2.22.09 PM • Our Church
February 22, 2009
Our Church and Evangelism (Mk 16.15)
In this message we talk about our responsibility in the world as Christians, the business of preaching the gospel to the world. In our passage, as in Mt 28, going is the assumption, not the command. The activity to which we are called is preaching (heralding) where every task in the ministry of a church plays a part. And every creature is the opportunity. May God give us the courage and zeal to reach our world for Him.
Read the notes while you listen.
Apr 13 Study – Church
April 13, 2008
Christian Fellowship (2)
We begin a brief interruption of our Basic Theology series to look at the topic of Christian fellowship as taught in the Bible. This topic is largely misunderstood today, reduced to a bare notion of social interaction (coffee, lunch, potluck dinners). Fellowship is far more than that, it is selfless joint effort and communion with fellow believers in an exclusive cause: the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read the notes as you listen. (Notes for both Part 1 and Part 2).
Apr 6 Study – Church
April 6, 2008
Christian Fellowship (1)
We begin a brief interruption of our Basic Theology series to look at the topic of Christian fellowship as taught in the Bible. This topic is largely misunderstood today, reduced to a bare notion of social interaction (coffee, lunch, potluck dinners). While the social interaction is a great blessing of church life, it flows from our fellowship, it doesn’t define it.
Read the notes as you listen. (Notes for both Part 1 and Part 2).
Oct 21 PM – Church
October 21, 2007
It’s a Building (2)
In concluding our series on the church, I want to return to what I think of as the foundational metaphor for the church in the Bible. ‘It’s a Building’ – this is the second message by the same name from essentially the same passage. As a building, the church requires organization. This implies efficiency and also sufficiency - the organization of the church should allow it to function efficiently and should also be sufficient to the task at hand in the ministry of each local church. How do we measure up?
Read the notes as you listen.
Oct 14 PM – Church
October 14, 2007
It’s a Temple
The Lord’s building … body … flock … is described by another Biblical metaphor, the grandest of them all: it’s a Temple. It does seem that little attention is paid to this today, but the church is truly the Lord’s temple. As such, it is intended to be a holy dwelling place for the Holy God. What implications for church life does this concept have? What implications for church behaviour and function? What implications for church purity?
Read the notes as you listen.
Sept 30 PM – Church
September 30, 2007
It’s a Flock
The Lord’s body is the church, growing up to be like Him, and growing up into Him. But the concept requires still more metaphors. Not only a building, not only a body, but also a flock. The flock of God. As a flock, the church needs shepherding. And shepherding is much more than leadership. In fact, leadership isn’t enough. Now, what does that mean?
Read the notes as you listen.
Sept 23 PM – Church
September 23, 2007
It’s a Growing Body
The Lord’s church is also His body, functioning by interdependence (servant-fellowship). As a body, the church is not static. It is going somewhere. It is growing. But which direction is a Biblical church supposed to be going and growing? It’s supposed to grow into the head by the ministry of the parts.
Read the notes as you listen.
Sept 16 PM – Church
September 16, 2007
It’s a Body
The Lord’s church is built on a sure foundation according to an inspired organization. As such, one idea of the church is expressed, but the fulness of the church in God’s mind requires additional metaphors. The church – It’s a Body, a body that functions by interdependence. What do we mean by interdependence? Let’s try this term: servant-fellowship. Ok, pastor, so what does that mean?
Give a listen to find out.
Read the notes as you listen.
Sept 9 PM – Church
September 9, 2007
It’s a Building
The church belongs to Jesus Christ. As his possession, it is also described in the Bible as a building. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the apostles the foundation, and on that foundation, the edifice (the church) is erected. It’s a building – it needs organization. So how should it be organized?
Read the notes as you listen.
Aug 25 PM – Church
August 25, 2007
It’s Not Your Church
The first in a series of messages defining the church according to Biblical metaphors. We start by establishing ownership – whose church is it anyway? Is it the pastor’s church? Is it the deacon’s church? Is it the congregation’s church?
Read the notes as you listen.
