December 8, 2008
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FOUNDATIONS [#9]
taught at Awana Varsity 12/03/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book “Bible Doctrine” by Wayne GrudemAudio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/a91423007202/audio.html
God Sends… Church
THE BIG IDEA ?: What is the “church” and what is its purpose?
SO WHAT ?: Jesus is God come into human culture as a missionary. We are to follow His example, proclaim His message, and be empowered by His Spirit.
INTRO
• Ever since I got saved, I have loved the Church
• Jesus loves the Church
• The Church is not “optional” in the life of the believer
• When considering the church we must consider 3 critical aspects… Jesus’ EXAMPLE, Jesus’ COMMAND, and the Holy Spirits EMPOWERMENT
1. THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH
• Jesus is God, who came as a man, as a missionary, on a mission, into the culture of the earth, to reveal God and save sinners.
> Jesus’ life is the model missionary life
> Jesus did not remain in the comforts of heaven but rather entered into a sinful culture on the earth as a missionary
> Jesus told us at least 39 times that He was a missionary from heaven who came to minister “in the flesh” in an earthly culture. (John 3:34; 4:34; 5:23, 24, 30, 36, 37, 38; 6:29, 38, 39, 44, 57; 7:16, 28, 29, 33; 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44, 45, 49; 13:20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25; 20:21)
• Jesus’ earthly missional ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
> Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit,
> anointed by the Holy Spirit His baptism,
> promised to baptize people in the Holy Spirit by John the Baptizer,
> said to be “fully of the Holy Spirit” and “lead by the Spirit.”
> Jesus began his public ministry by reading Isaiah 61:1-2…
• to be Spirit filled and Spirit led is to be like Jesus… not some charismatic looney…
• Jesus also commands us to be missionaries in culture as he was: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) He also said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
• READ Acts 1:4-9
• READ Acts 2:1-11, 42-47
• The church is what happens because of the work of God the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives and minds of His people. It is the Holy Spirit changing you from the inside out and giving you a new life with Jesus and His people.
• SUMMARY… Jesus came to earth on a MISSION… He COMMANDS us to follow Him in living out that mission… He sends and fills us with His SPIRIT to empower us to fulfill that mission.
2. WHAT IS JESUS’ RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH?
• Jesus has not abandoned His church and left us to do things on our own
• Jesus is the HEAD of the Church (Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
• Jesus is the APOSTLE who PLANTS the Church (Heb 3:1)
• Jesus is the LEADER who GROWS the Church (Mat 16:18)
• Jesus is the Chief PASTOR in EVERY Church (1 Pet 5:4)
• Jesus is PRESENT with the Church (Mat 28:20)
• Jesus is the one that SHUTS DOWN a faithless or fruitless Church (Rev 2:5)
• Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. He is the source of life, w/o Him we can do NOTHING (Jn 15:5)
3. WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF AN AUTHENTIC CHURCH?
• How do we know what is an authentic church?… or a fake?… or a cult?…
• “universal” church = all the Christians all around the world. The “local” church = local expressions of the universal church
• the local church is… a community of regenerated believers who worship Jesus as Lord & Savior and recognize the authority & inspiration of Scripture. They gather under qualified leadership, for regular preaching & teaching, for worship, for observing the biblical ordinances (baptism & communion), are unified by the Spirit, and are disciplined for holiness. They scatter to fulfill the great commandment to love and the great commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy. Therefore, an authentic church is…
> Regenerated church membership (born again member)
> Biblical
> Qualified leadership (Godly, biblical, Elders & Deacons as described in 1 Tim 3)
> Preaching, Teaching, and worship (assembling, teaching, & celebrating)
> Ordinances rightly administered (communion 7 baptism)
> Unified by the Spirit (united in love, truth, fruit, & gifts of the Spirit to serve)
> Disciplined for holiness (sin is dealt with in love to bring repentance & restoration)
> Obey the great commandment to love (fellowship, mutual care, one-another’s)
> Obey the great commission to make disciples (evangelism & promoting grow)
4. WHO HARMS THE CHURCH?
• burned out leaders
• false teachers
• false converts
• consumer Christians (adults feed themselves & someone else… it should not be about what you “get” but what you can “give”)
5. WHAT IS JESUS DOING AT CBC?
CONCLUSION:
• Jesus is God come into human culture as a missionary, on a mission!
• He commands us to follow His example, proclaim His message,
• It is only possible to fulfill Jesus mission when empowered by the Holy Spirit
• Jesus loves the Church and is vitally connected to the church. As people that love Jesus and His Word we should love & be connected to His church too! Live your life to serve Jesus through the church, to love those in the church, and to bring others by faith in the Gospel into the church family!
• Be wary of fake churches!
