Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV)

1. WHAT IS HIS CHURCH?

HIS church, not ours

After His church was birthed:

• It exploded

• It exploded because:

– They allowed God’s goodness to fix the hole in their hearts

– They got engaged in ministry

– They loved God & they loved their neighbors

Church is STILL exploding!

Massive, explosive growth in:

– China

– Korea

– Nigeria

– East Africa

– Eastern Europe

– Latin America

U.S. church is losing ground

• Recent Gallup survey reported that 41% of Americans say they’re a part of a church family.

• This number has been approximately the same since the 1940’s.

• But only 20% attend a service on a given weekend.

U.S. church is losing ground

• By 2050, experts predict this number will be down to only TEN percent.

• Average “regular” attendee comes to church two times per month, down from three times a month just 10 years ago.

U.S. church is losing ground

• Less than 15% of churches in America are growing.

• Over 99% of those are growing by “swapping sheep.”

Externally Focused Church

We look for ways to be the church in the community rather than just gathering together by ourselves.

Externally Focused Church

1. Believes our communities CAN’T be healthy without us.

2. Believes Christians don’t grow until they begin serving.

3. Understands the power of service.

4. Reaches the unchurched.

5. Builds partnerships with others.

1. WHAT IS HIS CHURCH?

2. WHO IS CHRIST’S CHURCH?

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)