#4 New Year, Same Church
We hope you are looking forward to this new year with all of its challenges and celebrations and are grounded by the important constants in your life.
0 Likes
0 Views
34 cards
17 min read
Pinned
Following the service today is a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church and have never attended one before.
This will take place in CJ's coffee shop after the service ends. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you!
This will take place in CJ's coffee shop after the service ends. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you!
You can now purchase CJ's Gift Cards in either $10 or $20 amounts at the counter in CJ's. These cards are good for anything purchased in CJ's (not for online purchases). This is a great way to bless someone as well as supporting the Samaritan Fund to help those in need in our community!
Tuesday, January 30th - Chris Webster
Wednesday, January 31st - Gina Cox
Wednesday, January 31st - Gina Cox
Cards
Our January sermon series is, "New Year, Same _____."
The phrase "time marches on" communicates the idea that all of life changes and the things of this world do not remain the same. This month we're talking about some things in the Bible that should stay the same even though time marches on.
The first week was New Year, Same God. We looked at the character of God, specifically His fierceness, forgiveness, and faithfulness.
The second week was New Year, Same Commands. We looked at the command in the Bible to Love God and Love people.
The third week was New Year, Same Mission. The Mission has not, can not, and will not change. Our challenge is to make disciples.
This week is New Year, Same Church.
The phrase "time marches on" communicates the idea that all of life changes and the things of this world do not remain the same. This month we're talking about some things in the Bible that should stay the same even though time marches on.
The first week was New Year, Same God. We looked at the character of God, specifically His fierceness, forgiveness, and faithfulness.
The second week was New Year, Same Commands. We looked at the command in the Bible to Love God and Love people.
The third week was New Year, Same Mission. The Mission has not, can not, and will not change. Our challenge is to make disciples.
This week is New Year, Same Church.
Mother Teresa invested her life helping the poor, the dying, and the unwanted around the world. She was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work and has inspired millions worldwide.
She felt the calling of her life was to help those who couldn't help themselves and saw it as an act of worship to serve others.
"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus." - Mother Teresa
She felt the calling of her life was to help those who couldn't help themselves and saw it as an act of worship to serve others.
"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus." - Mother Teresa
As humans, we all have a deep desire to find worth, fulfillment, and importance in life. This desire can lead us to totally selfish ends or it can direct us to a lifestyle of sacrifice and servanthood that benefits countless individuals and groups.
Together we can be and do more. This is a saying that is true in our families, workplace, schools, sports, arts, and every social institution we know of. This leads us to our message today...
Together we can be and do more. This is a saying that is true in our families, workplace, schools, sports, arts, and every social institution we know of. This leads us to our message today...
As Christians we are part of the family of God, the body of Christ, or as we know it - The Church.
The word church in Greek is "ekklesia" and means "a called out assembly or group of people who are united in purpose."
When Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior, we are joined to God's family. Then He expects us to live as His representatives, working together to carry out the objectives for which He has saved and gathered us together.
This is the meaning of the term "calling."
The word church in Greek is "ekklesia" and means "a called out assembly or group of people who are united in purpose."
When Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior, we are joined to God's family. Then He expects us to live as His representatives, working together to carry out the objectives for which He has saved and gathered us together.
This is the meaning of the term "calling."
When the word Church is referenced, it is referring to the sum total of all the people who are saved and gather together. Grace Church is a local example of that.
The Church is comprised of people all bearing a different S.H.A.P.E.
In many ways, the church is like a team. There's an old adage that says, "A team is only as strong as its weakest link." What kind of link are you?
The Church is comprised of people all bearing a different S.H.A.P.E.
In many ways, the church is like a team. There's an old adage that says, "A team is only as strong as its weakest link." What kind of link are you?
As we walk through Paul's writings about the church and its sense of calling, we see a number of objectives which the Lord has entrusted to His people.
This morning we'll look at 1 Thessalonians 1 & 2 in the Message version to highlight just 5 objectives of our calling. They help us to determine whether we are spiritually healthy, working for the glory of God, and are a contributing member of the team called Church.
This morning we'll look at 1 Thessalonians 1 & 2 in the Message version to highlight just 5 objectives of our calling. They help us to determine whether we are spiritually healthy, working for the glory of God, and are a contributing member of the team called Church.
1. EXALT the Lord and the lives of those who love Him.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
Exalt means "to hold or lift up (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of."
1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
Exalt means "to hold or lift up (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of."
1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
BSB
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
2 We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
3 and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
2 We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
3 and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
BSB
2. ENGAGE the lost with God's Word and the reality of our faith.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
Be storytellers - God's Story of Jesus and our Story with Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
Be storytellers - God's Story of Jesus and our Story with Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
BSB
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
BSB
3. ESTABLISH believers through relational mentoring.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Biblically, you've not learned a subject or skill until you are able to DO IT and PASS IT on to someone else. This is the difference between a disciple and a church-goer.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Biblically, you've not learned a subject or skill until you are able to DO IT and PASS IT on to someone else. This is the difference between a disciple and a church-goer.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
BSB
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
BSB
4. EQUIP ministry workers with intentional discipline.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Here Paul uses 2 illustrations that show the importance of being regularly equipped or trained to do God's work. One is found in verse 7: a mother caring for her little children. The other is found in verses 11 and 12: a father who deals with his own children. In both examples, discipline is the key element.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Here Paul uses 2 illustrations that show the importance of being regularly equipped or trained to do God's work. One is found in verse 7: a mother caring for her little children. The other is found in verses 11 and 12: a father who deals with his own children. In both examples, discipline is the key element.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
BSB
1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
9 Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
9 Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
BSB
5. ENCOURAGE one another with the end in view.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-18
We see how Paul is encouraging others - with his personal affection but also focusing their spiritual attention on the Lord. Jesus is Coming!
1 Thessalonians 2:13-18
We see how Paul is encouraging others - with his personal affection but also focusing their spiritual attention on the Lord. Jesus is Coming!
1 Thessalonians 2:13-18
BSB
13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
BSB
Our series this month has pointed out 4 areas of the Christian faith that should never change. Our God, Commandments, Mission, and Church.
Now we must simply BE what has been talked about and then DO it!
Now we must simply BE what has been talked about and then DO it!
