THE Blueprint For The Church

By Jeff Strite

So thankful to be here.

Here is a picture of Kaeden with an Elk he got last year.

The males grow antlers every year. The first year they typically grow 1 straight spike, then in their 2nd or 3rd year the grow bigger antlers.

They grow incredibly fast as much as 2.5 cm a day. Antlers begin as layer upon layer of cartilage that slowly mineralizes into bone. A soft covering called velvet helps protect the antlers and carries blood to the growing bone tissue. If you look closely at an antler, you'll see grooves and ridges on it. These mark the paths of veins that carried blood throughout the velvet.

When they are in the velvet sometimes the antler can be damaged and it will grow misshapened that year. But, the drop the antlers every year and so they can grow another antler the next year.

The size of the antler depends a lot on what the elk eats during the summer. The elk who eats well and gets the right nutrients will grow the biggest antlers. Those that eat inadequately have weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-elk principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they’re needed.

I think of the bible talk leaders that are here. You work so hard. you are digging deep and building a foundation on Jesus and his word.

You my have scars, or damaged antlers. But God can make those things new, you don’t have to be defined by your mistakes your you scars.

Whenever we have guests from Asia they bring gifts. Ask bible talk leaders we wanted to bring you a gift as well.

I took an elk Antler and made man an elk antler key chain. So that you can remember that even if you have scars or hurts, you can grow again, you can be made new in Jesus.

Ann also has a gift for the women.

OPEN: In Denver, just like here, if you’re going to build a house, or an office building, or a church building, the first thing you’ve gotta have is… a blueprint. If you don’t have a blueprint, they won’t let you build.

Now you might ask – why do they call it a blueprint?

Well, back in the 1800s, there was a man named John Hershel. He was a scientist with interests in astronomy, mathematics, chemistry and several other branches of science.

And he invented the “blueprint” (actually, it’s called a Cyanotype).

In order to create a “blueprint” he found that – if he mixed together specific two chemicals - he could create a “photosensitive” liquid that he could use to coat any surface and make it sensitive to light. Once the liquid had dried, he exposed that surface to ultra-violate light and it would turn blue.

He found a chemical process that he could use to make these blueprints.

Then he took translucent paper, made a drawing on that paper, and laid it over the a surface coated with his special liquid, When he exposed these to ultraviolet light, the light passed through the translucent paper and turned the surface blue… everywhere except where the drawing had been. Since the ultraviolet light couldn't pass through the lines, those lines remained white.

Essentially, Hershel created the first copy machine. It made quick and inexpensive copies of whatever needed copied and it especially became popular with architects who needed multiple copies for different builders who could then consult those copies as they constructed their building projects. Commenting on this fact, one person noted “you could say the world was literally built with the help of John Hershel.”

Again, you can’t build a building without a blueprint.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vnGY9vXgsQ)

Again, you can’t build a building in Indiana without a blueprint.

So… you have a blueprint.

Can you build a building???

Well, not so fast.

The blueprint still has to be submitted to the proper authorities for approval. And that blueprint has to have every significant piece of info on that bldg.

• Dimensions

• Materials used

• Quality of materials used

• Sources of power/ heating/ cooling

• Wiring, piping/ insulation

All that has to be approved… or you cannot build!!!

This morning I want to look in at THE Blueprint for God’s Church.

IF you don’t have THIS blueprint - as approved by the creator and designer of the church - you don’t have a church!

Every congregation MUST be constructed based on THIS blueprint … or God will not approve of it.

So what is this blueprint that the creator says MUST be present for His church to be approved?

We’ll let’s look at what it says

Titus 2:11–14 NIV

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Notice what it says there.

“For the GRACE OF GOD that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope— the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Notice what it says there.

Grace bring salvation.

Grace teaches us how to live.

And Grace points us to the hope of Jesus coming back again.

Grace is the blueprint of the church.

Grace explains everything about the church.

And grace… makes a church a church.

Without Grace you don’t have a church.

So – what is grace?

Is grace where you bow your head and say

“Thank you God for this food. In Jesus name amen?”

Noooo… of course not.

Perhaps - best way to understand grace is to compare it to a couple of other Biblical concepts – Justice and Mercy.

One person compared them in this way:

• JUSTICE is getting the bad that we deserve

“The wages of sin is Death.” If you received justice that is what you’d receive.

• MERCY is NOT getting the bad that we deserve.

We were spared from punishment for our sins by the blood of Jesus.

• GRACE is getting the GOOD that we do not deserve.

Not just being spared death… but being given Eternal life PLUS all the good things that God wants to give us on top of that.

Grace is getting the good you and I do not deserve.

Now – why is that important???

Well it’s important because people tend to think of heaven as something you can earn.

If you do enough good stuff, you get in.

But if you don’t do enough good stuff - and if you do too much bad stuff – you go to the other place.

ILLUS: You’ll hear people talk like this at funerals.

They’ll say “He/she was such a good person… I just know they’re going to heaven.”

What are they saying?

They’re saying: The dearly departed has EARNED a place in heaven.

In fact (if you carry this thinking to its ultimate conclusion) God couldn’t keep them out if He wanted to, because they’ve bought their ticket. They deserve heaven.

says it this way.

Romans 4:4 NIV

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.

says it this way

“…when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.”

In other words: if salvation could be EARNED, God would be OBLIGATED to give you heaven.

But Grace declares: that’s not gonna happen.

You’ll never be good enough to be good enough to get into heaven.

We’ve all messed up.

How many of you have sinned? Raise your hand if you have sinned.

Well then, you’re all going to hell!

If you got what you deserved, that’s exactly where you’d end up.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (that’s you and that’s me).

And THAT truth makes it so that “… all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”

Isaiah 64:6 NIV

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Depending on your “righteous deeds” to get into heaven would be like bringing your filthy laundry before His throne and expecting him to be impressed.

Every time we gather as a church we are reminded of that truth:

We are sinners saved by Grace.

We don’t deserve God’s GIFT.

We don't deserve to be here.

We don't deserve anything good by God's hand.

And that’s what Communion is all about.

Communion is a repeated reminder that we don’t deserve to be here.

This is Jesus’ broken body and His shed blood.

This horrible price was paid because we are unworthy to be in His presence.

But if I don’t deserve to be here… then why am I here???

Well, I’m here because of God’s grace.

"For it is BY GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

The church is the only organization that exists primarily for the benefit of those who don’t deserve to be there.

Or as comedian Brad Stine once put it:

“The only reason I’m a Christian is because it’s the only religion that would have me.”

This is the TRUTH of God’s Grace.

God loved us even when we weren’t lovable.

And so He made it so that we would be welcome in His presence in spite of our unworthiness.

And communion tells us why.

Grace is the blueprint for the church.

The moment a preacher or church leadership, or the congregation at large forgets grace… the church is serious trouble.

Grace says Jesus bought you.

He owns you.

And He owns the church.

A church where people forget GRACE (that Jesus owns everything) can get itself into serious problems.

ILLUS: In Jerusalem, there is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the Tomb where Jesus was buried). It’s a beautiful building and it is run by 6 denominations – Catholic, Arminian, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Ethiopian, and Coptic. Each of these denominations has their own “territory” they’re responsible for, and no one from one of those denomination is allowed to trespass on another denomination's turf.

In 2002, a Coptic monk moved his chair 8 inches to a shadier spot which just happened to be in some other denomination’s domain. This resulted in a fight, where the various monks beat on each other with their brooms… and 11 holy men ended up in the hospital.

As you can imagine, these folks don’t play well with each other.

In fact, their dislike for each other is so pervasive that they don’t trust each other with the keys the keys to the building.

They’re afraid if one denomination has the keys, they may lock the others out.

So who gets to hold the keys? A Muslim.

Now, does Jesus own THAT Church building? NO

Does Jesus own THOSE monks? NO

Those churches are the ones who own that building.

As for Jesus, I’m pretty sure He hasn’t been in that church building for centuries.

Now before you think I’m just making fun of those monks, I need you to realize that this kind of behavior can happen in any congregation on any continent.

* I’ve known churches where people have fought over who gets to decide the color of carpet.

* I've known of congregations where folks get upset because they didn't get their way in a leaders meeting.

* I’ve known of churches where people feel slighted someone didn't ask their opinion, or respect their "authority" or respect time honored traditions.

And I've seen people get mad at each other, and say nasty about each other, and not to talk to each other – sometimes for years.

Now, why would they behave like that?

Because they’ve forgotten that they don’t belong there.

They don’t deserve to be in that church building.

They are there only by the grace of Jesus

And they get into fights because they’ve forgotten Grace.

They’ve forgotten that Jesus OWNS them.

And so they behave like pagans… because grace is not their blueprint.

Now that brings us to

Titus 2:12 NIV

It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

If I’ve been bought by the grace – by the blood of Jesus Christ – then Jesus owns me.

“(Grace) teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

If I’ve been bought by the grace – by the blood of Jesus Christ – then Jesus owns me.

And if He owns me, then He has the right to tell me how to live.

And the first thing Jesus tells me is to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions.

“the Greek here literally means to ‘disown’” ungodliness and worldly passions.

To disown something means I refuse to accept that behavior as acceptable/excusable.

(Darren Rogers on sermoncentral.com)

When I read that I thought… Well yeah!!!

To disown something means I refuse to accept that behavior as acceptable/excusable.

ILLUS: I was talking to a guy who is studying the bible this week. He is very outgoing and religious, he quoted scripture and the brother who is studying with him was excited that he is close to getting baptized. As we talked more it became obvious he needed to see his sin.

The minister said, "Let's talk to the Lord about it."

So she began to pray, "O God, You know have a tendency to exaggerate..."

He kept saying he was better than he was before, I’m not so bad anymore. But he kept on saying he had struggles. I had to ask him 3 times what he meant by that? He said I like girls. But it’s better, I’ve only had sex with 2 women. That is so much less.

At this point the preacher put his hand on her shoulder, and gently said

“Ma'am - call it what it is. Call it lying and you just may get over it!”

You know what that woman was doing?

He renamed his sin so it didn’t seem so bad.

He gave it an innocent name so it seems OK.

Let’s say a Christian gets mad and curses. He might say, “Well, I was upset. I was provoked. It was just one time, it’s not that big a deal.”

Or let’s say a man has looked lustfully at a woman. He might say “Well her clothing was revealing” OR “if only my wife treated me better.”

Or let’s say a person becomes bitter towards someone/ hateful, say nasty things about them. They might say: “you don’t know what they’re like. They’ve hurt me. They deserve my anger.”

You know what those folks are saying:

“I could not help myself.”

“It’s natural for me to respond to them like that.”

“It’s not my fault.”

“I have an excuse.”

Have they disowned their bad behavior. NO,

And you know what they’ve done?

Have they disowned their bad behavior.

They’ve OWNED their bad behavior.

They’ve embraced their evil thoughts.

Whenever we make an excuse for bad behavior, we don’t disown… we embrace.

And we end up making that wickedness part of who we are.

Grace teaches us… don’t you do that.

ILLUS: On a sunday morning about 5 years ago, we were leaving the church. I had preached and fellowshiped with all kinds of people. I was being friendly to everyone. As we were going to the car, Kaeden was with me and he did something that bothered me. I was short with him. I don’t even remember what he did, or what I said. But one of the brother heard me and he talked to me the next day. He warned me about being harsh with my son. He said he knows he was too harsh, too demanding and his son is grown, has left the church and won’t talk to him. He wanted to make sure I didn’t have the same thing happen. I wanted to make excuses and say I was training him, I was discipling him.

I was furious!

And I slammed my hand against the wall.

I broke my wrist.

NO, I was being harsh. I was being unkind. I was in sin. I had to go back an apologize to my son and call that what it was sin.

Sunday morning came and everybody apparently knew what had happened.

A couple of the men came up to me and tried to console me: “Jeff, its ok. It just proves that you’re human.”

.There was a famous theologian of the 4th century who commented on this passage and he said that the ungodliness and worldly passions mentioned here were “…the desire or appetite for the things we cannot show God.” (Chrysostom)

The moment I heard those words I felt uncomfortable.

When I got up into the pulpit I said “I appreciate the kindness of those of you who tried to console me on my breaking my wrist. A few of you have tried to make me feel better by telling me that it’s ok, it just proves that I’m human. But frankly – no it doesn’t prove that I’m human. It proves that I’m a sinner. I sinned. I lost my temper and I paid the price. And it would not be right for me to hide behind excuses. I was wrong and I ask you (as I’ve asked God) for your forgiveness for my bad behavior.”

There was a famous theologian of the 4th century who commented on this passage and he said that the ungodliness and worldly passions mentioned here were “…the desire or appetite for the things we cannot show God.” (Chrysostom)

And he’s right.

If you were standing at the throne of God, would you curse like a sailor?

If you were standing around with Jesus and saw a scantily clad woman walk by, would you nudge him and say “Hey, look at that?”

If you were in God’s presence, would you lose your temper and say hateful and bitter things about someone else who was made in His image?

Would you lie, cheat, deceive, backbite… in the presence of God????

Well, not unless you’ve got death wish!!!

And that’s what Grace teaches us.

It teaches us to disown our sin and behave as if we are always in God’s presence.

Titus 2:13 NIV

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

It teaches us to disown our sin and behave as if we are always in God’s presence.

This is the last part of the blueprint for God’s church.

Now, one last thought… tells us that Grace does all that “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

tells us that Grace does all that “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

This is the last part of the blueprint for God’s church.

The Grace of God prepares us for the 2nd Coming of Christ.

One person noted that the word “Grace” in Greek, is “charis”.

In secular Greek there’s a related word “chairo”

“Chairo” means “sweetness” or “attractiveness” and most importantly - “to rejoice.”

Basically, grace not only prepares us morally and mentally for Heaven, it also prepares us emotionally for Jesus coming back.

(https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1279-the-true-meaning-of-grace)

Basically, grace not only prepares us morally and mentally for Heaven, it also prepares us emotionally for Jesus coming back.

When Jesus returns, it will be a time of sweetness and excitement – of GREAT rejoicing!

In , Peter tells about it this way:

2 Peter 3:9–14 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Just imagine seeing that light and sound show.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

Just imagine seeing that light and sound show.

There’s no fireworks display that can even come close.

You’ve never seen anything like it in your entire life.

And then you get a new heaven and a new earth… unpolluted, unscarred and beautiful beyond your imagination.

Revelation 21:3–4 NIV

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

tells us “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Grace declares – THIS is what we’re waiting for!

Dr. Stowell tells about the time he visited a home for mentally handicapped children. While walking through the corridors, he noticed that the windows were covered with tiny little hand prints. He asked the director, what they were all about.

CLOSE: A Dr. Stowell tells about the time he visited a home for mentally handicapped children. While walking through the corridors, he noticed that the windows were covered with tiny little hand prints. He asked the director, what they were all about.

The director replied, "The children here love Jesus and they’re so eager for Him to return that they lean against the windows as they look up to the sky."

That’s how we should be.

God’s grace has prepared us for that very moment.

It will be a moment filled with excitement and pleasure and great joy at His coming.

Another vital thing we need on the blueprints is a good foundation.

INVITATION

Several years ago there was a new housing subdivision in Mesquite, NV. It was a beautiful building project and absolutely brand new… but there was a problem. Several months after many of the families had moved in, serious cracks began to develop in the driveways and roads, and there was a constant disturbing smell of methane gas coming from ground

Copied from Sermon Central

What was wrong? Well, it seems the builders of the subdivision had built about 8 of the homes directly on top of a landfill –and that landfill was about 20 feet beneath the living rooms of these homes. Things got so bad the floors shook and the walls began to crack… and houses began to sink into the ground.

Obviously – someone had forgotten the importance of building on a good foundation

If you build a house or a community center in needs a good Foundation.

In Jesus tells us to pay close attention to our foundation.

Luke 6:46–49 NIV

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

There will be things in your life that will shake you. Storms that will come that test your foundation.

ILLUS: In August of 2015 my son Kaeden and I came here to Vietnam. We loved it. It was a way for me connect with him and help inspire him in his relationship with God. He wasn’t very interested in following God. The church here helped him and inspired him. You changed him and helped him grow. It was your love, and your example of your faith, and your questions for him that encouraged him to start studying the bible. Thank you!

A few weeks after that October 17th 2015 I was sitting on the sidelines of my son’s football game, pretty normal Saturday morning. I had been to the Dr several week prior, he had done blood work listened to my heart, taken my blood pressure, the whole thing. Every looked OK, my blood pressure was low, heart sounded great, my cholesterol was only 1 point high. He said take some fish oil and we will check it in a year.

But it turns out I had a landmine in there waiting to go off. And it did that morning. I started to feel uncomfortable, I had some back pain, and then started to sweat, then I got nauseous. I started to think something might be wrong, but I didn’t know what. Ann takes one look at me and says “he’s having a heart attack”. No mind you she doesn’t know I’m not feeling well, she has no medical training. So Mark Shelley and another dad take me to the car and drive me to the little ER 2 blocks away. They tell me to take a seat, at this point the pain went through the roof and I couldn’t stand. I remember say. “help, I need help…”

The took me to the back and said I was having a heart attack. The nurse started to get very scared and shake, they gave me morphine for the pain, but it didn’t help. I was still in so much pain. I saw the staff running around, trying to get me to another hospital because they couldn’t do the surgery there. I started to think I was going to die. So I was saying good by to my daughter and good by to Ann. They were able to do heart surgery and remove the blockage. If i had been further away from the hospital they said I would be dead.

for the next year or so, my foundation was shaken. I had always felt strong, safe, never worried about my health. All that changes when you almost die.

““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”” (, NIV)

Luke 6:46–49 NIV

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

I felt horrible, and I became depressed. I had to figure out new ways to connect with God, the things I did before didn’t work.

I had to go back to this scripture and put God’s words in practice. that is what Jesus says helps us build on the right foundation.

It can’t be the foundation of our feelings

or of our hard work.

What we think is best. It needs to be the foundation of listening to Jesus and actually doing what he calls us to do.

When we are close to God and doing what he calls us to do we grow!

Ephs 4 tells us that

Here is a picture of Kaeden with an Elk he got last year.

The males grow antlers every year. The first year they typically grow 1 straight spike, then in their 2nd or 3rd year the grow bigger antlers.

They grow incredibly fast as much as 2.5 cm a day. Antlers begin as layer upon layer of cartilage that slowly mineralizes into bone. A soft covering called velvet helps protect the antlers and carries blood to the growing bone tissue. If you look closely at an antler, you'll see grooves and ridges on it. These mark the paths of veins that carried blood throughout the velvet.

When they are in the velvet sometimes the antler can be damaged and it will grow misshapened that year. But, the drop the antlers every year and so they can grow another antler the next year.

The size of the antler depends a lot on what the elk eats during the summer. The elk who eats well and gets the right nutrients will grow the biggest antlers. Those that eat inadequately have weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-elk principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they’re needed.

Ephesians 4:15–16 NIV

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

I think of the bible talk leaders that are here. You work so hard. you are digging deep and building a foundation on Jesus and his word.

We all have a part, we were created by god to do something for his church.

The National Geographic ran an article about the Alaskan Bull Moose. The males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon is broken. That ensures defeat. The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs. Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-moose principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they’re needed.

You my have scars, or damaged antlers. But God can make those things new, you don’t have to be defined by your mistakes your you scars.

In Colorado you can build a small building without plans, without an inspection. it’s easy, but when you make it bigger. there needs to be more workers. There needs to be plans

To build this building, there were those working on the foundation, the wires, the air con, the window, the roof. Each had their job, each had their role.

So it is in the church. When a church is small, maybe 1 or 2 people can do it all. But as a church grows as it gets bigger each person has a role, each person has work to do.

Maybe the is setting up chairs, Maybe you are going to volunteer to help with kids kingdom, maybe you are going to start discipling someone, or you are going to become an expert in marriages so you can help disciple hurting marriages.

We are all called to builders of God’s church. It starts with a foundation of Jesus, It needs to be covered in Grace and we all need to work on our part of building Jesus’ church so we can all be the house of light that God wants us to be in this dark world!