Summer Body: Becoming the Church

Let’s Get In Shape!

Summer Body

Make some changes

Images that motivate us to get into shape

TRANSITION: THE NEXT 4 WEEKS WE WILL UNPACK WHAT IT MEANS THAT CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE

TO BE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD IS TO BE HUMAN.

WE CHOSE (AND STILL CHOOSE) TO FORFEIT WHAT WE WERE MADE TO BE BY CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DECIDE FOR OURSELVES WHAT WE AND ALL CREATION SHOULD BE LIKE.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

TRANSITION: THE QUESTION WE ARE ASKING TODAY IS: IF EVERYONE IS MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, THEN WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE CHURCH AS A BODY?

READ: COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 [ESV]

JESUS IS THE IMPRINT

HOW VINYL RECORDS ARE MADE

The Letter to the Colossians 1.1. The Image and Firstborn (1:15)

for the apostle Paul, Jesus was himself the one and only true eikōn in bodily form, leading to the implication that we can understand Adam only through Jesus, and not Jesus simply as the second instance of the original Adam.

FRUSTRATION HAPPENS IN THE CHURCH WHEN WE TRY TO FASHION JESUS INTO OUR IMAGE.

THE WORLD IS AGAINST THE CHURCH BECAUSE WE ARE CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE AN IMAGE OF OUR OWN.

CHURCH HURT

WHEN WE GET OUT OF ALIGNMENT WE HURT PEOPLE.

WHEN WE GET OUT OF ALIGNMENT WE MISS OUR PURPOSE AND CALLING.

THE CHURCH IS THE PHYSICAL FORM OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS STILL ACTIVE ON THE EARTH.

FALSE BODY IMAGES

THE CHURCH IS A COUNTRY CLUB

ELITE GROUP ONLY A FEW PEOPLE GET TO DECIDE IF THEY’RE ALLOWED IN.

THE CHURCH IS THE MORALITY POLICE

IF ALL WE NEEDED WERE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MORALITY THEN THE LAW WOULD HAVE SAVED US.

THE CHURCH IS A POLITICAL PARTY

EVERY KINGDOM OF THIS EARTH WILL BOW TO KING JESUS.

YOU ARE NOT A SOUL IN A BODY SUIT.

GOD MADE US A UNION OF SPIRIT AND BODY

OUR HOPE AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST IS THE REUNION OF OUR SPIRIT AND BODY MADE NEW.

THE CHURCH AS A BODY IS A PREVIEW OF THIS REALITY

READ: ROMANS 8:5-11 ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 8

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

CONCLUSION

JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF GOD

THE CHURCH IS HIS BODY

WE DO NOT GET TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT JESUS TO BE

WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE AND A HOPE

THIS MESSAGE IS FOR BELIEVERS

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE THE CHURCH APART FROM CHRIST AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE THE CHURCH ALONE.

YOU WERE SAVED FOR A PURPOSE NOT JUST FROM A PLACE.

PRAYER

GOD OPEN MY EYES TO SEE YOU AS YOU ARE

TEACH ME HOW TO BE LIKE JESUS THROUGH GOD’S WORD AND CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP