Archive for the ‘Series: The Church’ Category
spiritual gifts
To me, it’s amazing to think that God would include us in the work that he’s doing. To think that Jesus would come here, allow us to kill him so that in his death he could absorb the judgment that we deserve, and then merge us into his cosmic mission – that leaves me almost speechless. I think most Christians would like to experience God continually living through them. Wouldn‘t that be great? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be an instrument of God’s grace in the lives of others? I want to talk about that this week. Read the rest of this entry »
church membership
Today I’d like to talk about something that is often misunderstood – church membership. My experience would say that very few people get excited about this topic – I understand. One of the reasons it is misunderstood is that church leadership often does not follow through with their responsibilities. Read the rest of this entry »
how to do church
Over the last few weeks I’ve talked about what the Bible says about the local church – why we exist. We’ve seen that primarily we are here to worship God, to mature each other in the faith, and to be salt and light to those who need Jesus.
Today I’d like to speak to those who think that, for the most part, the church is broken. Today I’d like to speak to those who don’t want church as it has always been. I’d like to talk to those who believe that if we were who God wanted us to be, things would be different. THIS IS ME! That is what I think too! I believe, at least in part, that this culture is falling away from God because the people of God have not been who they should have been. Read the rest of this entry »
baptism
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Since, in two weeks, we are meeting together for a baptism service, I thought we should talk about baptism. I have found that this is a fairly controversial topic – there are different views of what baptism is, why we do it, it’s importance, etc. Fundamentally there are two different understandings or beliefs around physical baptism. At this level the differences are very important. Some believe there is salvific merit in the act of baptism – the act of baptism results in salvation or the forgiveness of sins. To be clear, this view would say that my salvation is or can be contingent on physical baptism. Read the rest of this entry »
the church – salt & light
First – We were meant to worship. This is our core call with all that we are and have – to worship the God of Gods. To worship the One who created all that exists and is sovereign over everything. If we do not feel this call we have missed God. God is the only necessary and free being that exists – we are contingent and dependent. Read the rest of this entry »
ministering to each other
As we rebuild this local fellowship we are taking a few Sundays to talk about what the local fellowship of Jesus-followers is, what we are to do, how we are to do it, what it means to be an elder, church membership and church discipline, etc. So, I’ve defined the local church, at a minimum to be – a group of born again, baptized believers who, under the guidance of biblical leadership, regularly meet to worship God through Jesus Christ, sit under the authority of Scripture, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Read the rest of this entry »
the primary thing – worship
Last week we started a series on the church. In this we defined the local church. At a minimum the local church is a group of born again, baptized believers who, under the guidance of biblical leadership, regularly meet to worship God through Jesus Christ, sit under the authority of Scripture, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Today I’d like to start talking about why the church is here – why we exist. Read the rest of this entry »
what is the church?
Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
[Because Christ died for ALL who believe], you [gentiles] are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with [believing Jews] and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
