Sermon Central
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We're Doing Life Together Series
Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Aug 21, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: It’s one thing to believe God brings us together as the body of Christ for His glory, and it is another to act upon what you believe. We can believe all the right stuff, but faith without works is still dead right? Let's walk together in covenant.
Learning to Live in Covenant - We’re Doing Life Together
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Introduction:
We've all watched Charlie Brown try to kick that football, but every time Lucy pulls it away. Would Charlie be better off without having Lucy as a friend, or is life better when we choose to live life in relationship with others?
Charlie Brown is learning life lessons in trusting others, and yes, he is also learning about forgiving Lucy too.
Yes it is better to do life together!
God has brought us together.
1. No one is here by chance. Do you believe the Lord has a plan and purpose for each of us as members together of Life Church AG?
Our membership covenant begins saying, “We, the body of Christ at Life Church Assembly of God, believe the Lord has brought us together for His glory.”
As individual members of Christ’s body, we believe we cannot stand alone. Instead God has brought us together at this time and in this place. None of us are here by chance.
2. Have you ever thought about why we are here attending this church?
Our membership covenant begins by telling us why we are each here - can you see the reasons God brought you are here?
God brings us together as members of CHRIST’S BODY - the Church.
Notice what Paul says about the body - 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 ESV
14 The body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.
God has arranged the body of Christ; it is the Lord who has brought you here!
It is possible that someone might attend our church but not be part of the body of Christ. If that happens to be you, then because we are in covenant relationship let me give you a word of caution: YOU WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPOSED FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE. It is possible for you to be a good religious person and attend a church for years and no one but Jesus will know you are not part of His body, but that can’t happen here because we are in covenant with each other. It’s also possible for those Jesus called wolves to sneak into a church pretending to be a sheep and go unnoticed, but be warned: covenant relationships will expose you as the wolf you really are.
Why will being in covenant relationship cause those who are not part of Christ’s body be exposed? - That’s the second reason why God brings us together:
God has brought us together for HIS GLORY.
We are not here to make a name for ourselves. God brings us together as His Church in order to glorify and make His name great!
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
It’s one thing to believe God brings us together as the body of Christ for His glory, and it is another to act upon what you believe. We can believe all the right stuff, but faith without works is still dead right?
Knowing God brings us together is why we join together in covenant relationships.
Our membership covenant simply stated says: “We’re doing LIFE TOGETHER as we ENCOUNTER, CONNECT, GROW and SERVE.”
1. Even though we spent the majority of last year learning about covenant relationships, living in covenant is foreign to us today.
When we say we share covenant relationships with each other what does that mean? Or put simply - WHAT IS COVENANT?
