The Church is...a Nation

I. INTRO

A. Greeting

B. Where We’ve Been

a. God is, I is, Church is

1. Body of Christ

2. chosen people

C. Where We’re Going

a. Holy Nation

1. what do u think o when u hear the word “priest”?

b. Illust. - Pledge o Allegiance

D. Main Text

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

2 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

E. Pray

II. BODY

A. The Church is a Nation

Holy Nation

What's this mean. 

Going 2 work backward, starting w/nation

Nation-this is not our home; citizens o heaven

KOG - not just a metaphor to illustrate God's rule & authority

I am convinced that it's a place, & God is the king! & we want 2 c that Kingdom invade earth

We need to b about our nation's business Holy Nation

We need to b about our nation's business Holy Nation

What's this mean. 

Going 2 work backward, starting w/nation

a. KOG - not just a metaphor to illustrate God's rule & authority

1. I am convinced that it's a place, & God is the king! & we want 2 c that Kingdom invade earth

“UR KINGDOM COME”

2. Jesus saw it as a real Nation (if u know, say it w/me)

Jesus saw it as a real kingdom (if u know, say it w/me)

Matthew 6:9–13 KJV 1900

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9–12 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matt 6:9-

Matthew 6:13–14 KJV 1900

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:13 KJV 1900

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matt 6:13-14

Matt 6:9

i. Jesus saw a nation he describes as a Kingdom

-Kingdom where God rules and reigns

*kind o king?

~Hallowed: great; unique, distinct

~give us daily bread: provider

~forgive us: benevolent & merciful

~Lead us…: trustworthy leader

~deliverer

~pwrfl & Glorious!

~eternal

-An invading Kingdom! “ur kingdom come

-How do we know KOG has expanded in2 an area?

*God’s will is done!

3. Paul saw it as a real Nation

Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

i. US is not our home; citizens o heaven

-fellow citizens: 1 word literally together as members o a country

ii. united w/all the saints!

iii. so, if KOG isn’t metaphor but a legitimate Kingdom...

b. We need to b about our nation's business & not get too wrapped up in our earthly nation's business.

Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

We need to b about our nation's business & not get too wrapped up in our earthly nation's business.

1. I'm not saying we shouldn't care about elections, or that we shouldn't do our part to vote etc,

2. I'm saying, this country isn't going to change on the platform of politics but on a revolution of love.

i. Kingdom Love!

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Cor 13:4-

John 13:35 ESV

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jn 13

Matthew 5:43–44 ESV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

ii. Things will change when the pwr of God invades the hearts & minds of this countries people.

- 1 at a time people accepting Jesus' rule in their lives & his love changing us from the inside out.

c. (What’s our nation’s business?) Our Nation’s business

Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Cor

1. We are ambassadors with a message

i. Proclaiming reconciliation of an eternal relationship with God through Jesus

-Top 3: who r u extending reconciliation frm God 2?

ii. Means that, perhaps, ea. local church is an embassy

i. Means that, perhaps, ea. local church is an embassy

B. (What kind o nation r we?) - A Nation that’s Holy! 

a. What's it mean 2 b Holy?

1. Lot o times we base holiness on this phrase:

i. don't drink, smoke, or chew, don't go w/girls that do

-Not saying we should just go get drunk & smoke, etc. 

2. I am saying that holiness is more than adhering to a set o do's & don'ts 

3. Holiness is being set apart, unique, different, 

i. God is the ultimate expression o Holiness & we r made holy,

- He sets us apart

4. Furthermore we think o the opposite o holy as dirty;

i. but opposite is common, normal

ii. We r supposed to be a little abnormal, stand out in a crowed different

iii. Common to the world?

-Paul says in:

: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So what does it mean to be set apart from these?

iv. Holy in God’s kingdom

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:22

- We r set apart called out from the nations o this world.

I'm saying, this country isn't going to change on the platform of politics but on a revolution of love. Kingdom Love! Things will change when the power of God invades the hearts and minds of this countries people. 1 at a time people accepting Jesus' rule in their lives and his love changing us from the inside out.

WHat kind o nation r we? - Holy! 

What's it mean 2 b Holy

Lot o times we base holiness on this phrase: don't drink, smoke, or chew, don't go w/girls that do

Not saying we should just go get drunk & smoke, etc. 

I am saying that holiness is more than adhering to a set o do's & don'ts 

Holiness refers to being set apart, unique, different, 

God is the ultimate expression o Holieness & we r made holy, He sets us apart

Furthermore we think o the opposite o holy as dirty; but opposite is common, normal

We r supposed to be a little abnormal, stand out in a crowed different

So what's common for this world?

Paul says in:

: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

So what does it mean to be set apart from these?

: The 2 terms 2gether 

We r set apart called out from the nations o this world.

III. CONCLUSION

A. Greeting

A. Reflection time: top 3!

B. Where We’ve Been

a. Kiomi lead in a song

a. God is, I is, Church is

b. Presentation o Gospel

1. Body of Christ

2. chosen people

C. Where We’re Going

a. Royal Priesthood

1. what do u think o when u hear the word “priest”?

b. Illust.

D. Main Text