
A CHURCH FOR EVERYONE
Paul Westbrook
November 21 & 22, 2020
“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’”
Matthew 19:16 (NIV)
“‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ 18 ‘Which ones?’ he inquired. Jesus replied, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ 20 ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ 21 Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
Matthew 19:17-22 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ 26 Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
Matthew 19:23-26 (NIV)
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’”
Luke 19:1-8 (NIV)
“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
Luke 19:9-10 (NIV)
3 Things To Look For In A Healthy Church
1. Look for a church that helps me
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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”
Hebrews 10:24-25a (NIV)
Question #1: Does this “style”
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24 (NIV)
Question #2: Am I being
2. Look for a church that helps me
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Question #1: Is what they’re teaching
1 Corinthians 8:1; Matthew 22:37-39
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Question #2: Is there a plan to help me connect with
John 13:34; Romans 12:10; 15:7; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:32;
Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
3. Look for a church that helps me
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Matthew 28:19-20
Paul – “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 (NIV)
Question #1: Is the church committed
Question #2: Am I being encouraged to identify
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:20; Matthew 16:18