I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell; On the third day '
He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the
right hand of God the Father almighty;
From there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, 
The resurrection of the body, 
and life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19, Acts 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:4-6, Romans 12:2, Acts 16:16-18, Colossians 1:5-6, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Intro:

• Focus on the Apostles' Creed statement: "The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints."
• Disarm the word "Catholic" to reveal the beauty of a holy, unified church.
• Shift from God's attributes to our identity as God's people.

Foundation of the Church:

• Our identity is rooted in our understanding of God (Matthew 16).
• Peter's confession of Jesus as Messiah is the rock on which the church is built.
• Jesus is the cornerstone (Acts 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:4-6).
• Avoid building our lives on substitutes for Jesus (relationships, jobs, finances).
• Jesus's sign is his resurrection, not worldly signs.

Four Marks of the Church:

• One: Unified spiritually, not institutionally. (John 17)
• Holy: Set apart by the Holy Spirit, not conforming to the world (Romans 12:2).
• Catholic: Universal, worldwide, across all ages (Colossians 1:5-6).
• Apostolic: Built on the teachings of the apostles, passed down through generations.

Communion of Saints:

• "Communion" (Koinonia) means sharing fellowship and resources.
• Mutual commitment and responsibility within the Christian community.
• Rejects individualism, emphasizes belonging to a larger body.
• We are “we” not “me”.

Application:

• Examine what foundations we're building our lives on.
• Shift from a “me” centered view of church to a “we” focused one.
• Embrace our role as part of the body of Christ.
• Recognize the value of every unique member.

Deacons and Leadership:

• Deacons are servants who meet the tangible needs of the church.
• They assist elders, preserve unity, and mobilize ministry.
• 1 Timothy 3:8-13 describes their character and qualifications.
• Deacons serve by acts of love.
• Installation of deacons, and prayer for their ministry.
• Communion to be served by deacons.

Conclusion:

• God's church is a beautiful, unified body built on Jesus.
• We are called to participate in this community, sharing our lives and resources.
• We are called to follow the example of our deacons, by serving others.

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