Embracing Our Identity and Mission as the Church
Summary
In this fourth part of our series, "We Are the Church," we delve into the essence of our identity as a church and our shared mission. Our identity is not just as individuals who gather in a building, but as a collective body with a divine assignment. This assignment, as outlined in Matthew 28:18-19, is to go and make disciples of all nations. This mission transcends the physical walls of the church and extends into every aspect of our lives, whether at work, home, or in public spaces. We are called to be the church wherever we are, living out our assignment and expanding God's kingdom.
We explored the concept of the church as a place to belong, where people are invited to come and find rest in Jesus. This invitation is not just to know us but to ultimately know Him. We are also a place where people can see Jesus, initially through us, but eventually, they must see Him for themselves as they mature in their faith. Our role is to guide them from seeing Jesus in us to seeing Him directly.
Today, we focus on the church as a place to believe. Belief in God is not just an internal conviction but requires a public declaration of allegiance to Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9-10 emphasizes the importance of openly declaring Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. This belief is not about seeing Jesus merely as a savior who rescues us from trouble but as Lord over every aspect of our lives. We must submit to His authority and reject the notion of picking and choosing when to obey Him.
The fear of the Lord, a profound respect and awe for His holiness, is crucial. It leads to obedience and submission, bringing wisdom and spiritual understanding. We must examine our lives for areas where we have said no to God, as these are the places where He is not truly Lord. Our disobedience can lead to a lack of intimacy with God, affecting our eternal relationship with Him.
In conclusion, we are called to authentic repentance, giving God total lordship over every area of our lives. This involves a conscious decision to align our lives with His kingdom and reject the lower standards of living that break His heart. Let us choose to live in obedience, allowing the fear of God to establish His lordship in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Our identity as the church is rooted in our shared mission to make disciples, as outlined in Matthew 28:18-19. This mission extends beyond the church building into every aspect of our lives, calling us to be the church wherever we are. [02:48]
- The church is a place to belong, where people are invited to find rest in Jesus. Our role is to guide them from seeing Jesus in us to seeing Him directly, as they mature in their faith. [04:10]
- Belief in God requires a public declaration of allegiance to Jesus as Lord, not just as a savior. This involves submitting to His authority and rejecting the notion of picking and choosing when to obey Him. [06:42]
- The fear of the Lord, a profound respect and awe for His holiness, leads to obedience and submission, bringing wisdom and spiritual understanding. We must examine our lives for areas where we have said no to God. [14:31]
- Authentic repentance involves giving God total lordship over every area of our lives. This requires a conscious decision to align our lives with His kingdom and reject the lower standards of living that break His heart. [36:54]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:48] - Our Shared Mission
[04:10] - A Place to Belong
[05:20] - Seeing Jesus in Us
[06:42] - A Place to Believe
[08:38] - Declaring Jesus as Lord
[10:59] - Submission to Authority
[11:56] - The Cost of Saying No
[13:22] - Overcorrection in Belief
[14:31] - The Fear of the Lord
[17:58] - Tithing and Obedience
[19:01] - Profound Respect for God
[24:06] - Examining Our Lives
[30:35] - Authentic Repentance
[36:06] - Surrender and Rededication
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "We Are the Church"
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 28:18-19
- Romans 10:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Matthew 28:18-19, what is the divine assignment given to the church? How does this assignment define our identity as a church? [02:48]
2. In Romans 10:9-10, what are the two key actions required for salvation? How do these actions reflect a believer's relationship with Jesus? [06:42]
3. The sermon mentions that the church is a place to belong and a place to see Jesus. How does this dual role impact the way we interact with others in our community? [04:10]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of saying "no" to God in certain areas of our lives? How does this affect our relationship with Him? [11:56]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the church as a place to belong and believe challenge the traditional view of church as merely a physical building? [02:48]
2. What does it mean to declare Jesus as Lord, and how does this differ from seeing Him only as a savior? Why is this distinction important for believers? [06:42]
3. The sermon discusses the fear of the Lord as a profound respect and awe. How does this understanding influence a believer's daily decisions and actions? [14:31]
4. How does the sermon address the issue of selective obedience to God? What are the potential spiritual consequences of this behavior? [11:56]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. In what ways can you actively live out the church's mission to make disciples beyond the church building? [02:48]
2. Consider your personal relationship with Jesus. Have you publicly declared Him as Lord in all areas of your life? If not, what steps can you take to do so? [06:42]
3. Identify an area in your life where you have said "no" to God. What practical steps can you take to invite His lordship into that area? [11:56]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper fear of the Lord in your life, leading to greater obedience and submission to His will? [14:31]
5. Think about someone in your life who is seeking a place to belong. How can you be a welcoming presence that points them to Jesus? [04:10]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about authentic repentance. What does it mean for you to give God total lordship over every area of your life? [36:54]
7. How can you ensure that your faith is not just about seeking God in times of trouble but about maintaining a consistent relationship with Him? [10:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Living the Mission Beyond Church Walls
Our identity as the church is not confined to a building; it is a call to live out our divine mission in every aspect of our lives. This mission, as outlined in Matthew 28:18-19, is to make disciples of all nations. It is a call that transcends the physical walls of the church and extends into our workplaces, homes, and public spaces. We are called to be the church wherever we are, embodying the teachings of Jesus and expanding God's kingdom through our actions and words. This means that our faith should be evident in how we conduct ourselves daily, influencing those around us and inviting them to experience the love and grace of Jesus. [02:48]
"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 observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally live out your faith in your workplace or community today, inviting others to see Jesus through your actions?
Day 2: A Place to Belong and Grow
The church is a sanctuary where people are invited to find rest in Jesus. It is a place where individuals can belong and grow in their faith journey. Initially, people may see Jesus through the actions and love of the church community, but as they mature, they are encouraged to see Him directly. Our role is to guide them in this journey, helping them transition from seeing Jesus in us to experiencing Him personally. This involves creating an environment of acceptance, love, and spiritual growth, where everyone feels valued and supported in their walk with Christ. [04:10]
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to today to offer support and encouragement in their faith journey?
Day 3: Declaring Jesus as Lord
Belief in God requires more than an internal conviction; it demands a public declaration of allegiance to Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9-10 emphasizes the importance of openly declaring Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. This belief is not about seeing Jesus merely as a savior who rescues us from trouble but as Lord over every aspect of our lives. We must submit to His authority and reject the notion of picking and choosing when to obey Him. This involves a conscious decision to align our lives with His teachings and allow His lordship to guide our actions and decisions. [06:42]
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Embracing the Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is a profound respect and awe for His holiness, which leads to obedience and submission. This reverence brings wisdom and spiritual understanding, guiding us to live in alignment with God's will. We must examine our lives for areas where we have said no to God, as these are the places where He is not truly Lord. Our disobedience can lead to a lack of intimacy with God, affecting our eternal relationship with Him. Embracing the fear of the Lord involves a commitment to live in obedience, allowing His holiness to shape our thoughts and actions. [14:31]
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you have resisted God's guidance. How can you begin to submit this area to His authority today?
Day 5: Authentic Repentance and Total Lordship
Authentic repentance involves giving God total lordship over every area of our lives. This requires a conscious decision to align our lives with His kingdom and reject the lower standards of living that break His heart. It is a call to examine our hearts and turn away from anything that hinders our relationship with God. By choosing to live in obedience and allowing the fear of God to establish His lordship in our lives, we can experience a deeper intimacy with Him and fulfill our divine purpose. [36:54]
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific habit or mindset you need to repent of today to allow God to have total lordship in your life? How can you take a step towards change?
Quotes
1. "We are the church when we are on assignment. That assignment is to go and to make disciples. See people saved and make disciples. And when we're doing that, whether we're in this building or you're in your house or you're on your job, or you're in the grocery store or wherever your favorite place may be, you are still the church, a part of the church. And if you are living out your assignment, you are then expanding what God has called us to do." [02:48] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The first place that a non-believer or a young believer sees Jesus is in us. But they can't stay there because as a person matures in God and develops their own relationship with God, they no longer need to be bound by seeing Jesus in you because they need to be able to see Jesus for who he is for himself." [04:10] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, come on, say these four words with me, you will be saved. For by believing in your heart that you are made right with God. And it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." [06:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sadly, what I think is happening, and has happened for many of us, is we like to substitute for this verse, Jesus is my Savior, because we like someone who can get us out of trouble. We like someone who can pick us up when we fall. We like someone. We like someone who's always going to be there to bandage our wounded knee. But that's not what Jesus came to fully do. He came to bring us out of the sinful state that we're in, into a kingdom reality." [10:01] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The point at which we say no to God. Is the point at which he stopped being our Lord. And my concern for us. Is that we have grown comfortable in a state where. we have rebelliously defied God and we think it's okay." [12:41] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The fear of the Lord is a profound respect and awe for God's holiness and authority, which leads to a life of obedience, submission to his will, and rejection of sin, bringing wisdom and spiritual understanding." [19:01] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If I want to get this thing right, I got to go back to that place that I said no. Repent. and then say, God, I'm going to do better. You are invited into this area of my life." [30:35] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Either I will be lord of all or I will not be lord at all. So for those of you, because it's still your choice, to say God I want to give you everything, even those areas that I've been resistant. That I want you to pray along with me." [37:25] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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