A Message by Pastor Michael Palmer
Given to
July 26, 2009
WHO ARE WE AND
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?
2 Corinthians 5:9-21; Luke 19:10
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A
PART OF THE CHURCH – the
called out ones of God, a local body of regenerated people on mission with God
(more on this later)
1.
THE
PEOPLE OF GOD
1 Peter 2:9; see also: Exodus 19:5-6; Hosea 1:10; 2:23;
Jeremiah 31:33
2.
THE
BODY OF CHRIST – 1 Corinthians 12:27
Unity – shared life - Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13
Mutuality – shared concern and care – 1 Corinthians 12:25
3.
THE
HEAD OF THE BODY IS JESUS CHRIST
Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:22-23
Christlikeness in goal one – Ephesians 4:11-16
4.
THE
1 Corinthians 6:19
·
we
must be a worshipping community
·
we
are all believer priests – each indwelt by the Holy Spirit
·
we
are all in relationship with one another – interdependence
(From the
Baptist Faith and Message, June 2000)
The New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an
autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in
the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ,
governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in
them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the
earth. Each congregation operates under
the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is
responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord.
Its scriptural officers are pastors [same as elders] and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for
service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of
Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every
tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
(Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3;
14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17;
9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Phil 1:1; Col 1:18; 1
Tim. 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Heb. 11:39-40; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3)
I have a
definition that I would like to offer for purposes of this message today:
The church is God’s called out people
(both local and universal). The church
is composed of missional people called out by a missional God, and these people are now on mission with and
for God, declaring His character (righteousness, holiness) and His love and His
wonderful Gospel to the world. The
church is the body of believers SENT into the world as God’s
ambassadors!
I.
THE NATURE
OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST DEMANDS THAT WE BE MISSIONAL – Luke 19:10
II.
THE NATURE
OF THE NEW BIRTH DEMANDS THAT WE BE MISSIONAL – 2 Corinthians 5:9-21
The
Gospel itself is missional! 2 Corinthians 5:21
The
love of Christ constrains us. C. S.
Lewis called being born again as “having the good disease.” We should be overwhelmed by the grace of God.
III.
THE
CHARACTER OF GOD DEMANDS THAT WE BE MISSIONAL
John
3:16 – God GAVE – God sent His Son!
John
1:1,14
Our
God is a sending God. If we know
God, then we will be a going and a sending people.
IV.
THE WORK
OF GOD AROUND
John
16:7-14 – The work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people is evident.
God
sent the Holy Spirit to go before us, lead us, and enable us to bear
fruit as we abide in and obey Him in the task of being SENT!
God is at work around us.
People are:
Genesis 12:1-3
Matthew 28:19-20
John 20:21
I believe
it is a new day in our walk with Jesus Christ. God is calling every generation in our church
to be SENT with Him to lost people everywhere. LET’S GO, LET’S LOVE, LET’S TELL.