2 We Gather
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Series focused on basics of what it means to be the body/church.
Ephesians then talks about the coming together of all who follow Jesus. United as one. Being built up into the temple where the Spirit of God lives. The gathering then is believers/followers/saints assembling with that common purpose.
Series focused on basics of what it means to be the body/church.
Answering some questions:
What is the church supposed to be and do? Difference between true community and random activity. Difference between true learning and random teaching.
Who Gathers?
Where/How to Gather?
When to Gather?
Why Gather?
Ephesians then talks about the coming together of all who follow Jesus. United as one. Being built up into the temple where the Spirit of God lives. The gathering then is believers/followers/saints assembling with that common purpose.
Points
Points
Definition
Definition
deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Jesus. And we follow Jesus together with others who follow Him.
Church = ekklesia. Assembly of people with a common purpose. Context is key. Could refer to a social club. Sadly that’s what church often is seen as. In New Testament context, it always refers to the assembly or gathering of believers, or followers of The Way.
19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,
21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
, , through Christ we are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints, members of the household of God. Whole structure joined together growing into a holy temple, dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
:21, 22 through Christ we are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints, members of the household of God. Whole structure joined together growing into a holy temple, dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
through Christ we are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints, members of the household of God. Whole structure joined together growing into a holy temple, dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
through Christ we are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints, members of the household of God. Whole structure joined together growing into a holy temple, dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians then talks about the coming together of all who follow Jesus. United as one. Being built up into the temple where the Spirit of God lives. The gathering then is believers/followers/saints assembling with that common purpose. What is that purpose? Start with the beginning of the church.
Example for marriage – marriage of Jesus to His bride, the church. Church being His body united as one like husband and wife become one. Body of Christ, united with Him, doing Father’s will in the world.
#Another way to think of the “church” other than assembly is as a community or fellowship of Christ follower.
Read Acts 2:42-47
What is that purpose? Start with the beginning of the church.
teaching, fellowship, eating and communion, prayer (other in context?) all things in common. Gathering at the temple and in homes, eating together.
v.42 devoted themselves = why/purpose
v.44 all the believers = who. V.47 added those who were being saved/delivered/rescued.
v.45 gave to who had need.
v.46 every day. Temple courts and in homes.
Overview here in the beginning. The overarching theme in the NT is…
Encourage and Build Up (which includes)
Encourage and Build Up (which includes)
Worship God Together
Worship God Together
We Worship – other verses here cover this, but mostly covered last week.
Matthew 18:20
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Christ in midst when 2 or more come together in context of restoring a brother. Community gathered in the name of Christ (under His authority and purpose), seeking God’s will in prayer, acting in agreement together. Administration of God’s purpose and authority in relationship.
*Community gathered in the name of Christ (under His authority and purpose), seeking God’s will in prayer, acting in agreement together.
*Community gathered in the name of Christ (under His authority and purpose), seeking God’s will in prayer, acting in agreement together.
Real meaning = Administration of God’s purpose and authority in relationship.
Read Hebrews 10:24-25
motivate each other to acts of love and good works. Don’t neglect meeting together. Encourage each other.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
motivate each other to acts of love and good works.
Don’t neglect meeting together. Encourage each other.
Specifically all suffer together, all rejoice together. 12:27 you are the body of Christ and each one members. Gifts given for the common good (v.7).
, , = use your Spiritual gifts to build up the body. 13 = love, care, relationship. 14 = edify, build up
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Gifts given for the common good (12:7).
Specifically all suffer together, all rejoice together. 12:27 you are the body of Christ and each one members. Gifts given for the common good (v.7).
all suffer together, all rejoice together. 12:27 you are the body of Christ and each one members.
Learn, Teach, Support, Accountability
Learn, Teach, Support, Accountability
Just as in psalms hymns spiritual songs, we see in Colossians...
peace, one body, teach, admonish, worship together. Similar to
Just as in we see in Colossians...
psalms hymns spiritual songs, we see in Colossians...
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
peace, one body, teach, admonish, worship together. Similar to
peace, unity as one body, teach and admonish, worship together.
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
, gifts of leadership given to equip the saints for work of ministry, building up body, unity.
, gifts of leadership to equip the saints for work of ministry, building up body, unity.
16 - whole body equipped, working properly grows and builds itself up in love.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
in context of Day of the Lord, we are rescued through Christ so encourage and build up each other.
v.14 - Warn the lazy, encourage the timid, care for weak, be patient with all.
pray for one another, confess sins to one another (accountability, forgiveness of personal offenses)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
Moving from teaching and equipping to our responsibility in the world...
pray for one another, confess sins to one another (accountability, forgiveness of personal offenses)
pray for one another, confess sins to one another (accountability, forgiveness of personal offenses)
Light to the World
Light to the World
make disciples, baptize, teach, accountability
light in the Lord – exposing darkness.
light in the Lord – exposing darkness.
you are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others so they glorify God.
Peter to the groups of believers scattered through the provinces...
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”
1 Peter 2:
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
called out and chosen people. Result = show others the goodness of God.
called out and chosen people. Result = show others the goodness of God. (proclaim the excellencies)
Good News of Christ revealed so that through the church God’s rich wisdom is displayed before the unseen rulers in heavenly realms.
We are agents, a united force that is on mission with Jesus to rescue and restore the lost and all of Creation.
And one more purpose we see which is part of that rescue operation is to...
Serve the Needy
Serve the Needy
– all things in common
32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
providing for the needy among them
providing for the needy among them
parable of sheep and goats. helping the needy. Hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, imprisoned.
Pure religion caring for orphans and widows. treating all equally, faith is accompanied by good deeds
do good, share what you have, that is a sacrifice pleasing to God
Good Samaritan – who is my neighbor? You are the neighbor.
Conclusion
Conclusion
All of these are what the New Testament describes as purposes of the church, the body of Christ, followers of Jesus.
Encourage and build each other up.
Worship God together
Learn together, teach each other, pray for and with each other, admonish, hold accountable.
Sounds inward focused, but the real focus moves outward
Being the light of Jesus to the dark world around us
Meeting the needs around us - physical and spiritual
Q&A, Comments
Q&A, Comments
Notice several things that the NT does not talk about being the purpose of the church.
It doesn’t talk about inviting the lost to join the gatherings so they can “get saved” or join the church. That happens as the church goes out and carries the message of Good News about Christ.
Nowhere does it talk about building meeting houses and gyms and classrooms and kitchens. These are secondary facilities that are used for the purpose of carrying out the intentional mission of the church if that’s where the Holy Spirit leads the body. Not wrong, but not by default right. Not necessary, but helpful. Not the focus.
Application:
Application:
Application:
Application:
Example: sit for a long time and your leg goes to sleep. Or you hold your child/grandchild while they go to sleep and your arm also goes to sleep. Stroke. Amputation. Etc. That body part cannot function in that condition. The body struggles to function well when a member is not functioning.
The body does not function when each part is in isolation. You cannot be a functioning member of the body if you are not functioning with the body.
Camping and have a camp fire. At the end of the evening we separate out the logs or the coals before going to sleep. What happens when you separate a coal or a log from the fire? It dwindles and usually goes out. Otherwise, next morning there are usually hot coals left.
Our Mt. Rock vision – Community powerfully transformed by Jesus Christ, from Mt. Rock outward.
Our purpose is to become the congregation God wants us to be.
Worship God together
Encourage and build each other up.
Learn together, teach each other, pray for and with each other, admonish, hold accountable.
Learn together, teach each other, pray for and with each other, admonish, hold accountable.
As the Spirit of God transforms us both individually and collectively as the body then working outward
Carry the light of Jesus to the illuminate the darkness in the community around us
Show the love of Jesus by meeting the needs around us - physical and spiritual
This is God’s plan for His church - for this congregation.
We are making intentional opportunities to gather and to serve.
Pray together.