An Attractive Church Community, Part 2
Life Together In Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 20 viewsThe early church community was attractive because of its Christian Witness
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
The Impact of Collective Congregational Commitment
The Impact of Collective Congregational Commitment
Introduction
Introduction
Illustration:
ALONG the California coastline, there are some of the largest living organisms in the world—redwood trees. The redwoods are three hundred feet high. Some of them are forty feet around. Some of them have been there for 250 years. They are a magnificent sight. The trees are so massive because they only grow in groves (groups) and their roots intertwine underneath the ground. No intertwining, no growth. No connectedness, no growth.
(so is the case with the body of Christ...
churches grow spiritually and numerically through the interconnectedness of its membership i.e. when church members do life together through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the church grows supernaturally)
Transition To Body- When the people of God are together in one place and receive the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
Transition To Body- When the people of God are together in one place and receive the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit Provides Our Utterances
When the Holy Spirit Provides Our Utterances
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-
Diversity of Peoples Coming Together in the Church at Pentacost
Diversity of Peoples Coming Together in the Church at Pentacost
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:5-6
What Does This Mean When People Gather Together Speaking The Language Of The Other
What Does This Mean When People Gather Together Speaking The Language Of The Other
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:11
A Gospel That Invokes The Pouring Out Of The Holy Spirit
A Gospel That Invokes The Pouring Out Of The Holy Spirit
Acts
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Preaching That Calls One To Repentance
Preaching That Calls One To Repentance
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 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 2:38
Those Who Received The Gospel Were Baptized
Those Who Received The Gospel Were Baptized
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts
(But They don’t just join the church, get baptized and never show up again,
get baptized and never show up again,
Nor do they join the church and sit on the sidelines as spectators.
But because of what the power of the Holy Spirit has produced in there lives....
They are immediately engaged in discipleship and the life of the gospel centered church
last week we learned about their commitment and what our commitment to the church ought to embody...
gospel centered teaching
faithful fellowship
remembering the significance of the LORD’s supper or communion
and the power of prayer
this week we learn about the...)
Body- Impact of Collective Congregational Commitment
Body- Impact of Collective Congregational Commitment
and you ought to want to have impact in your life and in your walk with Jesus Christ our risen LORD and savior
Impact of Collective Congregational Commitment
Do I have a witness?
Collective Impact Of Commitment
Collective Impact Of Commitment
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Church Community Subject To The Holy Spirit
Church Community Subject To The Holy Spirit
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Awe
Awe
phobos
As subject, fear comes upon someone
profound respect and awe for deity—‘reverence, awe.’
‘and (the church) lived in reverence for the Lord’ .
‘let us worship … with reverence and awe’ .
From this word “Phobos” in the original Greek language, we derive the word phobia in English
(word from which we get phobia
Illustration: A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation.
The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months.
The affected person goes to great lengths to avoid the situation or object, to a degree greater than the actual danger posed.
If the feared object or situation cannot be avoided, the affected person experiences significant distress.
With blood or injury phobia, fainting may occur.
How do you feel about sin today?
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. φόβοςAs subject (En 100:8): φόβος πίπτει ἐπί τινα fear comes upon someone .l.; .l. ἐπιπίπτει ἐπί τινα ; ; . ἐστὶν ἐπί τινα v.l. γίνεται ἐπί τινα ; , or γίνεταί τινι . λαμβάνει τινά (Jos., Vi. 148) ;
Do you have a phobia towards your sin?
Do you go the great length to avoid sinning?
Or when you sin do you feel contrition, are you sorry? Do you ask the LORD God for forgiveness?
What is your disposition, inclination, or tendency today towards sin?
profound respect and awe for deity—‘reverence, awe.’
‘and (the church) lived in reverence for the Lord’ .
‘let us worship … with reverence and awe’ .
Or is your proclivity or tendency to choose or sin regularly without any recognition?
But as the Apostle Paul says in
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:
But the type of phobia describes with the word “Awe” is due to the inward dwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
But the type of phobia describes with the word “Awe” is due to the inward dwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
( in other words Jesus was LORD in their lives and Jesus was at work in the early believer’s lives through the counsel, teaching, and advocating of the Holy Spirit-
the Spirit of Truth!
the Spirit of Sanctification!
the Spirit that washes and cleans our hearts with the WORD of God through God’s grace)
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Came Upon (Changed them)
Came Upon (Changed them)
ginomai
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 13.107 γίνομαι; ἐπιγίνομαι
to happen, with the implication that what happens is different from a previous state—‘to happen, to occur, to come to be.’
to happen to someone prior to a particular point in time—‘to happen to already, to come upon, to come upon already.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Matthew 12:28
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Luke 11:17-
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Matthew 12:31
-19
Every Soul
Every Soul
to totality with focus on its individual components, each, every, any
(Therefore, the whole Church Community was subject to the Holy Spirit
And as a result...)
(So as a result of the Church Community Subject To The Holy Spirit)
Jesus’ Majesty Manifested Through The Miraculous
Jesus’ Majesty Manifested Through The Miraculous
Many Wonders And Signs (done through the Apostles)
ESV30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
That others (outsiders) may see and believe?
Wonders:
Wonders:
teras (word from which we get terror)
a relatively large quantity of objects or events—‘many, a great deal of, a great number of
something that astounds because of transcendent association, prodigy, portent, omen, wonder in our lit. only pl. and combined
an unusual sign, especially one in the heavens, serving to foretell impending events—‘portent, sign
Signs (that point to Jesus Christ that one may believe):
Signs (that point to Jesus Christ that one may believe):
an event that is an indication or confirmation of intervention by transcendent powers, miracle, portent, miracle
Only the LORD God could have done it!Is was done in the name of Jesus!
a sign or distinguishing mark whereby something is known, sign, token, indication
an event which is regarded as having some special meaning—‘sign
That it May Be Clearly Seen that his works have been carried out in God
That it May Be Clearly Seen that his works have been carried out in God
ESV20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
ESV48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
ESV54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
ESV11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
ESV17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
(So when the Church Community As A Whole Is Subject To The Holy Spirit,
Jesus’ Majesty Manifested Through The Miraculous
which led to...)
Believers Unite Together In Lavish Mutual Sharing
Believers Unite Together In Lavish Mutual Sharing
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Believed:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.102 πιστεύω; πίστις, εως
to believe in the good news about Jesus Christ and to become a follower—‘to be a believer, to be a Christian, Christian faith.’
πιστεύωc: τοῦ δὲ πλήθους τῶν πιστευσάντων ἦν καρδία καὶ ψυχὴ μία ‘the group of those who were believers was one in heart and mind’ Ac
Together:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 58.31 αὐτός, ή, ό
pertaining to that which is identical to something—‘same.’
So Believers (Christians) were the same? What does this mean?
Common:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 57.99 ἔχω κοινός
to share with one another equitably—‘to share, to share with one another.’ εἶχον ἅπαντα κοινά ‘they shared all their belongings with one another’ Ac 2:44. The mutuality of sharing may be expressed in some languages as ‘each person shared with all of the rest’ or ‘each person gave to the others and received from the others.’
What did the early believers (Christians) share with one another?
How much did they share?
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
(So since the Church Community Being Subject To The Holy Spirit,
Jesus’ Majesty Manifested Through The Miraculous which led to
which led to
Believers Uniting Together In Lavish Mutual Sharing And as a consequence)
Persistent God Praising Worship
Persistent God Praising Worship
Illustrate: Our Doxology after the offering a short hymn of praises to God in various forms of Christian worship,
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
(but not only Persistent God Praising Worship occurred but there were…)
Grace Inspired Expressions Of Generosity
Grace Inspired Expressions Of Generosity
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
Attending: they spent much time
spend much time in
to persist in someth.
ⓐ busy oneself with, be busily engaged in, be devoted to
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.68 προσκαρτερέω; προσκαρτέρησις, εως
to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty—‘to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in.’
Temple: persistently at the temple
of the temple at Jerusalem, including the whole temple precinct w. its buildings, courts, etc.
Together: with one mind & one purpose/impulse
with one mind/purpose/impulse
Breaking bread:
break in our lit. only of the breaking of bread (cp. Jer 16:7; PGM 4, 1392f. But as early as Anacr., Fgm. 69 Diehl2 ἰτρίου λεπτοῦ μικρὸν ἀποκλάς. Also Diod S 17, 41, 7 οἱ διακλώμενοι τῶν ἄρτων=those of the loaves that were broken through.—LXX also has διαθρύπτειν τ. ἄρτον: Is 58:7) by which the father of the household gave the signal to begin the meal (פָּתַת לֶחֶם, פָּרַס). This was the practice of Jesus Mt 14:19; 15:36; 26:26; Mk 8:6, 19; 14:22; Lk 22:19; 24:30; 1 Cor 11:24. Likew. of the cultic meals of the early Christians
In their homes:
They received their food with:
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:9-13
Glad (in their homes by the way as they received their food):
full of exultation, joy
to make resplendent or adorn
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament A. ἀγάλλω in Greek literature.
As ἀγάλλω means “to make resplendent” or “adorn,” so the mid. means “to preen or plume oneself”, “to be proud”. Thus what the term denotes is not so much a mood of satisfied joy as a consciousness of joyful pride expressed in the whole attitude. The expression of this joy, to which there does not have to be any reference in the word, has the character of demonstration rather than impartation.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.132 ἀγαλλίασις, εως
a state of intensive joy and gladness, often implying verbal expression and body movement (for example, jumping, leaping, dancing)—‘to be extremely joyful, to rejoice greatly, extreme gladness.’
And Generous Hearts:
simplicity of heart
humbleness, associated with a sincerity and simplicity of life
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.55 ἀφελότης, ητος
humility associated with simplicity of life—‘humility, humbleness, simplicity.’
(So since the Church Community Being Subject To The Holy Spirit,
Jesus’ Majesty Manifested Through The Miraculous which led to
Believers Uniting Together In Lavish Mutual Sharing And as a consequence
They actively participated in Persistent God Praising Worship
And Grace Inspired Expressions of Generosity)
Local Community Respects The Church
Local Community Respects The Church
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.
Praise:
expressing approval
There are eight occurrences in the NT, six in Luke and Acts, one in R. 15:11 == ψ 116:1, and one in Rev. 19:5 dat. It denotes the joyful praise of God expressed in doxology, hymn or prayer, whether by individuals (Lk. 2:20; Ac. 3:8 f.), the group of disciples (Lk. 19:37), the community (Ac. 2:47; Rev. 19:5) or the angels (Lk. 2:13).
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.354 αἰνέω; αἶνος, ου; αἴνεσις, εως; ἐπαινέω; ἔπαινος, ου
to speak of the excellence of a person, object, or event—‘to praise, praise.’αἰνέω: ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεόν ‘there appeared with the angel a great army of heaven’s angels praising God’ Lk 2:13.
αἶνος: πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἰδὼν ἔδωκεν αἶνον τῷ θεῷ ‘when the crowd saw it, they all praised God’ Lk 18:43.
αἴνεσις: ἀναφέρωμεν θυσίαν αἰνέσεως διὰ παντὸς τῷ θεῷ ‘let us always offer praise as our sacrifice to God’ He 13:15.
Favor:
Favor word search
② a beneficent disposition toward someone, favor, grace, gracious care/help, goodwill (almost a t.t. in the reciprocity-oriented world dominated by Hellenic influence [cp. e.g. OGI 669, 29] as well as by the Semitic sense of social obligation expressed in the term חֶסֶד [NGlueck, Das Wort ḥesed in alttestamentlichen Sprachgebrauche etc. 1927]. Of a different order and spirit is the subset of reciprocity known as Roman patronage, in which superiority of the donor over the client is clearly maintained).
that which one experiences fr. another (Arrian, Anab. Alex. 3, 26, 4) χάριν ἔχειν have favor .l. πρός τινα with someone=win his respect
Transition To Close
Transition To Close
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Illustration: Due to its growing traffic problem, Boston ranks #1 as the worst city in America to drive a car.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane within every major city such as Boston.
ONE of the ways used these days to cut down on traffic is the creation and use of HOV lanes—lanes for high occupancy vehicles, which are vehicles with more than one person in them. The idea is to discourage so many cars with only one passenger. This means that if you are not alone in your car, you can travel down an HOV lane and you will get there faster because you are not slowed down by a lot of individual people driving individual vehicles to the same location. This is like driving down the highway in koinonia—fellowshipping on your way to work.
On the highway to heaven, God wants you to travel down a high occupancy vehicle lane and He wants to be the other person in the car.
On the highway to heaven, He wants there to be an intimate, meaningful connectedness or fellowship between you and Him as you are on your way to glory. He wants you to enjoy the trip. He doesn’t want you to despise the journey. 302 [Intimacy, with God; Jesus, Relationship with] ;
Close- Unity & Community (Common & Unity combined) of the Holy Spirit because of what our Big Brother LORD & Savior Jesus Christ did...
Close- Unity & Community (Common & Unity combined) of the Holy Spirit because of what our Big Brother LORD & Savior Jesus Christ did...
Disciples love one another...
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:31-
Disciples stay connected to the vine...
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Disciples Bear Much Fruit
John 15:
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Disciples Love One Another
John 15:7
So Disciples Are Together in Jesus Christ
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:12-
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
One body with Many Members with One Spirit
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
But God, being rich in mercy
Because of the great love with which he loved us
Even when we were dead in our sins
Made us Alive Together With Jesus Christ
By grace you have been saved
For by grace you have been saved through faith
Not of your own doing
It is a gift of God
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Fellow Citizens with the Saints & Members of the Household of God
1 Corinthians
Ephesians 2:4-8
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians
1 Corinthians 12:12
Community of God the Father and God the Son...
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
John 1025-30
When Jesus is lifted up in our church community...
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Jesus Will be Together with Us One Day
John
We’re Gonna All Be Together One Day In Heaven
When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6
John 14:25-
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.