What is a biblical Church? Part I – 1 Thess. 1:1-10

What a biblical Church believes.

A biblical Church has doctrinal beliefs that come from the Bible

• A biblical church stands on the Bible 6
• Bible comes first in many statement of beliefs because if you get away from the Bible you eventually get away from the truth about God.
• You must believe the Trinity, Gospel, Jesus, the Bible
• Jehovah’s witness are not a true church
• Mormon or the church of Jesus Christ of later day saints is not a true church
• it is one thing to interpret the Bible differently – it is another thing to change it altogether.

A biblical church has a correct view of salvation

• Salvation comes by Faith alone 8
• Salvation is through Christ alone
• Salvation is by grace alone 4
• Those who are saved will repent producing a changed life. 9-10

God’s People – 2 Kings 5

God blesses our enemies sometimes. v. 1

God’s people wish for good on their enemies. v. 3

• If we don’t love our enemies, we don’t understand the gospel.

God’s people don’t get all wrapped up in themselves.

• If you don’t live for God on purpose, will live for yourself by default.

God works in ways we don’t expect. v. 11

• Sometimes it’s in ways that we don’t even like.

• Sometimes God’s ways make us angry at first. 11

• Sometimes we think we know better ways than God. 12

• Sometimes God’s ways make us uncomfortable.

God blesses His people when they obey. 14

Unity Part 2 – Eph. 4

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Unity in theology – Eph. 4:4

• “Jesus plus anything ruins everything.” Driscoll

Biblical receptivity takes place better when there is unity.

• That’s why it takes time to go where there are no Christians or churches to spread the gospel.
• Discipline takes place more naturally and more effectively in community.

What hurts church unity?

1. Pride can cause problems with unity.

• Prov. 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
• Prov. 29:23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
• People with influence don’t have as much as a church grows
• People with positions train a monkey

2. Distrust destroys unity

• People who don’t trust their leaders will always be trying to undermine them. They will not submit to them as the Bible says and they will often think that their understanding of the Bible is more accurate than the pastor.
• People who have never lead a church will no how to lead a church better than the pastor.  People who have never lead someone to the Lord and discipled them will suddenly know more how to go about it than the one who has done it. It’s like people without kids giving advice about parenting to their friends with kids.
• Distrust destroys anything kind of relationship

3. Legalism destroys unity

• Focusing on things that are not in the Bible as if they are. Or putting non-biblical things on the same level as the Bible. Legalist always want to go make some more rules and rules about rules.
• Legalist might put rules in their church covenant that would prevent Jesus from being a member.

4. Tradition destroys unity

• Anything done more than 3 times
• “Any church that does not change is more like a museum than a people on mission.” Driscoll
• Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this town, but he didn’t do it with this church?
• Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this church, but he didn’t do it the way you wanted him to?
• Sometimes God does move because we’ve told him we’re only going to do what are traditions allow.
• Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this church, but didn’t do it with the programs you think he ought to use?

5. Lack of vision destroys unity

• when there is no vision you find people going in different direction doing a lot of nothing.

Unity Part 1 – Eph. 4:1-16

What is unity?

• It is a connection to each other that comes from our connection to God through Jesus. It is what the church should display because of Christ.
• It is not liking everyone.

If you can leave a church at the drop of hat just because of one thing that was said. You did not have unity.

If you think of church as just a place to go, but not a people to share life with, then you do not have unity.

Why is unity important?

1. You can’t accomplish anything without it.
2. You can’t honor God without it.
3. You can’t display the gospel without it.

• We say, “I love Jesus” (the guy who died for people who hated him). Then we say, “down with all haters.”

Be eager for unity

• Are you eager for unity in this Church?
• Are you more eager to prove your point more than you are for unity.
• Are you more eager to give your opinion (about politics, methods, programs, etc.) than you are for unity.

Strive to maintain unity

• Maintain assumes it is present
• How is it present? In the gospel?
• Maintain assumes it’s not natural.
• When unity is easy something is wrong.
• Maintain assumes it takes effort to keep
• The effort is found in striving for humility, being gentle, patient, and bearing with one another
• How much effort do you put out for unity sake?

Unity doesn’t matter if…

• Unity doesn’t matter if Christ is the not the head. 15
• Unity doesn’t matter if it doesn’t do ministry. 12
• Unity doesn’t matter it it doesn’t do discipleship. 12
• Unity doesn’t matter if the Gospel is not center stage. 9-10

Gen. 22:7-14 – God Provides

Jesus and Isaac

1. Both promised before came

2. Both came by miracle

3. Both names given before birth

• Gen. 17:19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac

• Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

4. Both received with Joy

• Gen. 21:6

• Luke 1:46-47 & 2:10-11

Jesus and Ram

1. Both were sacrifices

• The ram was the only hope for Isaac.

• Jesus is your only hope.

• Heb. 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God

• Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

2. Both were a substitute for men.

3. Both provided by God

4. Both sacrificed on same mount

• Jerusalem was built on Mt. Moriah – 2 Chron. 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah,

Abraham named the place “God will provide”

1. Without obedience Abraham would not have known God’s provision.

2. Without love Abraham would not have celebrated God’s provision.

3. Without knowing what was at stake Abraham would not have worshiped when God provided.

What it takes to be a Spiritual leader Num. 14:1-19

1. Must make meeting with the Lord your highest priority. 13-19

2. Must take a lot of grumbling.

3. Must be will to get stabbed in the back and not seek revenge.

4. Must know how to react when people you are trying to .

5. Must not give up