Series: Church Renewed
Thesis: For revival and renewal to happen in us, or in the church and in this world will require us to tap into the teachings of the Word which ignite revival.
Scripture: Romans 12:1-8: Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Summary: Sermon 1
First step: to a renewed church is learning to tune God in and not tuning God out! We need to imitate Samuel and not Eli and his sons. We need to hear the voice of God today!
Sermon 2: The Church renewed pt. 2
Thesis: The second step to embrace for church renewal: is understanding that each of us are a piece of the puzzle to the Great Commission and to fulfilling Jesus’ mission. We must believe that we are to complete this mission for Jesus because it will require us to understand the gifts of the Spirit and be willing to use the gifts of The Holy Spirit to build up the church.
Illustration: Puzzle pieces handed out – highlight Puzzle in front with missing pieces – then highlight why we have the church logo we do.
Illustration point: Jesus and the Holy Spirit have a specific plan which involves you – look at each other and say “Jesus wants you – point your finger at them like Uncle Sam and smile,” Now look at your own puzzle pieces which were just handed out to you – Now it’s very important that you please tune into God in this moment – open your spiritual ears to hear His voice – Do you recall last week’s message? – You need to hear His voice today – not my voice His voice:
Here is a message I believe God laid on my heart today to speak to you:
“You are an important piece to the vision and to the mission of Christian Hills and to my Church!” “I have a plan which is going to come to pass for the Church and for the Kingdom of Heaven – I want you to place your puzzle piece into the vision of Christian Hills and my Church!”
I as the lead pastor of this ministry really want you to take your puzzle piece and place it into the vision and mission of Christian Hills as we are connected to Jesus and His Church. But, If you choose to not place your puzzle piece into the picture of this ministry – that’s not a problem but then go place your puzzle piece into another ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ and in doing so fulfill His mission and His Great commission.
Hebrews 10:23-25
23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Some of you think that God doesn’t understand your unique situation, or think God is okay with your choice in not honoring him on His Sabbath Day? But Jesus is asking you to do something for Him – things maybe you thought you could never do! Some of you think “It’s impossible!” Do you realize who you are talking too – Impossible? Nothing is impossible with God. God is stretching our faith and risking our comfort today – we need to choose faith over fear! Many need to believe and say, “I am an important piece of the puzzle at Christian Hills I need to plug my puzzle piece into the vision – I am an important piece of the puzzle to Jesus Church!” I need to choose to plug my puzzle piece into His vision and mission!
I. The Jesus Mission!
a. Jesus’ mission is simple reach the world for Him and our mission here at CHC is connected to The Great Commission – once again this why we choose the logo you see in front of you today:
i. Highlight CHC logo! Connecting with people and connecting with God.
b. Scripture Texts: Main teaching from Jesus on the mission of the Church:
i. Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) The Great Commission
1. 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
a. We all have the ultimate authority to do this mission which supersedes all other authorities – we have the authority of Jesus telling us and others about Him.
b. With His authority we are to make disciples – we are to baptize them, and we are to teach his people to obey His commandments.
c. Promise: If we do this, He will be with us to the very end.
ii. Mark 16:15-20:
1. 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
a. We are to tell others the Good News.
b. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved.
c. Signs will accompany the believer – demons will be cast out – they will speak in new tongues – they will be protected by God – They will see people healed.
iii. Luke 24:36-49: Jesus Appears to the Disciples
1. 36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
a. He opened their minds to understand Scripture.
b. Repentance and forgiveness will be preached in Jesus’ name.
c. To accomplish this task they will be given power from on high.
iv. John 20:21-22:
1. 21Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
a. He sent them! Commissioned them.
b. Then he breathed on them the power of the Holy Spirit!
b. Paul explains Jesus mission Romans:
v. Paul reminds us of the mission of the church given to us by Jesus - he centers in on what it means to be a living sacrifice for Jesus – who by the way sacrificed all for us! It just makes sense to serve Jesus this way!
vi. Romans 12:1-8: Living Sacrifices
1. 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
II. God has a plan a specific plan for you for this ministry of the Church and for His Church.
a. Maybe - you are wishing that God would send a famous person to you to clearly communicate what He desires you to do for him? It would make knowing God’s will and God’s plan so much easier and clearer for you – right? Well God sent me to you to challenge you to step forward with your faith, your worship and your gifts!
i. The will of God for our lives is not that hard to discover. I believe many know what God wants them to do but they choose not to do it because of fear, or busyness, or apathy, or lack of opportunity.
ii. Swindoll states, “The truth is, our problem is not a lack of knowledge but an absence of passion…a reluctance to do what we believe God would have us do “(55). This is prevalent in many lives today because to follow the will of God will take considerable risk and considerable trust in God.
1. In essence many choose not to follow God’s will and God’s plan for many reasons.
2. God tells us in Jeremiah that He had a plan for Israel and I am telling you today God has a plan for you, for this ministry and for His Church. God wants Christian Hills to be a New Testament ministry – A Healing Place. This means that we follow the pattern of a New Testament Church spelled out for us in the book of Acts and in the rest of the New Testament.
3. This means we walk by faith, we choose to be living sacrifices, we make Jesus known to those around us and we flow in the gifts of the Spirit!
b. Earlier in this message I read to you the Great Commission of Jesus to all of us “The Church” – but let me read what Jesus did before He gave them this commission, this mission and then remember He breathed on them to receive the power of Holy Spirit to fulfill the mandate of His Church.
i. Matthew 28: 17: Jesus gave this mandate because some doubted Him!
ii. Mark 16:14: Jesus appeared to His disciples and rebuked them for their lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe in Him!
iii. Luke 24: 36-43: Jesus appears says “Peace be with you” they fall into fear thinking Jesus is a Ghost come to haunt them – He says why are you troubled and why do you doubt? Look at my hands and feet again! Touch me – see me – I have flesh and bones - I am not a ghost – Some are still struggling to believe it’s him – so he says give me some fish to eat and he eats the fish and then proceeds to give them His great commission to the mission!
1. The reality is Jesus requires us to trust Him and to take a risk for Him. To really believe and do what he told us to do – make him known to the world - We need to abandon our desire to stay safe and allow God to work through us to accomplish His will and His mission for the Church.
2. Today is a moment of truth for us “Will you decide to follow the will of God for your life or not?” “Will you follow the plan of Jesus for this church and for your part in the ministry?”
3. Blackaby notes (Experiencing God, Page 157): In many ways, obedience is your moment of truth. What will you do will:
a. It will Reveal what you believe about Him (Jesus – God – The Holy Spirit).
b. It will Determine whether you will experience His mighty work in you and through you.
c. It will Determine whether you will come to know Him more intimately and connect with Him with your puzzle piece.
d. (I add) Your willingness to obey God will determine whether you have a strong love relationship with Him or not.
e. I also add it will determine your eternal destiny and if you make the Rapture!
III. You may be thinking: Why was the church designed and established by the Jesus?
a. As C. S. Lewis put it, "the one really adequate instrument for learning about God, is the whole Christian community, waiting for Him together. Christian brotherhood is, so to speak, the technical equipment for this science -- the laboratory outfit."
i. What are the 5 purposes of the church? Warren suggests that these purposes are worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission, and that they are derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).
b. The church was designed with a purpose and mission for the Kingdom and it’s 4 fold:
i. To be a part of the church requires a confession of faith in Jesus and a recognition that He is the head of the church.
1. Matthew 16:18 ESV: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
2. Colossians 1:18 ESV: And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
3. Ephesians 5:23 ESV: For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
ii. To magnify the Lord thru corporate worship and the teaching of the Word.
1. Matthew 18:20 ESV: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
2. Acts 2:41-47: The Fellowship of the Believers
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
3. 1 Peter 2:5 ESV: You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
4. Matthew 4:10: Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’
5. Hebrews 2:12 saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”
6. Ephesians 5:19: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
7. Romans 15:6: So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8. 1 Peter 4:11 – If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
a. Quote: True worship is regained in truth because it requires sound doctrine. This is why the early church put teaching doctrine as a centerpiece of their worship. Acts 2:42 records the “worship service” of the early church as “continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The requirement is to worship God in truth, for without the truth, you are worshiping something other than God! The next element of true worship arises from this foundation of worship in spirit and truth. From https://gracebibleny.org/worship-the-purpose-of-the-church
c. To move believers to maturity and ministry which includes using your spiritual gifts.
i. Highlight Spiritual gifts test by C. Peter Wagner!
1. You can get one at info booth or sign up for the test – it does cost $5.00
ii. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: 16 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.
iii. 1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV: And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
iv. Ephesians 3:10 ESV: So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
v. Acts 11:25-26 ESV: So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
vi. Romans 12:1: 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
vii. Matthew 18:17 ESV: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
d. To make Jesus known to our neighbors and the nations.
i. Acts 1:8 ESV: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Jesus has asked each of us to be a part of His Church and to plug into one of His many ministries. We cannot sit back and be idle in these days if we want renewal to come to our society.
Why do we need to know this?
We need to know that each of us are a piece to the puzzle – we may not understand how our puzzle piece fits into the whole vision of the Lord but one day we will see it – in its completed form.
What do we need to do?
We need to choose to connect with Jesus Church and with the ministry he has placed us in for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission!
Why do we need to do this?
If we do – we will see a spirit of renewal sweep through our communities – through our person lives and through our families.
How can I help them remember? I gave you puzzle pieces to remind you of the mission Jesus has asked you to fulfill!
