SF365 - THE CHURCH THAT CHRIST BUILT (Matthew 16 13-20)
SF365
THE CHURCH THAT CHRIST BUILT
MATTHEW 16:13‑20
INTRODUCTION
This is the inception of the New Testament Church
Built upon the rock solid truth of who Jesus is
The church has been given the keys to the Kingdom
The plan of salvation
We have lost sight of the true nature and function of the church
We need to remember...
1A. WHAT THE CHURCH IS
1B. The Creation Of Christ
Matthew 16:18
1 Cor 12:18 ..But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
2B. The Living Body Of Christ
1 Cor 12:27..Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
3B. Under The Headship Of Christ
Eph 4:15‑16..we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
4B. Interdependent Relationship
1 Corinthians 12:12‑13, 27
5B. On Mission with Christ To Redeem The World
1 Cor 3:9..For we are God's fellow workers...
2 Cor 5:19‑20..that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us...
2A. WHO THE CHURCH IS...
God Wants His People to...
1B. Be Holy and Pure
1 Pet 1:14‑16..As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Phil 2:14‑16..Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life‑‑in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
2B. Display Unity
1 Cor 12:25..so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
Eph 4:3..Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
John 17:20,21, 23 .."My prayer is ...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
3B. Love Each Other
John 13:35..By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
1 John 3:11..This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1 John 3:23..And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
3A. HOW THE CHURCH IS TO FUCTION
Rom 12:5..so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1B. No One Individual can know all of God's Will for a Local Church
The Parable of the Train Tracks
The eyes sees no problem. The ear hears the train. The feet feel the rumble...
2B. A Church needs to hear the Whole Counsel of God through its Members
We are to share what God has revealed to us concerning His will for His body.
The whole body then looks to Christ for guidance.
3B. Christ will guide all the Members of His Body to understand His Will
We must be willing to wait until God speaks to His body as a whole
APPLICATION
What we are ‑ His Body
Who we are ‑ Called out ones
How we function ‑ In unity under Him!