1 Corinthians 12:12-27
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NOT!
- a club
- a volunteer organization with different degrees of membership.
- a friendly group of people who share an interest in religious things who gather for discussions
- a service provider where the customer has all the authority.
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS…
the authority on earth that Jesus established to officially affirm and give shape to our lives as Christians.
“A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and lovingly oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.”
WE BELONG TO JESUS!
Christ is at the top and in control! (Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:15-16; 5:22-27; Revelation 19:7-8
APPLICATION: Colossians 3:15-17
When we focus on Jesus as the head:
- we will experience PEACE of Christ!
- we will feast on the WORD of Christ!
- we will work for the FAME of Christ!
When you think of Mission Bible Church, I want you to think of Jesus, first!
2. WE BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER!
The Church loves Jesus, loves one another, loves neighbors, and makes disciples. Col 3.12-14
The gathering helps define the identity of the people, not the other way around. Eph 2:19-21
- We belong to one another because God arranged it that way! (1 For 12:18)
- to fulfill the 59 One Anothers…
- We belong to one another through membership in the local church
- in Discipline (Matthew 18:15-17)
- for Excommunication (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)
- for Record Keeping (Acts 1:15; 2:41)
- for Intimate Engagement (Acts 2)
- for Taking In More Members (Acts 2:47)
- for Christians to Submit Biblically (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17)
“I don’t need the church” – 1 Corinthians 12:21
“The church is faulty, but that is no excuse for your not joining it, if you are the Lord’s. Nor need your own faults keep you back, for the church is not an institution for perfect people, but a sanctuary for sinners saved by grace, who, though they are saved, are sinners still, and need all the help they can derive from the sympathy and guidance of their fellow believers. The church is the nursery for God’s weak children, where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep; the home for Christ’s family” (Charles Spurgeon, “The Best Donation”)
APPLICATION
- Resist Idealism
- Resist Individualism
- Embrace the One Anothers
To MBC Family from Pastor Chad:
MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING. WE ARE HAVING SERVICES TOGETHER, and I’m loving it. But this is only once slice of what God is building in our midst.
- Each of us have NEIGHBORS and family members that need Jesus!
- Together, we want to impact NEIGHBORHOODS – yours and mine and the University City area.
- Mission Bible Church will touch the NATIONS through our partnering with others in giving generously, going definitely, and praying specifically!
I’M ASKING YOU TO GO ALL IN WITH JESUS! So that we can know, love, and obey Jesus TOGETHER and make disciple-making disciples as we reach our NEIGHBORS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE NATIONS for God’s Glory!
As my friend, Pastor Eric Baker says often, “I WANT YOU TO TAKE JESUS AND HIS WORD SERIOUSLY!”
I believe the Lord has called us together for such a time as this!
- REVIEW OUR CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS: We have several copies in the back for you. OR CLICK HERE: ONLINE COPY.
- PRAY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP COVENANT: I want you to take some time and look over this. We’re going to read it together on February 18, when we finish this series. We’re going to officially covenant together on March 3 with a SPECIAL SERVICE.
- LET’S BE A GOSPEL FAMILY, TOGETHER, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!