WEBVTT 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:03.665 Good morning church. 00:00:03.665 --> 00:00:06.065 How are we doing? 00:00:06.065 --> 00:00:08.365 It's good to be with you this morning. 00:00:08.365 --> 00:00:09.166 I'm Coby Flowers. 00:00:09.166 --> 00:00:10.833 I'm a student pastor here at Valley View. 00:00:10.833 --> 00:00:16.132 I'm delighted to continue in our series this morning knowing God is loving God. 00:00:16.132 --> 00:00:21.699 And today we're going to be talking about the church, us, the doctrine of the church. 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:25.533 Not just Valley View, but the big C Church. 00:00:25.533 --> 00:00:31.265 And we're going to talk about what who we are and what we've been called to do. 00:00:31.265 --> 00:00:35.899 So if you've got your scriptures, turn to Matthew chapter 16. 00:00:36.033 --> 00:00:37.365 That's where we're going to start this morning. 00:00:37.365 --> 00:00:41.165 In fact, we're going to be in several different places this morning. 00:00:41.165 --> 00:00:43.865 But that's where we're going to start. 00:00:43.865 --> 00:00:50.265 But my wife and I, with the help of some family, we recently purchased a new playground for my kids. 00:00:51.399 --> 00:01:05.165 And if you've ever encountered a new playground in it's most early of forms being brought to your house, you know what I'm about to say. It... 00:01:05.165 --> 00:01:18.200 It's kind of mind blowing because we have received a pallet of six large boxes and it was delivered. 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:21.865 In fact, it was so heavy the pallet broke. Okay. 00:01:21.865 --> 00:01:24.865 And I had two really big concerns. 00:01:25.266 --> 00:01:32.033 One, we, our backyard is a frequent destination of groundhogs and moles. 00:01:32.465 --> 00:01:34.533 Anybody can relate? 00:01:34.533 --> 00:01:39.066 And because of that, the ground just it's just softened up there. 00:01:39.066 --> 00:01:42.299 There's you can see the the tunnels everywhere. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:44.832 And so finding us play a place. 00:01:44.832 --> 00:01:45.465 Sorry. 00:01:45.465 --> 00:01:48.799 Finding a place big enough to actually put it there was hard enough. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:49.865 That was my first concern. 00:01:49.865 --> 00:01:54.465 But then my second was this is a huge playground. 00:01:54.465 --> 00:02:00.665 And just by looking at me you can probably gather that I am not a Tim the Tool Man Taylor type. 00:02:00.665 --> 00:02:03.299 I'm not a Bob the Builder kind of guy. 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:07.365 I'm a, I hope I can find some help to do this kind of guy. 00:02:07.365 --> 00:02:12.665 So looking at it, I'm like, oh boy, what am I going to do? 00:02:12.665 --> 00:02:18.165 So I thought to myself, as every guy does, every guy can admit to this this morning. 00:02:18.165 --> 00:02:25.566 It does cross your mind to think I wonder if I could do this without the instructions. 00:02:25.566 --> 00:02:28.566 Every guy has this innate thought. 00:02:28.566 --> 00:02:31.733 But then I quickly realized there's no possible way. 00:02:31.733 --> 00:02:33.332 So I pull out the instructions. 00:02:33.332 --> 00:02:41.699 This thing has over 50 steps, thousands of screws, tons of different pieces, and I'm like, oh, I'm in trouble. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:48.366 So what I could have done is I could have said, you know what, I'm going to try to put this together without the instructions. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:54.665 And if I were to do that, I guarantee you it likely won't resemble a playground. 00:02:54.665 --> 00:02:58.400 And it certainly won't be, safe to play on. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:00.733 But two, I had to really consider where I had to put it. 00:03:00.733 --> 00:03:03.366 So I had to really think through this process. 00:03:03.366 --> 00:03:06.233 And just to give you an update, I'm not done with it yet. Okay. 00:03:06.233 --> 00:03:10.500 So if we got anybody who would be willing to come build, that's really why I'm here today. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:14.099 I'm really asking for some help to come build this playground. 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:19.000 But this morning we're going to unpack this really important idea about the church. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.665 And so here's our main point. 00:03:20.665 --> 00:03:22.233 I've got it on your notes. 00:03:22.233 --> 00:03:32.265 This is what our main point is this morning, that the church is the local global and heavenly assembly of believers. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:37.233 And this assembly of believers is in Christ. 00:03:37.532 --> 00:03:43.466 And these people who are called, called out to be different. 00:03:43.765 --> 00:03:48.699 And specifically, what we're going to unpack today is, is how we are built different. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:54.665 That's, an idea that's throughout Scripture, closely associated with the church. 00:03:55.765 --> 00:04:00.400 And so just to give you a frame of reference, this is kind of a working definition of the church. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:10.566 This is not an exhaustive or a perfect or a complete definition, because the Bible talks a lot about the church, but this is going to help navigate us this morning. 00:04:10.566 --> 00:04:15.300 But notice the church is local Valley View Church. 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:19.199 We are the local church, a local body of believers that gathers together. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.399 But the church is not just local, it's global. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:26.466 We have brothers and sisters south of the border in Central America. 00:04:26.466 --> 00:04:46.165 We have brothers and sisters, and in Africa we have brothers and sisters in Europe it is a global faith, but it's also a heavenly church that they are saints, believers who have passed away, who have died, that are believers in Christ with him in his presence. 00:04:46.165 --> 00:04:48.065 And we are connected and tied to it. 00:04:48.065 --> 00:04:51.565 So it is without borders and without time. 00:04:51.565 --> 00:04:59.065 So the church is local, global and heavenly, and we're all tied to each other because of our faith in Jesus. 00:04:59.132 --> 00:05:04.600 But the word itself, church literally means called out. 00:05:05.833 --> 00:05:08.766 It means to be called out from a larger group. 00:05:08.766 --> 00:05:11.533 And so the churches is an assembly of believers. 00:05:11.533 --> 00:05:15.632 We've been called out, called away from the world. 00:05:16.565 --> 00:05:27.100 And what we're going to unpack this morning with this word built is five things that the scriptures tell us about who the church is and what the church is called to do. 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:29.033 Are you y'all ready? 00:05:29.033 --> 00:05:29.833 All right. 00:05:29.833 --> 00:05:32.399 There's your first letter B. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:35.300 B is believes Jesus is Lord. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.632 The church believes Jesus is Lord. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:42.665 You know I, Colby that's duh, that's obvious. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:50.233 But before we even start there, we we really have to unpack this because Jesus has this really important moment with his disciples in Matthew 16. 00:05:50.233 --> 00:05:52.165 We're going to begin in verse 13. 00:05:52.165 --> 00:05:55.800 Here's what it says Matthew 16, verse 13. 00:05:55.800 --> 00:06:04.000 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, this is a city north of Jerusalem, north of Galilee. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.766 It's kind of out of the way. 00:06:05.766 --> 00:06:09.800 So Jesus is really specific and takes him up to this location. 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:13.932 In fact, this was like a United Nations, pagan worship. 00:06:13.932 --> 00:06:16.132 The Greeks worship their gods there. 00:06:16.132 --> 00:06:20.199 Baal was worshiped there, and the Romans worshiped Caesar there. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.699 So there was all these pagan worship that was happening here. 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:26.565 And Jesus takes them up there for this specific reason. 00:06:26.565 --> 00:06:32.932 And he asked his disciples this question, who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:40.432 So he asked this general question who does the what does the public say about the Son of Man? Who is he? 00:06:41.833 --> 00:06:52.033 And if you know the Old Testament, this is coming from Daniel seven, is this picture of a messiah and a king that's going to come one day and rule and reign for God. 00:06:52.033 --> 00:06:57.600 So Jesus asked, who are the who are the people saying that this person is? 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.600 So the disciples give a couple of answers. They say. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:07.233 Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:07:07.533 --> 00:07:10.033 But then in verse 15, Jesus gets really specific. 00:07:10.033 --> 00:07:12.333 He gets very personal. 00:07:12.333 --> 00:07:13.733 Look what he says. 00:07:13.733 --> 00:07:18.533 He said to them, but who do you say that I am? 00:07:19.565 --> 00:07:22.565 Who do you say that I am? 00:07:22.766 --> 00:07:27.399 If I pause here, this is the most important question that you and I have to answer. 00:07:29.266 --> 00:07:36.600 This is the most important question, because how you answer this question will determine your eternity. 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:41.600 It's who do you believe that Jesus is? 00:07:41.733 --> 00:07:43.300 Do you believe is just another common man? 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:46.833 That history is just kind of written about and he's just a normal person? 00:07:46.833 --> 00:07:49.533 Or is he is who he says he is. 00:07:49.533 --> 00:07:54.800 That is God and the Savior. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:56.833 Well, then Peter speaks up. 00:07:56.833 --> 00:08:03.365 He says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:08:03.665 --> 00:08:07.665 He confesses with boldness and faith that Jesus, you are the Messiah. 00:08:07.665 --> 00:08:08.766 You are the Christ. 00:08:08.766 --> 00:08:09.865 You are the Son of Man. 00:08:09.865 --> 00:08:14.932 You are the one we've been waiting for in this declaration he makes with boldness. 00:08:14.932 --> 00:08:22.733 And then Jesus responds to him, verse 17 And Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah. 00:08:22.733 --> 00:08:28.365 That's Peter, for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father, who was in heaven. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:34.265 To take note of this, Jesus is commending him for his right response. 00:08:34.265 --> 00:08:40.732 But notice it's not flesh and blood that's made this possible for Peter. 00:08:41.066 --> 00:08:47.399 In other words, it's not Peter's logic or intelligence that's got him to this place of faith. 00:08:47.432 --> 00:08:53.600 It's not that Peter went to school long enough so that he could have faith, but it's the opposite. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.066 It says that it was revealed to him. 00:08:55.066 --> 00:08:56.432 By who? 00:08:56.432 --> 00:08:59.432 By the father who is in heaven. 00:09:00.066 --> 00:09:01.265 So here's what this means. 00:09:01.265 --> 00:09:09.832 Faith does not come from human education, but it comes from divine revelation. 00:09:11.265 --> 00:09:22.265 Faith is not something that you can go to school long enough to figure it out, because the Bible is full of people who knew the Bible but didn't know God. 00:09:23.533 --> 00:09:29.932 Faith is not about how much you know, although it's important to know things, but it's about who you believe in. 00:09:29.932 --> 00:09:32.466 Confess and live your life for. 00:09:32.466 --> 00:09:42.700 So Peter here has this incredible moment where he confesses that Jesus is Lord, and it wasn't his own human understanding and intelligence that got him there, but it was because God revealed it to him. 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:43.899 So here's the one thing you need to know. 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:46.732 Faith is a gift. 00:09:46.732 --> 00:09:49.066 You can't earn. Faith. 00:09:49.066 --> 00:09:53.765 You can't build yourself up to today and get to a place where I can believe in God. No gift. 00:09:53.765 --> 00:09:56.832 It is a gift from God that we believe. 00:09:58.466 --> 00:10:09.232 And then verse 18, he says this last thing to Peter, and I tell you, you are Peter, which is name literally means rock. 00:10:09.232 --> 00:10:19.600 It sounds like rock, which is why he says, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:10:21.133 --> 00:10:23.500 Now Jesus is using some imagery here. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:28.299 He says, Peter, on you I will build my church on this rock. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:30.600 I will build my church. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:35.299 Now Jesus is likely saying one thing for sure, maybe two. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.732 But he's definitely saying that. 00:10:36.732 --> 00:10:45.265 Peter, on your confession, on this confession of faith, I am building my church, that the church is built on this confession of faith. 00:10:45.265 --> 00:10:46.365 So that's what I'm building it on. 00:10:46.365 --> 00:10:53.633 And he might be talking about Peter himself, that Peter, because you're the first person to confess faith. 00:10:53.633 --> 00:10:56.633 I'm building the church on you. 00:10:56.832 --> 00:11:06.166 But we're going to disagree with our Catholic brothers and sisters who might think that this means that Peter was the Pope, and that there's a long line of history and Pope, and I'm not. 00:11:06.166 --> 00:11:10.066 I can't get into church, politics and all of that stuff at this point. 00:11:10.066 --> 00:11:15.666 But we believe that because of Peter's confession, this is what he built the church on. 00:11:16.765 --> 00:11:24.666 And notice the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, that the church was built on. 00:11:24.666 --> 00:11:26.732 The foundation of confession of faith. 00:11:26.732 --> 00:11:32.166 And it is going to triumph and defeat the gates of hell and all of its weapons and all of its schemes. 00:11:32.166 --> 00:11:35.966 It is supposed to be the Kingdom of heaven on earth. 00:11:37.066 --> 00:11:40.799 So understand this that Christ built the church. 00:11:41.365 --> 00:11:42.966 Christ is the founder. 00:11:42.966 --> 00:11:44.265 He is the owner. 00:11:44.265 --> 00:11:47.265 He is the operator of the church. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.365 We are Valley View. 00:11:49.365 --> 00:11:50.399 We are we. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:53.166 We're an elder led church. 00:11:53.166 --> 00:11:55.966 We're led by elders and pastors. 00:11:55.966 --> 00:12:03.232 We have a group of people who help lead, and we have a congregation who votes, affirms, and does the does the work of the ministry. 00:12:03.232 --> 00:12:06.232 But here's the thing it's all Jesus's. 00:12:07.066 --> 00:12:07.865 It's all his. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.100 But the Valley View Church is not a church in and of itself. 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:16.566 It is under Christ and His authority and his dominion. 00:12:16.566 --> 00:12:22.899 So we as the church, we are a family run business, if you can think of it that way. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.633 Christ is the owner. 00:12:24.633 --> 00:12:25.299 He is the one. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:29.133 We have been brought into this family business with. 00:12:29.633 --> 00:12:37.399 But to Christ builds the church through this confession of faith. 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:45.832 If I can be blunt, the only way to enter the church and to be a part of the church is through faith. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:53.600 It's not about cleaning your life up, getting your life in in such a way that you can then be good enough for the church. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:58.466 No, it's that Jesus died for you. 00:12:59.633 --> 00:13:09.133 And by faith in Jesus, now you can enter the church and be a part of the family of God, not because of what you can do or how much you know, but because of what Christ has done. 00:13:10.166 --> 00:13:13.100 And so our only entry into the church is faith. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:19.432 That's why it's such an important foundation to the church, is that we believe that Jesus is Lord. 00:13:19.432 --> 00:13:21.832 Amen. 00:13:21.832 --> 00:13:24.832 Second letter is U. 00:13:25.166 --> 00:13:28.732 The church is upheld by the Bible. 00:13:29.765 --> 00:13:32.765 The church is upheld by the Bible. 00:13:34.265 --> 00:13:40.100 Paul does a good job of explaining this in Ephesians chapter two, Ephesians chapter two, verse 19. 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:47.100 He is writing to a Gentile church, our church of believers who are non-Jewish. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:53.100 Meaning before Christ came, Gentiles were outside of the people of God. 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:57.299 But because of what Christ done, now they are welcomed into the family. 00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:59.732 And look what he says here in verse 19. 00:13:59.732 --> 00:14:13.000 19 he says, so then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. 00:14:14.365 --> 00:14:31.399 At one time the Gentiles, everyone who was outside of the blood relationship with Abraham were without hope, without God in the world, but because of what Christ has done, he's brought us into the family, meaning because of Christ. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:35.033 It's not about our blood relation to Abraham. 00:14:35.033 --> 00:14:39.533 It's about the blood of Jesus cleansing us from our sins. 00:14:39.832 --> 00:14:42.700 It's not about being about the family of Abraham. 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:46.466 It's about being adopted into the family of God. 00:14:46.466 --> 00:14:50.232 The believers in Jesus are now in the house hold of God. 00:14:50.232 --> 00:15:00.365 So listen, the church is a family that's united through spiritual faith and not blood relation. 00:15:00.365 --> 00:15:02.500 And praise God for that. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:04.865 Just look around the room. 00:15:04.865 --> 00:15:06.666 We don't look alike. 00:15:06.666 --> 00:15:08.566 We don't talk alike. 00:15:08.566 --> 00:15:10.765 We didn't grow up in the same place. 00:15:10.765 --> 00:15:13.332 We don't necessarily have all the same interests and values. 00:15:13.332 --> 00:15:13.799 We don't. 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:19.166 But, but, but what we can say is what unites us is Christ Jesus and his blood shed for us. 00:15:19.166 --> 00:15:23.133 That brings us all to this room today, that Christ has brought us here. 00:15:24.765 --> 00:15:25.899 But he goes on here. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:37.700 He talks further about what the church is built on in verse 20, that this church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:47.899 Jesus, or what Paul's talking about here is, is that the church was built on the biblical foundation of the apostles. 00:15:48.633 --> 00:15:53.832 That is all the disciples, all those who saw Jesus risen from the dead. 00:15:53.832 --> 00:16:00.832 And so the church is built on the apostles of the New Testament, including the Apostle Paul, the Apostle James in Jerusalem. 00:16:00.832 --> 00:16:13.265 But not just them, but the Old Testament prophets Abraham, Samuel, David, Isaiah, these people who wrote the Bible. 00:16:13.265 --> 00:16:18.765 So what Paul's getting at here is we are built on a foundation of what the Bible teaches. 00:16:18.765 --> 00:16:30.365 This is why this is important into today's culture, because churches that are not built on the Bible will find other things to build their foundation on. 00:16:30.365 --> 00:16:36.432 And if the church is not built on the Bible, they're going to come up with whatever they want to be built on. 00:16:36.865 --> 00:16:39.299 That's why we get false teachings. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:44.765 That's even why we get churches that die off, because they're not built on anything that is pure and true. 00:16:44.765 --> 00:16:46.932 And unchanging. 00:16:46.932 --> 00:16:58.265 So we're built on a historical, biblical foundation of 66 books written on three different continents. 00:16:58.265 --> 00:17:05.766 Approximately 40 different human authors wrote it all, pointing and attesting to the same gospel that's unchanging. 00:17:05.766 --> 00:17:08.032 So we've got a firm foundation in that. 00:17:08.032 --> 00:17:14.766 And it not only rests on the Bible, but the foundation of the church is Christ himself. 00:17:14.766 --> 00:17:15.965 He's the cornerstone. 00:17:17.232 --> 00:17:19.400 We depend on Jesus. 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:23.465 He aligns as he brings us all together and upholds us. 00:17:23.465 --> 00:17:30.965 Without Christ, the church falls to Christ is the cornerstone. 00:17:31.532 --> 00:17:33.000 So there's your third letter. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.165 I. 00:17:35.165 --> 00:17:38.299 We are indwelt by the spirit. 00:17:39.066 --> 00:17:56.833 Now, I's likely a word you don't use often, but it basically simply means that something that inhabits, that comes into you and the church is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and Pastor John spent two weeks unpacking the Holy Spirit. 00:17:56.833 --> 00:17:58.799 And there's more to be said about the Holy Spirit. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:02.299 But but certainly go and hear those messages. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:07.932 But here's the beautiful thing that you and I, for believers, have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 00:18:08.766 --> 00:18:09.165 Sustain. 00:18:09.165 --> 00:18:10.900 Here in Ephesians two, Paul explains this. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:12.665 He says, in whom? 00:18:12.665 --> 00:18:23.900 Then Jesus, the whole structure being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:28.566 And the Old Testament, the people of God needed something called a temple. 00:18:28.566 --> 00:18:34.932 They built this temple because God commanded them to build it, because God wanted to be among them. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.633 They had a big problem. 00:18:36.633 --> 00:18:42.133 They were sinners, so God needed to be separated from them but near them. 00:18:42.133 --> 00:18:45.700 So the purpose of the temple was so that God's presence would be among his people. 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:55.200 So Paul was now saying, in the church, we no longer go to a building for the presence of God, but the present God has come in to us. 00:18:56.066 --> 00:19:03.200 We don't have to drive down the street or come go to some metropolis and go to a building to get close to God. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:10.665 But God came to us by the by the work of Jesus and by faith in him. 00:19:10.665 --> 00:19:12.665 He cleanses us, cleans us up. 00:19:12.665 --> 00:19:17.333 And now the spirit dwells inside of every believer. 00:19:17.833 --> 00:19:21.500 Praise God, can we not? 00:19:21.865 --> 00:19:35.900 I think we so easily get over that miracle that we've broken sinful people, that God would choose to dwell not just among us, but in us. 00:19:37.633 --> 00:19:39.732 And notice this temple. 00:19:39.732 --> 00:19:42.165 It grows, it grows and grows. 00:19:42.165 --> 00:19:49.133 And in verse 22, in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God. 00:19:49.133 --> 00:19:52.133 And here it is by the spirit. 00:19:54.165 --> 00:19:56.665 But here's the catch. 00:19:56.665 --> 00:20:06.232 Now, as Christians, now that we've received the Holy Spirit, that means we need to be separated from certain things. 00:20:06.432 --> 00:20:11.766 The Bible speaks directly to this, which is why that it's called the Holy Temple. 00:20:13.032 --> 00:20:16.032 Holy to be set apart. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:24.965 And here's a danger you would face as a Christian that we confess Christ, believe in Jesus, accept the Holy Spirit. 00:20:24.965 --> 00:20:33.965 But then we still live with the world, not just in the world, but we allow the world to get into us. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:37.133 Paul addresses this in second Corinthians six. 00:20:37.133 --> 00:20:42.333 We're not going to go there this morning, but second Corinthians six deals with this. 00:20:42.333 --> 00:20:53.700 But here's what he says the church must not be unequally yoked with the world, but set apart in holiness. 00:20:55.766 --> 00:21:09.900 And that picture of being unequally yoked, it comes from a metaphor or from a common everyday occurrence for them, in which two animals were yoked and they would pull something behind them. 00:21:10.732 --> 00:21:14.599 They would be pulling a a cart or farming equipment. 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:21.333 And the two animals, horses or oxen, they would be walking side by side with each other. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:26.665 So but Paul is saying is we can't do that with the world. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.766 We can't partner with the world. 00:21:29.766 --> 00:21:35.432 We can't allow the world to inform us, to direct us, to guide us. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:42.232 We, on the other hand, should be directing the world towards the gospel, towards holiness, towards Christ. 00:21:44.865 --> 00:21:57.865 But if you just look at the things that we watch, the things that we're scrolling through on our phones, the music that we're letting in our ears and into our heart. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:05.833 The people that we give freedom to speak into our lives and to influence us. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:11.465 And some of you may be thinking, I'm praying for God to move in my life. 00:22:13.633 --> 00:22:17.500 But the question is, is there any room for God to move in your life? 00:22:19.266 --> 00:22:22.633 Are you filled too much with the world? 00:22:23.633 --> 00:22:26.532 There's a church father named Saint Augustine. 00:22:26.532 --> 00:22:32.000 He wrote countless things, but he has a great quote on this I want to share with you this morning. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:39.365 Saint Augustine said, God means to fill each of you with what is good. 00:22:39.365 --> 00:22:47.700 That is His word, his spirit, his teachings, his desires, his thoughts. 00:22:47.732 --> 00:22:59.532 So Augustine says, so cast out what is bad if he wishes to fill you with honey and you were full of sour wine, where is the honey to go? 00:23:01.165 --> 00:23:05.465 The vessel must be emptied of its contents and then be cleansed. 00:23:05.465 --> 00:23:06.900 Yes, it must be cleansed. 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:13.200 Even if you have to work hard and scour it, it must be made fit for the new thing, whatever it may be. 00:23:14.833 --> 00:23:32.432 Which means, as Christians, we have to daily scour daily look to remove what is worldly in us so that we can have more room for God, more room for his Word, more room for the Holy Spirit. 00:23:32.465 --> 00:23:35.232 Because if we're going to be the church, we have to be holy and set apart. 00:23:35.232 --> 00:23:43.599 And us flirting or being friendly with the world is not going to allow God to be who he wants us to be. 00:23:44.865 --> 00:23:48.066 Here's your fourth letter L. 00:23:49.165 --> 00:24:00.200 The church loves and equips each other, loves and equips each other. 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:06.400 The church must have a culture of service and love towards one another. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:09.299 Look what Paul says here later on in the book of Ephesians. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:45.965 In chapter four, Ephesians four verse 11 says, And Christ gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the shepherds, and teachers, meaning God gave the gifts, spiritual gifts to the church to lead the apostles of Peter and James and John, the prophets who would come and speak the words of God the evangelist, who would go out and tell others about the gospel to bring them in the shepherds, the pastors who would protect and guard the church, the teachers who would pass along God's Word to others. 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:55.032 But notice verse 12 that the leaders aren't the only ones doing the ministry. 00:24:55.032 --> 00:25:05.932 Verse 12 says that these leaders are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 00:25:07.633 --> 00:25:15.032 And we can easily get caught up in thinking that the 10% of the leadership of the church has to do all the ministry. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.700 But this is not what Paul says. 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:32.965 Instead, Paul says we need to equip one another, build one another up using our gifts to lift others up so that those of you who have gifts, we put you in places and positions to serve and to give. 00:25:33.133 --> 00:25:35.900 It's the goal of the church. 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:52.432 And you may have attended a church like this before, where all the ministry was done by a few people, which leads to burnout, which leads to frustration, which leads to conflict, which leads to people who think they're even bigger than the church. 00:25:52.465 --> 00:26:01.799 But instead the church is a 100% everybody being in to doing the work of the ministry, you'll see that. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:06.900 So if we do that, Paul says that we also need to love each other. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:12.099 Verse 15, jumping a couple verses ahead, rather speaking the truth in love. 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:19.432 We are to grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head. 00:26:20.165 --> 00:26:24.500 We need to grow up into Christ by speaking the truth in love. 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:39.665 And then verse 16, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly. 00:26:40.266 --> 00:26:44.599 Makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:26:47.665 --> 00:26:51.700 Have you all ever pushed a cart that has one bad wheel? 00:26:53.266 --> 00:26:56.266 It's the worst. 00:26:56.365 --> 00:27:02.532 Have you ever hurt an ankle and had to walk on it? 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:06.232 Hurt a shoulder and had to use one arm. 00:27:06.232 --> 00:27:18.133 Had to do everything you've ever been to the gym and you encounter somebody who all they focus on is their upper body, but they never have a leg day. 00:27:18.133 --> 00:27:18.865 You know, I'm talking about. 00:27:21.266 --> 00:27:22.665 I unfortunately have chicken legs. 00:27:22.665 --> 00:27:24.299 I can't fix that. 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:27.266 I try, but you know what I'm talking about. 00:27:27.266 --> 00:27:28.633 All they do is work the upper body. 00:27:28.633 --> 00:27:34.066 But then you're thinking, I don't know how their legs are supporting all their muscle. 00:27:35.532 --> 00:27:41.500 But this is the picture Paul gives us of the church, the body that everyone needs to be built up. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:45.465 It can't just be one or the other or one group and not the other group. 00:27:45.465 --> 00:27:53.465 This whole church has to be equipped, gifted and encouraged and built up so that they could do the work of the ministry. 00:27:53.465 --> 00:28:01.865 And here's what it does is it makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:28:02.066 --> 00:28:04.032 So here's what I take from that. 00:28:04.032 --> 00:28:10.465 The church will grow when the saints are equipped and serving one another in love. 00:28:13.633 --> 00:28:16.965 Do you all want Valley View to grow? 00:28:18.965 --> 00:28:27.333 Valley View will grow when our members and our people are equipped and we serve one another. 00:28:27.333 --> 00:28:31.865 And I'm so thankful to be a part of a church that does this already. 00:28:31.865 --> 00:28:35.333 But I'm one to not settle for where we are. 00:28:35.333 --> 00:28:41.665 But I want more people to get involved, more people to give, more people to serve. 00:28:41.665 --> 00:28:44.665 Because you all have gifts that I don't. 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:49.099 All you have to do is look at the handout this morning and notice I put the wrong date on it. 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:54.066 Okay, I'm not good with details. 00:28:54.066 --> 00:28:56.532 This is why I married my wife. 00:28:56.532 --> 00:29:00.766 She tells me where to go, what to do sometimes, what to say. 00:29:01.066 --> 00:29:03.333 She's my biggest help. 00:29:03.333 --> 00:29:07.333 But that's because there's things that I'm not gifted at and there's things that you're not gifted at. 00:29:07.333 --> 00:29:08.099 But that's the point. 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.299 We complete each other. 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:13.865 But we need you. 00:29:13.865 --> 00:29:22.299 Last letter T the church takes the gospel to the world. 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.200 So yes, we love each other. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.432 We equip each other. 00:29:25.432 --> 00:29:29.066 But here's the purpose so that we can go out into the world. 00:29:29.066 --> 00:29:35.732 The church cannot be remain internally focused, but the church is called to be externally missional. 00:29:35.833 --> 00:29:39.365 And Jesus gives the last command to the church in Matthew 28. 00:29:39.365 --> 00:29:42.099 It's a very familiar verse, likely for for all of us. 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:58.799 The Great Commission, verse 18, Jesus says, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.799 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.432 There's so much to unpack there. 00:30:03.432 --> 00:30:04.400 I can't do it. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:09.766 But here's what Jesus is telling them to do go simple. 00:30:09.766 --> 00:30:12.833 Go make disciples. 00:30:13.066 --> 00:30:16.165 Baptize them once they believe, and then teach them. 00:30:16.165 --> 00:30:19.865 Build them, equip them up to be the church. 00:30:21.665 --> 00:30:24.865 But here's the easy temptation is churches. 00:30:24.865 --> 00:30:26.165 I've struggled with this for a long time. 00:30:26.165 --> 00:30:36.599 I think, is that we can get people maybe to the waters of baptism and get them dunked, but then they don't actually grow. 00:30:37.566 --> 00:30:39.865 It's a danger. 00:30:39.865 --> 00:30:48.133 In fact, there's an author that calls this the Great Old Mission is that we're really good job of making converts, but we don't make disciples. 00:30:48.133 --> 00:30:51.133 Well, I don't want you to be that way. 00:30:51.665 --> 00:30:52.799 We want to dunk you. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:58.566 And before you're even dry, we get you in a small group before you're even dry. 00:30:58.566 --> 00:31:03.965 We get you into building up the community, and then we actually help you learn how to serve. 00:31:03.965 --> 00:31:06.099 We look at your gifts, you're good at this. 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:13.200 Here's a great place to serve because I want the church to be built up. 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:18.133 Because I need you, Lord, with the children's ministry needs you. 00:31:18.133 --> 00:31:21.532 The men's ministry, the women's ministry, the sojourners. 00:31:21.532 --> 00:31:26.432 We all need the church to step up and to be the church. 00:31:26.432 --> 00:31:27.900 But not just here. 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:30.900 Now we've got to go out there. 00:31:31.665 --> 00:31:37.099 And for some of you, you will never leave the state of Kentucky, maybe for the rest of your life. 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.532 And that's okay. 00:31:38.532 --> 00:31:39.665 I talked to someone the other day. 00:31:39.665 --> 00:31:41.532 They said, I just don't like traveling. 00:31:41.532 --> 00:31:44.299 I could live in the South End and be here for the rest of my life. 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:47.299 And I would have a great life, great. 00:31:48.833 --> 00:31:52.200 But being a missionary doesn't mean you need to go to the jungles of Africa. 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.665 It means you need to go across the street. 00:31:56.165 --> 00:32:00.432 The Great Commission does not just extend to Europe and to Asia. 00:32:01.232 --> 00:32:05.766 It extends to the person on the other side of your dorm. 00:32:06.032 --> 00:32:09.566 It extends the person who is in your school. 00:32:09.566 --> 00:32:13.665 And before you think, listen, I can't do that. 00:32:13.665 --> 00:32:14.900 I'm not gifted. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:17.133 I don't know enough. 00:32:17.133 --> 00:32:19.099 I don't have enough education. 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:22.432 You think these disciples had any education? 00:32:22.432 --> 00:32:25.133 Five minutes ago they were fishing. 00:32:25.133 --> 00:32:27.133 And then Jesus says, all right, I need you to go change the world. 00:32:27.133 --> 00:32:29.566 They're like, what? 00:32:29.566 --> 00:32:37.266 But notice what verse 20 says, I will be with you always to the end of the age. 00:32:37.365 --> 00:32:42.633 Jesus didn't leave you to do it by yourself, but the Holy Spirit now indwells you. 00:32:42.633 --> 00:32:44.566 It goes before you. 00:32:44.566 --> 00:32:46.965 So now we have the power. 00:32:46.965 --> 00:32:48.365 We have the message. 00:32:48.365 --> 00:32:49.700 We just need the people to go. 00:32:51.400 --> 00:33:02.799 So listen, the Great Commission is not a command for some believers, but all not for pastors, not for elders, not for deacons, for for every one. 00:33:05.032 --> 00:33:10.566 If God can use people like the disciples, he can use you. Church. 00:33:10.566 --> 00:33:14.333 So here, I'm gonna give us three things to wrap this up. 00:33:14.333 --> 00:33:19.865 Three ways that I believe we can be built as a church member. 00:33:20.732 --> 00:33:23.165 We talked about who the church is, what the church called to do. 00:33:23.165 --> 00:33:25.465 I'm gonna give you three things from acts chapter two. 00:33:25.465 --> 00:33:26.566 We're not going to look at the scriptures. 00:33:26.566 --> 00:33:27.766 We don't have the time for that. 00:33:27.766 --> 00:33:30.133 But I encourage you to go look at acts chapter two. 00:33:30.133 --> 00:33:34.133 And there's these three things that I believe we're called to do as the church already. 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:39.700 Number one, be devoted. 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:45.532 42 spells it out that we are called to be devoted to the apostles teaching. 00:33:45.532 --> 00:33:48.532 Be devoted to the Bible. 00:33:50.032 --> 00:33:52.000 Get in your word. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:54.833 Get the Word of God in you. 00:33:54.833 --> 00:33:57.432 Be devoted to fellowship among believers. 00:33:57.432 --> 00:34:00.232 Be devoted to the public prayer. 00:34:00.232 --> 00:34:11.400 As it says in the verse, we need a group of believers who are devoted Two- be sacrificial. 00:34:12.432 --> 00:34:15.432 The early church was predominantly poor. 00:34:16.032 --> 00:34:17.766 They had some people who had a little money, but. 00:34:17.766 --> 00:34:25.465 But what they would do is as they would gather together, they would give all of their money to the church so that no one went without. 00:34:26.132 --> 00:34:27.300 Now be careful. 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.632 I'm not here to squeeze money out of you. 00:34:28.632 --> 00:34:30.500 I'm not doing that. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:32.333 I'm not even here to squeeze some. 00:34:32.333 --> 00:34:34.766 Some volunteer hours out of you. 00:34:34.766 --> 00:34:36.266 But let me ask you, church. 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:41.666 Where's your treasure at this morning? 00:34:41.666 --> 00:34:49.333 Because Jesus said, where your treasure is, that's where your heart is. 00:34:49.333 --> 00:34:59.465 We're called to be sacrificial as a church member, as the people of God, as the family of God, to invest our money, invest our time, invest our energy so that the church is built up. 00:34:59.465 --> 00:35:01.632 Amen. 00:35:01.632 --> 00:35:09.599 Last but not least, number three, maybe the most important be present. 00:35:10.233 --> 00:35:18.599 In a day of digital media, it is easy to window shop churches online from your couch. 00:35:18.865 --> 00:35:25.199 It is easy to check in online but never walk in the door of a church. 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:34.166 Now it is a beautiful, wonderful, helpful thing to be able to have access to to preaching and teaching online? 00:35:34.166 --> 00:35:36.900 Yes. 00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:45.800 I've had this question asked to me before can you be a Christian if you don't attend a church? 00:35:47.965 --> 00:35:48.599 What would you say? 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:51.599 Do you think? 00:35:52.733 --> 00:35:58.099 I said, yes, you can, but there's a big but to that. 00:35:58.666 --> 00:36:04.865 You can be a Christian, but what kind of Christian are you going to be? 00:36:05.132 --> 00:36:06.766 Yeah, you can be a Christian. 00:36:06.766 --> 00:36:13.500 You can be a Bible believing, fully knowing Christ at home, on your couch, never having entered a church building. 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:19.233 Yes, but what type of Christian are you going to be? 00:36:19.565 --> 00:36:25.565 Because if you really have read the Bible, you know the Bible says, do not neglect to meet together. 00:36:27.365 --> 00:36:33.365 That's why being present is one of the best ways that you can serve the church. 00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:39.400 Now, we don't measure your your faithfulness over your attendance, but it sure has a lot to say about it. 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:45.465 And I would say being present is so crucial to the church today. 00:36:45.465 --> 00:36:49.333 There's no substitute that I need you here. 00:36:49.333 --> 00:36:53.400 You need, I want maybe you need me here, maybe not. But we need each other here. 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:59.733 We need to build one another up and praise God we've been given this building. 00:36:59.733 --> 00:37:02.932 This building is not the church, but it's the people inside the church. 00:37:02.932 --> 00:37:05.565 And we need each other. 00:37:05.565 --> 00:37:08.400 So here's your challenge this morning. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:15.199 Are you building and being built up in the church? 00:37:15.666 --> 00:37:17.632 Two things. 00:37:17.632 --> 00:37:27.365 Are you actively a part of the process of building up the church, and are you yourself being built up by others? 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:34.233 Because I can sometimes fall for the trap of I don't want anybody to do anything for me, I want to do it myself and by myself. 00:37:34.233 --> 00:37:36.233 I don't want anybody to serve me or help me or. 00:37:39.632 --> 00:37:44.400 Wrap this up, but I want to share with you the church. 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:48.000 I said this to my wife, I think last week. 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:51.000 I'm so thankful for the church. 00:37:51.166 --> 00:37:55.365 I'm so thankful not just for Valley View. 00:37:55.365 --> 00:38:01.833 I'm very thankful for Valley View, but I'm thankful for the Big C Church and wherever my wife and I have lived. 00:38:01.965 --> 00:38:04.965 The church has loved and supported us. 00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:07.833 Have we encountered bad churches? 00:38:07.833 --> 00:38:08.900 I say bad churches. 00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:11.733 Have we encountered churches that have had some serious challenges? 00:38:11.733 --> 00:38:14.632 Yes. Have we dealt with church hurt? Yes. 00:38:14.632 --> 00:38:17.632 And I'm sure you have to. 00:38:18.565 --> 00:38:22.333 But the church has meant more to me. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:25.800 Than almost anything. 00:38:27.532 --> 00:38:30.532 We need the church. 00:38:30.766 --> 00:38:33.166 You need the church. 00:38:33.166 --> 00:38:35.800 Christ loved the church so much that he was willing to die for it. 00:38:37.266 --> 00:38:45.900 So because of that, we need to be present, to be devoted and to be sacrificial. 00:38:45.932 --> 00:38:47.766 Let's pray. 00:38:47.766 --> 00:38:50.766 Father, thank you for your word. 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:54.400 Thank you, father. 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:57.699 For the church. 00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:59.833 The bride of Christ. 00:38:59.833 --> 00:39:03.065 The family of God, the body of Christ. 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:12.000 The called out assembly of believers in a crooked and twisted generation. 00:39:12.032 --> 00:39:19.900 Thank you, God, for this church in which you are reigning and authority over. 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:24.666 It is not pastor John or the elders or anyone you are in charge of this church. 00:39:24.666 --> 00:39:27.400 Father. 00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:38.166 And we are thankful that you have brought all of these people together from their unique testimonies, their unique stories, and their unique backgrounds to this place in this season. 00:39:38.166 --> 00:39:45.699 And I pray, father, that all of us in this room would take great delight in the church. 00:39:47.432 --> 00:40:09.666 I pray, father, that we would not take it lightly what it means to be a church member, but that father, we would be devoted, sacrificial, and we would be present to build up the church for your glory, God for our growth, and for reaching the nations with the gospel. 00:40:09.666 --> 00:40:11.300 Pray this in Jesus name. Amen.