Be The Church
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We are living in
We are living in
We Are The Church
By Jeff Strite
Summary: Why would Paul list such a long boooring list of people at the end of such a powerful New Testament book? Why waste the ink? The answer to that question is both intriguing and exciting to those of who belong to Jesus.
“I’m So Glad I’m A Part Of The Family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.”
If you’re a Christian here to day – you are a part of the family of God. You are part of the Church.
At one point in His ministry, Jesus told His disciples that one of His purposes for coming was to “build my church” Matthew 16:18. And Ephesians tells us this church was so important to Jesus that “(He) loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25b
The Church is the “Bride of Christ”.
And that Scriptural term “Bride of Christ” is meant to help us understand Christ’s love for His church in the same way a husband and wife would describe their love for each other during a marriage ceremony. Ephesians sums that love up by telling us that Jesus “gave himself up for her”.
Now we need to be clear on our definitions here because – over the centuries – many Biblical words have had their meanings altered and changed.
For example, the Bible uses the word “Church.”
What is the church?
That’s right - WE ARE.
Over the years, the word “Church" has come to mean the building we meet in.
Someone will say (for example) “I’m going to church” meaning their building.
But as one poet put it:
“The church is never a place but always a people
Never a fold, but always a flock
Never a sacred building, but always a believing assembly
The church is you who pray, not where you pray."
A structure of brick or marble can no more be what a Church is than the clothing you wear would be who you are.
In short… Jesus didn’t die for a building.
He died for YOU. And He died for ME.
He died for people.
And the people who accept His forgiveness on His terms make up… the church.
What I found intriguing about the passage we read today was that it contained references to so many people. By my count - this portion of Romans 16 mentions twenty eight (28) individuals.
28 people!!!
And that doesn’t include the other 8 names Paul mentions in the rest of the chapter.
Thus, 1/16th of Paul’s letter to the Romans is dedicated to mentioning people by name.
Now, by a lot of standards… most of these folks aren’t very important.
* Granted, there is Priscilla and Aquila in verse 3. They are mentioned several times in the Bible and most Christians know them.
* Then there’s Rufus, who’s mentioned in verse 13. Most scholars seem to believe that he was one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene who carried Christ’s cross the rest of the way up Mount Calvary. When the Gospels tell us of Simon’s doing this, it says he was the father of “Rufus and Alexander” (Mark 15:21) which indicates that his two sons were well known to Christian community at the time the Gospel of Mark was written).
* There’s another man named Epenetus in verse 5. What’s he famous for?
(He was the first convert in Asia)
* And lastly I noted that (in verse 7) Andronicus and Junias, are celebrities because they were related to Paul (a huge attention getter in itself) and that they are “outstanding among the apostles….” Rom 16:7
But out of 28 people… THOSE are ONLY ones that we would probably consider important. All the others mentioned in this part of Romans 16 are largely forgettable. I’ve never read their names anywhere else in the Bible. There are no famous stories of their great accomplishments and great faith.
But Paul – thru the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – mentions them.
All these names are in Scripture because God wanted them there.
What does that tell me?
Well, 1st it tells me that: God knows your name
God knew the name of each and every member who was part of the Church at Rome.
And God has always known His people by name.
· Back in the OT, the Prophet Nahum declared: “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.” (KJV) Nahum 1:7
· 1Corinthians 8:3 tells us: “… the man who loves God is known by God.”
· And Jesus told us "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep…” John 10:14
ILLUS: One woman told the time her professor in nursing school gave a pop quiz.
She said “I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: ‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?’"
She thought: “Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.”
Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Oh absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people.
All are significant.
They deserve your attention and care, EVEN if all you can do is smile and say hello."
She said “I’ve never forgotten that lesson… and I also learned her name was Dorothy.” (Guideposts 1/96 p. 8)
Romans 16 tells us God has never had that problem.
God knew the names of everyone in Rome.
And God knows your name too!
God knows YOU… and he knows your name.
And He knows your name because… you’re important to him.
That lead me to the 2nd thing Romans 16 teaches me:
There are NO UNIMPORTANT people to God.
When Jesus chose His twelve disciples… there wasn’t a one of them that would impress us. Most of them were uneducated workmen. Several were rough fishermen who spent their times out on the open water catching fish, and on shore repairing their boats and cleaning their nets.
One of Jesus’ disciples was a tax collector - everybody hated tax collectors. In fact, many people still hate tax collectors.
And one of His disciples was even a terrorist (Simon the Zealot).
These are not the people I would have chosen if I wanted to create MY church.
These were not impressive people.
But then God usually isn’t all that impressed by impressive people.
God is not moved by pedigrees, or diplomas, or someone’s status in society.
God isn’t overwhelmed by how much a person puts in the plate on Sunday.
ILLUS: Several years ago Beverly Steele Everett (The Lookout 1/16/83) made the observation that God wasn’t perfect:
God is tone deaf: (did you know that?) He is so tone deaf that He thinks the off key singing of "Jesus Loves Me" by a 5 year old is as beautiful as a solo from "The Messiah" by a trained soprano!
God can’t count: If He could count, He would know better than to accept the dime from a preschooler with the same joy He accepts a thousand dollar donation from a rich man.
God can’t concentrate: He listens to millions of prayers ALL at the same time instead of concentrating on those from famous preachers or important church leaders.
God has poor eyesight: He doesn’t see us as we are, but keeps seeing us as we could be.
What she was saying was this:
The high and mighty people of this world are not the ones who impress God.
Instead He’s impressed by those who are active members of His church.
He is honored by those who honor Him with their lives.
The people who matter to God, are the ones who give Him their lives.
And those are the ones who get their names mentioned.
And that leads me to the 3rd thing I learned from Romans 16.
God didn’t mention the names of pew sitters.
God didn’t waste ink on folks who just “showed up”.
God didn’t save you and I so that we could just set around and get fed. He saved us so that we could learn to feed and care for others.
He saved us so that we’d have a purpose in our lives – so our lives would have meaning.
The people who were mentioned here in Romans 16 were workers.
· “Priscilla and Aquila… risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.”
· “Mary, (I don’t know who this Mary was… but the folks in Rome did) worked very hard for you.”
· “Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women… work hard in the Lord.”
· “Persis, (was) another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.”
· “Apelles was tested and approved in Christ” (he suffered for his faith)
· And a few of these people had church services in their homes.
These were the workers.
These were the “nuts and bolts” of the congregation.
These folks worked hard for God…
And so God honored them, by telling you their names
For all of eternity… their names are listed in your Bible BECAUSE God wanted you to know their names.
As far as I can tell, there aren’t any preachers mentioned in this list (except maybe Aquila)
And no one is identified as an Elder, or prominent teacher in the congregation.
Why would that be?
Well, I believe it’s because the church is not about some famous teacher or preacher.
It’s not about powerful Elders or Deacons.
The church is made up of people who don’t worry about power and position.
The church is made up of people who don’t need a title to get to work for God.
These are the folks who make God’s Church… a REAL church.
So, what kinds of things did these people in Rome do for God?
* Well, I suppose maybe they taught Sunday School
* Maybe they did Jr. Church, or VBS
* Maybe they worked with the Upward Football program
… or maybe…
Well now, come to think of it, they didn’t have stuff like that back then.
They didn’t have Sunday School/ VBS/ Upward football and such.
So – if they didn’t have those things - what did they do for God?
Oh – they probably taught the little ones because their faith was precious to them and they wanted to pass that faith on to their children.
And had Bible studies and church services at their homes and other places.
And they probably spent a great deal of their time praying and telling others about Jesus.
But those things were only part of their focus.
I believe there was one more thing that got God’s attention… and got their names listed in the 16th chapter of Romans. They “took care of each other”.
The Bible tells us that the focal point of God’s desire for the church was that we:
“Love one another” (1 John 3:23, 4:7, 4:11 and so many more).
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).
“Honor one another” (Romans 12:10).
“Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16).
“Let us not judge one another” (Romans 14:13).
“Accept one another” (Romans 15:7).
“Teach one another” (Romans 15:14).
“Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
“Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32).
“Encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25).
“Offer hospitality to one another” (2 Peter 4:9).
The Christians who actively sought to do these things for each other… these were the people who got their names put up in lights.
Now, I want to dwell on one more thing this morning.
If you recall, at the beginning of this message I explained that – over the centuries – many of the words and terms we find in Scripture have been changed and altered.
In the first couple of verses of Romans 16, Paul talks about Phoebe.
She was apparently the person who had brought Paul’s letter to the Roman church.
And Paul tells the Roman Christians to “receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints...”
Worthy of the saints?
What’s a saint?
You are. If you’re a Christian today… you’re a saint.
It’s one of those names that God gave to His people in that day.
· Acts tells us Peter went to the saints in a town named Lydda (Acts 9:32)
· Paul opened his 2nd letter to the Corinthians by addressing it to “the church of God in Corinth, together with all the SAINTS throughout Achaia”
· He did the same thing when he sent his letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and the Thessalonians.
· AND Paul did the same thing with this letter to the Romans, in 1:7 he wrote: “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” Romans 1:7
You didn’t get your name on the list in Romans 16 if you weren’t a saint… because if you weren’t a saint – you weren’t a Christian.
Now, what confuses some people about Christians being saints has been the Catholic practice of giving Sainthood to only select individuals whom they’ve approved. Pope John Paul II was beatified a couple of weeks ago (one of the steps required for those who would become Catholic saints), and may have the honor of being one of the most rapidly approved Catholic Saints in history.
We reject this Catholic tradition… it’s not Biblical.
But the things the Catholics require of their “Saints” are the same things God requires of His saints.
1. One of the most basic requirements for a candidate to Catholic sainthood is to be dead.
You can’t be a Catholic Saint if you’re not dead (usually 5 years).
In the same way, you can’t be a saint for God without dying.
Romans 6:3-7 tells us as much:
“…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
In order to be a saint you have to die.
When something dies what do you do with it?
You bury it.
It’s a fact. If you’ve died to your sins and been buried in the watery grave of baptism and risen up to a new life… you’re a saint.
2ndly a candidate for Catholic sainthood has to have been involved in at least 2 miracles.
And if you’re a Christian here today… that’s true of you.
You’ve been promised specific miracles that no other religion can give. And those miracles were promised to you… and to the 1st people to become Christians at Pentecost.
It tells us in Acts chapter 2 that when the crowd realized their sinful role in putting Jesus on the cross, they cried out…“What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)
And Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
According to that scripture…
· The first miracle that took place after your baptism was the total forgiveness of your sins.
God removed all your shame and guilt in a single moment because of the cleansing power of the blood of His Son Jesus. Those sins no longer exist. God has taken them away and buried them in the very depth of the sea. He’ll never remember them again. That’s a miracle!
· And the 2nd miracle was that God gave you the gift of His Holy Spirit. When you became a Christian, God placed Himself inside of you.
Paul wrote: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Lastly… a Catholic Saint has to be “set apart” by the church.
That’s what “saint” means… someone who has been “set apart.”
ILLUS: The crew that works back in the sound booth are “set apart” from the rest of you. Thus those guys are “saints” (I paused and shrugged – implying most of might not think of them as “saints”).
The Catholic practice of setting apart only special individuals for this honor is a human tradition – it’s NOT Biblical.
But the Bible tells me that once we become Christians… God sets us apart.
The Biblical word for that is “sanctification”.
In I Corinthians 6 Paul gives a laundry list of sinners who would not get into heaven, and then he says:
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were SANCTIFIED, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
And it’s because God has sanctified you (has set you apart) that you’ve become blessed by His forgiveness and that you’re part accepted by Him into His Family – the Church.
In HIS Church… there are no unimportant people
In HIS Church… He knows your name
And in HIS Church… He gives you the opportunity to make a difference in your world.
INVITATION
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Be The Church!
By Scott Bayles
Summary: This is an alliterated, textual sermon on "being the church", using Phoebe as an example. PowerPoint is avaible too, just e-mail me.
BE THE CHURCH!
Scott R. Bayles, pastor
First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL
A mega-church in Vista, California made headlines last October when they canceled all of their worship services over the weekend. Rather then meeting together in an air-conditioned sanctuary, North Coast Church closed its doors for what they called a “Weekend of Service,” providing churchgoers the opportunity to actually show the love of Jesus in their community.
Good morning everyone.
We find oursleves living in an interesting time.
And daily we wait to see what new restrictions are coming into place tomorrow.
And here we are sitting in front of our computers and phones attending Church.
Of the 7,000 believers who attend North Coast Church, over 5,500 of them showed up Sunday morning to live out their commitment as they tackled 139 community service projects at 70 different sites all throughout North San Diego County.
Pastor Larry Osborne, who is the senior pastor of the church, said, “Our weekly service projects and our Weekend of Service is simply one more way to help our members understand that church is what we are, not just something we go to… What we tell people is—this week, we’re going to be the church instead of just going to church.”
We made the decision to have Church via Zoom for a few different reasons.
IT WAS MORE INTIMATE, WE CAN SHARE VIDEOS, POWERPOINTS AND WRITE NOTES TO EACH OTHER.
WE CAN ALSO see each others faces. It would have been easy to direct everyone to a live screen of a service. My inbox was filled with emails offering free videos and live streaming links. But the problem with that is that we wouldn’t have been able to check in on each other.
Now, there is a congregation that understands what church is all about.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO US IS THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY OF OUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SHUTTING DOWN.
One of the places where people are spending a lot of time is on social media.
There have been some funny posts from people during this time.
It was so we could see each others faces. It would have been easy to direct everyone to a live screen of a service. My inbox was filled with emails offering free videos and live streaming links. But the problem with that is that we wouldn’t have been able to check in on each other.
HERE ARE 7 OF THE FUNNIEST I HAVE FOUND
HERE ARE 7 OF THE FUNNIEST I HAVE FOUND
insert 7 slides
insert 7 slides
Finish with one about being late to Church.
.
IT IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE THE CHURCH, WE DON’T GO TO CHURCH.
CHURCH IS NOT just something that you go to for an hour and a half on Sunday morning.
Being up at ready to be at church at 9:30 keeps us in the habit of our Sunday morning routine. With so many things shut down, it is really important to keep up the routine for however long we will be confined to our homes.
There are simply far too many Christians out there who have this mistaken belief that church is just something that you go to for sixty minutes on Sunday morning (assuming the preacher doesn’t go over-time). The truth is—you don’t go to church; you are the church! The church isn’t a place; it’s people! Jesus said…
The church isn’t a place; it’s people!
The church isn’t a place; it’s people!
I want to share with you what Jesus said about His Church.... ABOUT US!
“You are the salt of the earth.” () (just read that)
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world.” ()
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
WE ARE the church LIVING OUT OUR DAILY LIVES IN OUR VERY OWN COMMUNITIES.
It’s up to us (you and me) to be the mouth, the hands, and the feet of Jesus—to be the church especially when everyone is looking around for some hope in this situation.
We can be the bringers of hope.
Of course, getting involved in the community and doing service projects—like the folks at North Coast Church—is only part of what it means to be the church. Being the church also means being like Jesus, being a part of God’s family and giving of ourselves and our means.
To be the positive light in this time.
I want you to think about eveyone that you come in contact with.
Thinking about he conversations that you are having....
Are they conversations that are filled with hope, or are they filled with fear.
For some like Paul Simpson, who works at Centrelink (and is even there as we speak), he is in contact with hundreds of people. I know that he has such a heart for the broken and is always looking for ways to bring hope to people that he meets.
I don’t believe there is anybody in all of Scripture that exemplifies what it means to be the church more clearly or concisely than an often-over-looked woman named Phoebe. While there are no examples in the Bible of the perfect Christian—because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” ()—there is this one woman, mentioned briefly in , that I believe gives us some insight into what God wants from us and what it means to be the church. Let’s read these two short verses together:
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.” ( NIV)
Social, not Relational, Distancing
Social, not Relational, Distancing
We know very little about this godly woman who carried Paul’s letter to the Romans. We just have the brief mention of her name and service. She was named after the Moon-Goddess of the Greeks. The goddess Artemis, known commonly as Phoebe, was supposedly identified with the light of the moon. But the Phoebe whom Paul so highly commended shone as a light for Jesus, the “Light of the World”! In a fifty-three-word parade of praise, Paul gives a beautiful cameo to this saintly servant of Jesus. But what can we learn from someone mentioned only so briefly? We can learn a lot—especially about what it means to “be the church.” Paul, in these two verses, uses three powerful words to describe Phoebe. The first description he bestows on her is “sister.”
One way we do that is to care for one another — all of us, yes, but let me write to Christians for a moment because maybe we need extra reminding. Yes, social distancing is the news of the day, as it should be; however, if we end up distanced from one another, we will be worse off, not better.
• SISTER:
Paul began by saying, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe.” First and foremost, being the church means being a part of God’s family. We may not all be sisters, but we are all spiritual siblings. The Bible says, “Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” ( NCV). Take a moment to let the amazing truth sink in. You are part of God’s family. When you place your faith in Jesus, God becomes your Father, you become his child, other believers become your brothers and sisters, and the church becomes your spiritual family. The red-letter words of Jesus are unmistakable: “Pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, ‘Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother’” ( GWT).
The point is simple. Social distancing is necessary. Relational distancing is not. Let’s seize the opportunity to check on our neighbors. Let’s build a relational bridge when the virus wants to create a social moat.
I’ve said it so many times before—church is about family. It’s about having brothers and sisters who love you, who can come along next to you and see you through life’s trying times. Being included in God’s family is the highest honor and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.
During the coronavirus epidemic, we will be separated. We still have to stick together.
Let’s show who we really are, as Christians in our day. This is our moment.
That’s what family is, isn’t it—a place to belong? Even in the perfect paradise of Eden, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (). We are not meant to live lone-ranger lives; rather, we are created for communion and community. One of the classic hymns and a favorite in many churches still is Lanny Wolfe’s “God’s Family”:
Caring for the Vulnerable
Caring for the Vulnerable
The Christian church is called to sacrificially care for the vulnerable because, as scripture reminds us, Christ first loved us and died for us that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God.
We’re part of the family that’s been born again;
We love others because we understand just how much God has done for us and how he then calls us to live in light of that love.
That is what Christians were known for centuries ago — caring for others. That’s not always been the case, but it has often been.
\
You see, this message of caring for others is laced throughout scripture and central to the very fabric of our Christian faith.
In the Bible, we find commandments like “bearing one another’s burdens” ().
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
It is in doing this that we really show the love of God.
INSERT PIC OF EUSEBIUS
INSERT PIC OF EUSEBIUS
I think moments of crisis define who we truly are and what we truly believe.
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
While everyone is good at talking in times of peace, moments of crisis define who we truly are and what we truly believe. They reveal.
AN ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN IN USA TODAY ABOUT HOW CHRISTIANS RESPONDED IN HISTORY.... HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE
The church historian Eusebius describes a fourth century epidemic that swept through the Roman Empire.
Far from fleeing the cities or shutting off their homes from others, Eusebius records that “all day long [Christians] tended to the dying and to the burial, countless numbers with no one to care for them. Others gather together from all parts of the city a multitude of those withered from famine and distributed bread to them all.”
As a result, Eusebius concludes, “[the Christians’] deeds were on everyone's lips, and they glorified the god of the Christians.”
Faced with what was likely a far more severe pandemic than our own, 4th century Christians modeled a faith that is truly compelling. That pandemic revealed who Christians really were — this one will probably do so as well.
THAT IS WHAT WE CAN DO FACING OUTWARD INTO OUR COMMUNIYT… BY CALLING OUR NEIGHBOURS OR PEOPLE YOU KNOW ARE HOUSEBOUND.
OFFER THEM HELP.
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:
AND AS A CHURCH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US. AS A FAMILY.
Being the church means experiencing life together. And what do we do together?
Part of the family whose love knows no end;
For Jesus has saved us, and makes us His own,
Now we’re part of the family that’s on it’s way home.
And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry;
Well, there’s another Bible phrase that answers that question—one another:
Sometimes we share together, heart-aches and sighs;
AND LOOKING AFTER EACH OTHER.
Sometimes we dream together of how it will be
RINGING EACHOTHER AND CHECKING IN.
When we all get to Heaven, God’s family.
THIS IS WHEN WE REALLY NEED OUR CHURCH FAMILY.
That’s what God’s family is all about—laughing together, crying together, and dreaming together. In fact, the Bible says that Christians are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together, and will be caught up together. There’s a lot of togetherness in God’s family! Being the church means experiencing life together. And what do we do together? Well, there’s another Bible phrase that answers that question—one another:
What does the Bible say about caring for those of us inour Chruch familu.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
“Love one another” ().
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” ().
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
“Honor one another” ().
“Live in harmony with one another” ().
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
“Let us not judge one another” ().
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
“Accept one another” ().
Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
“Greet one another with a holy kiss” ().
“Teach one another” ().
I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.
“Serve one another in love” ().
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another” ().
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
“Encourage one another” ().
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
2 Peter 4:9
“Love one another” (, , and so many more).
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.
It takes both God’s power and our effort to produce a loving Christian community. Being the church meaning being a family and living out these “one another” verses on a daily basis. Let’s make that our goal as God’s family.
• SAINT:
Paul told the Roman Christians to “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints.” In other words, roll out the red carpet, bring on the confetti, throw your arms wide open and wrap them around her when she gets there! Why? A saint is coming to town. Despite popular opinion, you don’t have to perform any miracles or be canonized in order to become a saint. Every one of us are saints from the time we are born again. At that moment God sanctifies us; he makes us holy. A saint is any person who has been sanctified by God. In fact, Paul addressed this letter “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” ().
If you are in God’s family, then you are a saint. Of course, that doesn’t mean you will always act like a saint. Sainthood, or being sanctified, is an ongoing lifelong process. Put very simply, sanctification is the process of becoming like Christ. The Bible says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more” ( TLB). Both being the church and being a saint mean becoming like Jesus. God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. You were created to become like Christ. But the thing is—you cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength. New Year’s resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives.
Do you sometimes wonder why you aren’t more like Jesus? Let me answer that with another question. Have you ever noticed how couples who’ve been married for a long time start to look alike? After so many years or decades of togetherness, they start to have the same mannerisms, the same inflection in their voice, even the same facial expressions. The more time you spend with someone the more you become like that person. So, how much time do you spend with Jesus? How much time to you spend praying and talking with God about life’s failures and successes? How often do you open your Bible and just listen to what he has to say? More than anything else, I think the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make you more like the Son of God.
But we have to open to it, we have to want it, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit. How does that happen in real life? Through spending time in prayer, through reading our Bibles, through personal and public worship, but also through the choices and decisions we make. I know it sounds cliché, but ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”
What if, for one day, Jesus lived your life for you?
ant of the church.” The word used here for “servant” is the Greek word diakonos, which is usually translated “deacon” or “minister.” The point, however, is not that she held a special position or title, but that she served her local church in a variety of ways. In the next verse, Paul says, “Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me” (vs. 2 TLB). Being the church means helping out; it means being a servant.
What if, for twenty-four hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, and assumes your schedule? Your boss becomes his boss, your kids become his kids, and your headaches become his headaches. Your health doesn’t change. Your circumstances don’t change. Your schedule isn’t altered. Your problems aren’t solved. Only one thing changes.
What if, for one day and night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off and your life is led by the heart of Christ. What would you be like? Would people notice a difference? Your family—would they see something new? Your co-workers—would they sense a change? And how about you? What alterations would this heart transplant have on your stress levels? Your mood swings? Your temper? Would you sleep better? Would you see sunsets differently?
Adjust the lens of your imagination until you have a clear picture of Jesus leading your life, then snap the shutter and frame the picture. What you see is what God wants. The Bible says, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” ( NCV). The heart of Christ-likeness is having a heart like Christ. God’s plan for you is nothing short of a new heart. Long before Jesus walked the streets of Galilee, God promised, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you” ( NLT).
God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. He wants you to have a heart like his. That’s what it means to be the church. But we’re not quite done. Paul had one last adjective for Phoebe. He calls her a servant.
• SERVANT:
Once again, Paul says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church.” The word used here for “servant” is the Greek word diakonos, which is usually translated “deacon” or “minister.” The point, however, is not that she held a special position or title, but that she served her local church in a variety of ways. In the next verse, Paul says, “Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me” (vs. 2 TLB). Being the church means helping out; it means being a servant.
North Coast Church is a wonderful example of a service orientated church, but they aren’t the only ones. This October, churches everywhere will be canceling their regularly scheduled meetings, in order to “be the church,” to participate in local community service projects all across the country. But you don’t have to engage in a major community project in order to be a servant. You don’t even have to leave the building. There are ample opportunities for you to be a “servant of the church” right here.
[take a few moments to describe ministry/service oppertunities avaible in your own church. also, remember to commend those who already serve]
The list could literally go on and on. But listen, the point is—being the church requires us to help out in what ever way we’re needed. I know that most of you haven’t been a part of our church family for very long, others may feel like they aren’t qualified to teach a class, or your afraid to speak in public, or your life is already so busy, but it all goes back to that same question: “What would Jesus do?” Or rather, “What would Jesus have me do?” Choose to do what God wants you to do and then trust his Spirit to give you the power, love, courage or wisdom you need to do it.
Robert J. Morgan once told the story of a preacher who was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, like committee work, teaching, or other such things. I just won’t be available for special projects or to help with setting up chairs or things like that. I just want to sit through Sunday worship and then go on about my business.”
The minister thought for a moment, and then replied, “I believe you’re at the wrong church. The church you’re looking for is three blocks down the street, on the right.” The man followed the preacher’s directions and soon came to an abandoned, boarded up closed down church building. It was a dead church—gone out of business.
That’s what happens to churches that don’t have servants. Being the church means being a servant. Phoebe was a servant of the church, she had a servant heart. We would all do well to live by her example.
Conclusion:
Church isn’t something that opens or closes with a prayer. Church isn’t just something you attend; it’s something you are.
Church isn’t a place; it’s people.
What does it mean to “be the church”?
NOW FOR SOME…
SOME POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN ISOLATION.
bbc news story:
This is going to be a broad invitation. If you want to be a part of our church family or if you aren’t sure whether or not you are a part of it yet and you you’d like to know, then this invitation is for you. If you need some help developing a Christ-like heart, then this invitation is for you. Or if you are willing to be a servant rather than a spectator—meaning if you want to volunteer to help out in any capacity (giving communion talks, leading songs at a song service, you want to learn how to prepare a sermon, you want to help with the children’s program, fixing pipes, cleaning floors, laying tile, or any other kind service what-so-ever)—I want to invite you to take a step of faith, come to the front, and after our closing hymn, we’ll get you pointed in the right direction.
Coronavirus: Creativity, kindness and canals offer hope amid outbreak
We appreciate that these are dark times for people around the world, as the coronavirus continues to spread. Numbers of infections and fatalities are rising, cities and even countries are shutting and many people are being forced into isolation. But amid all the worrying news, there have also been reasons to find hope.
1. Polution drops
1. Polution drops
As countries go into lockdown over the virus, there have been significant drops in pollution levels.
Both China and northern Italy have recorded major falls in nitrogen dioxide - a serious air pollutant and powerful warming chemical - amid reduced industrial activity and car journeys.
Researchers in New York also told the BBC that early results showed carbon monoxide, mainly from cars, had been reduced by nearly 50% compared with last year.
And with airlines cancelling flights en masse and millions working from home, countries around the world are expected to follow this downward path.
2. Canals go clear
2. Canals go clear
On a similar note, residents of Venice have noticed a vast improvement in the water quality of the famous canals running through the city.
The streets of the popular tourist destination in northern Italy have emptied amid the outbreak leading to a drastic drop in water traffic, which has allowed sediment to settle.
The usually murky water has gone so clear that fish can even be seen.
3. Acts of kindness - 2 photos
3. Acts of kindness - 2 photos
There are plenty of stories of panic buying and fights over toilet roll and tins, but the virus has also spurred acts of kindness around the world.
Two New Yorkers amassed 1,300 volunteers in 72 hours to deliver groceries and medicine to elderly and vulnerable people in the city.
Facebook said hundreds of thousands of people in the UK had joined local support groups set up for the virus, while similar groups have been formed in Canada, sparking a trend there known as "caremongering".
Supermarkets in Australia are among those to create a special "elderly hour" so older shoppers and those with disabilities have a chance to shop in peace.
People have also donated money, shared recipe and exercise ideas, sent uplifting messages to self-isolating elderly people and transformed businesses into food distribution centres.
There is also a growing group of people who are adding stories to a movement called: Kindness Pandemic.
All this came about because of the COVID19
The Kindness Pandemic Founder Dr Catherine Barrett says she set up her Facebook page to “inspire people to share acts of kindness with each other”. Ms Barrett said she decided to set up the page to provide an alternative to the “angst about coronavirus, panic buying and bad behavior in supermarkets” which she constantly found on her own social media feed. “A number of people were calling out for people to be kind to each other and to hold onto that sense of shared humanity,” she told Sky News host Jacinta Tynan. Ms Barrett said a culture of kindness “isn’t accidental… and you’ve got to make it happen”. When Ms Barrett first started the page, she chose to focus on acts of kindness for supermarket employees and since has started a number of campaigns including a recent call “for acts of kindness for health care workers”.
4. A united front
4. A united front
Between a hectic work and home life it is often easy to feel disconnected from those around you. As the virus affects us all, it has brought many communities around the world closer together.
In Italy, where a countrywide lockdown is in place, people have joined together on their balconies for morale-boosting songs.
A fitness instructor in southern Spain led an exercise class from a low roof in the middle of an apartment complex, which residents in isolation joined from their balconies.
Many people have used the opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones over phone or video calls, while groups of friends have organised virtual clubbing or pub sessions using mobile apps AND THEN THERE IS US..... HAVING CHURCH WHILE WE ARE SITTING IN OUR LOUNGES.
The virus has also highlighted the importance of health workers and other people working in key services. Thousands of Europeans have taken to their balconies and windows to applaud the doctors and nurses fighting the virus, while medical students in London have volunteered to help healthcare professionals with childcare and household chores.
5. A creativity boom
5. A creativity boom
With millions of people now stuck in isolation, many are using the opportunity to get creative.
Social media users have shared details of their new hobbies, including reading, baking, knitting and painting.
Just yeserday we were out walking and never have we seen so many families out and about getting some fresh air.
An art teacher in the US state of Tennessee has been live-streaming classes for children who are out of school, inspiring them to get creative at home.
And while many public spaces have been shut, art fans have been making the most of virtual tours offered by the world's biggest galleries, observing the famous paintings of the Louvre in Paris and the classic sculptures of the Vatican museum from their living rooms.
Australia's Sydney Observatory offered a tour of the night sky for people stuck at home.
SO WHILE THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH DURING THIS TIME,
REMEMBER THAT WITH GOD, THERE IS ALWAYS GOOD THAT CAN COME OUT OF ANY SITUAITN.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
AND FOR US,
WE WILL CONTINUE MEETING AT 9.30 ON SUNDAYS AS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP THE ROUTINE.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Romans
WE WILL CONTINUE MEETING AT 9.30 ON SUNDAYS AS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP THE ROUTINE.
Being up at ready to be at church at 9:30 keeps us in the habit of our Sunday morning routine. With so many things shut down, it is really important to keep up the routine for however long we will be confined to our homes.
BRAD WILL FINISH WITH COMMUNION.
FINISH WITH WAYMAKER