“The Family of God” - Pt 2
Notes
Transcript
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
We are looking at the Church that Christ builds.
Last week we looked at…
I. WHO we are as a CHURCH Jesus is Building!
I. WHO we are as a CHURCH Jesus is Building!
A. God wants us to be MAGNIFIERS of His NAME!
A. God wants us to be MAGNIFIERS of His NAME!
B. God wants us to be MESSENGERS of His LOVE!
B. God wants us to be MESSENGERS of His LOVE!
C. God wants us to be MODELS of His CHARACTER!
C. God wants us to be MODELS of His CHARACTER!
D. God wants us to be MINISTERS of His GRACE!
D. God wants us to be MINISTERS of His GRACE!
E. God wants us to be a MEMBERS of His FAMILY!
E. God wants us to be a MEMBERS of His FAMILY!
It’s not something we DO or SHOULD DO, it’s WHO YOU ARE!
Which brings us to today’s message:
II. HOW WE BECOME a CHURCH Jesus is Building!
II. HOW WE BECOME a CHURCH Jesus is Building!
1. WE MUST FOLLOW THE PRACTICE OF CHRIST!
1. WE MUST FOLLOW THE PRACTICE OF CHRIST!
Jesus MINISTERED to the MULTITUDES = CELEBRATION!
Jesus MINISTERED to the MULTITUDES = CELEBRATION!
2 A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick.
2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.
Jesus MINISTERED to CONGREGATIONS!
Jesus MINISTERED to CONGREGATIONS!
1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said,
Jesus spent a considerable amount of time MINISTERING to the FEW (12)! = CELL!
Jesus spent a considerable amount of time MINISTERING to the FEW (12)! = CELL!
12 During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.
13 When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:
1 Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
(John 13-17)
Jesus demonstrated the need for a smaller group of believers to go aside for rest, fellowship, and instruction!
Unfortunately, churches (and Christians) make this issue of CELEBRATION, CONGREGATIONS, or CELL ministry into an EITHER/OR scenario.
Perhaps the majority of churches follow a CONGREGATIONAL/CELL model: They have a CONGREGATIONAL size service (similar to this service), along with multiple CELL meetings, either Sunday School, or Small Groups.
Other churches, particularly larger churches follow a CELEBRATION/CELL model: A large weekly gathering with thousands and along with a Small Group ministry that meets in member’s homes.
Sometimes they REVERSE the order of the description (CELL/CELEBRATION) in order to emphasize the small group ministry is the most important.
AND, as you might guess, folks attend a church where they are most comfortable!
I only attend a large service (CELEBRATION), because I can remain anonymous.
Or, I attend a church that is large enough to meet the needs of my family, but small enough that I know most of the people in it (CONGREGATION).
OR, I attend a home-church with just a few families where we know one another, and hold each other accountable (CELL).
“What’s wrong with that?”
I’m not sure there’s anything WRONG with attending where you are comfortable!
The truth is, there are STRENGTHS in everyone of those gatherings (CELEBRATION, CONGREGATION, and CELLS)!
When it might be considered “WRONG,” is when you think that only one of those gatherings is the “CORRECT” size for a local church!
FIRST, because of the SELFISH nature of that thinking! I call this the “Goldilocks” mentality of choosing a church (Me, Me, Me)!
Along with that is establishing artificial limits as to how large a church can or should grow (which is a real issue)!
The size of the church should NEVER be limited to your ability to know everyone!
The SECOND reason is that JESUS DID ALL THREE!
The notion that there is a correct “size” for a church is certainly NOT Biblical, nor does it follow either the example of Jesus, or the experience of the early church (more on this later)!
“We are short-selling ourselves, spiritually speaking, when we limit our relationship to the family of God by only involving ourselves in what we are comfortable with!”
The SECOND way we become a Church Jesus is building is:
2. WE MUST OBEY THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST!
2. WE MUST OBEY THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST!
Love one another!
Love one another!
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Go the second mile!
Go the second mile!
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Forgive one another!
Forgive one another!
14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.
15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Bear one another’s burdens!
Bear one another’s burdens!
2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
IN OTHER WORDS…Be a family to one another! You are eternally related!
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.
3. I MUST FOLLOW THE PATTERN OF THE EARLY CHURCH!
3. I MUST FOLLOW THE PATTERN OF THE EARLY CHURCH!
“What did the early church do? Did they follow the pattern & commands of Christ?”
The church in JERUSALEM!
The church in JERUSALEM!
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,
42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
The church in EPHESUS!
The church in EPHESUS!
20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house.
The church in ROME!
The church in ROME!
5 Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.
The church in COLOSSAE!
The church in COLOSSAE!
15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
4. I MUST OBEY THE TEACHING OF THE EARLY CHURCH!
4. I MUST OBEY THE TEACHING OF THE EARLY CHURCH!
“What did the early church TEACH? What were some of the COMMANDS the early church leaders taught to believers in Christ?”
Minister to One Another
Minister to One Another
4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;
7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;
8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Share Ups and Downs with One Another
Share Ups and Downs with One Another
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Be of the Same Mind with One Another
Be of the Same Mind with One Another
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Receive One Another
Receive One Another
7 Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.
Care for One Another
Care for One Another
25 so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.
Serve One Another
Serve One Another
13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
Forgive One Another
Forgive One Another
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Teach and Admonish One Another
Teach and Admonish One Another
16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Encourage One Another
Encourage One Another
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Confess and Pray with One Another
Confess and Pray with One Another
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
Show Hospitality to One Another
Show Hospitality to One Another
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Fellowship with One Another
Fellowship with One Another
7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
NOW I KNOW that Small Groups are not the ONLY place where you can do these things…but they are a GOOD place to fulfill the “one-anothers!”
