I Have Decided: Engage the Church
Ephesians 2:15
He planned to create one new people out of Jews and Gentiles. He wanted to make peace between them. 16 He planned to bring both Jews and Gentiles back to God as one body.
He planned to do this through the cross. On that cross, Christ put to death their hatred toward one another.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near. 18 Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.
19 So you are no longer outsiders and strangers. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are also members of God’s family.
20 You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building. 21 The whole building is held together by him.
It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord. 22 And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.
Common misconceptions about the church:
The church is filled with people pretending to be perfect
I don’t want to connect with the church because I am afraid of getting hurt
I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian
I hear people say, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian,” and they are absolutely right. Salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone. But you don’t have to go home to be married, but stay away long enough & your relationship will be affected.- Tony Evans
For all the reasons we may not like the church, remember that Christ loves his church and he calls her his bride
The Church is God’s one and only Plan:
To impact our world:
Acts 4:
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
To change the course of our families:
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
To lead us to the life God has in store for us:
Healthy things grow
How have you grown in your time at Mountain West?
Ephesians 4:11 (MSG)
He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
How has God equipped you to serve in the church?
“We need to get rid of the notion that prominence is the definition of significance- prominence happens to a few people, significance is intended for every person.”- Jack Hayford
Next Steps:
1. Commit your life to Christ for the first time
2. Sign up to be baptized next week
3. Learn how I can get engaged in the church by attending Starting Point (On Demand)
4. Sign up for a small group online at mwchurch.com/smallgroups