sf777 - THE FIVE PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH (Matthew 22 36-40)
Matthew 22:36-40; 28:18-20
INTRODUCTION
We need to take time to…
Review - what God has done
(Isaiah 63:7 NIV) "I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us…."
Reflect - on what God is doing
(2 Timothy 2:7 NIV) "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
Renew - our commitment to follow God
(Psalms 51:10 NIV) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
We do this when we understand what God has called us to do…
Five Instructions For the Church
1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” Worship
2. “Love your neighbor as yourself” Ministry
3. “Go and make disciples” Evangelism/Missions
4. “Baptizing them” Fellowship/Membership
5. “Teaching them to obey” Discipleship/Maturity
The Church Exists to....
1A. CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE (WORSHIP) - “Love the Lord...”
Our Task: Exalt our Master
(Psalms 122:1) "...I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD.""
(Psalms 34:3) "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
Our Goal: To Magnify the Lord with our lips and our lives!
2A. COMMUNICATE GOD’S WORD (EVANGELISM) - “Go and make disciples...”
Our Task: Evangelize our Mission Field
(Acts 1:8) "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.""
(Acts 20:24 NCV) “The most important thing is that I complete my mission - the work the Lord gave me to do - to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.”
Our Goal: To fulfill our Mission Everyday in Every way!
3A. INCORPORATE GOD’S FAMILY (FELLOWSHIP) - “Baptizing them...”
Our Task: Encourage our Members
(Ephesians 4:12b-13 LB) “You are a member of God’s very own family and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”
Our Goal: To Incorporate Others into Christ’s Family as Members
4A. EDUCATE GOD’S PEOPLE (DISCIPLESHIP) - “Teaching them to obey...”
Our Task: Educate for Maturity
(Ephesians 4:12b-13) “...building up the church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity... until all become full grown in the Lord.”
Our Goal: To Help Every Member to Grow to Maturity!
5A. DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE (MINISTRY) - “Love your neighbor...”
Our Task: Equip for Ministry
(Ephesians 4:12 NKJV) "For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry...”
Ministry is Something You Do - Not Something You Receive.
Our Goal: To Make Every Member a Minister!
APPLICATION
Will You Be Part of the Dream?
It is all about Commitment
We Believe That a Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will Grow a GREAT CHURCH!!!!
Four Commitments...
1. Commitment to Church Membership
2. Commitment to Spiritual Maturity
3. Commitment to My Ministry
4. Commitment to My Life Mission
One Conclusion
To Magnify the Lord!
THE FIVE PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH
July 27, 1998 – Matthew 22:36-40; 28:18-20
INTRODUCTION
Review - what God has _______
(Isaiah 63:7 NIV) "I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us…."
Reflect - on what God is ___________
(2 Timothy 2:7 NIV) "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
Renew - our ___________ to follow God
(Psalms 51:10 NIV) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
1A. ________________ GOD’S PRESENCE (WORSHIP)
Our Task: _______________ our Master
(Psalms 34:3) "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
Our Goal: To ________ the Lord with our lips and our lives!
2A. _______________ GOD’S WORD (EVANGELISM)
Our Task: ____________ our Mission Field
(Acts 20:24 NCV) “The most important thing is that I complete my mission - the work the Lord gave me to do - to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.”
Our Goal: To fulfill our __________ Everyday in Every way!
3A. INCORPORATE GOD’S __________ (FELLOWSHIP)
Our Task: __________ our Members
(Ephesians 4:12b-13 LB) “You are a member of God’s very own family and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”
Our Goal: To ______________ Others into Christ’s Family as Members
4A. _____________ GOD’S PEOPLE (DISCIPLESHIP)
Our Task: ____________ for Maturity
(Ephesians 4:12b-13) “...building up the church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity... until all become full grown in the Lord.”
Our Goal: To Help Every Member to _________ to Maturity!
5A. DEMONSTRATE GOD’S __________ (MINISTRY)
Our Task: Equip for ___________
(Ephesians 4:12 NKJV) "For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry...”
Ministry is Something You Do - Not Something You Receive.
Our Goal: To Make Every _________ a Minister!