Identify the Church
Notes
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Main Idea: We are the church…What Church will you be?
Opening Line: Welcome to New Beginnings Today we are identifying the church…Our mission as a church is to be forgiven, freed, and filled as the Family of God.
Will you join with us this morning in that mission for Christ?
Introduction
Identify the Church
Identify the Church
The Church is the people who make the confession like Peter that Jesus is the Messiah.
Matthew 16:15–18 (NIV)
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
We refer to the building as the church, but according to Scripture it is not a physical place or building, but people
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
All those who put their faith in Jesus as the Christ or Messiah have become the home of the Holy Spirit and a Living stone that is put together with others to form the church.
All those who put their faith in Jesus as the Christ or Messiah have become the home of the Holy Spirit and a Living stone that is put together with others to form the church.
We are the church.
Each person is part of the church as a whole and gives strength or harm to the building.
I believe there are 4 types of living stones, people or churches (the people who meet together)
I believe there are 4 types of living stones, people or churches (the people who meet together)
Main Point
Be a strong stable and productive stone, person and church
Be a strong stable and productive stone, person and church
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
As the church and in our group that gathers we must recognize which type of soil we are.
Either individually or collectively we can be any of the four types
If we don’t know what type of soil or church or living stone we are will could be heading in a direction that will hurt the greater church or body of Christ.
The Four Types
The Four Types
1. Hard Path
1. Hard Path
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The hard path church or person is the person or community who is allowing the enemy, Satan, demons, spiritual forces of darkness to steal the truth away from them.
You may be thinking…But Pastor Andy…how is this possible it sounds like in the parable these are people who don’t believe in Christ at all so how can they be or this be a type of church?
True, but there is more to it than that. There are many people who not believed but are in the community influencing the gathering away from the truth of God’s Word.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
The type of church or person that is the hard path will be a person or a church who will stir up trouble. They are allowing the lies from the birds or evil spirits to influence them and create local churches that are fighting against flesh and blood and using Scripture as their weapon instead of picking up their cross and dying to self to Follow Christ.
This is the most destructive type of person or local church and The Church
This type of person and church will always cause division and hurt
If you have experienced this type of person or local church… I am sorry for the hurt the devil caused through people and communities that created scars in your life.
2. Rocky Soil
2. Rocky Soil
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
I like to call this type of church or person a “fair weather fan”.
I enjoy going to Pirate games. For many years as many of you know the Pirates were not a great baseball team. They had a terrible record for about the last 20 years or longer. I loved going to the field as a 17 year old and buying a ticket for $11 and sitting in the nose bleed section for about an inning then was able to walk down and sit next to the field because there was almost no one there. But a few years ago when they started winning; I went to the park and the cheapest ticket was $20 and the place was FULL!
You know them when it’s fun and easy they are all for it.
This is the rocky church or person. They are excited when they feel the warm and fuzzes, but when God calls them to grow or change as people or as a local church they shrink back into old habits.
This is the group that would rather everything stay the same instead of changing too much.
Change and growth takes too much effort and requires a loss of comfort and security.
1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
This type of person and church will spend so much time arguing and opposing change and growth.
Being Jealous of other churches or people or arguing about small details in order slow the possible growth and change God wants has created a church that is more worldly and has lost the mission of Jesus Christ.
This is the church and person who will spend years debating whether or not to do something like changing the brand of toilet paper. When they small details become more important than the Vision has given to the person and community they have become rocky soil. Trying to live small and not hurt by the rocks.
If you have experienced this type of person and church i want to say I’m sorry that their fear has hurt your growth into where God wants you to be.
3. Thorny Soil
3. Thorny Soil
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
The Thorny Soiled Church or person is a person who seems to have it all together on Sunday but on Monday doesn’t seem any different than the world.
The desire for money, status, excitement, and the gods of this world blind them.
This type of soil, church or person may be the nicest, or best presented, but deep down they are relying on their own strength and the security this world offers.
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
This type of Church or person will seem to have growth throughout their lifetime, but it is shallow.
Just like the pharisees when people are looking they are doing and saying all the right things, but when the truth of the Word or the Move of the Holy Spirit comes they only change the symptoms, but not the cause or heart of the problem.
Maybe outwardly they have things together, but inwardly they love the idols or gods of this world.
If you have experienced this type of church or person in the past…I am sorry the double standard they had caused hurt and possibly a loss of faith and trust in you.
4. Producing Soil
4. Producing Soil
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
This is the goal for each of us and for our local family.
Our prayer is that we all become producing Soil or a living stone that provides for the greater building instead of creating cracks or holes.
Why does it matter?
Every Christian and local church will fall into one of these types and it effects everyone around us as well as the complete church of Christ.
Every Christian and local church will fall into one of these types and it effects everyone around us as well as the complete church of Christ.
We will help or hurt the Church of Jesus Christ as the church who is producing or not.
We will help or hurt the Church of Jesus Christ as the church who is producing or not.
How
How do we Identify which type we are and How do we become a healthy church?
How do we Identify which type we are and How do we become a healthy church?
1. Hard Path
1. Hard Path
To identify if you have been living as this type of environment;
What is my natural response to correction?
What is my natural response to other’s joy, hope and love?
Am I relying on myself for the source of power?
When was the last time I felt or saw God Moving in my life…If ever?
Am I opposed to the vision of our local church, but am not really sure why?
These Questions can help you identify if there is an evil influence in your life.
How do become healthy soil?
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Start at the beginning again. Allow the Milk or foundations of Christ and the Word of God fill you and refocus your mind cleansing you from Malice, Deceit, Hypocrisy, envy and slander.
Start by Meditating on the Lord is Good.
2. Rocky Soil
2. Rocky Soil
To identify if you have been living as this type of environment
Is it easier to debate Christian things and topics like is Apollos or Paul a better preacher…Or are new songs or old songs more holy…than to admit where you need to grow from any preacher and how any song can help you into the presents of God?
Are there things you would be upset if they changed?
Do you have a hard time seeing the greater mission and vision of the local church?
When you think about what Jesus said we are to be and do as the church and then think about what you want our local church to do…Do they line up or are they different?
What are the details or strongholds you need to let go of in order to allow the Mission and vision God to blossom?
We are the rocky soil when we would rather not grow because the rocks will make it hard to grow up to produce and down to give strength.
1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
How do become healthy soil?
you must let go of the jealousy and quarreling that is rooted in fear and pride.
Ask God to reveal to you where there is fear for the future or pride from your past.
Then put your faith and trust in God knowing that those rocks or the fire. those things that are hard and bring discomfort are going to make you stronger for the mission if you stop avoiding growth with the small details.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
what hinders from the mission and vision of God.
Fixing your eyes on Jesus will give you a passion for His mission for you and your local group on earth
3. Thorny Soil
3. Thorny Soil
To identify if you have been living as this type of environment
Are there things in your life that feel like they are hindering you from growing?
Are there habits that you can’t seem to shake?
Is there anything that you feel like you can’t live without (Besides Christ)?
Do you feel like you need to put on a face or play a part when you are with certain people…Such as this morning?
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
How do become healthy soil?
recognize the heart is deceitful above all things.
This is where you will find where or what your true trust and faith is in.
Give those things to God and begin trusting in the Lord and putting your confidence in Him Through Renewing your mind daily until you have allowed the Holy Spirit to fully wash your inside and give you life.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
4. Producing Soil
4. Producing Soil
To identify if you have been living as this type of environment
Do you long for the revelation of Jesus Christ?
Is there a joy and peace in your life that can only be explained by God?
Are you experiencing God moving in your life?
Do you understand the vision and mission and will stop at nothing to see it fulfilled?
Are there people finding hope, truth, love and salvation through your life and words?
Are you open to what ever you hear from God?
How do become healthy soil?
Encourage one another
1 Thess 4:18
1 Thess 5:11
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)
2. Love one another
3. Do Good work
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Worship Team
We all struggle with living as soil that is producing. At times maybe you have been a producing church, but you let something creep in. Or maybe you feel like you are rocky and thorny right now. God is in the working business.
Today allow yourself to be freed from the hurts of others, and forgiven from the things you have allowed in and filled with the peace and hope of the Holy Spirit.
Are you happy with where you are?
Maybe you feel like you are product of others or bad choices you have made.
Today is a day to change this church to become the family God has designed us to be.
Don’t struggle alone.
Is the Bottom Line Clear?
Closing Line: