The Mission Of The Church
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[0:40] Father, we thank you for the privilege to hear a word. Speak to us as we hear a word. Bring insight. Bring illumination. We ask for you to reveal yourself to us.
[0:55] Speak to us in clear ways we can understand. Build us up in you. Infuse more of yourself in you. Heal the sick. Encourage the discouraged. Bring direction to the confused.
[1:08] And break the chains of hell. Save the lost. And glorify your name. We thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. Hallelujah.
[1:19] Hallelujah. What powerful testimonies. God is able to do just what he said. He will not forget.
[1:31] He was going to do it. So just hold on. Keep working with God. Because we are the blessed people. We are the blessed people.
[1:42] God chose us to love us. So he purposely selected us. He looked amongst many people.
[1:52] And he said that I want you. So we have been chosen. We have been selected. We have been appointed. We have been elected to be loved. So the scripture said. Behold what manner of love.
[2:05] The father has given unto us. That we should be called. The sons of God. So we are blessed people. Sometimes we may go through difficulties. Sometimes we may go through hard times.
[2:18] But it's all going to be okay. And of course this too shall pass. This too shall pass. Amen. Amen. Amen. Today I want to talk. Very quickly. Because today is a special day.
[2:29] I want to talk about. The church's mission. The church's mission. In other words. The mission of the church. The mission of the body of Christ.
[2:42] Why the body of Christ exists. And why we are in church. See once we know why the church exists. It informs.
[2:53] Why we are here. Or why we are in church. And it helps us to. Be able to focus. On the important things. Alright. Focus on the major things.
[3:04] And minor on the minus. In Mark chapter 12. Shall we turn our Bibles to Mark chapter 12. Mark chapter 12 verse 30.
[3:21] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. Okay. Shall we all read it together? I think it will be good if we all read it together. Are you ready for that?
[3:31] Alright. Let's read it. Let's go. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. With all your soul. With all your mind.
[3:42] And with all your strength. And this is the first commandment. The next verse. And this. The second is like this. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[3:54] There is no other commandment greater than this. So loving God and loving our neighbors. He said that is. The great commandment.
[4:06] Alright. So. So. That's the church's mission. Remember this. The great commandment. And in the great commandment. It's first. Loving God. And loving one another.
[4:16] Or loving. Our neighbors. And then let's look at the great commitment. Or the great commission. The great commission. So this is the great commandment.
[4:27] Let's look at the great commission. Matthew chapter 28. Verse 19 and 20. Verse 18 says.
[4:38] Jesus came and spoke to them saying. All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Verse 19. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father.
[4:50] In the name of the Son. And of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo. I am with you always.
[5:01] Even to the end of the age. Amen. That's the last thing in Matthew. So it says that. That's called the great commission. The great commission says that.
[5:14] Go. Therefore and make disciples. Baptizing them in the name of the Father. The Son. And of the Holy Spirit. So. Make disciples.
[5:25] Let's all say make disciples. Make disciples. And then baptize them. Baptize them. Say baptize them. Baptize them. Baptize them. And then the next verse says. Verse 20 said. Teach them. Teach them.
[5:36] Let's say teach them. Teach them. Alright. So three. Three major. Words you can notice from here. Or phrases. That point to the pillars of the church. Or the assignments of the church.
[5:48] Make disciples. Baptize them. And teach them. Make disciples. Baptize them. And teach them. Shall we all say that together?
[5:59] Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them. Please let's say it again. Make disciples. Baptize them. And teach them. So God says that. Go make disciples.
[6:10] Baptize them. And teach them. That is the great commission. And the great commandment is. Love the Lord your God. With all your heart. With all your soul. With all your might.
[6:21] And he said. And love your neighbor. As yourself. So these are the great. The two greats. So long as the church is concerned. The two great assignments of the church. We are called to love.
[6:32] And we are called to make. Alright. Now. It's very important to understand. Because sometimes. A lot of people. Have all kinds of ideas.
[6:42] Ideas about the church. Now. Before I even go further. What is the church? Or who is the church? Right. The church is not necessarily. Primarily. A gathering of.
[6:53] People. In one place. To worship. First of all. It's not a building. Okay. The church is not a building. Sometimes you see. What. A cathedral. Or a church building. It means that. This is a place where.
[7:04] Christians gather. To worship. So sometimes. In addition. You see a church. It can actually mean. A church building. But when the Bible says a church. The Bible is not talking about. A physical building.
[7:15] The Bible is talking about. What's a church? A church. Church is. Christ in you. Christ in me. Christ in him. Christ in her. That's the church. Right. So.
[7:26] You can't actually define. The boundaries of the church. Because someone is in China. And. Christ is in him. Someone is in. Afghanistan. And has Christ in him.
[7:38] Someone is in Birmingham. Has Christ in him. Another person is in Beckham. Has Christ in him. And someone is in America. Or. Or Haiti. And has Christ in him. All right. And.
[7:48] Someone is in Methodist. Has Christ in him. Someone is in Baptist. Has Christ in him. Someone is in. In the Catholic Church. Has Christ in him. Someone is in Caris. Has Christ in him.
[7:58] So. You can't define the church. Based on human organization. Or the boundaries of it. There's someone in prison. And has Christ in him. That.
[8:09] You understand what I'm saying. So the church is not so much. About. A building. Or about an organization. Because when some of us. Got born again. We were made to know. That people in Carly Church. Are not Christians.
[8:21] And there's. So. There's whole. This massive crusade. Against. The Orthodox Church. Against the Anglican Church. Because yes. They may not be able. They may not focus. Extensively. On the teaching of God's word.
[8:32] The way. Other Christian organizations do. However. It doesn't mean. They are not Christians. Now. Watch this. There are people in this church. Who are not Christians. There are people in.
[8:45] There are Christians. In every church. And there are Christians. In churches. But as to. How. You progress.
[8:56] In your Christian life. Jesus said. Make disciples. Teach them. So the teachings. That you receive. Will have an impact. On how. You grow. Will have an impact.
[9:09] You are like. Your teacher. Why is it. That we want to send. Our children. To good schools. Because. There's. That who teaches. You have a direct impact.
[9:19] On what you turn out to be. Do you understand that? So that is. That's a very important. However. There are people. Who go to. Push schools. And end up. Messed up. So.
[9:30] It's not so much. The school. But it's first. What is in you. And then. What you expose yourself to. Determines. What grows up in you. Your environment.
[9:41] Determines. What grows in you. Your environment. Determines. What grows in you. You can. We all have monsters in us. We all have monsters in us.
[9:54] You can choose to feed your monster. And grow it. Or choose to feed your angel. And grow it. We all have angels in us. We all have monsters. Because human beings are. The human beings.
[10:06] Hello. So. First of all. We. We. We. We have to. We want to establish the fact. That the church is not. A building. The church is not necessarily.
[10:18] A building. A building. A building. The church is. Human beings. Who are saved. Washed. Kept by the power of God. And washed by the blood of Jesus. Whose sins have been forgiven.
[10:29] And they are the children of God. Now. In first Peter chapter two. Verse nine. It says that. For you are a chosen generation. Say I'm chosen. I'm chosen. For you are a chosen generation.
[10:41] A royal priesthood. A holy nation. His own special people. Talking about God. That's why the his is in capital. Capital. his own special people that watch this, that's very important so it's not just chosen generation yes that's fine, it's not just royal priesthood, yes that's fine it's not just a holy nation, yes that's fine it's not a royal priesthood, yes that's fine that's what we actually are but why are we that?
[11:07] why are we that? it says that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his amazing light so first of all the biggest assignment of the church the biggest mission, watch this the biggest mission of the church is to worship the true and the living God that's our main assignment that's why he called us not even evangelism evangelism is not the biggest it's not a big, it's a commission it's an assignment but we exist for his praise, we exist for his glory, we exist for him he said I live to worship you oh my God, I live for your glory evermore my heart my heart will say above all I live for your glory we live for his glory hallelujah so the church exists for the glory of God the church exists to worship we have to understand that it's very important and you see do you know that schools have football teams and athletic teams but you don't go to school to go and play football or you don't go to school to go and play games but there are a whole lot of things that go together to make a society or an organization or an institution a strong institution so in every institution there are some things that the institution practice like I found out some time ago that some of the big companies you the workers the workers the employers sorry the employees are shareholders
[12:52] I think John Lewis they are shareholders whilst St. Bruce is different alright so every company every organization have the way they do their things in some company I met a certain gentleman some time ago I think in a certain I think Apple or something like that and he was telling me how it's so fantastic to work for Apple because the company he used to work I think he was working in a certain company and there's a lot of pressure Apple there's pressure but he said I feel they have this ethos of making every worker feel so valued feel so important and feel so supported and he said the work is hard they make it easy for you and he said that is Apple the way they do their things and then the guys actually many American companies actually operate like that many American companies they have to they operate to make you feel that is they are not there to make employees feel good they are there for business but part of what they do because they work with people internally there are ways they do things to make their external assignment strong in the same way the church exists we exist for the glory of God but there are things that
[14:08] Jesus has given to us or God has given to us to do so that our existence and the purpose of our existence can be even very strong now I'm going to talk about four things four things that the church must do now because we are watch this because we are God's people we have God's best because we are God's people God's best is reserved for us all things work together for good to them that love the Lord according to his purpose it's for us God's best is reserved for us no eye has seen no ear has seen enter into the heart of any man what God has prepared for those who love him and when you check it he's talking about us those his beloved all right so God's best is reserved for us that is why I believe that if you're a Christian then you should believe God and you should connect yourself for the best of God your life must go well your marriage must go well your health must be intact the devil shouldn't be able to have a field trip on your life the devil shouldn't be able to play around your life you must have authority you must be in control you must be at the top you understand that and so things must work for you life must work for you life must be at your command because God is on your side so these are just fundamental opportunities for instance
[15:33] I'm called empty because of my dad my dad hasn't done me any favor for calling me empty and I haven't done my daughters any favor for calling them empty because it's their that's their portion in life what you want you should they be called pencil no do you understand what I'm saying so that's their portion in life in the same way it's your portion in God to be blessed it's your portion in God to enjoy benefits it's your portion in God for God to sell you out and bless you and give you peace shout yes it's your portion so when you're a believer you must understand this first that you are called for a blessing Bible says he has brought us out from the kingdom of darkness into his marvelous light Bible says that he delivered us from the powers of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son we are blessed say I'm blessed we are chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation and a peculiar people our breed has never been seen we are a unique breed say I'm blessed so every time sometimes when you go through difficulties and troubles tap yourself on the shoulder and say to yourself I am blessed
[16:49] God loves me this too shall pass this is just for a season this is just for a season because as I keep walking with God his glory will manifest over my life Bible says that the the path of the righteous shines brighter and brighter and brighter and forevermore the Proverbs chapter 4 verse 18 the path of the righteous Bible says that Bible talks about how young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that love the Lord shall suffer they that love the Lord or they that have the Lord they that trust in God shall not suffer any good thing in Psalm 84 verse 11 it says that no good thing will he withhold from them that walk upright hallelujah no good say no good thing say no good thing if it is called good it will make life good for you Bible says God will not withhold it from you you understand no good thing you must know these things young lions lack and suffer hunger now lion a lion connotes the strong ones the fiercest ones they can go for whatever they want and get it but I said even young lions sometimes they lack and they suffer hunger but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing talks about he turns my morning into dancing
[18:08] God turns my morning into dancing so if you are in God you must know what is working for you things are working for you things are working for you and things are meant to work for you life is supposed to get better and better and better and better and better and that is what you are going to experience in the name of Jesus so just like the way I bear my dad's name my dad's last name that's the way when you're a believer it's your entitlement for these things I've spoken about but that's not why you became a believer I didn't become my dad's son that I can bear his name just for that I came God didn't send me on earth to bear my dad's name he sent me on earth for an assignment so all those but the problem is sometimes we come to seek for the good things of God and we settle and that there is more to life than a car there is more to life than children having children there is more to life than having a husband or having a wife there is more to life than having money there is more to life than buying your own house if you buy your own house is it the pastor who said last Sunday how many rooms would you sleep in if you have five bedrooms you sleep in only one room on one bed if you have five cars how many would you be able to drive at a time only one so there are people who have it all and yet they are unhappy the bible says what does a man gain if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul so life is more than
[19:39] Jesus puts it this way he said for life is more than raiment life is more than what you eat or what you wear life is more than that and so we are Christians not just because we want God to help us and bless us those things are our fringe benefits because the bible says that the lord is my portion the lord is your portion so all those things will come they are coming and they will come and they will stop coming as long as we keep working with God but so what is the main point the main thing let's keep the main thing made the church exists as I said for for the great commandments and the great commission helps us to keep us going to do what we have to do now watch this we are true worshipers say we are true worshipers bible says that in john chapter 4 the time is coming and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth for such seeketh the father to worship him so we are supposed to be worshiping in spirit and in truth what does that mean as priests are alive we have connectivity with God and we have communication with him but what are the four key things that I want to talk about today about what help the church to be strong and what the church is supposed to be doing to help us fulfill our main mission which is worship number one
[21:06] Jesus said as we read it earlier go into the world and make disciples say evangelism say it again please the church exists to also share Christ to speak about the goodness of Christ why so that there are people who are in the world who don't know Christ who are supposed to come and know Christ so that they can enjoy the benefits that God has God is a good God but he can't invade people's life or impose himself on people so he has sent the church he has given us the ministry of reconciliation 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 19 and 20 somewhere there talks about how God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and not imputing our trespasses against us and has committed to us the word of reconciliation it's a commitment he has given to us so evangelism is not like oh an extreme religious activity or religious fanatics who evangelize no it is just Christians Christians who want to make sure they are working with God and fulfilling the assignment of God they give themselves to evangelism now the church cannot be soft or the church cannot marginalize evangelism because evangelism is important outreach is important now when we talk about evangelism there are two ways of two types of evangelism we have the mass evangelism where you have maybe a church we do an open air crusade or we do a big event somewhere trying to reach out to the lost souls getting them to come so a whole church comes together and maybe one evangelist like Billy
[22:41] Graham or like Benny Hinn or like David M.C. will be preaching to them and then getting them to come to Jesus that is mass this is mass crusade and it's known it works everywhere but the most effective one actually that happened in Acts chapter 2 the mass one Bible says that when there was day of Pentacles people had gathered they heard them speaking in tongues and Peter Bible said Peter stood up and addressed the crowd he addressed the crowd I think from verse 11 or so and told them that what you are seeing is this what God has promised so he addressed the crowd and when he finished in verse 38 verse 39 Bible said the people he was addressing were cut to the heart and he said what shall we do and he said repent and be baptized for the remission and every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so Peter preached to them alright that's mass evangelism but we also have where it's one on one mass evangelism as well we see in the book of Acts a man called Philip Philip went to
[23:42] Samaria in Acts chapter 8 verse 5 Bible says Philip went to Samaria and he preached to the city Philip went down to the city Samaria and preached Christ to them so he was preaching to them right so that was mass evangelism but we also have the personal the one on one which is the responsibility of every Christian and where do you start Jesus told them go into the world and preach the gospel and he told them in Acts chapter 1 verse 8 verse 4 said don't rush and go yet but wait for the gift of the father so in Acts chapter 1 verse 8 he said but you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses say witnesses say witnesses who is the witness who proves someone who goes to prove that this this matter or this fact is true right we go and tell people that Jesus is actually alive Jesus is alive he changed our lives and this is who Jesus is tell people about Jesus he said you shall be my witnesses watch this where does he say you starting from
[24:42] Acts chapter 1 verse 8 he said you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses where where Jerusalem Jerusalem is where they were living so your immediate vicinity then it goes out Jerusalem in Samaria so you realize Philip went down to Samaria to go and preach he was the first one to go and preach in Samaria because Jews and Samaritans don't meet that's why we have the story about the good Samaritans sorry the good Samaritans Jews and Samaritans are enemies enemies and but Stephen went to Samaria to preach you know before he did Jesus had gone ahead Bible talks about how Jesus was going to I forget when he was going to Jerusalem from Jerusalem it's not Jericho I forgot when and Jesus said in John chapter 4 Jesus said I need to go through Samaria they don't have to go through Samaria you're actually going off and Samaritans and Jews don't meet why did Jesus have to go through Samaria and he went there and he met the woman at the well and told the woman ministered to the woman woman went and announced
[25:45] Jesus to the whole town the whole town came listening to Jesus so Jesus has taken before he resurrected so Jesus set the ground well and Philip Philip Philip Bible says in Acts 8 5 I said earlier Philip went to Samaria and went to him preach and I like that Bible spoke about how demons were coming out of people and there was great joy in the city the gospel brings joy the gospel brings joy in families the gospel brings joy in homes the gospel brings joy in companies the gospel brings joy in nations hallelujah and so Philip went and preached that's mass preaching and mass evangelism went preaching alright but then we also found out that Philip in Acts the same Acts chapter 8 verse 30 31 and 32 Philip went and met a man an Ethiopian eunuch Philip ran to him and heard him reading the scriptures of Isaiah this man was a big shot he was a politician of a very prominent man he was traveling and the angel of the Lord told Philip go to him so Philip went to him and Philip started talking to him and he asked
[26:49] Philip to join him on his chariot he was reading Isaiah and Philip asked him do you understand what you are reading he said how can I understand except someone explain these things to me except someone explain this to me and so Bible says that Philip began to explain the scriptures Bible I like the way the Bible puts it he said from that same text Philip explained Jesus he ministered Jesus to the man from verse 35 going as I said earlier on he began to explain the scriptures to him and from the same text the man was reading in Isaiah Philip began to teach him Jesus now that tells you that's one on one and when you read down what to I think it's verse 39 also after the man heard the word the man says that Philip said do you believe he said yeah I believe this I believe it and then the man says they saw water the man said oh this water what stops me from being baptized so they went down and baptized now Philip one man sometimes God will put one man in your life one man around you maybe your boss maybe your neighbor maybe someone we have to be able to reach out to people because that is why one of the main reasons why the church exists to reach out to people for them to become true worshippers say true worshippers alright so we have mass evangelism and and individual private personal evangelism and some personal evangelism sometimes the whole church can decide that we are going and it's even better when we do it within our neighborhood when we because just start from Jerusalem and then go to Judea and then go to Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the world alright so it says start from Jerusalem where you live where you are at your own home your neighbors that's where and so we can have impact in this land in our generation if we don't impact and challenge our members our brothers and sisters to start having impact in their neighborhood at their workplace on our friends we have to start having impact majority of us many of us are here because a friend brought you it's been happening the Bible talks about how Philip met Nathaniel okay and Philip told Nathaniel in John chapter 1 he told Nathaniel that I found the Messiah and Nathaniel
[29:01] Nathaniel said can any good thing come from Nazareth and they said come and see so he brought him to Jesus and then we talked how many of you have heard about Peter Simon Peter Simon Peter in the Bible he did so much he actually wrote some of the books in the Bible God used him mightily he denied Jesus but he was the first person who preached mass to 3,000 people and he got saved on that day Peter Peter wouldn't have come to Jesus had it not been for Andrew Andrew saw Peter in John chapter 1 from verse 40 that was Andrew saw Peter and Andrew told Peter that Peter you know what come I've seen the Messiah so Andrew brought Peter to Jesus it was Andrew John chapter 1 verse 40 Andrew went and brought and he first found his own brother Simon and he said to him we have found the Messiah which is translated the Christ next verse verse 40 and he brought him to Jesus do you see that he brought that's talking about Andrew Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus and you see Simon Peter's influence what Simon Peter has done you know you never know the one who lives around you your brother your sister as you reach out to the person you never know what the person is going to be doing for Jesus maybe that person is the next
[30:14] Billy Graham maybe that person is the next David Enchi maybe that person is the next maybe that person is the next great one God is raising to impact the generation but if you don't go you will never know what you are missing or you will never know how you may be letting God down and it's not about you it's about your obedience as we take a bold step God said he himself he began to convict their heart because no one can save anyone God is the one who does the saving say amen so when it comes to evangelism we have mass evangelism and personal evangelism which we have seen in the scriptures so the church one of the four major things that the church is supposed to do to watch this to help people grow in Christ and to help people fulfill their assignment in God is evangelism so we can get people in and in then the second one which is so important as well is discipleship say discipleship say it again say discipleship discipleship discipleship is simply helping people to become more like Jesus remember this
[31:22] I like this text let's look at Acts chapter 18 Acts chapter 18 I'm sure you will like this too Acts chapter 18 verse 24 thank you Holy Spirit now a certain Jew named Apollos born at Alexandria an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures mighty in what mighty in what take note of that came to Ephesus this man have been instructed in the way of the Lord being fervent in the spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord though he knew only the baptism of John he was a good guy but he was missing something he was teaching accurately by his understanding and his revelation and insight was limited he loved God he was someone whose heart was for God he is a noble man intelligent man he knew how to talk he knew how to explain the Bible he was very strong mighty in the scriptures but he was limited and so what happened let's see what happened verse 26 he began to speak boldly in the synagogue when Aquila and Priscilla heard him they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately say Aquila and Priscilla what did they do to the gentleman they did what what does that mean let me let me tell you something it's different from what
[33:06] Philip did Philip was a short woman just to get people born again but after they are born again there is a process you have to get help them so when they said they took him aside it doesn't mean like the way Philip met him for one short moment no no it's not their short period they took him aside they took upon themselves let me put it this way to mentor him they mentored him that is called discipleship but you know what I found out about Priscilla and Aquila maybe you've known about Priscilla and Aquila were husband and wife and they loved the things of God they understood the things of God so husband and wife picked the guy and said let's help you they picked Apollos but 1st Corinthians chapter 16 look at it 1st Corinthians chapter 16 verse 19 very interesting point there is it okay we all read it together can we all read it out loud let's go Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord with the church that is who who greet you heartily you know about Aquila and Priscilla what did they do now we have found out their side what he meant they had a church in their house they had a church in their house like cell meeting in those days church they had a public meeting alright and it's so valid in this time just that people have become so consumerism has hit our generation so much people are just thinking what I'm getting from God what God will do for me and that's all many people are marginalizing their Christian growth they don't really care whether I'll grow or not no they don't really care
[34:47] I just want to get what I need to get God bless me when I die at least I'll go to heaven or I don't know what will happen no but it's very important to find out that this is how the church did it they were meeting in homes and they were meeting in Singapore so Priscilla and Aquila were one couple who had a church in their home they had home fellowship and so you know what this mighty man called Apollos was so strong but then they introduced him to their home meetings their home fellowship and after the guy came they took him aside into their home they met him in church in the synagogue but in the end in church he said now let's get it home so we can disciple you Jesus said in Matthew chapter 28 verse 19 go into the world and make disciples not make converts not make church members disciples disciples I want to say disciples our chief assignment we in this church we focus heavily on helping people become strong in God's word that's a disciple
[35:50] Leslie do you know what he said he says that if you continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed disciples are people who are strong in the word of Christ and you don't get strong in the word of Christ just by hearing a mass message like this you don't get a word strong in Christ there are several ways God has put together to help us one of the strong ways if you have a question are you going to answer are you going to ask because you disrupt the continuum there's a message so we have to finish it but later on if we have homes then we can discuss some of these things at home so that people can grow I met someone recently actually there's one sister who came and gave a testimony said she didn't understand what titan was about but she sat on it quiet because and what betise you if you ask the wrong person if you go and ask the former Apollos he's mighty in the scripture but he didn't understand it fully by the time you realize he has butchered your opportunities in God you understand what I'm saying so yeah you may talk to one or two people but it's always good to have a Christian brother and sister someone who is a bit well matured in the things of the Lord or a certain forum where we can discuss the Bible so we can grow because your theology okay that's your word knowledge how much you know
[37:14] God's word your theology definitely as I said the other time will have a direct impact on your doxology doxology is worship worship your theology your understanding of God's word is going to have an impact on how you worship so discipleship is to help people become strong in God's word strong in God's word strong in God's word strong in God's word and I see God raising Priscilla and Aquila in this house in the name of Jesus Christ shout hallelujah praise the Lord thank you Jesus all right so let's go to the next one so first of all I said it's so important the church must evangelize evangelism is key number two what did I say discipleship is crucial when you go evangelize them they come we must then teach them the ways of God I had a short meeting one of our lovely sisters recently just a few days ago a short meeting and about tongues and the sister said oh I don't I don't really understand it properly it's not for me and so
[38:25] I would like to have a one-on-one with you and explain some things to you the person is so genuine but she actually didn't know the whole picture biblical picture and so that's what discipleship does it helps people to understand how things are so long as I walk with God is concerned discipleship let's all say discipleship and then the third key thing in church and the church life is leadership because as we gather day in and day out it's opportunity for someone to become better develop some skills I know people who came to church they couldn't even they are shy people they can't look at people's face and now they are bold when they are companies they speak to a group of people and they are confident because what gave them opportunities of speaking to people maybe a group of people or departmental leadership and it's having a direct impact on their personal development so leadership development is at the heart of every church every effective church we need to develop leaders this is an easy scripture to remember 2nd
[39:28] Timothy chapter 2 verse 2 2 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 2 he says that and these things you have heard from me amongst many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach what others also so you pass it on and they pass it on you pass it on and they pass it on so so in other ways we we train people to be in a position to be able to impact that's leadership leadership is influence so we we you must be in a position to influence others so they can influence and one of the ways that you can do that is even in small groups some of us since we became departmental leaders or assistant departmental leaders our leadership skills have been sharpened and you've been able to impact someone sometimes someone comes to talk to you I'm confused what do I do and with your leadership skills sometimes you didn't even know you have it but as you get to do it some one wise man said that if something needs to be done the only way to do it is get it done is by doing it if you need to learn how to drive then jump behind the steering wheel you need to and so if people need to be in leadership and to be raised we have to create the opportunities for them that they can begin to interact with people there are people who because of maybe our background our personalities we find interacting with people very difficult and it's stifling our potentials let us not give up on people never write anybody off because everyone matters but leadership there's everyone is born leader everyone is born you can be a gifted pilot but until you go through certain training you can't fly a plane so you can't say
[41:19] I'm naturally gifted as a leader so that's it you need the opportunity to gradually begin to sharpen your leadership skills to grow your leadership because we God picks people from a certain point and you may be you may come in clueless but God picks you and puts you through a system it's called discipleship at the end of discipleship it will make you a leader so that you can also impact others and raise many and impact them so that we all together worship God that's what it is about so why am I saying this thing it must be a heart desire in every one of us to develop in Christ to grow in Christ and to be able to be in the position to bless others and impact others which will also invariably have an impact on your social life because God gives us opportunity to also sharpen social skills hallelujah I definitely you believe believe you me I definitely used not to be able to speak so easily at least to a certain extent now even though I'm still getting there you know I used not to be able to but through the opportunities God gave me even before I became a pastor I was always talking to my friend in church and then they would send us out to go and talk to people and we're encouraging people through that through that we develop the grace it's there but it got refined perspiration inspiration is good but you need to perspire you need to just put what is in you to work and so the church we are there the church is there to make sure people are developing as leaders I remember that that lady who came and gave a testimony recently she said now I like when I look at myself
[43:03] I like the woman I am becoming yes I like the woman I'm becoming because I came to church so it's not only because we are praying and preaching but as interactions and influences begin to develop something in us I see the best in you developing I see the best in you developing in Jesus mighty name amen and so what did I say number one is what number two number three number four the last one is care care the church exists to show care care let's all say care say it again I read in my Bible and I found out there are so many in the New Testament okay there are over about about 58 one another's one another let's say one another they are about 58 one the New Testament that in the church life one another one another is some some of it says that love one another forgive one another have compassion one another it's one another with with hospitality or be hospitable to one another minister to one another exhort one another consider one another preferring one another comfort one another admonish one another lie not to one another don't think evil of one another don't say evil this what because you know why because the Christian walk the church life is a community life the church life is a together life you hear what I said the church life is a together life Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 he said for he has raised us together he raised us up together and made us sit how together in the heavenly places in Christ he raised us up together we are together in
[45:01] Ephesians chapter 4 verse verse 11 12 13 he said he gave some apostles pastors evangelist teachers verse 12 for the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry and then the verse 13 and if I know the body of God verse 13 till we all say we all say till we all say later till we all I like the musketeer three musketeer they said one for all all for one one for all all for one we are if one of us is suffering all of us are suffering but you know what I discovered as the church the encouraged God has blessed us we are going to keep growing larger and larger and larger and larger but as we grow larger we must also grow smaller at the same time in other words sometimes when you go into a crowd you are missing in the crowd but until there are small pockets to attention you you'll be missing in the crowd so it's as it's our plan and it's our purpose to to ask we grow because healthy church will grow anyway but as we grow larger we must also grow smaller so growing larger and smaller at the same time what does it mean to grow smaller so that no one person is left out no one person how can that be done especially in the in the community meetings in communities when we come together in our communities as as a church as one body we all belong to one church we come together as a community it helps discipleship it helps evangelism it helps leadership development and it helps care and support listen to me brothers and sisters it is wrong for one of us only one to be suffering in silence it's wrong but it's necessary to to grow together as a strong family we must also remember that you need to forgive one another someone will be wrong someone will wrong you someone will hurt you we are we are all not finished products you are working progress though God finished you before I started you know you are not finished it's not finished with you tell someone excuse me why I grow up listen I am unfinished I am not some of you who can tell sometimes maybe that we have a handle one or two things not intentionally in a in a genuine heart but we can make mistakes and sometimes that enemy can even take advantage of your mistake and slap you and listen I like I I don't want to get political but what America the American Obama said
[47:40] Obama's explanation for going to rescue to going to negotiate for the release of that breakdown to go and release the sergeant and release release them for one so that no Obama's explanation he said in America we don't leave one behind we don't leave so if we have to give so many just to get our one back we got to do it we got to do it we got to do it in the church we don't have to leave anyone behind we are Jesus says that by this the world will know you are my disciples if you have love one for another listen someone will offend you but let's let's just get over it let's love it's a love one another it's a community life you can't be by yourself alone and so that is why but guess what as we grow larger if we don't take care the strength of our oneness will be diluted and so we God has given us the wisdom he has put it in place already so that in our different for various localities in our various homes we'll be meeting we'll be having meetings and not just to sit and have fellowship but also to make sure that we are covering one another's back we are not going to gossip of our people we are going to cover them up we are going to cover them up we are going to help them if one is can you imagine someone has a court case and is going to cause and by the time he arrives his family maybe the family don't his family sees about 20 people hey where from these oh these are my church members hey support you in church in court some of them are taking the whole day off just to stand with their sister yes maybe the sister did wrong maybe maybe the sister was wrong but they said we won't give up on our sister we are going to stand with our brother we are going to stand with our sister we will not give up we won't give up on anybody because one for all all for one one for all all for one one for all the church is there to support to care when one something happens when we are rejoicing we rally around one person rejoice when someone is suffering we rally around the person and suffer with them help them hold them up hold them up I pray for you that that God will put it in your heart and help us to be a strong family to be a strong family none will be left behind none will be left behind none will be left behind all of us will grow together in Christ we will grow stronger we will evangelize together we will care for one another we will rise into leadership together in the name of Jesus and we will disciple together in Jesus name amen did you receive that word thank you for listening for more resources please visit caries.org or call us on 0207 740 9960
[50:20] God bless you