Why OneChurch?

Intro

Over the last number of weeks, we’ve been asking the question, ‘Why Church?’ and I hope you’ve been challenged and encouraged by some of the answers we’ve given.

We started by saying that the church is a movement, a global movement focused on changing people’s lives for eternity. Jesus said that he came to give life and life abundant and I think that phrase is so powerful. It is why the church can stand up for human rights, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, care for the sick. The core belief is that all of humanity is made in the image and likeness of God, and everyone has immeasurable worth. Because of that fact, anything we do to enhance life in fact falls under the movement and mission of God.

Then we moved into the message of God. We talked about how sin is a wrong relationship with God, and all the wrong actions and attitudes come out of that wrong relationship. By nature, humanity rebels against God and tries to go their own way. Jesus died to take away that sin, to redeem that relationship with God. But Jesus didn’t just die to away sin, but he came back to life to give us new life, new relationship with God the Father.

Now the reality is that if you go to any bible believing, Christ following church, you will find a commitment to being a part of the movement and the message. The message and the movement are universal for any church that declares Jesus as Lord and Savior.

This morning I want to dive into a more directed question; Why OneChurch? Why do you come to this church? What sets us apart? What has God called us to? Why do you pick this church above all others?

As we step into this new season, I want us all on the same page as to what is expected and what to expect moving forward.

Question 1: What is the role of the church in your life?

Discuss amongst yourself or share your answers in the comment section for those watching online. What is the role of the church in your life? Be honest. As with anything, you only hurt yourself if you lie. Even if the honest truth is an answer you don’t think I will like or you don’t like yourself, how you answer this question is really a starting point for all other discussion. As with anything, we need to practice self-awareness, and it is questions like this that shine light on areas of strength or areas that need work. So give me the honest answer, what is the role of the church in your life?

This question leads us to the mission of OneChurch. Obviously the big mission of OneChurch is the same as any bible believing church;

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

that is the base mission of every church, and every person who declares themselves a follower of Jesus. Go make more followers, get them baptized, and teach them to be followers. This is what we talked about last week, salvation is more then a prayer you pray once, get your gold star, and call it good. After you declare Jesus as your Savior, there’s more to it. There’s baptism, and then there is the teaching this new believer how to succeed.

I believe so passionately that this is the area we have not always done well. As the church in general, we get people to pray the prayer and then hope they make it. I believe it so passionately that I’ve actually made it our mission statement. Want to know what we are all about here at OneChurch? Here it is:

To Equip People to Live an Effective Life with Bold Faith

Hebrews 13:20–21 CSB

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

I want us to be an equipping church. We are always going to be about seeing the lost get saved. We are always going to be about seeing people get baptized. But we are going to be the church where you to come to get equipped with everything you need to live effectively and faithfully.

why use the word equip?

Equipping - providing of all necessary facilities for achieving a task.

last week I said that we are all called to something. As we draw near to God, and allow that relationship to become all consuming, we begin to align our lives with God’s plan for our lives. Psalm 139 says that all my days were planned in your book before even one began. Life becomes an adventure to discover what that calling is, and we are going to be the church that helps you along the way.

Now if God has called us to something, would it not stand to reason that he has already equipped us? Would God make a plan for our lives without giving us everything we need to succeed? The simple answer; yes he has equipped you.

1) He has given you a calling

Proverbs 29:18 CSB

Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy.

- The KJV says, where there is no vision, the people perish. God has given you a plan and a direction. He has placed a purpose in your heart, and you have your heading in life. Many people spend their entire life trying to figure out the meaning of life, but you know the God who gives the purpose and the plan.

2) He has equipped you with spiritual gifts.

Romans 12:6–8 CSB

According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

not only do you have your natural talents and interests, but God has given you spiritual gifts. The kind of gifts that will help you accomplish more then natural ability can take you. Where you can spend time and learn to do just about anything, spiritual gifts are something you receive from God, and there is nothing you can do to earn them.

3) He has equipped you with the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

If we are to be in a relationship with God, it is important to not only speak to Him, but to know what He says back. The bible is the primary way that God speaks to us. Why? Because God will never contradict himself. This is the single most important thing we need to accomplish the plan and purpose that God has laid on our lives.

4) He has empowered us with his Holy Spirit

Acts 4:31 CSB

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Ephesians 1:13 CSB

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.

when you believed the Good News, the message of the church, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. With that seal, God himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit, came to dwell within you. That Holy Spirit that seals you is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, the same Spirit that sustains all of creation.

So what is the role of church?

if God has already equipped you with everything you need to live an effective life with bold faith, what’s the church’s job?

You have a calling on your life, but do you know what it is? Can you say with absolute confidence that this is my calling? If you can’t, we’re going to help you with that. We’re going to do training sessions that help you discover your role in God’s movement.

You have spiritual gifts that set your apart to accomplish amazing things in the name of Jesus, but do you know what they are? Do know how to use to them? We going to help you with that. We’re going to create safe space for you to practice and become more confident in the gifts that God has given you, and how those gifts all work together.

God says that the word of God is living and active, sharper then any two-edged sword that cuts to bone and marrow. This is a weapon. You might read the bible, but do you know how to read it for all it’s worth? We’re going to show you how to get the most out of the Word of God, and how to apply it to your life in practical ways.

You have been empowered by the Holy Spirit, but what does that mean? How does it impact my life? How does it make a difference? We’re going to teach you to pray, how to deepen your relationship with God. We want everyone to experience the all-consuming richness of the connection we can have with our Heavenly Father.

You have everything you need for the life God has called you to. We are going to help you figure out exactly what you got and how it all works together to live the life God has planned for you.

Some of you have huge plans for your life, and when you thought you had it all figured out, someone told you it was impossible. Can we be the church of the impossible? Can we develop a reputation of being a bunch of people who are big dreamers because we follow a God who dreams bigger than us? Can we be the church that sets out to do the impossible because we read in Scripture that in God, all things are possible for those who believe? Can we be that kind of church?

Question 2: Which of those 4 areas are you most interested to grow in? Are there specific things you’re curious about?

Here’s the catch...

as we begin to step into this mission of equipping people, there will quickly emerge two groups of people: there will be those who are being equipped, and those doing the equipping. Depending on the stage of life and faith you are at, you will be in one of those two groups. You may change from time to time, going from equipper to being equipped and back again, and that is fine. Life is supposed to be a journey of constant growth. What I don’t want is for you to stay in the being equipped group the whole time.

Hebrews 5:12 CSB

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.

As you are equipped, it comes with the expectation that you will then equip others.

Why OneChurch? Because we are going to be the place you go to not only discover everything God has planned for you, but you also get to help others discover God’s plan for them.

Why OneChurch? Because we are going to equip you to live an effective life with bold faith. How are we going to do that? By helping you discover all the things God has already equipped you with for the life he has planned for you.

Let’s pray.