Dependence (Be The Church)

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME & RELEASE KIDS

Happy New year

NEW SERIES

Our regular rhythm here at CrossPointe is to study through books of the Bible.

We do this because we believe the Bible is God’s perfect word

Nothing fake

No error

Only absolute truth that applies to all people, across all cultures, across all generations

SERIES INTRO

Today though, we are starting a special four week series that is meant to shape our trajectory as a church for 2020.

Our prayer and intention is that the content of this series will continue to reverberate throughout our church in the months and weeks to come.

The series is based on something we say at the end of every service - Go be the church at the end of each Sunday service

What does this mean?

Why is it important?

How do we do it?

We are going to look at 4 practical principles for a greater presence in our communities.

First, we need to make sure we know WHAT we mean by ‘Church”

Before we can be the church - we need to discern, what is the church?

Once we understand WHAT the church is, & WHY is exists - then we will look at HOW we faithfully live out this mission everyday.

PRAY

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

SIRI DEFINITION?

So, what do you do when you have a question now-a-days? You ask Siri...

Church is a building used for public Christian worship

Bricks, pews, and pulpits, etc

Church is a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines.

Church is a hierarchy of clergy of a Christian organization, especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England.

Just a bunch of people wanting to be in a position of power and control.

Church is the institutionalized religion as a political or social force.

Institution for political and social change.

BIBLICAL DEFINITION

The word “church” is found 109 times in the Bible but I wanted to form a definition from the Book of Ephesians.

The local church is a community of Christians

Not a building as the world may think

with Jesus as the head ()

It is not about a hierarchy of clergy

WHY do the church exist...

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places ()

We don’t exist as a political or social force

“to Jesus be glory in the church” ()

The church isn’t about buildings and prestige

The church submits to Jesus ()

The church doesn’t exist for or submit to the present culture

We submit to Jesus

Jesus loves the church and died for her ()

We love the church because Jesus loves the church and died for her.

Jesus will present the church to himself without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” ()

The church is not perfect - by our own actions, we are not perfect

The church will be made perfect - by the actions of Jesus, the church will be made perfect

Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church ()

How hope is in Jesus and Jesus alone.

The church is not a building or institution.

The Church is...

The body of Jesus here on earth

to display the glory of God in a dark and lost world.

“manifold wisdom” - multifaceted beauty of God

the diamond I bought Kirsten for her engagement ring

COLOR - rainbow of colors

CLARITY - no visible blemishes

CARAT, CUT

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN A SUNDAY SERVICE

Carl Trueman, “When church is just one more product to buy or leave on the shelf, then marketing, not theology, become the driving forces in her life.”

We are the body of Jesus here on earth

We do not exist to simply see how many people we can gather together on a Sunday morning.

We aren’t producing a product that we are trying to sell or convince people from the community to join.

THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN A POLITICAL OR SOCIAL FORCE

Our purpose is to display the glory of God

JD Greer, “Without the mission, a church is not a church. It’s just a group of disobedient Christians hanging out.”

Tim Challies, “The local church exists for God and for his glory… The local church exists to glorify God through worshipping him, edifying his people, and evangelizin the world.”

Our mission is to SHINE

The light doesn’t belong to us - we are jars of clay

Desiring God, “The local church is a community of Christians who live as the on-the-ground expression of the supremacy of Jesus by advocating his gospel in distance and depth.”

We let the light of the gospel shine through us.

HOW TO “BE THE CHURCH?”

FOUR FAITHFUL PRACTICES for a FAITHFUL PRESENCE

Glorify God

So all the that was this intro… but it is foundational...

BB

Now, I want us to look at the first of four practices that help us better understand “HOW?”

BECOMING & MAKING DISCIPLES

“HOW” do we live as a light of the Gospel in our communities?

FIRST, LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

We are called to let the light of the gospel shine through our lives to those in need.

Before we being talking about how to do this...

I want you to take a moment at think through 3 - 5 names of people who do not currently believe in Jesus

Ask God to impress on your heart names.

Think of family, friends, co-workers, etc

NOW, CONSIDER HOW YOU WOULD ENGAGE THEM WITH THE GOSPEL

Sometimes we try to convince people that the Gospel is true (apologetics)

We try to deconstruct or condemn what they are currently doing.

THE DANGER:

Adversarial relationship - us against them - I’m right, you’re wrong - believe like me.

WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING?

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 ESV

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ministry by Mercy of God

We have a ministry

Renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways, cunning practices, tampering with God’s word...

We don’t try to convince people, guilt people

trick people - (disney vacation, drop candy from a helicopter, etc)

we don’t change the Bible or try to make it say something it doesn’t so people will listen

Clear conscience...

Gospel Message is veiled - to those who do not believe

Something is covering their eyes

Something outside themselves in covering their eyes.

god of this world...

Satan

blinded the minds of unbelievers - blinded from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God...

Satan does not want people to worship Jesus

His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.

Ephesians 6:12–13 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

This is what we proclaim, not ourselves...

God makes light shine out of darkness...

DEPENDENCE ON GOD

Begins with Prayer

All four practices begin with the letter “D”

All four practices begin with the letter “D”

There are many different ways this could be said

There are many different ways this could be said

This is tremendous FREEING & EMPOWERING

FREEING

This is of the person whose name you wrote down

You don’t need to convince them, you need to pray for them.

You don’t need to argue with them or get frustrated or angry with them. You are not is a battle with them

EMPOWERING

Not the sufficiency of your wording - or how clever your argument.

The power of the gospel message

FOUR PRACTICES FOR A FAITHFUL PRESENCE

DEPENDENCE on God

DEMONSTRATION of Gospel

DECLARATION of Gospel

DISCIPLESHIP in the Gospel

CONCLUSION

Who will you pray for this year?

Praying Scripture

Pray Daily

Community Groups and Monthly Testimony