Values of a New Testament Church

On my Sundays with you we have been looking at the Church Jesus is building

Foundation is who you think Jesus is / “Who do you say that I am?”

The “you” is plural… so who we think Jesus is as a church determines the church that will be built here

We limit or release Jesus to build His Church here in this location

1> JESUS BUILDS THE CHURCH

2> JESUS OWNS THE CHURCH

3> THE CHURCH IS MEANT TO BE GROWING

4> THE CHURCH THAT IS GROWING WILL FACE OPPOSITION

5> THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS BUILDING IS UNSTOPPABLE

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)

Then we looked at the Church as seen in the New Testament

1> The Church is a living organism, not a static organization

2> The Church is so much more than a building

3> The Church is not to be bound to a single location

4>  The Church is more than a one-hour service held one day a week

5> The Kingdom of God is meant to be decentralized – But people tend to centralize

6> We are each God’s temple AND together we are also His temple

Well, there are also some things that the New Testament Church as seen in the Bible valued highly… 6 of them 

ALIGNMENT

Alignment simply means everyone pulling in the same direction.  Disunity causes confusion, wastes energy, and limits effectiveness.

Our goal is for this church to be both unified as born again, Spirit-filled believers and aligned with God’s purpose for our church.

His vision for us as a family of believers

His plan and His purpose for this specific church … built upon the Great Commissions

“Go into all the world and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19)

“Seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10)

The unique way that He wants us to fulfill His plan and His purpose for us

Different churches appeal to different people. That doesn’t mean that one is right and the other wrong, it just means that they’re different.

If this church and the direction we are moving is not your particular flavour or style, no hard feelings, in fact we would love to help you find a church that better fits you.

God promises to pour out a blessing and His anointing (power and presence) wherever there is unity – ALIGNMENT

Psalm 133:1,3b “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers well together in unity! …For there the LORD has commanded the blessing…”

INVOLVEMENT

A church is not a place to just sit and watch – was never meant to be a spectator sport

The original “participation” … Every member is a minister

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey there is a place for you to belong and contribute.

You were created and crafted by God with a purpose and to be a part of what He is doing.

Your passions, abilities, and experiences uniquely qualify you for a specific role in the kingdom of God.

There is no one like you among the 7.3 billon people on the planet – you are unique

There has never been anyone like you in the past – you are unique

When you become a part of this church – or if you are already a part of this local church –  we’ll help you find what you are uniquely designed to do for Jesus

To help His Church grow and be healthy

To be a part of storming the “gates of Hell”

To continue to see the Kingdom constantly expanding and taking over more and more of the spiritual darkness

Imagine being part of a local church where you can discover your calling, and be used by God to bless others.

That is what we are all about and, as a result, there is no limit to what God can do through us.

CHANGE

Healthy things grow, and growing things change.

If you are resistant to change then this church is probably not the place for you.

Our church will never be static, not now or 20 years from now.

As culture evolves and our church grows, we may alter the methods, but we will never change the message.

An openness to change is deeply engrained in our identity and our approach to ministry.

God has called us to be a movement, not a monument.

Today, in society, we are now THE alternate life style

Being part of a church is no longer the acceptable societal norm

Homosexuality was once on the outside looking is and was ‘an alternate lifestyle’

We, the born again church, have now been marginalized and are THE new alternate lifestyle and no longer the norm

COLLABORATION

If somebody broke into your house to steal, kill, and destroy your family, what would you do?

Would you attack your brother?

Of course not, you would join with your family and fight off the enemy.

My question: Why, in general then, does the body of Christ waste energy competing with each other instead of working together?

The Church should be all about building bridges with other believers, churches, and our community to make an eternal difference.

It’s time for the body of Christ to work together based on our common belief that Jesus is God, that Jesus is Lord and Saviour, that Jesus is alive and active today in our world, and that Jesus is the only way into Heaven…

This is basic – and if a group does not believe these facts then it is not a church

So, time to join hands with all who are believers and

ADVENTURE

It’s tragic that so many Christians reduce their relationships with God down to a set of mundane rituals, and unimaginative routines and rules.

Reading the Bible – a tool not a rule

Prayer – a tool and not a rule

Fasting, worship, fellowship … tools to help us to come to know God better and become mature in our faith in Him

The Christian life should be an exhilarating quest…a fulfilling adventure . a journey…

Jesus doesn’t call you to play it safe;

He calls you to live on the edge!

Walk by faith and not by sight

Walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh

Taking calculated, Spirit-led risk is and always will be a part of our DNA.

The God of the universe has called us to take part in His mission to change the world one soul at a time.

He invites you to join us on the adventure of a lifetime.

And, I firmly believe that together we can change the world one life at a time.

MULTIPLICATION

In Acts 1:8 as Jesus sent His disciples out to reach a dying world,  He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus Himself set up a model for multiplication that we should follow still today.

The Church should always be focused on reproducing leaders … multiplication

Leaders who share the heart of God to reach the lost, the last and the least…

The Church should always be focusing on New Testament principles of discipleship to raise up mature believers who “go into all their world and make disciples” …. Multiplication

Every church should be planning on planting other churches nationally and internationally so as to spread the gospel … multiplication

Changing the world happens through multiplication!

Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

Yes, the Kingdom is under attack and will face opposition

John the Baptist died a violent death

Jesus died a violent death

Many believers over the centuries and even today die violently at the hands of those who oppose our message

BUT, the gates of hell will not prevail

Each attack – each death – just makes us stronger and stronger

And, “the violent take it (the Kingdom) by force”

Simply saying that true believers cannot be passive

We must be aggressive and always moving forward in our faith because we are called to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13)

This means “take more market share” and to do so means not being passive