all of us!. connect to jesus: fruit connect to truth: realistic yet joyfully confident

Connect 4Connect 4

All of Us!

Connect to Jesus: FruitConnect to Jesus: Fruit

Connect to Truth:Connect to Truth:RealisticRealistic

Yet Joyfully ConfidentYet Joyfully Confident

Connect to People:Connect to People:Healing and WholenessHealing and Wholeness

What makes you so special?What makes you so special?

It's easy to hate onIt's easy to hate on"The church""The church"

It's easy to hate onIt's easy to hate on"The church""The church"

Why?Why?

What are we hating?What are we hating?

The building?The building?Or the people?Or the people?

Or the religious structure?Or the religious structure?

Jesus created the EkklesiaJesus created the Ekklesia

And he Gifted and And he Gifted and Designed you to beDesigned you to be

A vital part A vital part of Christ's Communityof Christ's Community

Now when Jesus came into the Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he district of Caesarea Philippi, he

asked his disciples, asked his disciples,

“Who do people say that the “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”Son of Man is?”

And they said, And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others others say Elijah, and others

Jeremiah or one of the prophets”Jeremiah or one of the prophets”

BToL:BToL:

Just because the crowd says it Just because the crowd says itDoesn't make it trueDoesn't make it true

He said to them,He said to them,“But who do you say that I am?”“But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter replied, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son “You are the Christ, the Son

of the living God.”of the living God.”

Unbelievable!Unbelievable!

Understanding Understanding whowho you serve you serveDetermines Determines howhow you serve you serve

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood For flesh and blood has not has not

revealedrevealed this to you, but my this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.Father who is in heaven.

Spiritual things have to beSpiritual things have to beSpiritually revealedSpiritually revealed

…the god of this world has blinded …the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the them from seeing the light of the

gospel of the glory of Christgospel of the glory of Christ- 2 Cor. 4:4- 2 Cor. 4:4

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rockthis rock I will build my church, I will build my church,

and the gates of hell shall and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"not prevail against it"

- Matthew 16:13-18- Matthew 16:13-18

Not built upon a manNot built upon a man

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rockthis rock I will build my church, I will build my church,


- Matthew 16:13-18- Matthew 16:13-18

"You are the Christ, the "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"Son of the living God"

He has to be bothHe has to be both

- A man can't save me- A man can't save me


- A man can't save me- A man can't save me- A god can't die for me- A god can't die for me


- A man can't save me- A man can't save me- A god can't die for me- A god can't die for me

Upon Upon this rock…this rock…

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock this rock I will build my church,I will build my church,


- Matthew 16:13-18- Matthew 16:13-18

WeWe are a type of building are a type of building

...you are ...you are (plural)(plural)…members of the …members of the household of God, built on the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and foundation of the apostles and

prophets, Christ Jesus himself being prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…the cornerstone…

CornerstoneCornerstone

Everything is lined up withEverything is lined up withAnd measured againstAnd measured against

Out of line= pull others outOut of line= pull others out

CornerstoneCornerstone

A measurement of successA measurement of successIs how we line up with JesusIs how we line up with Jesus

And his purposes for usAnd his purposes for us

……in whom the whole structure, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a being joined together, grows into a

holy temple in the Lord. holy temple in the Lord.

In him you In him you (plural)(plural) also are being also are being built built togethertogether into into a dwelling place a dwelling place

for God by the Spiritfor God by the Spirit- Eph. 2:19-22- Eph. 2:19-22

Kirche vs. EkklesiaKirche vs. Ekklesia

"I will build my gathering…""I will build my gathering…"

Church is not a buildingChurch is not a building

But a people But a people gathered togethergathered together

Church (Ekklesia)Church (Ekklesia)Is Jesus' ideaIs Jesus' idea

Did he know?Did he know?


Then why begin her?Then why begin her?


Does he love her anyway?Does he love her anyway?


Then how should we feel?Then how should we feel?



A Vital part A Vital part of Christ's Communityof Christ's Community

Church/EkklesiaChurch/Ekklesia

- Gathering of believers- Gathering of believers

- Common identity and purpose- Common identity and purpose

- Mission greater than themselves- Mission greater than themselves

- Biblically-recognized structure- Biblically-recognized structure

- Authoritative Scriptures- Authoritative Scriptures

- Mutual accountability- Mutual accountability

- Jesus is the Senior Pastor- Jesus is the Senior Pastor

Why Should I?Why Should I?

- Christ created "a gathering"- Christ created "a gathering"



- He loves his bride so much - He loves his bride so much He's coming back for herHe's coming back for her



- He loves his bride so much - He loves his bride so much He's coming back for herHe's coming back for her

- None of us is as strong as all of us- None of us is as strong as all of us

- There is no Grace- There is no GraceWithout CommunityWithout Community

- There is no Grace- There is no GraceWithout CommunityWithout Community

……with all humility and gentleness, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one with patience, bearing with one

another in love, eager to maintain another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the the unity of the Spirit in the

bond of peacebond of peace- Eph 4:2-3- Eph 4:2-3

2 Things:2 Things:

- The person who clashes with you- The person who clashes with youIs in Is in everyevery church! church!

2 Things:2 Things:

- The person who clashes with you- The person who clashes with youIs in Is in everyevery church! church!

- They are there for your growth- They are there for your growth

- The ekklesia is Christ's - The ekklesia is Christ's EvidenceEvidence

……that they may all be one, just as that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that they also may be one in us, so

that the world may believethat the world may believe that that you have sent meyou have sent me

- John 17:21- John 17:21

- The ekklesia has the privilege of - The ekklesia has the privilege of doing Christ's Workdoing Christ's Work

Now you are the body Now you are the body of Christ and individually of Christ and individually

members of itmembers of it- 1 Cor. 12:27- 1 Cor. 12:27

- Our mission:- Our mission:

Go therefore and make disciples…Go therefore and make disciples…(Plural)(Plural)

We train disciples to change their We train disciples to change their world for Jesus by:world for Jesus by:

Teaching the scriptures for Teaching the scriptures for real life-changereal life-change


And intentionally creating And intentionally creating opportunities for opportunities for

Community, Prayer and WorshipCommunity, Prayer and Worship


So that God will be glorified and So that God will be glorified and People will become wholePeople will become whole

- Worship together is - Worship together is Great PracticeGreat Practice

for Eternityfor Eternity

- Strength, Protection - Strength, Protection EncouragementEncouragement

- You have spiritual gifts…- You have spiritual gifts…

To each is given the To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit manifestation of the Spirit for for

the common goodthe common good- 1 Cor. 12:7- 1 Cor. 12:7

Church was never intendedChurch was never intendedto be a spectator sportto be a spectator sport

"Our greatest needs are not met"Our greatest needs are not metBy seeking to have our needs metBy seeking to have our needs met

But by investing ourselvesBut by investing ourselvesIn God-given opportunitiesIn God-given opportunities

As God leads"As God leads"

The basis of our healingThe basis of our healingIs not found in Is not found in ReceivingReceiving

but but GivingGiving

Spiritual Gifts are Spiritual Gifts are Spiritually Empowered Spiritually Empowered

When used for When used for Spiritual PurposesSpiritual Purposes

To each is given the To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit manifestation of the Spirit

for the common goodfor the common good

Because Christ loves you…Because Christ loves you…

You were called to connectYou were called to connectAs an essential part As an essential part of Christ's Gatheringof Christ's Gathering

HowHow we connect we connectIs as important as it is Is as important as it is

ThatThat we connect we connect

To be part of the church: To be part of the church:

"What I can get…""What I can get…""On my terms…""On my terms…"

"Until I get a better offer…""Until I get a better offer…""As long as I run this thing!""As long as I run this thing!"

"What I can get…""What I can get…""On my terms…""On my terms…"

"Until I get a better offer…""Until I get a better offer…""As long as I run this thing!""As long as I run this thing!"

Engage – Represent – BelongEngage – Represent – Belong

To use my gifts:To use my gifts:

"To be seen…""To be seen…""On my terms…""On my terms…"

"Tell me how amazing I am!""Tell me how amazing I am!"

"To be seen…""To be seen…""On my terms…""On my terms…"

"Tell me how amazing I am!""Tell me how amazing I am!"

How can I serve JesusHow can I serve JesusBy serving his people?By serving his people?

I believe I'm looking atI believe I'm looking atThe greatest volunteers The greatest volunteers

In the ValleyIn the Valley

5 Catalysts for Growth:5 Catalysts for Growth:

- Practical Teaching- Practical Teaching- Private Disciplines- Private Disciplines- - Personal MinistryPersonal Ministry

- Providential Relationships- Providential Relationships- Pivotal Circumstances- Pivotal Circumstances

I Repent:I Repent:

I haven't made it easyI haven't made it easyTo find a place of serviceTo find a place of service


- Personality- Personality- Passion- Passion

- Spiritual Gifts- Spiritual Giftsand God-Given Talentsand God-Given Talents

Greatest growthGreatest growth

- DiscipleNow- DiscipleNow

- Teaching/Leading- Teaching/LeadingCollege and YouthCollege and Youth

Worship Program…Worship Program…

all of us!. connect to jesus: fruit connect to truth: realistic yet joyfully confident

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