Church

Terms used in the New Testament for describing the Church:

Living stones

1 Peter 2:5

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

The Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”.

God’s Field, building or temple

1 Corinthians 3:9

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building”.

1 Corinthians 3:16

 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:17

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple”.

All of these terms have this common: They all refer to people who are true believers in Jesus Christ.

This is critically important to understand. As church leaders, we are called to more than administrating the church, overseeing new buildings, or coordinating church functions. We are called to partner with God in discipling and building people.

We are called by God to pastor and nurture the living Church of the living God, the believing people—and to help them become growing disciples of Jesus Christ. We cannot adequately fulfill this stewardship role without God’s help and power. “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stand guard in vain”…Psalm 127:1.

Evangelism

Evangelism

~ "The model for the missional church differs from mass evangelism and from seeker evangelism because missional evangelism locates the focal point of evangelism in a community of people who embody in their lives the message and reality of the Christian faith... The missional church evangelizes primarily by immersing the unchurched in the experience of Christianity." - Robert E. Webber

~ "We have not been men of prayer. The spirit of prayer has slumbered among us. The closet has been too little frequented and delighted in. We have allowed business, study or active labor to interfere with our closet-hours. And the feverish atmosphere in which both the church and the nation are enveloped has found its way into our prayer closets…" - Andrew Bonar--

 Thought:

Our prayer will be most like the prayer of Christ if we do not ask God to show us what is going to be, or to make any particular thing happen, but only pray that we may be faithful in whatever happens…Father Andrew

Faith Quotes

 “I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe.” - Smith Wigglesworth

Teachings of Christ

Blind guides

Matthew 15:14  

Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Borrowing

Matthew 5:42  

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Prayer Quotes

~ “You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

~ “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”

Get Thee Out

Of your country

Genesis 12:1

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

Acts 7:3

‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’

Of the way

Isaiah 30:11

Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

From this country

Genesis 31:13

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’”

 Out of the land

Exodus 1:10

Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

Exodus 11:8 

All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

Examples of Faith

Abel

Hebrews 11:4  

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Enoch

Hebrews 11:5  

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Noah

Hebrews 11:7  

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Quotes from Winston Churchill

~It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.

~ War, Human, Few

If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another.

Righteousness

2 Peter 1:1  

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2 Peter 1:3  

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 2:5  

if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

How do you feel?

You say: "It's not worth it"

God says: "It will be worth it" (Romans 8:28)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

You say: "I can't forgive myself"

God says: "I FORGIVE YOU" (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

You say: "I can't manage"

God says: "I will supply all your needs" (Philippians 4:19)

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

You say: "I'm afraid"

God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear" (2Timothy 1:7)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

God says: "Cast all your cares on ME" (I Peter 5:7)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

You say: "I don't have enough faith"

God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

You say: "I'm not smart enough"

God says: "I give you wisdom" (I Corinthians 1:30)

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

You say: "I feel all alone"

God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"

Evangelism

Evangelism

~ "Important as it is that we recognize God working in us, I would yet warn against an over preoccupation with the thought. It is a sure road to sterile passivity. God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries of election, predestination and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, ‘Oh Lord Thou knowest.’ Those things belong to the deep and mysterious Profound of God's omniscience. Prying into them may make theologians, but it will never make saints." – A. W. Tozer

~ "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

~ Friends, let us lead a soul to Christ—any person, anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances.

God’s Word for God’s People

God Directs If...

Proverbs 3:5-6 

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Looking to the Lord

Jeremiah 17:7  

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

1 Samuel 2:2  

“There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Quotes from Winston Churchill

~ Government, Life, Give

A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.

~ Human, Personal, Obstacles

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.

The Test of Time

The Test of Time

Matthew 7:25  

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

~ The test of time confronts every person

~ The test of time can be a friend or a foe

~ The test of time is symbolic of divine judgment

You Will Trust in God

Hebrews 3:18  

And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?

~ Though friends betray me

~ Though circumstances overwhelm me

~ Though God destroys me to promote his kingdom

God is long suffering

For this reason He wants people to repent

Romans 2:4  

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Ezekiel 18:23  

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Ezekiel 18:32  

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

He wants everyone to be saved

2 Peter 3:9  

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15  

Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Facts about Meekness

It must be sought

Zephaniah 2:3  

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Should characterize ministers

1 Corinthians 4:21  

What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

2 Corinthians 10:1  

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!

Galatians 6:1  

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Ephesians 4:2  

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

2 Timothy 2:25  

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

Titus 3:2  

To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

James 3:13  

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

A fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:23

Gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.