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Exploring the biblical images of the Church. What does Church as a Building look like?
Scripture: Ephesians 2:18-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Matthew 12:6, John 2:19-21, Matthew 16:18, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Matthew 21:33-44, Psalm 118:22, Psalm 34:18
Intro:
- Prayer for Mike and the sermon.
- Recap of previous sermon (Ephesians 2, Church as a Body).
- Today's focus: the church as a building (Ephesians 2:18-22).
- Emphasizing God's strategic and intentional building of the church.
God's Strategic Building:
- The church as God's "Plan A" for making disciples.
- God's patient and loving building, despite human imperfections.
- Analogy of playing Legos with children to illustrate God's patience.
- The Old Testament narrative leading to the building of the temple.
- Jesus as the new temple (John 2:19-21, Matthew 12:6).
- The church as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
- The church as a place where people can meet with God.
Purpose and Structure:
- The church's purpose: to be God's holy habitation on earth (Ephesians 2:22).
- The church as a place where God's presence is experienced (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).
- Jesus as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, Matthew 16:18).
- Importance of the cornerstone in ancient architecture.
- Christ as the foundation upon which everything rests.
- The foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20).
- Their teachings and practices as communicated through Scripture.
- Not their persons, but their instruction.
Response and Application:
- Jesus' parable of the rejected cornerstone (Matthew 21:33-44, Psalm 118:22).
- The choice: rejection leading to judgment, or humble repentance leading to mercy.
- The Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
- Christ as the stable foundation in a chaotic world.
- Taking one's place in the temple of the Holy Spirit.
- God's plan for shaping people into the image of Christ.
- Call to surrender and build one's life on Christ.
Worship and Invitation:
- Worship as a response to God's building.
- Story of the thief on the cross as an example of turning to Christ at life's end.
- Invitation to come to Christ, regardless of past mistakes.
- Jesus' refusal to save himself so that we could be saved.
- Call to build one's life on the firm foundation of Christ.
- Prayer for individual and corporate building on Christ.
*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.
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