Trusting God in Hard Times

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

What we are witnessing in these days are devices of satan.

Social Sins - Gal.5:21

Galatians 5:21 NKJV

envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Theme: Staying the course by trusting God with all of our lives. We are the Body of Christ that has purpose and meaning in our life.

I. The Purpose of the Church in Relationship to the World.

A. To Bring Honor & Glory to Jesus.

B. Church relates to the world thru Evangelism.

Great Commission Matt. 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Baptizing and making disciples.

Teaching them to observe all things.

C. Through Edification.

Ephesians 4:12 NKJV

for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Two Goals: for the equipping of the Saints.

For the work of the ministry.

Responsible Leadership in the Church.

1 Timothy 3:1–13 NKJV

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Function of Church officers: Teaching & Ruling.

1.) Elder - authority to teach & rule

2.)Bishop - overseeing the spiritual well-being of the church.

3.)Pastor - Shepherd of the flock.

4.) Deacon - minister or same as the elder

II. The Relationship of the Church to Christ.

A. The Shepherd & the sheep. Jn. 10:1-18

B. The Vine & the branches [Jn.15:1-8]

C. Christ is the high priest [Heb. 5:1-10]

D. The Cornerstone & building stones. [Eph. 2:20], 1 Pet. 2:5, 1 Cor. 3:9

E. The Head & the Body. [1 Cor.12:12]

F. The Last Adam and new creation [1 Cor. 15:22], 2 Cor. 5:17

G. The Bridegroom & the bride.

Eph. 5:25, Rev. 19:7-8

III. The Holy Spirit in the Church.

A. The Deity - holy trinity

His Person

His Work in Salvation

Conclusion: Staying the course in our world today and for the future will require believers to unite in the church. Many have left the church for various reasons, some don’t come at all. I’m giving a warning message to everyone who is out of church, come back before Jesus does!

Related Media

Related Sermons