We're going to be looking at Acts chapter 2 for part of our talk this morning, and then
we're going to be looking at the rest of Acts.
So I'm not going to be reading anything straight off this morning, we're going to be looking
at different parts of the Acts.
So you can look it up at least anyway for starters.
I'm going to pray and ask for God's help.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you for the gathering of this church, for the people that you have brought
together, people that you love and treasure.
And thank you that you have given us your word so that we aren't left guessing and wandering
in the dark, but you've shown us your truth, your light, so that we might know how we should
live as your people together.
So encourage us today and build us up in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Thank you.
So in this series, as we head towards the more summer months, we're asking the big question,
what is a Christian?
And I wonder if you were asked that question, would you be able to answer it?
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Well, today we're going to see that a Christian is someone who is committed to church.
Now, all of us can have lots of different ideas about what church is.
So what do we mean when we talk about church?
Well, church is not the building you enter.
It's a basketball court.
It's not the service you attend.
It is that, but it's much more.
And it's not a club that you adjoin.
Church, and I've summarized it here for helpful for us this morning, is a local community of
Christ followers who are committed to one another.
Again, it's more than that, but it's not less than that.
A local community of Christ followers who are committed to one another.
And to help us understand this commitment, the Bible uses two striking word pictures.
It says the church is like a family.
So in Galatians, it reads, you can see this on the screen.
Let us do good to all people.
That is, people who are believers or unbelievers.
But especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
And the church is also like a body.
In Christ, we, though many, and there's many here this morning, well, we form one body.
And each member, a foot, an arm, a leg, an eye, a tongue, each member belongs to all the others.
So we belong to a family, and we belong to a body.
In other words, the Bible's view is that if you are a Christian, you belong to a local church.
You can't have one without the others.
You can't say, oh, I'm a Christian, but I don't really bother with church.
Or I like the church, but not so hot on being a Christian.
One writer put it like this.
Again, you can read it on the screen.
The Christian community, that is, the church, is not an ideal we have to realize, but rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we participate.
So being a Christian and being committed to church are two sides of the one coin.
They belong together.
So we're going to look at the book of Acts together and going to see how this is true.
We're going to look at two main things.
How we are saved into the church, and then what it looks like to be committed to the church.
So saved into the church, and then committed to the church.
These are the two big ideas we're going to think about together this morning.
So have your Bibles open in Acts chapter 2.
First, we are saved into the church.
You see, the church doesn't save us.
No, we're saved into the church by the gospel.
The gospel in which we stand.
The gospel that we were singing about just earlier.
Two things will help us to see how we are saved into the church.
First, we need to hear the gospel.
And in Acts chapter 2, Peter, who is an apostle, that is someone who's been entrusted with the words of Jesus and commissioned by Jesus,
is preaching to many different people from all kinds of different backgrounds and cultures.
And he's preaching about Jesus.
And we can summarize his whole talk in four simple headings.
I don't think he had a PowerPoint then, but nevertheless, we're going to help us by giving it some headings.
So the first thing he wants us to know is that Jesus is God.
So look at verse 22.
Fellow Israelites, here's the crowd he's addressing.
Listen to this.
Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs,
which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Some of them had seen and witnessed Jesus and the miracles that he had done, the wonders he had done,
how he walked on water, how he calmed the storm and fed crowds with just a little bit of food and raised the dead.
All of these miracles and wonders were signs, a big signpost pointing and proving that this man, Jesus, is God.
Jesus is God who comes to us as a man, a human being into the world.
Not just a person, but he is the God-man.
And what about this God-man?
Well, very simply, he tells us that Jesus died for you.
Verse 23.
This man, Jesus, was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge,
and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Jesus' death was no ordinary death.
Yes, it was very severe in his crucifixion,
but something deeper and greater was happening as Jesus died.
As he died on the cross, he was taking the punishment for our sins,
all the things we do wrong.
He was suffering the penalty that we deserve.
He was suffering hell itself so that we might not have to.
This is the gospel.
Jesus is God.
Jesus died for you, and Jesus was raised for you.
Look at verse 24.
But God raised Jesus from the dead,
freeing him from the agony of death,
because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Jesus did not stay dead.
He was buried, placed in a tomb,
but three days later, he walked out of that tomb.
He crushed death to death.
He defeated the grave so that we, all who trust in him,
might not have to suffer death forever,
but have life with him.
So Jesus died for you.
He was raised for you.
And he continues to talk about the resurrection,
but we're going to jump to verse 32,
where he begins to conclude his talk
and tells us that Jesus is God's saving king.
This is what he wants us to know.
Verse 32.
God has raised this Jesus to life,
and we are all witnesses of it.
So people like Peter saw Jesus,
ate with him,
touched him,
heard him,
and now,
verse 33,
he is exalted
to the right hand of God.
That is a position of all power
and all authority.
Verse 36.
Therefore,
let all Israel,
everybody who is listening,
be assured of this.
God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified,
both Lord
and Messiah.
It's telling us that Jesus,
who died and was raised from the dead,
now rules and now reigns
over all people
and over all things.
He is God's king
who comes to rescue us
from our hell-bound life.
And he demands
that all people
would treat him
as king
and would worship him
as Lord of all.
This
is the gospel.
This is the gospel
on which we stand.
Jesus is God
who died for your sins,
who defeated death for you,
and now rules
as God's saving king.
This is the wonderful gospel
that saves us.
In fact,
it's a message
that demands
a response
from each one of us
today.
So,
having heard the gospel,
there is a response
to the gospel.
Verse 37.
When the people heard this,
when they heard this
wonderful message,
they were cut
to the heart.
Remember how we saw
last week,
like a surgeon's scalpel,
the word of God
cuts right to the heart.
And they said to Peter
and the other apostles,
brothers,
what should we do?
What's,
what's our response?
How are we to respond
to this message?
Well,
we can respond
negatively
and continue
to push Jesus away,
or we can respond
positively.
And that positive response
comes in two parts.
Follow on the screen
with me.
The first is this.
The first response
that there is a personal
confession
of the Lord Jesus.
So what does that mean?
Well,
look at verse 38.
What's the response?
Well,
Peter said,
repent
and be baptized
every one of you.
Now,
repentance
isn't just something
that's done on its own.
It always comes
with faith.
So just very quickly,
just flick over
to Acts chapter 20,
verse 21.
So it isn't that
sometimes
some people
had to repent
and other people
had to have faith.
No,
repentance
and faith
belong together.
So in Acts chapter 20
and verse 21,
here,
the apostle Paul
is summarizing
his message.
And he says it
in verse 21,
I've declared
to both Jews
and Greeks
that they must
turn to God
in repentance
and
have faith
in our Lord Jesus.
So do you see it there?
Repentance
and faith.
Go back to
Acts chapter 2.
So when we see
repentance here,
the implication
is that
faith
is also
implied.
That's the response,
the personal confession,
that we turn
from living
from ourself
and turn
to live
for Jesus.
That is a life
of repentance.
No longer
am I going to live
as if I am king,
but I am going
to live
with Jesus
as my king.
And we respond
in faith.
That is,
we put our
full and complete
confidence
and trust
in Jesus
Christ alone
for our salvation.
There's nothing
in myself.
It's all
what Jesus
has done.
And as we
do that,
as we repent
and turn
in faith
to Jesus,
look what happens,
end of verse 38.
There is the
forgiveness
of your sins.
All your sins
forgiven.
But not only
that,
you will receive
the gift
of the Holy
Spirit.
You see,
to live a life
that responds
to Jesus
and follows him
in the right way,
well, we cannot
do that without
the Holy Spirit.
And the moment
we believe
and turn
to Jesus,
we are filled
with the Holy
Spirit.
Now,
Peter's message
wasn't just
for the people
way back
then.
This is for us
today.
He even
tells us.
Look at verse 39.
The promise,
the promise of
forgiveness
and the gift
of the Holy
Spirit
is for you,
that's the people
who are listening,
and for your
children,
so the people
who are listening,
and for all
who are far
off,
not just
distant lands,
but for all
whom the Lord
will,
our God
will call.
So he's thinking
of all the people
in the future,
wherever they come
from,
as they
turn to Jesus,
they can have
forgiveness
of all their
sins.
So that's
the personal
confession,
the personal
response
that is
required.
But there's
also more,
isn't there,
in the response?
There's a
public
identification
with the
local church.
We see
this in
verse 40.
With many
other words,
Peter warned
them,
and he
pleaded
with the
crowd,
saying,
save yourselves
from this
corrupt
generation.
And those
who accepted
his message
were baptized,
and about
3,000 were
added to their
number that
day.
Now can you
see what's
being said
there?
Verse 40,
there's a
leaving,
isn't there?
He says,
save yourself
from this
corrupt
generation.
So leave
this corrupt
generation.
And now,
verse 41,
belong to
God's new
community.
Leave one
and belong
to another.
Can you see
that?
Verse 41,
it says
about 3,000,
of all the
number of
people who
were there,
about 3,000
were added
to their
number.
Well,
you've got to
ask,
well,
who's their
number?
Who's he
talking about?
Well,
it's the
church,
the community
of believers.
And this
adding is
important.
They weren't
saved to
live in
isolation,
so turn to
Jesus and
off you go
and do
whatever you
like.
No,
they were
saved into
a community
of other
believers.
They were
added.
This was the
practice all
the way
through Acts.
Have a look
over the page
at chapter 5,
verse 13.
Acts chapter
5,
verse 13.
So they
continued to
preach this
wonderful
gospel.
And as
they heard
it,
it did
demand a
life of
commitment.
So it
tells us
in verse
13,
no one
else dared
join them.
even
though they
were highly
regarded by
the people.
It was a
cost,
you see,
to follow
Jesus.
But,
verse 14,
nevertheless,
more and
more men
and women
believed in
the Lord
and were
added to
their number.
You see,
they were
saved and
they belonged
to the
church.
you see,
personal
confession of
the Lord
Jesus goes
hand in
hand with
public
identification
with the
local church.
The gospel
forms the
church and
by the
gospel we're
saved into
the church.
We cannot
have one
without the
other.
And the
way we
demonstrate
our personal
confession and
our public
identification,
is through
baptism.
We haven't
forgotten it.
Have a look
back in
chapter 2,
verse 38.
Do you
see what it
says there?
Peter replied,
repent and
be baptized.
And then in
verse 41,
those who
accepted his
message were
baptized.
You see,
baptism is the
outward sign
of your
confession of
the Lord
Jesus,
that you
trust him,
that you
love him.
And baptism
is also an
outward sign
of your
identification
of a local
church.
It's saying
you're committed
to these
people who
are before
you.
Now you
might be
thinking through
all of this
and go,
yes, that's
really simple,
I've heard
all that
before.
Well, before
we move on,
I want to
ask two
very important
questions.
Nobody else
is going to
ask you this
question this
coming week,
so I'm going
to ask it
for you.
Here's the
first question.
Are you
a Christian?
Are you a
Christian?
What's your
answer to that?
No matter
if you're young
and still in
school or
whether you
retired,
whatever your
status in
life,
are you a
Christian?
If not,
hear the
good news
of the
message that
Jesus died
for you,
was raised
for you.
He is your
king.
Turn from
living your
own way and
put your
trust in
Jesus for
the forgiveness
of all of
your sins.
you can do
that right
now as I
talk.
You might
want to
talk with
me afterwards
or an
older person
later on
or somebody
who is a
Christian.
Tell them
that yes,
I have
trusted in
Jesus.
So that's
the first
question.
Are you a
Christian?
The second
question is,
have you been
baptized?
Well, if
you're a
Christian and
you haven't
been baptized,
why not?
Make clear
your confession
of Christ.
It's like
putting your
hands up or
putting a
shirt on to
identify yourself
with a team
and say,
yes, I'm
for Jesus.
I'm for this
local church.
So are
you a
Christian?
Have you
been baptized?
And let
me say
this to
younger
people who
sit and
listen also.
Maybe you
talk to
your parents
when you
go home
today about
these issues
of being a
Christian and
being baptized.
So that's
the first
step.
we are
saved into
the church.
Well, what
does it look
like as a
family to
be in the
church?
What does it
look like to
be committed
and belonging
to the
church?
Well,
identifying
with a
local church
is not,
as some
people think,
restrictive
and repressive.
It's for
our good.
God saves
us into
the church
to grow
us,
to mature
us,
to protect
us and
equip us.
So we're
going to
look very
quickly at
five ways
we see what
commitment to
the church
is like.
There's many
others,
but I've
taken five
this morning
and they all
come from the
book of Acts.
So let's look
at them
quickly.
You can
follow along
with me.
Here's the
first one.
first we
are committed
to worshipping
together.
If you were
listening this
morning as
Ralph opened
up, he
said we
gather together
to worship
God.
That's why
we're here.
Worship is
the term used
to describe
all that we
do as we
gather together.
So look at
verse 42.
Acts chapter
2 verse
42.
They,
that's the
church,
devoted
themselves,
they prioritised,
they made
it a habit
to devote
themselves to
the apostles
teaching,
to the
fellowship,
to the
breaking of
bread,
and to
prayer.
Now the
apostles were
uniquely chosen
by Jesus
to be the
teachers of
the church.
And,
well,
we don't
have the
apostles today,
we can't
invite the
apostle Peter
to come and
speak,
but we do
have his
words written
down,
recorded for
us in the
New Testament.
So today,
as we gather
right now,
we're learning
the same
truths that
the apostles
were teaching
and declaring
all those
years ago.
You see,
the church,
as we're
gathered here
today,
are committed
together
to hear
the word
of God
and for
God to
do his
work
within us.
But not
only do we
gather to
be taught
and to
learn much
of Jesus,
we gather
to remember
Jesus.
Isn't that
what it says
at the end
of verse 42?
They devoted
themselves to
the breaking
of bread.
I think this
is a reference
to the Lord's
Supper or
what we call
communion.
The Lord's
Supper is
a family
meal where
we affirm
our ongoing
faith in
Jesus as
we eat of
the bread
and drink
of the juice.
We're saying,
yes, I
trust in
Jesus.
But more
than that,
we do it
together as
we affirm
our commitment
as brothers
and sisters
who worship
together.
So we
are committed
to
worshiping
together.
We're also
committed to
community
care.
We have a
responsibility
to one
another.
Look at
verse 44.
We're still
in chapter
2.
Don't worry,
we're not
going to go
through every
verse of
the whole
book of
Acts.
We're going
to jump
ahead in a
minute.
Verse 44,
all the
believers,
all the
church,
were together
and had
everything in
common.
They sold
property and
possessions to
give to
anyone who
had need.
Every day
they continued
to meet
together in
the temple
courts.
Now what an
amazing example
of community
care.
There were
obviously people
who God
had blessed
and, well,
they had more
than one
house or they
had things
they didn't
need and
they were
able to
sell them
to provide
for those
who didn't
have.
So the
principle is
clear,
we're to
care in
very practical
ways, to
provide for
those who
are in
need.
That might
be financial
help, it
might be a
lift to the
shops, it
might be
arranging to
meet somebody
for tea and
coffee and
have a chat
to find out
how they're
doing.
This care
was not
random,
they knew
who was in
the church
and who
they were
to care
for.
So they
were committed
to community
care.
Third,
committed
to every
member
ministry.
For this
we need to
go to
chapter 6.
Follow
with me,
chapter 6.
And when
we think
about every
member
ministry,
we're
saying that
every
person in
the life
of the
church,
young and
old,
male or
female,
whatever your
background or
your culture,
everybody has
gifts and
skills to
serve others.
So let's
look at an
example,
chapter 6,
verse 1.
In those
days, when
the number of
disciples was
increasing,
the Hellenistic
Jews, so
that's Jews
from a
Greek
background
or culture,
among them
complained
against the
Hebraic
Jews, those
from a
Hebrew
background,
because their
widows were
being overlooked
in the daily
distribution of
food.
So there was
a real
and practical
concern in
the church.
Some of the
widows who
were older
had no food,
they had no
means of
working,
they had no
income,
which was a
serious matter
then because
there was no
meals on
wheels,
there was no
social welfare,
they were
dependent on
the church
community.
So what were
they going to
do about this
issue?
Well, look at
verse 2.
So the twelve
gathered all the
disciples together
and said,
it would not be
right for us to
neglect the
ministry of the
word of God.
So we have a
role and it's
to be teaching
and discipling
and caring for
people as we
bring God's
word to them.
We need to,
we shouldn't
neglect the
ministry of the
word of God
in order to
wait on tables.
In other words,
to be involved
in this
distribution of
the food.
Brothers and
sisters,
choose seven
men from among
you who are
known to be
full of the
spirit and
wisdom.
We will turn
this responsibility
over to them
and we will
give our
attention to
prayer and
the ministry
of the word.
This proposal
pleased the
whole group
and then they
choose the
seven people
who were to
be involved
in this work.
So you see,
in the church
there were
different people
with different
roles and
responsibilities.
communities.
And so it
is for us
today.
Every person
has a
ministry.
It might be
teaching.
It might be
helping in the
rock or
polo.
It might be
welcoming or
serving tea and
coffee on a
Sunday morning.
It can be all
kinds of things.
I'm going to
read what I
sent earlier
this morning.
It was
intentional to
send this
morning.
if you got
this little
note on
your phone
from me this
morning.
Pray before
church.
This is ways
in which we
can enact
every member
ministry.
Pray for
those who
you will
meet.
Pray for
God to
use you as
you come
to gather
with other
people.
Second,
look during
church.
Look out
for newcomers.
Go, oh
look, there's
somebody over
there.
I don't
even know
their name.
Maybe I'll
go and speak
to them
afterwards.
Speak after
church.
Introduce
yourself and
introduce others
to new
people and
invite them.
Say, come
and have a
cup of tea
and coffee.
Let me get
to know
you.
You see, we
can all
serve in
lots of
different ways.
Every
member
ministry.
Now, before
we move
on, notice
how the
decisions were
made in
the church.
Do you
see that
in verse
three?
Brothers
and sisters,
choose seven
men from
among you.
And then
down to
verse five.
This
proposal
pleased the
whole
group.
You see,
this just
wasn't a
random group
of people
where they
said, oh,
go and, you
know, get a
few people
and go do
this and go
do that.
No, it
was an
identified
group of
believers who
made decisions
about the
life of the
church.
It was like
a members
meeting,
isn't it?
Where they
had an
issue and
they were
able to
solve it by
making a
decision
together.
So we
are committed
to every
member
ministry.
The
fourth one.
Let's
jump to
Acts
chapter
13.
A
commitment
to church
planting.
So as we
go through
Acts, yes,
the church
there in
Jerusalem,
as they
spread and
preached the
word to
other places,
so new
churches were
formed.
And one
of those
new churches
was called
the church
in Antioch,
which is
not too
far away
from where
modern-day
Aleppo is,
north Syria,
in that area.
Well, let's
read about
this church,
chapter 13,
verse 1.
Now, in the
church in
Antioch, there
were prophets
and teachers.
There was
Barnabas,
Simeon,
called Niger,
Lucius of
Cyrene,
Manion,
who had
been brought
up with
Herod the
Tetrarch,
and Saul,
that's the
same Paul
that we
know of,
while they
were worshipping
the Lord
and fasting,
the Holy
Spirit said,
Set apart
for me
Barnabas
and Saul
for the
work to
which I
have called
them.
So after
the church
had fasted
and prayed,
they placed
their hands
on them
and sent
them off.
Now, if
you were to
read through
chapter 13
and 14,
you'll see
all the
different places
they went
to,
different areas,
preaching the
gospel,
establishing
churches,
and then
go to the
end of
chapter 14,
verse 26.
So chapter
13,
verse 1
says they
were sent
off.
Now chapter
14,
verse 26.
From
Italia,
this was
obviously one
of the
places they
had visited,
they sailed
back to
Antioch,
where they
had been
committed to
the grace
of God
for the
work they
had now
completed.
On
arriving
there,
they gathered
the church
together and
reported all
that God
had done
through them
and how he
had opened
the door
of faith
to the
Gentiles.
You see,
there was a
desire on
behalf of the
church to
reach out
with the
gospel,
and that's
what we
seek to
do.
But notice
that in
this situation
here,
it was the
church that
sent the
people off
and it
was the
church that
they reported
back to.
You see,
there were no
mavericks doing
their own thing
and going,
oh, I'm going
to go off and
do my own
thing here and
plant a church
over here.
No, it
was a church
partnership,
a church
responsibility,
sending,
praying,
supporting,
reporting back,
encouraging.
planting.
So the
church is
committed to
church planting.
The last
one, and
we're going
to go to
Acts chapter
20 for
this, is
that there
is a
commitment
to pastoral
oversight or
pastoral care.
prayer.
So in
Acts chapter
20, we're
introduced to
another church
and the
church that's
being looked
at here is
the church
in Ephesus
where we
have the
letter to
the Ephesians.
And in
verse 17,
Acts chapter
20, verse
17, Paul
is on a
journey and
he comes
close to
Ephesus.
He's not
able to go
there, but
he's sent
to Ephesus
for the
elders of
the church.
So he
arranges for
the elders
from the
church in
Ephesus,
come down
to Miletus
because I
want to
talk to
you.
I have a
message for
you.
Well, what's
the message
for the
elders in
the church
in Ephesus?
Well, look
at verse
28.
Keep
watch over
yourselves
and all
the flock
of which
the Holy
Spirit has
made you
overseers.
Be
shepherds
of the
church of
God, which
he bought
with his
own blood.
I know
that after
I leave,
savage wolves
will come
in among
you and
will not
spare the
flock.
Even
from your
own number,
men will
arise and
distort the
truth in
order to
draw away
disciples after
them.
So be
on your
guard.
You see,
the elders,
the pastors
have a
responsibility
before God
to care for
the flock,
the church,
to teach
them, to
guard them
from error.
Now, I
speak this
morning as
an elder of
this church.
church.
In fact,
there are
four of
us who
are elders,
Alex,
Ralph,
and Jonathan,
and myself.
Now, who
appointed us
as elders?
Did the
four of us
get together
and go,
guys, I've
got a great
plan.
Let's make
ourselves
elders.
No, we
don't appoint
elders.
We don't
appoint ourselves
as elders.
It's the
church that
appoints the
elders and
holds us
accountable.
And if I go
off the rails,
it's the
church that
has to take
responsibility and
correct me or
tell me to
step aside.
So who
appoints the
elders?
The church.
Well, who
do the
elders care
for?
The church.
Does that
mean we
care for
every
Christian?
What about
the person
who comes
in, well,
just for a
couple times
over six
months?
Are we to
care for
them?
No, we
don't care for
every
Christian.
We care
for, verse
28, those
who are in
the flock,
those who
are in the
church, those
who identify
with the
church.
Just as
sheep need
fed and
watered and
protected and
looked after,
so the
shepherds, the
elders, are
to feed the
church with
God's word and
look after
them.
And if the
elders are
going to
know who
we look
after,
we need
to know
who's in
the flock,
who are
the sheep.
It's really
important.
So the
church is
committed
to pastoral
oversight.
Now did
you notice,
just look
on the
screen there,
each
commitment,
the five
commitments
there,
there is
a clear
knowledge and
understanding
of who
the church
is.
In every
commitment,
in every
situation,
there is an
identifiable
group of
people who
worship
together,
who care
for each
other,
who serve
one another,
who plant
churches
together,
and commit
themselves to
the care of
the elders.
members.
It seems
very clear
and obvious
that there
were members
of a local
church.
Well, I know
the smart
ones amongst
you will go,
but Johnny,
there's no
membership.
You didn't
read the
word member
in anything
in Acts.
Well, no,
you're quite
right, I
didn't.
But the
practice is
undeniable.
And at
Carragalline
Baptist
Church, we
believe that
membership of
a local
church is
best and
right.
We can't,
we don't
force people
to sign up
to anything,
but we
encourage people
and say,
the best way
if you are a
Christian is to
identify with
a local
church.
And if
that's here,
that's great.
So as we
close, let me
ask you this
question.
Are you a
Christian?
If you
are, are
you committed
to a local
church?
And the
best way to
do that is
to become a
member, to
identify yourself
with your
brothers and
sisters in
Christ.
So what is a
Christian?
A Christian
is someone
who has been
saved into the
church by the
gospel and who
is committed to
their brothers and
sisters.
What a joy and
what a privilege
to be in God's
church.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you
for the gospel, the
good news about
Jesus Christ
that saves us
into your eternal family
where we belong to one another.
People that you have graciously given to us
to encourage us
and support us
to grow us and mature us.
Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ
who are there to help us
as we walk our path with Jesus.
Father, would you please help us
to live out what you have called
and created us to be.
Thank you so much for the care
of this church family.
Thank you for all the many ways
in which we receive help
for words of encouragement
for people praying.
Thank you, Lord.
Please continue to help us and grow us.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, we're going to sing together.
O church, arise
as we've been thinking this morning.
We hear the call of Christ our captain
for now that we can say
that they are strong.
So let us sing this song
as a theme song
to encourage one another
as we live for Christ.
Let's stand.