January 20, 2013 Pastor Scott Snowden
Making Church Matter!
“I will build My Church”
Matthew 16:18
#1. We are a Family.
Both the One who makes men holy and those who are made holy
are of the same family.
So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Hebrews 2:11
- We are God’s children.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
1 st John 3:1
- God is our _FATHER_.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of sonship.
And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
- We are His _CHILDREN_ through faith in Jesus.
- Everyone is God’s child by right of _CREATION_.
“ ‘For in Him we move and breathe and have our being.’
As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ ”
Acts 17:28
- But only believers are His “forever” children, by right of _FAITH_ in Jesus.
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God-
children born not of natural descent,
nor of human decision or a husband’s will,
but born of God.
John 1:12, 13
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26
- We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with His pleasure and will-
to the praise of His glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One He loves.
Ephesians 1:5, 6
- Our _RELATIONSHIPS_ are defined by our common identity.
Do not rebuke an older man harshly,
but exhort him as if he were your father.
Treat younger men as brothers,
older women as mothers
and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
1 st Timothy 5:1, 2
- As family, we have mutual _RESPONSIBILITIES_ to one another.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us to good for all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10
- Encourage
- Serve, help
- Teach, set an example
- Comfort
- Pray
- We are not perfect, but are called to love each other in spite of our “dysfunction.”
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children,
and live a life of love…
Ephesians 5:1, 2
- Conflict is _NORMAL_ in any human relationship.
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle,
encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1 st Thessalonians 5:14
- Personality conflicts
- Differing/competing agendas
- “Generation” gaps
- Illness, fatigue
- However, as God’s family we are expected to _WORK_THROUGH_ our differences.
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar.
First go and be reconciled to your brother;
then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23, 24
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche
to agree with each other in the Lord.
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women
who have contended at my side in the cause of the Gospel…
Philippians 4:2, 3
- In doing so, we maintain _FELLOWSHIP_ and _UNITY_ in the family.
Be completely humble and gentle; bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit-
just as you were called to one hope when you were called-
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:2-6
- Acknowledging and working through our “dysfunction” also demonstrates His grace and mercy to the _WORLD_.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
… They broke bread in their homes
and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44, 46-47
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the Word of life.
Philippians 2:14-16 |
