We are Still the Church
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Handout
HOOK
HOOK
Unprecedented
Uncertainty
Fear
Changing how the church gathers together
But we must persevere
Because the church is not a building— it is not brick and mortar
It is the Body of Christ
It’s all of us— honoring God no matter our circumstance— any place, any time, any day
We are still the church
In this season of great uncertainty— we don’t know what to expect
Last Sunday we gleaned on the story of the 12 spies when they were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan— they too didn’t know what to expect
They went anyway— and after 40 days— they returned with with opposing views of Canaan
10 of the 12 spies were terrified by what they saw— only 2— Joshua and Caleb were excited for what they believed— they look at things through their eyes of faith
When Paul talked about present weakness and resurrection he said…
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
I wonder how many Calebs & Joshuas we do have in our church?
Joshuas & Calebs who keeps in their minds what is unchanging— the Word
Joshuas & Calebs who believe that God is with them through this crisis
Joshuas & Calebs who saw the “end game” through their eyes of faith
Joshuas & Calebs who knows that God wants to use them to help others
More than a week ago we scrambled finding ways and making plans in response to the government guidelines to mitigate the spread of Corona virus
We paused and we pivot from the dilemma of not being able to to gather and worship together— so we went online!
But that was not the crisis— the crisis was not our inability to hold Sunday Services like we normally do
The crisis was not the inability of our people to give their tithes & offerings— that was not the crisis— YET!
The number of people infected with corona virus is consistently growing— a couple of days ago, our country [USA] has now the largest number of confirmed cases with corona virus
We already surpassed China where the virus originally came from— they’re just in the process of intensifying testings— my personal presumption, which I think many of you will agree— there’s a lot of people out there that are infected— they just don’t know about it due to inaccessibility of tetings
Now, where am I going with this?— am I being like the 10 spies? Full of negativities?— Of course not!— realities and negativities are two different things—
There are factors to consider— Facts— Fear— Faith
After the 12 spies gathered the facts— they came back— 10 of the 12 returned with “fear”, while only 2 [Joshua & Caleb] returned full of “faith”
I really wonder how many Calebs & Joshuas we do have in our church?
If you consider yourself as a Caleb or Joshua, raise your right hand!
To those who are Joshuas & Calebs— here’s my reminder to you
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
And to those who are terrified just like the 10 spies— let me tell you this
4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
When fear come knocking on you door, send faith to answer
We have to believe in God and we have to trust on each other
We were once lost— but now we’re found— like the Gentiles reconciled with the Jews
We are no longer foreigners, but fellow citizens with God’s people— members of His family
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets— with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone
We are joined [past tense] together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord
We are being [present tense] built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit
WE ARE “STILL” THE CHURCH
WE ARE “STILL” THE CHURCH
Let me tell you what the church is NOT:
Church is not an event to attend to, but a family to belong with
Church is not a structure stuck in one location, it is a movement that goes beyond destinations
Church is not an organization— it is an organism— it’s alive— and when it’s healthy— it grows exponentially!
Church is not a source of entertainment— it is an “inter-attainment” where members attains [in other words] achieves or accomplish goals mutually/reciprocally.
Church is not ran by programs— it runs programs
Church is not a denomination— it is unificattion
Let’s take a look at some passages today that pertains to what the church is, and why it is here for?
BOOK
BOOK
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
LOOK
LOOK
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
NO LONGER FOREIGNERS — In contrast to their previous status
Gentiles [non-Jewish descent] are now included in the people of God through His generosity in Christ
FELLOW CITIZENS WITH GOD’S PEOPLE— the Gentiles [including us] who believe in Jesus were naturalized citizens of God People through the visa stamped with the blood of Jesus
MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD— Members of His family [local & universal] — I became a US citizen, and a resident of California
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS— Refers to the early leaders of the Church who imparted God’s message to the people.
The apostles include the 12 apostles who knew Jesus during His earthly ministry [with Matthias replacing Judas Iscariot]
CORNERSTONE— Refers to the first and most important stone laid in a new building.
Proper placement of a cornerstone ensured a straight and level foundation— this metaphor shows Christ’s central role in the Church
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
IN HIM THE WHOLE BUILDING IS JOINED TOGETHER— Jesus is who joined us together
Notice that it was past tense— first, Jesus joined us together and in a minute, when I go to the next verse, you’ll see that after we’re joined together, we are being [present tense] built together
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
IN HIM YOU TOO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER— We are “being” built together
The challenges brought forth to our church by this Corona crisis is “being” used by God to build us together as church
TOOK
TOOK
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO TRUST AND WORSHIP GOD
5 Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you;
5 Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you;
We can’t trust our cash, career, capabilities— We can’t even just simply trust our confidence—
Remember the Serenity Prayer?— God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
Help is on the way!
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER
9 So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest. 10 So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.
9 So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest. 10 So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.
I was invited by Bro. Mike last night at their online fellowship with some men in PI— after sharing my testimony, I was asked what was my favorite life verse— and this is it!
I encourage the younger members of our church to reach to the elderly ones and offer whatever help they extend for they are the most susceptible to this virus
I saw a picture of Anna responding to my encouragement— she accompanied Mommy Elita to Costco. Great job!
Young ones do not let this chance to do good passes you— specially to the members of our church family
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO SERVE AND MINISTER TO OTHERS
10 God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.
10 God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.
Your BOE had a special meeting last Monday night and among the things we agreed was to make plans how we can hep our congregation and our community
God provides! During my meeting with my fellow Fefam Pastors more than a week ago, we gained access to free food from San Diego Food Bank courtesy of Pastor Alex and Sis. Irene Achacoso of Old Town Community Church
We mobilized a team to handle this free food delivery ministry— Pastor Ricthie and Anna responded to the call— I’m not sure of the count, but they were already re-supplied twice— and they will continue to do so on a weekly basis
If you need some free food, don’t be shy— just text or call Pastor Ritchie or Anna
If you don’t need free food and you know of somebody that needs ‘em, do the same thing— get in touch with Pastor Ritchie or Anna and they’ll be glad to deliver
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO ADOPT CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DO CHURCH
46 They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, 47 praising God. The whole city was favorable to them, and each day God added to them all who were being saved.
God is revolutionizing “house churches”— some calls this “paradigm shift”— I call it shift to how it was before originally.
Out of this Pandemic crisis I can see Pandemic revival— if you look at the history of the church, it was when they were scattered— when they were dispersed that they grew not just spiritually, but also numerically— in great numbers!
One of the major challenges of Christian missions is logistics— unlike last century when mission funds are abundant, missionaries had very significant accomplishment planting churches— but as the the mission funds becomes scarce, the more that it became difficult to plant churches
But that’s not the case for Agape Missions— this Corona crisis is a very clear confirmation of the vision God gave to Agape 5 years ago
Building communities [small groups | house churches] using the gift of technology— it’s not free! But the investment is very minimal and the per capita in terms of numbers of soul saved is amazing!
We’ve started our Online Ministries about 2 years ago and the outcome is very promising!— Remember, every soul saved through Jesus, worth all the effort!
I encourage you to worship together as a family in your houses. Join us every Sunday at 10:25am— and to simulate our after-church fellowship— we will have an “after-church” fellowship online at Google “Hangouts” right after this service— link to the online fellowship is posted in all social media and church website.
PRAYER
PRAYER
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO TRUST AND WORSHIP GOD
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER
WE ARE BEING BUILT TO ADOPT CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DO CHURCH
Let’s praise the Father— let’s praise the Son— lets praise the Spirit
Let’s pray for the reconciliation of the lost
Let’s us pray for God to redeem His creation
I wanna pray for all of you…