21 Sep 2006
Lord, Build Your Church with Me
Ps. 133:1 BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Oil flows down. A symphony of relationships
I. Eight Kinds of Churches
A. Personality churches
B. Event churches
C. Entertainment churches
D. Issue churches
E. Inbred churches
F. Institutional churches... are more committed to the institution than the Christ.
G. Deacon churches... no government
H. Plantation churches... slaves, not sons
I. Ministry Centers/ Deliverance Churches.... you can’t join deliverance
K. Healthy churches...Kingdom/Relationships/Healthy, Governmental, Reproductive, and Leader making... legacy, multi-generational, Multi Racial...Producing healthy families
II. The Church of God’s Own Heart
A. I will build My Church
Matt. 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.
B. Jesus is the Head of the Church
Col. 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
C. The Church is the Body of Christ
Eph. 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
Eph. 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him, who is the head, {even} Christ,
D. The Church is the Bride of Christ
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body.
E. Jesus the Cornerstone
1Pet. 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,
F. Jesus is Coming Back for His Church
1Ths. 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
2Ths. 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him,
G. Jesus stands among the Lamp stand (Churches)
Rev. 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands;
Rev. 1:13 and in the middle of the lamp stands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle.
III. World Substitutes for True Church
The World Says We Say
1. The church is a building People/Living stones
2. Church is a meeting Way of Life, 24/7
3. Church is a denomination Called out/Redeemed
4. Church is a set of rituals Worship from the heart
5. Church is doctrine/beliefs/traditions Not just truth, but, He who is Truth
6. Church is an institution Organic/Community
7. Church is a religion Relationship/Worship
The church is a community of redeemed people who are living a new life in a new way.
These people are not citizens of earth, but rather citizens of Heaven. We are a colony of Heaven on the earth. While here, we do not live by this world’s vision, or values, but rather by the Word of God.
We are displaying life on earth as it is lived in Heaven, under God’s own rule and authority. Our major law is love and we walk in the ways of righteousness and truth.
We love each other and lay our lives down as Christ did. Our children are healthy and our families are strong. We display the glory of God in the earth.
We are a city that has been set on a Hill, our light must not grow dim or go out. The whole earth is depending on us, as we are the pillar and support of the truth. May our candle never be hid or our salt lose its saltiness, or we will be no use.
LORD BUILD YOUR CHURCH WITH ME!
The end
Steve Youngbood
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