SF722 - HOME SWEET CHURCH - 2 THE BASICS OF LIFE (Hebrews 13 20-21)
Hebrews 13:20-21
Introduction
Basic Equipment
Ø You would not try to fly across the Pacific in a hand glider.
Ø You would not try to play golf with a baseball bat.
Ø You would not try to fight a forest fire with a squirt gun.
Ø You've got to use the right equipment in life
Basic Training
Ø You would not attempt to fly a 747 without training
Ø You need training and instruction to play golf
Ø You need training to be a fire fighter
The Same Principle is true for Life
We need the right equipment and training
In the first message, we talked about the owner's manual.
Ø We looked at the four ways scripture works in our lives.
Ø We looked at five ways we are to use the Bible in our lives
Today we are going to look at the Church and learn that God has given us a spiritual family to equip and train us for life.
Ø You need supportive relationships if you are going to make it in life.
The Church provides for supportive Relationships
When you were born physically, you joined the human family, the human race.
When you are born spiritually, you join God's family.
(1 Peter 1:3 NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
The church is a family
(1 Timothy 3:14-15 NCV) "Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now. {15} Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth."
Ø Just like we need our human families, we need our spiritual families
The key is the “support and foundation” the church provides.
Ø What happens when a building does not have support or foundation? It collapses.
Ø God is saying, you will not make it in the Christian life without a church family.
The Christian life is not just a matter of believing but it includes belonging
HOW WILL A CHURCH FAMILY EQUIP US FOR LIFE?
God has five purposes for your life.
He designed the church to be the instrument that helps you achieve these five purposes.
1A. My Church Family will help me Focus on God through Worship
(Matthew 22:37-38 NIV) "Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' {38} This is the first and greatest commandment."
1B. Why we Worship at West Haven
Worship places the emphasis on God not on man
Worship expresses our love for God
Worship strengthens our relationship with God
Worship keeps the rest of life in perspective
2B. How we Worship at WHBC
(Psalms 34:3 NIV) "Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together."
Celebration
Ø We celebrate because it is a happy thing to know the Lord.
(Psalms 122:1 NCV) "I was happy when they said to me, "Let's go to the Temple of the LORD.""
Ø This is a celebration service not a memorial service.
Inspiration
Ø Many of us when we come to church we suffer from the "four F's": Fear, Failure, Frustration, and Fatigue.
Ø It is our purpose to try to refresh you, to encourage you.
Preparation.
Ø Worship always precedes service.
2A. My Church Family will help me Face Life’s Problems through Fellowship
1B. God made you for Fellowship
(Genesis 2:18 NIV) "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.""
One of life’s greatest fears is being alone.
Everyone needs someone!
2B. God has designed WHBC for Fellowship
To encourage us when we become discouraged
(Hebrews 10:25 NIV) "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
To strengthen us when we are weak
Ø No one can make it on his own.
(Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV) "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Just like the old illustration of a campfire. If you have a bunch of hot coals in a campfire, they are all red and they are all hot. You take one of those coals out, put it over by itself it grows cold, and it looses its heat, its fire. But if you take that coal and put it back in the campfire it gets warm again. If you don't get around other Christians on a regular basis, if you're not part of a fellowship then you grow cold spiritually and the fire and enthusiasm goes out of your life
To support one another
(Galatians 6:2 NCV) "By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ."
3A. My Church family will help me Fortify my Faith through Discipleship
1B. The Bible commands us to Grow Spiritually
(Hebrews 6:1 NIV) "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, …"
(1 Peter 2:2 NIV) "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,"
(2 Peter 3:18 NIV) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. …."
2B. The Bible tells us how to Grow Spiritually
First we get knowledge, we learn the content of the Bible. Then we gain perspective, we begin to see life from God's point of view. Then we develop convictions, beliefs and values that change our behavior. Then we sharpen our skills. Practice the Word of God in our lives. That produces character.
3B. WHBC provides the Environment and Opportunity for Spiritual Growth
(Ephesians 3:10 NIV) "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…"
Everything grows better in a warm, supportive environment!
In small group Bible Study - Sunday School
In specialized Bible Study - WNA, Men’s & Ladies’ groups, and special seminars.
4A. My Church Family will help me Find my Ministry
(Ephesians 2:10 NIV) "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
1B. God has made you for Ministry - You have your own SHAPE
Spiritual gifts, supernatural abilities for service
Heart, a passion for certain types of ministry
Abilities, natural abilities that God can use
Personality, who you are and how you relate
Experiences, education, vocation, spiritual…
2B. WHBC will help you Develop your Ministry
(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"
Through opportunities to work along side experienced teachers and ministers
Through special training opportunities
Through the pulpit ministry
Through CLASS 301 - Discovering you Ministry
5A. My Church Family will help me Fulfill my Life’s Mission through Missions Involvement
(Acts 20:24 NCV) "I don't care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me--to tell people the Good News about God's grace."
1B. We are here on Purpose and for a Purpose
We are to be living witnesses
(Matthew 5:16 NIV) "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
We are to be a verbal witness
(Matthew 10:32 NIV) ""Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven."
Why does God leave us here on earth after we become Christians? We can pray in Heaven, sing in Heaven, worship in Heaven, have fun in Heaven, eat in Heaven, relax in Heaven. There are only two things you can't do in Heaven: sin and tell others about Christ, because they all know Him. Which of those two do you think God leaves you here on earth to do? Not to sin. He leaves you here to tell other people.
2B. WHBC provides Training and Opportunities for you to Witness
Evangelism Explosion training
Monday and Wednesday Outreach Ministries
Evangelism seminars and classes
Opportunities through our men’s and ladies’ ministries
Mission ’98 and special offerings
Application
These are the five benefits of having a church family.
It helps me focus on God, face life's problems, fortify my faith, find my ministry and fulfill my life's mission.
If you do not become a part of a local church family where are you going to get these benefits?
Church membership is based on Commitment
It begins with a commitment to Christ
(John 1:12-13 NIV) "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Ø Your physical birth made you part of the human family
Ø Your spiritual birth will make you part of God’s family
It continues with a commitment to the Church
(Acts 2:41-42 NIV) "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. {42} They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
HOME SWEET CHURCH
The Basics of Life - Part 2
November 9, 1997 a.m. - Hebrews 13:20-21
Introduction
The Church is a Family (1 Timothy 3:14-15)
1A. My Church Family will help me _________ on God through Worship (Matthew 22:37-38)
1B. _____________ we Worship at West Haven
Worship places the _________ on God not on man
Worship expresses our _________ for God
Worship strengthens our relationship with God
Worship keeps the rest of life in _____________
2B. ___________ we Worship at WHBC
(Psalms 34:3 NIV) "Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together."
Celebration
(Psalms 122:1 NCV) "I was happy when they said to me, "Let's go to the Temple of the LORD.""
Inspiration
Preparation.
2A. My Church Family will help me Face Life’s _______________ through Fellowship
1B. God made you for ______________
(Genesis 2:18 NIV) "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.""
2B. God has ______________ WHBC for Fellowship
To encourage us when we become discouraged (Hebrews 10:25)
To strengthen us when we are weak (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
To support one another (Galatians 6:2)
3A. My Church family will help me Fortify my Faith through ___________________
1B. The Bible ____________ us to Grow Spiritually (2 Peter 3:18)
2B. The Bible tells us ___________ to Grow Spiritually
3B. WHBC provides the ________ and Opportunity for Spiritual Growth (Ephesians 3:10)
4A. My Church Family will help me Find my Ministry through Service (Ephesians 2:10)
1B. God has made you for ________ - You have your own SHAPE
2B. WHBC will help you _______ your Ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12)
5A. My Church Family will help me _______ my Life’s Mission through Missions Involvement (Acts 20:24)
1B. We are here on ___________ and for a Purpose
We are to be _________ witnesses (Matthew 5:16)
We are to be a __________ witness (Matthew 10:32)
2B. WHBC provides ___________ and Opportunities for you to Witness
