the strength of church - lesson #4

The Strength ofthe Church

The Benefitsof “in”

How Do I Get “in”

The Mystery of “in”

The Strength of “in”

Strength “in” Walking

Strength “in” Marriage

Strength “in” Battle

The Benefits of Being “in” Christ

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places...”

(Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

What Being “in” Christ Means

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...”

(Ephesians 2:19, ESV; emphasis mine)

The Mystery of Christ

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

(Ephesians 3:6, ESV; emphasis mine)

Top Ten Signs You

Might be “Doing

Church” Instead of

“Being Church”

#10 –If you showed up today

so no one will call you

tomorrow.

“What do you think? If a man

has a hundred sheep, and one

of them has gone astray, does

he not leave the ninety-nine on

the mountains and go in search

of the one that went astray?”

(Mathew 18:12; ESV)

#9 -If your Bible has more

dust than your television

screen.

“Do your best to present

yourself to God as one

approved, a worker who has no

need to be ashamed, rightly

handling the word of truth.”

(2 Timothy 2:15; ESV)

#8 –If you have not changed

seats in five years.

“And the word of God continued

to increase, and the number of

the disciples multiplied greatly in

Jerusalem, and a great many of

the priests became obedient to

the faith.” (Acts 6:7; ESV)

#7 –If you have not studied

with someone in the past

year. “…and what you have heard

from me in the presence of

many witnesses entrust to

faithful men who will be able to

teach others also.”

(2 Timothy 2:2; ESV)

#6 –If you do not know the

words to “Jesus Loves Me.”

“Let the word of Christ dwell in

you richly, teaching and

admonishing one another in all

wisdom, singing psalms and

hymns and spiritual songs, with

thankfulness in your hearts to

God.”

(Colossians 3:16; ESV)

#5 –If you only worship one

hour a week.

“But the hour is coming, and is

now here, when the true

worshipers will worship the

Father in spirit and truth, for the

Father is seeking such people to

worship him.”

(John 4:23; ESV)

#4 –If you introduce yourself

to a member thinking they

are a visitor?

“Now the full number of those

who believed were of one heart

and soul, and no one said that

any of the things that belonged

to him was his own, but they

had everything in common.”

(Acts 4:32; ESV)

#3 –If the only time you see

brethren is once a week.

“And every day, in the temple

and from house to house, they

did not cease teaching and

preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

(Acts 5:42; ESV)

#2 –If your friend of a year is

surprised you are a

Christian.

“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.”

(Romans 12:2; ESV)

#1 –If you blame everyone

but yourself for the church

not growing

“Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit…”

(Matthew 28:19; ESV)

Top Ten Signs You

Might be “Doing

Church” Instead of

“Being Church”

The Strength of “in”

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

(Ephesians 4.15-16; ESV)

The Strength of “in”

What are Christians “in”?

• One Body• One Spirit• One Hope• One Lord

• One Faith • One Baptism• One God and Father

“…who is over all and through all and in all.”

The Strength of “in”

“…the “whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped…”

“when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

(Ephesians 4.16; ESV)

The Strength of “in”

• Different abilities (Ephesians 4.7-11)

• Equipping the saints (Ephesians 4.12-13)

• Maturing in Christ (Ephesians 4.13-14)

The Strength of “in”

• Mind renewal (Ephesians 4.23)

• The new self (Ephesians 4.24)

• Character change (Ephesians 4.25-32)

The Strength ofthe Church