Sermon Tone Analysis

The question we've been asking is:

What is the Church?

Jesus says He will build His church and the gates of hell will not stand against it…but what is that Church?

Or who is that Church?

What makes a church...a church?

If you look at the cultural landscape at all of things we define as Church…and then you open your Bible and read about the Church…and ask your self…or better…ask God what is the Church God that you desire?

If we honestly ask that question we have to admit...there seems to be a gap in what we call and emphasize as the Church…and what the Bible calls a church and emphasizes about the church…

A disconnect between what we look for in a church and what God is looking for from His Church.

So what makes a church…a church?

Specifically...in God’s eyes and by His definition and for his glory...what is the church?

Or more precisely...who is the church?

A lot of things call themselves a church but what makes a church church.

In particularly in gods eyes and by his definition and for his glory what is the church?

Or more accurately who is the church?

Here is a real life example of what I'm talking about.

A while back in a conversation about my faith in Jesus, I had a coworker who told me she also “goes to church.”

She brings her family to church on Sundays.

She told me they have a really nice pastor who gives a message…they meet in a building they call the church.

They have fun Sunday school programs for the kids...they do fellowship....and sing songs.

So is that a church?

Maybe I should give you more information.

She is an atheist.

Her husband is an atheist.

And I asked her why do you go to church and what does you Church believe?

They go because they like their pastor.

They have good parking and good children's programs and short relevant sermons and comfortable chairs and going to church makes them feel like their kids will fit in with the local culture…because on Sundays they go to a building they call the church.

A Unitarian Universalist Church to be specific.

Where they believe Jesus...

should be honored as a master teacher just like other teachers such as Moses or the Buddha.

And they Believe the Bible...

as an account of human experience but not an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth because much biblical material…they believe...is mythical or legendary.

Is that a church ?

there are some important details I didn't tell you about.

I've told you that they have what most people look for when they're searching for a church.

What I didn't tell you.

Is that they don't believe the Bible is the true word of God.

They don't believe they are to live by every word of the word.

So is this building where a group of people gather on Sundays to hear a short, relevant message from a pastor, send their children to a children’s program, and then fellowship together so that they can fit into the traditions of the local culture...is this church...a church?

And more importantly for us…

 We look that some of the foundational components of the biblical church.

As we gather together in this new phase of our church we're digging into the question what exactly is the biblical church.

What is God looking for.

If God is ordering a steak we don't want to bring him pizza .

Since we desire to glorify God in all we do…whether we eat or drink…or be the church He desires us to be...

What are the foundational components of a God glorifying local church…that also make that church a church?

We've discussed how the church is devoted.

Devoted to one another because of our devotion to Jesus Christ.

Devoted specifically to the Word.

Devoted to fellowship with one another.

Devoted to communion and the breaking of bread together.

And devoted to praying together.

What is God looking for?

If God is ordering a steak we don't want to bring him pizza .

So we've discussed how the church is devoted .

Devoted to one another because of our devotion to Jesus Christ.

Devoted in our to the apostles teachings .

Devoted to fellow shipping with one another.

Devoted to communion and the breaking of bread together.

And devoted to praying together.

We are devoted.

And how that devotion will spill over into our being devoted to one another in all other parts of life.

We are devoted.

And then we said the church is united.

United in our faith in Jesus our Lord and in the truth of God’s Word and in the gospel of salvation.

And because of that unity...united in our love for one another...

And then we said the church is on a mission.

We are on a mission to (with the gospel of salvation) make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.

And then the second week of that message we specifically saw from God’s Word that our mission…each one of us…is to be equipped to go with the gospel proclaimed from our mouths to the ears of unbelievers to make disciples of Jesus.

And we do that very intentionally but also by simply speaking like a Christian in all conversations.

And we said the church is on a mission.

We are on a mission to make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.

And then the second week of that message we specifically saw from God’s Word that our mission…each one of us…is to be equipped to go with the gospel proclaimed from our mouths to the ears of unbelievers to make disciples of Jesus.

We then baptized those disciples of Jesus…and invite them into what we do…to teach them to love Jesus and to obey everything He commanded.

We then baptize those disciples of Jesus…and invite them into what we do…a life of discipleship...to teach them to love Jesus and to obey everything He commanded.

So those are foundational to a Biblical church and therefore foundational to Revival Church.

As we move forward in the coming weeks we will build on this foundation as we see from God’s Word that the cornerstone of the Church is the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

And then how the Church building on this foundation and with Christ as the cornerstone will have:

-the supremacy of Jesus Christ

-Joy in God

-Biblical leadership in place

-Fueled bi the power of the Holy Spirit

-Fuled bi the power of the Holy Spirit

-Will in their joy practice the ordinances of baptism and communion

-And as the body of Christ will serve of the lost and lonely and poor and orphans and widows in their midst.

And today...

Today we're going to ask God to show us in His Word how:

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