Formed for God
Formed for God’s Family – Fellowship
Purpose Driven Life – Part 3
October 9th, 2004 and October 10th, 2004
Introduction
Recently, Adelina Dominguez died in San Diego, California. Her death was noteworthy because she was in the Guiness Book of Records as the oldest living American. At 114 years of age she outlived all of her children and some of her grandchildren. She was asked the secret of her longevity and the Associated Press reported that she gave credit to God and this is her quote; “I knew God had a purpose for my life.”
I have told about the time the doctor misdiagnosed me with cancer and as I drove to the hospital for emergency surgery with Becky I looked into my heart for hope and the thing that inspired me was that my life purpose wasn’t finished.
They shot a pastor in Columbia and he survived. He said something like “God’s man is immortal until he has fulfilled God’s purpose on the earth.” –Cesar Castellanos.
David Livingston was asked if he feared going into dangerous Africa. He responded;
“I am immortal until the will of God for me is accomplished.”
One of my life verses is Acts 13:36a; “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;”
Jesus was focused on His purpose. John 17:4 says; “ I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
Last week we talked about the first purpose for your life; WORSHIP. Worship is a lifestyle not just singing.
(Sermon notes outline)
“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory...”
Hebrews 2:10a (NCV)
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
“Love your spiritual family!” 1 Peter 2:17b (Msg)
-What do we mean by that?
-When you became a Christian you were called to believe but you were also called to belong.
-When you became a Christian you were placed in Christ by the Holy Spirit and then you were called to be a part of the Body of Jesus Christ-the Church.
-He places you exactly where He wants you in the church relative to where you live. You are called to live Christianity out with other believers.
-Jesus is building His Church- the called out ones.
Matthew 16:18b; “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (Or hell) c will not overcome it.”
-Hospitals and schools and governments are great but the highest priority on this planet is the church.
Psalm 92
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
(sermon outline)
“The person who loves God must also love other believers.”
1 John 4:21 (GW)
(sermon outline)
“I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church...” 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NCV)
Ephesians 3
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family a in heaven and on earth derives its name.
-The Church is God’s family. He loves it and He wants you to as well.
Four Levels of Fellowship
(sermon outline)
“...You are members of God's very own family... and you belong in God's household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19 (LB)
“In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5 (NIV)
“This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 (Msg)
“That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.” Romans 6:3 (Msg)
-Church is not a place you go to. It is a family you belong to.
-Tell someone; YOU BELONG.
Joshua Harris just wrote a book called: Stop Dating the Church. Here is a quote from the jacket cover: “Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It’s not a serious relationship, Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It’s dating, with no assurances, no obligations.”
-It is like saying; I like you but I can’t stand your body, or your leg.
-It is like telling Jesus; I like you but I can’t stand your wife.
-It is like saying; I am a football player but I don’t want to be part of a team.
-There are over 50 commands in the Bible that you can only fulfill and obey if you are part of a church.
-We have a tendency to run as soon as it gets uncomfortable.
-Maturity is staying and working it out in marriage, families, and churches.
-If you have children you have discovered that they aren’t perfect. You know why? Their parents aren’t perfect.
-I was thinking about how kids don’t turn out in real life like they do on paper. I think back to when I was a teenager and I honestly ask myself how my parents stood me for a couple of years.
-I woke up one day at 15 and knew everything and saw how irrelevant they were except to give me money and stay out of my way. What a punk some of us were! You too!
-A family is the lab where you confront those weird things and fix them and make adjustments.
-Growing up without a family stunts your growth. The same is true spiritually.
-The people that annoy you the most are the ones you need the most.
-We would like to think that we have matured beyond where we are.
-Our report card is our relationships.
-How are you doing?
Scan picture of KG Report Card
John 13 NLT
/35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”[1] /
(sermon outline)
“All the believers met together constantly and shared
everything with each other.” Acts 2:44 (LB)
(sermon outline)
“People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.”
Proverbs 27:17 (TEV)
-You are unique and we need your perspective.
-What you bring to the table as an individual is something we and the world needs.
-I would rather learn from your bad experiences than my own.
-If you would learn to spend time with the other people here in this church you would be surprised how much you could be helped.
-There are people here who can help you with parenting, breaking addictions, handling money, and about everything else you can think of.
(sermon outline)
“Open your homes to each other.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)
-The early church used the temple and homes to share their lives together.
-For the first 300 years of Christianity there were no church buildings.
-When I was in Turkey people kept looking for these early church buildings. There weren’t any for hundreds of years.
-This is where missions is going. In order to reach a continent quickly it will be necessary to do what Paul did. He went into an area and raised up a group of about 50 and then came back later to see who had emerged as leaders. They continued to plant churches using synagogues, public buildings and homes.
-Thank God for church buildings but don’t miss the point of what the church is.
-They shared their lives.
1 Thessalonians 2
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
-You can’t get to know people well enough in services. Get with them outside of this setting.
-Get in a small group. We do them on Wednesday nights as well as in homes.
-Then in January look for another one.
(sermon outline)
“Share each other's troubles and problems.” Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead,
let us encourage one another...” Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)
-You need a place where you can be honest.
-You need a place where you can confess your sin to someone and be healed.
-You need a place where you can be real.
-You need a place where you can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
(sermon outline)
“We are partners working together for God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9a (TEV)
“The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
“Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)
-What is your part in this partnership?
-This church is built on the staff training your to do the work of the ministry.
-Our attendance on the weekends is about 800 not including Wednesday night.
-Our church is about 1200 regular people.
-It is possible at this size to have 8-12 program staff. We have half that many.
-Here is the bottom line. In order to do what God has called us to do as a team we need your ministry and your money.
-The test for Israel in the wilderness and the test for us is if we are selfless enough to lay down our personal agenda for a bigger agenda that we must work together to accomplish.
-We are partners working together for God!
(sermon outline)
“...they were like family to each other.” Acts 2:42a (CEV)
“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.” Romans 12:10 (GW)
“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.” 1John 3:16 (NLT)
“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” John 13:35 (LB)
“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Gal. 3:26 (NLT)
-It all comes down to being able to love each other.
-Our New Testament commands are LOVE GOD/LOVE EACH OTHER.
-If you ever want to do a study look up all of the times in the New Testament it uses the phrase; “ONE ANOTHER.”
-Kinship means your closest relationships.
-It has nothing to do with Jed Clampett.
EXAMPLE
T-Shirt “What happens in Kentucky stays in Kentucky.”
-The word for fellowship is sharing in common.
-This comes when you go through a crisis with someone else.
-Gary Smalley said he got close to his family by camping. It wasn’t the camping. It was all of the problems they faced as they camped.
-Be there for others so they will be there for you.
Next Saturday at 9-11 am. Belonging class taught by me. Formerly known as the welcome Class.
Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations.
Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Bestselling author Joshua Harris calls Christians to stop playing the field and commit, just as Christ is committed to us, His bride. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Bestselling author Joshua Harris calls Christians to stop playing the field and commit, just as Christ is committed to us, His bride. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Bestselling author Joshua Harris calls Christians to stop playing the field and commit, just as Christ is committed to us, His bride. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations
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c Or hell
a Or whom all fatherhood
[1]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (Jn 13:34). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.