wanted to be their own;  Rebellion in their hearts was sown (Genesis 3:1-3).

Judgment to the snake God spoke, And  hope in Adam’s heart awoke (Genesis 3:9; 14-19).

So, “mother of the living,” he named his wife, For her  seed    is the source of life (Genesis 3:20-24).

People never did do  good , but God saved Noah at the  flood (Genesis 6-9)

Land, Seed, and  Blessing God promised to  Abram, and the  nations , also would be blessed in him (Genesis 12: 2-3; 15:5-6)

From  Egypt God His People  saved , and at  Sinai , the  Law He gave (Exodus 7-14; 20:1-3)

Then by God’s  power the land they took, but then, their good God they  forsook (Joshua 11:23; 21:43-45; 1 Samuel 8:7-8)

God raised up  David as their King, God’s rich  mercy , he did sing (1 Samuel 17:49; 2 Samuel 22:50-51)

David’s Sons  Forsook the Lord and Did not Keep His Holy Word (1 Kings 11:4)

The people kept not God’s  commands  and He drove them from the land (2 Kings 23:27)

Then From Exile They Returned and for Messiah they did yearn (Jeremiah 23:5)

And so at last God’s Son was sent, on an  unexpected  path he went (Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 1:26-38)

The Lord of all, obedient and humble. Never did he sin or stumble. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

On the cross he paid for sin, Jesus, Savior of all men (Luke 23:33)

From the grave, he rose again, Conquering death, hell, and sin (Matthew 27:66)

To build the church he sent his spirit. What good news! All should hear it. (Matthew 28:18-20)

For one day he will come again as King, and he will judge all men. (Revelation 19:11)

So let us trust in Christ the Lord and hold fast to his holy word. (1 Timothy 4:13)

As we close our poem

To build the church he sent his spirit. What good news! All should hear it. (Matthew 28:18-20)

“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.””Matthew 28:19–20

After Jesus rose from the dead, he spent forty days with his disciples. Then he ascended up into heaven. Just before he ascended into heaven, he promised he would empower his disciples to spread the Gospel. Luke records Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8

“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.”” Acts 1:8

What will be the source of his disciples power? It will be the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send his Spirit into the hearts of those who love him so they could continue his mission to joyfully advance the kingdom of God. Jesus fufilled that promise at Pentecost.

“1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”Acts 2:1–4

What does the spirit empower you to do?

You are empowered with His Spirit to transform the world

Matthew 28:18–20 captures Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, emphasizing the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Each believer is empowered to embody and share the message of Christ, not only sharing the gospel with your words, but also with your lifestyle of reflecting Jesus' teachings in everyday life. Furthermore, as Jesus uses you to transform the world, he will use his Spirit to slowly transform you through discipleship in the church.

His Spirit transforms you through discipleship. Discipleship is a relational journey with both Jesus and with those whom you invite into relationship with Christ. His Spirit gives you the words and courage to speak the truth, and empowers you to live the kind of life God desires from his people; the kind of life that reflects his character.

You are empowered with the authority that anchors your assurance

“18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

Jesus' authority over heaven and earth. His authority over all powers, good or bad, divine or demonic, underscores our assurance in Him as we partake in the Great Commission. Jesus’ Spirit empowers you with the same authority to pray, bless, sometimes heal, and overcome the darkness. If you read the book of Acts, His disciples are constantly fighting the powers of darkness in the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name carries His authority. Jesus’ authority is a foundation for our mission, inviting your generation to trust in His power as you spread His love in the church, community, and home.

Your empowered to actively make disciples

“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,” Matthew 28:19

Making disciples involves intentional outreach and sharing the transformative story of Jesus in ways your friends and family can understand. LCS is an intentional ministry of FBCL to reach our community for the gospel. We’ve prayed and the asked the Lord to bless our efforts to make much of Jesus in education. He brought us you guys, and we have spent that past 36 weeks discipling you toward the cross of Christ. And we are committed to continue doing that until you graduate. Jesus empowers us to love you, provide for you, teach you, mentor you, and be an agent of change in your life so you can flourish now and in God’s kingdom. You called empowered to do the same thing.

You are empowered to always teach the truth

“20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:20

Jesus empowers you to embody His teachings daily, assuring you that He is always with you. He guides your efforts and empowers you to teach His truth, which is the truth. Teaching the truth is not always popular, but it is always needed. Jesus says things like

“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

That is both an inclusive and exclusive truth. It is inclusive in that anyone can come to Jesus; red, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in His sight. It is, however, an exclusive truth in that the only way to the Father is through Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers you to speak this truth with courage and compassion in every sphere of your life.

Jesus makes you an integral role in the mission of the church. Sharing your faith and living out the teachings of Christ, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit empowers them as ambassadors of change in their schools and communities, fostering a lifestyle of discipleship that influences those around them.

You must know, Christ is the cornerstone of the Great Commission. The mission and the church belong to Him. He is the one who one who gives the transformative power that drives the mission. His presence not only inspires discipleship but also equips believers for the work of ministry. Jesus is the one who empowers all efforts of the church to reach the world with His message.

Jesus empowers every one who loves Him to be a transformative agent in the world, sharing the Gospel as a reflection of their relationship with Christ and influencing those in the church, community, and home with His love and truth.

For one day he will come again as King, and he will judge all men. (Revelation 19:11)

“11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:11

Revelation 19:11 describes the majestic return of Jesus Christ as a warrior and judge who brings justice to the earth. John reveals Jesus’ authority and divine purpose in the final days.

Jesus the Warrior

Revelation 19:11

When Jesus came the first time, he came as a small child weak vulnerable, grew up in poverty as a carpenters son, and was rejected by his own people, and crucified on a cross. He conquered death, sin, and Satan when he arose from the dead. He sits as King in heaven waiting to return. When he returns he will come as a Warrior King who is already victorious. Jesus returning on a white horse signifies purity and victory.

He is called Faithful and True because he does not make war through pride and blasphemy, as Satan does. He comes with righteousness and truth. His eyes are like fire signifying his purity and holiness. He will be a force to be reckon with on that great day. He will not only make war the enemy, he will judge the living and the dead.

Jesus the Judge

“12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”Revelation 19:12–16

Jesus is the ultimate authoritative Judge. His many crowns indicating supreme authority. His name 'Word of God,' points to His divine wisdom and proclamations. With his authority comes accountability. He exposes every detail of your life, down to your most random thought. He holds all of your words and actions their actions acceptable to his holy standard. That is why the Bible encourages you to live deliberately, understanding that Jesus, our Savior, is also our Judge. But take heart sinner, for those who repent and trust in Christ, their sins are forgiven. His garments stained with blood symbolize His sacrifice, reminding us of His justice rooted in love.

Jesus is coming back as a judge. He invites you today to reflect on your own life and how we are living today. You are accountable to Him and, right now he encourages you to pursue a life of holiness, knowing that your actions matter.

He also calls you to live with the hope and accountability of Christ's return as the just Judge, pursuing righteousness as we await His coming.

So let us trust in Christ the Lord and hold fast to his holy word. (1 Timothy 4:13)

1 Timothy 4:13 “13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

In this passage, Paul stresses the significance of steadfastness in faith and actions for young believers. He instructs Timothy to commit to Scripture as a central pillar of his life, emphasizing that through consistent practice, young Christians can build a strong foundation that will not only impact their own faith but also the faith of those around them.

Paul is helping you realize your vital role in your own spiritual growth and the growth of others. He’s helping you see that engaging with the Bible and participating in church is crucial for developing a resilient faith and being a beacon of light to their peers.

You can be strong pillars in the church by remaining faithful to reading your bible, listen to right preaching and teaching, and actively being apart of your church community.

Church Community

Public reading of scripture refers to hearing it together with other believers. This happens consistently every Sunday morning at FBCL. We read scripture and teach its truths to our people. Paul is commending you to be there and participate in church life.

Exhortation

The word refers to warning against error, providing advice, and encouraging behavior change. After reading Scripture, there are periods of encouraging and exhorting the people to follow it. Exhortation involves application of Scriptures. ‘The exhortation’ means the sermon that explains the Scriptures and gives commands or encouragement based on the text read. Preaching includes moral instruction appealing to the will, explaining the passages' meaning and relevance, and contrasting true faith with false teachings. This verb summons the congregation to respond to the passage, taking the form of exhortation or comfort based on the message. It does not imply that exhortation precedes teaching, as it is based on instruction.

Teaching

This third duty involves helping the congregation gain a deeper understanding of the Scripture readings. It covers teaching important facts about doctrine, morals, and the responsibilities of believers. This guidance extends beyond just the texts read during the meeting, blending seamlessly with the preaching. The teaching serves to enhance our understanding of the Christian faith, offering valuable insights into Christian doctrines through catechetical instruction.