“The Church”

Mt 16:1-20 “ I will build my Church “

Proposition: The world hates the Church. The devil persecutes it. Men despise it’s testimony. Do not take your cues from the world.

What is the Church? A group of called out people. Ek klessia

1cor 1: 2/ Mk 1:17,20-3:13 / Acts 2:38,39, 41,47

A revelation given to them: Vs 16 - Mark 8:27-29( The Christ) Luke 9:20 ( The Christ of God) ( The Christ, the son of the Living God)

An assembly of spiritually blessed people: Vs 17 Started with the Father, terminates in Christ, is experienced by the Holy Ghost Eph 1:3 / Rom 15:29,16 / Mth 13:16

3) The Church is a product of God’s eternal purpose in Christ: Eph 3:8-11 / Isa 60:15 / John 10: 14-17 / 1Peter 2:25

(4)Vs 18: I will build my Church: The Church is, the unfailing determination of Christ Himself. John 10:16,17/

In priority, this is the purpose church: Preaching institution: 1cor 1:18 / 1tim 3:15,16 / 2 Tim 4:1/ 1Thess 5:16-23 /

It is a body (1cor 12:12,13) We are a sheep fold: John 10:16,17

We are a Priesthood ministry: Isa 61:6/ Eph 2:21/ 1pet 2:5

We are a family: Eph 3:14,15 / 5:30,31.

We are an imperfect people looking to our perfection in Him!

Phil 3:12-16

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH

Has from it’s been inception committed to these three things!

SOUND DOCTRINE: The whole truth of God centered in and flowing out of the person of Jesus Christ who is our life, by the ministry of teaching and preaching His Word. We desire His fullness to be realized in our life so that we might be the fullness of Him that filleth all things. Eph 1:22,23 / Col 1:19,2:9,10/ 2Tim 4:1-3/ John 17:17

FERVENT CHARITY: We heartily believe in the law of love. That without it, nothing of eternity can be produced. Rules and regulations without relationship, is legalism and death. A drudgery to be avoided. But God’s commandments are not burdensome when the heart is full of the love of God, shed abroad by the Holy Ghost And faith only works by love. And without faith, it is impossible to please God. John 13:12-18 / Gal 5:6/ Rom 5:4 / 1Thess 1:2-5/ 1John 5:1

In fact, these are the marks of election. For they are the marks of Christ.

ZEALOUS EVANGELISM: Taking this glorious message of free Sovereign Mercy to lost sinners, is a privilege , a joy and a great responsibility. For all who understand it’s importance, and spend themselves in time, talent, and resources for the cause of spreading the message of His glory, your reward is great in heaven! Mt 28:19,20/1cor 1:18. You support and engage that which pleases God supremely !

Rev 22:17

Though the world scorn you for it, you will never worry about the Lords disapproval of your efforts for Him in His cause. 1cor 9:18-27/ Mt 25:23. May He grace you to keep these things in mind, Til He comes!

Life is hard for most people!

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

We should train ourselves to such regard, to such respect for others, that we shall never hurt the heart of one of God's creatures, even by a disdainful look!
Our love ought also to be patient. Our neighbor may have his faults—but we are taught to bear with one another's infirmities.

If we knew the story of men's lives, the hidden loads and burdens which they are often carrying, the unhealed sore in their heart—

we would have most gentle patience with them.

Life is hard for most people; certainly hard enough without
our adding to its burdens by our censoriousness, our
unkindness, our jeering and contempt.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,

gentleness and patience."

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:12

“ HOME ”

This is the place where all the fundamentals are taught!

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut 11:19

It is the job of those who both covenant in the sanctity of marriage and bear children to make their home an educational center!

A place of continual and intense learning the home MUST be, if we are to turn out productive and useful and proud young men and women. We must understand that all the skills of social behavior,

Merit and reward, disobedience and punishment, conflict resolution, and caring, giving, spiritual service starts in the home:

With the parents modeling and executing the lessons.

If you will observe, to simply let your little ones do what they are given by nature, is a disaster in the making. They will never get it, by accident. And therefore the parents are to work these things out first, and by prayer, with the help of God and the church, which by extension also is the family, we can be servants of the most high God in a corrupting society for the good of others.