We the Church

WE THE CHURCH - WEEK 3

Friendships We Need

Luke 5:17–26

THE SON OF MAN FORGIVES AND HEALS

On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in him. 18 Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him. 19 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 25 Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

—CS Lewis, The 4 Loves

1. We need friends who will fight _____ ____.

Luke 5:18 Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him.

“I came to a deeper appreciation for the science behind loneliness which tells us that loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity.” —Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

2. We need friends who _______ are _________ for.

Luke 5:19-20 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.

3. We need _________, a friend of ________.

Luke 5:20 Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5:21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Luke 5:22-24 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

Final Thought: Jesus doesn’t just_________...He_______.

WE THE CHURCH – WEEK 2

“Why Church?”

• Significantly lower risk of depression.
• Better life and time management.
• Better grades and higher education prospects.
• Significantly lower risk of death and longer life expectancy.
• Better sex lives.

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

• Because Jesus _________________.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

• Because you are a ___________ ________ of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

“It’s easy to be down on the church. It’s easy to find its faults. But when you become a believer, you become the church. I’ve always resented the phrase, ‘where do you go to church?’ I’m a member of a church. I don’t go to a country club, I’m a member of a country club. I’m not talking about where you go, I’m talking about where you plant your flag and say, ‘This is where I’m a Christian.” – Chuck Colson

Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

• Because the _________ that we live in __________it.

Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

On the day called Sunday, all who live in the countryside and in the city gather together for worship. Writings of apostles or prophets are read and then the pastor or president applies them to everyday life. And then we stand and offer prayers, sing, bread and wine, and worship together.  

 -Justin Martyr, 2^nd Century Writer

What does ‘the day of the Lord’ mean?

• Your own impending _______.
•  A coming physical _________.
• The day The Lord _________.

Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.”

Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

THE CHURCH – WEEK 1

A Movement Not a Monument

"If you should find the perfect church without one fault or smear, for goodness sake, don't join that church. You'll spoil the atmosphere. If you should find the perfect church where all anxieties cease, then pass it by lest joining it you mar the masterpiece. If you should find the perfect church, then don't you ever dare to tread upon such holy ground. You'd be a misfit there. But since no perfect church exists made of imperfect men, then let's cease looking for that church and love the church we're in. Of course, it's not a perfect church. That's simple to discern. But you and I and all of us could cause the tide to turn. So, let's keep working in our church until the Resurrection. And then we each will join that church without an imperfection.” – Mavis Williams

Acts 2:40-47 (ESV) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1.  The Church _______________ to the Lord.

Acts 2:47 …And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved

Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 5:14 (ESV) And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Romans 8:30 (ESV) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Ephesians 2:1 And you He has made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.

2.  We have a __________ to play.

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:40 (ESV) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

• ___________ evangelism. 
• __________ evangelism.
• ___________ ___________ evangelism.

3.  God _____________ us toward His people.

Acts 2:47 (ESV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1 Timothy 3:15 …the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and the ground of truth.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.’

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

4.  God uses the church to continue our ___________________.

Acts 2:42-46 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." 

• A _______________ church.
• A ___________ church.
• A ____________________ church.
• A ____________ church
• A _______________ church.

2 Corinthians 3:18 "We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

5.  We become an ______________, ___________________, ______________________ church.

Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

"Christianity was supremely a lay movement, spread by informal missionaries. The spontaneous outreach of the total Christian community gave immense impetus to the movement from the very outset." – Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church

Acts 4:4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul…

Acts 5:14 "and believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women." 

• The early church were saved souls wanting more souls saved.

“The church is a place where lives are changed. Attitudes get changed. Destinies get changed. Discouraged people cheer up. Dishonest people fess up. Sour people sweeten up. Closed people open up. Gossipers shut up. Lukewarm people get fired up. And most of all, Jesus gets lifted up.”