The Church-knowing Christ
The Church-Knowing Christ
Intro-learning/teaching
Acts 2:42-They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teachings…
Learning about God is an important thing we do as a church: learning from the Apostles, learning from one another
Important to keep Biblical basis…learn from those who knew Jesus
Tangent-Justin & Ashley: pray blessing. Offer book about one another
-everything about them; can put it down; ignore parts don’t like
Offer Bible to congregation
Often approach study as way of gaining knowledge.
Bible book of information and rules. What “learning” means to us not same as to people in Bible. Not about gaining knowledge, facts and rules.
The Bible does contain good rules to live by….Great Commandment.
Bible much more than this..story of God interacting with mankind…leading up to life of Jesus. Reveals himself…his character to us. Need to know him…what’s he doing in our lives, lives of people around us.
Learning in the church is about developing a real relationship with Jesus-knowing him not knowing about him
- Need to KNOW Him: Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Mat 7:22-23 NIV)
- How can we know Jesus? the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
(Joh 14:17 NIV)
- Small group: more than just going through a study together-we take our time-see how this really affects our lives-what does this really mean. Starts with digging into bible together-grounded in this-but goes beyond that to sharing our experiences with Jesus with one another, asking what that means for us. Beauty of this-can join in anytime. Don’t have to know anything in advance..we are all at different points on the journey. Don’t even have to be there every week…just come when able. It’s not about meeting certain study requirements…it’s all about progressing in our relationship from wherever we are right now..
-Studying bible on own-may be times where you need to read through the whole bible in a year just to get an overview on it. May be times where you need to focus on a specific chapter for a year..get really in depth with something you are trying to understand.
Implications
-Can’t put a spouse/parent/child away until have time for them
-interacting/growing-always new things to learn
-God always present in our lives-need to pay attention for healthy relationship
-There will be struggles-things don’t like…need to struggle through them together.
-Can’t just ignore parts of Jesus we are not comfortable with.
-Takes work-need to put effort into relationship
-can take each other for granted (She’s fine…don’t need to go out of my way for her)
-intentionally look for ways to build love and desire for one another-remind self of wedding day/kids’ birth/days of adoring parents…things that build & deepen desire for one another-more mature kind of love.
It is worth the effort: Struggling together through ups/downs…really getting to know one another-creates real oneness in marriage…begin to act as a unit…develop a deeper /unquenchable and unbreakable love for one another.
- For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
(Gen 2:24 NIV)
Oneness in marriage-oneness with Christ
-In marriage you have one another to depend upon: life gets tough
-Need Jesus, not just info about him. Intentionally remind self that He’s there and who you are to him.
Video: That’s my king
Never too late to begin…or restart/rekindle old relationship. Pick up your bible..take one of ours if you need one…begin reading. If need a guide-Life Journal…other reading plans also available. Get around others –small groups-..find someone who can mentor you…