COME into the body of believers
PRACTICE living like Jesus
INVITE others to.....come into the body of believers
THE GOAL
"...equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:12
Who are God's people?
How are God's people equipped?
What is His work?
How do we build up the church (the body of Christ)?
1. Who are God's people?
Those who have come to an understanding that Jesus came to earth to willingly die for the sins of every individual and therefore confess their need for forgiveness, ask for forgiveness and turn away from their sins. At that moment a person is spiritually born and becomes a child of God.
Romans 10: 9-10
"For if you confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
2. What is His work?
Jesus said that He only does those things His Father tells Him. His work is to do the will of His Father. John 4:34-38 The will of His Father is to bring salvation to mankind. Jesus informs us that "the harvest is ready."
John 12: 49-50
Jesus said, "I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own instructions as to what I should say. And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say!"
3. How are God's people equipped?
God has given the church an enormous responsibility - to make disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20). To accomplish this task, God has given spiritual gifts to every Christian. These gifts "equip the saints" to preach, teach, heal, nurture, give, administrate, etc. in order that the church is fully able to carry out His great commission to go into all the world telling everyone the Good News of Jesus Christ.
4. How do we build up the church (the body of Christ)?
To build is to strengthen. We strengthen the church through teaching and encouraging. We recognize that each of us is different in personality and in gifting but that each one is needed in order to strengthen the whole body.
Ephesians 4:16
"Under his (God's) direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
** Methods For Building Up The Body
- Regular teaching of Scripture, explaining life application
- Encouraging believers in the importance of prayer and providing
opportunities for meeting together for prayer
- Encouraging discipleship
- Encouraging friendship evangelism
** Programmes In Place To Implement The Goal
- Weekly Teaching and Worshiping Together (Sunday Mornings)
- Home Groups
- Discipleship Groups
- Youth Initiatives
Cool Club, Home Group, Sunday Morning Teaching
- Children's Sunday School
- Monthly Prayer Breakfasts
- Quarterly Church Prayer Evenings
- Worship/Music Team
COME into the body of believers
PRACTICE living like Jesus
INVITE others to.....come into the body of believers