SF249 - LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH (Matthew 16 13-20)

SF249

Cornerstone 2/91

LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH

Matthew 16:13-20

INTRODUCTION

The Church is a living organism

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)  "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

1A. THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH

1B. Called People

"Ekklesia" = called out

•"People set aside for God and His glory."

•"A body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ who have banded together to carry out the commission of Jesus Christ."

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2B. Conspicuous People

"church" used 115 times in the NT

•20 times = the total body of redeemed

•95 times = a local congregation of believing people

3B. Committed

A Relationship

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)  "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Husband ‑ Bride

•If you love Christ you will love His bride.

•"The world has yet to see what God can do through one man whose life is totally committed to Him."  D.L. Moody

•This is true for a local church.

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2A. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

Matt 28:19‑20

Fulfill The Mission Of Christ

One verb "Make disciples"

Can only be carried out by people not a building!

3A. THE PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH

1B. Exalt The Savior

Colossians 1:18 (NIV)  "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

1C. He is to have preeminence

2C. We are to lift Him up

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2B. Equip The Saints

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)  "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"

1C. To do the work of the ministry

2C. To build up the body of Christ

3B. Evangelize The Sinner

1C. Share Christ effectively

2C. Share Christ frequently

3C. Share Christ honestly

Mark 16:15 (NIV)  "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

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4B.  Extend The Kingdom

Acts 1:8 (NIV)  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""

1C.  Local missions

2C.  Home missions

3C.  Foreign missions

CONCLUSION

Be Careful Not To Major On Just One

We Must Do All Four!