Point of Grace Online Worship 1.31.21

Sermon Notes – “I BELONG … … … to Him, His Church, His Mission” Part 2

We all long to BELONG! We try so very hard to find a home for our hearts, a sanctuary for our souls.

What does it mean to “Belong to His Church!”

What is the Church?

“Today the church, as an institution, gets a lot of negative press. Some see the church as an organization that abuses people or has some political agenda. This is certainly a different picture than what Jesus drew for His disciples when He described a church that would “prevail against the gates of hell and become the hope for the world.” The Alpha Team Guide

Church – “ekklesia” – the called out ones The church is people! Matthew 16 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Five Helpful New Testament Descriptions

1) FRIENDS

John 1513 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

“koinovia” – deep, trusting, transparent friendship

2) FAMILY

1 John 3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

3) HOME

Ephesians 217 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The church is where people are loved, accepted and welcomed home!

4) JESUS

1 Corinthians 12 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

We are the body of Christ through whom the world will see Jesus!

5) LOVE

Ephesians 5 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. …… 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

John 1334 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A Prayer of BELONGING

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You! I need union with You! Father, I BELONG to You! Jesus, I BELONG to You! Holy Spirit, I BELONG to You! I now confess and proclaim that if I BELONG to You Jesus then I BELONG to Your Church! Thank you for loving me when You didn’t have to, when I didn’t love you back. Thank you for calling me to love others even when they are hard to love. Thank you for giving me a place of BELONGING in Your Church. I recommit my life to playing my vital role in Your Church with Your FRIENDS, as part of Your FAMILY, being Your HOME that is Your BODY soaked and soaking one another in Your LOVE!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for Your Church!

Amen

How could a group of people living like this change the world?

Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 16:13-20 Tue – 1 John 1:3, 4:7-12 Wed – John 15:13-17 Thu – Ephesians 2:17-22 Fri – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Sat - Ephesians 5:25-32

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

New Book Recommendation from Pastor Weiser, “Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge