Living as a Gospel-Oriented Church and Community

 

Summary

Today, we gathered to focus on the importance of being a gospel-oriented church and individuals. The essence of our gathering is to ensure that our lives and our church are aligned with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that our mission does not end until Jesus returns, and until that day, we are called to spread the gospel actively. The church in Thessalonica serves as a model for us, as they were encouraged by Paul to remain steadfast in their faith and to continue influencing their culture with the gospel, despite facing persecution.

We are called to be a family united by the love of God, chosen to carry out His purpose on earth. The gospel is not just a message; it is the power of God that brings salvation and transformation. It empowers us through the Holy Spirit, providing assurance of our faith and benefiting our lives. As believers, we are to be imitators of Christ, modeling His love and truth in our daily lives. This imitation extends to following the example of spiritual leaders and fellow believers who live out the gospel authentically.

In our journey, we must ensure that our lives are oriented towards the gospel, allowing it to influence every aspect of our being. This orientation requires us to be in constant communion with God through prayer, scripture, and fellowship with other believers. As we face the challenges of a world that often opposes the gospel, we are encouraged to stand firm, knowing that the power of the gospel is greater than any opposition we may encounter.

Key Takeaways:

- Gospel Orientation: Our lives and church must be centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. This orientation requires us to actively engage with the Word of God and allow it to transform us. We must evaluate what influences our lives and ensure that the gospel is our guiding force. [52:36]

- Empowerment through the Gospel: The gospel is not just words; it is the power of God that brings salvation and transformation. It empowers us through the Holy Spirit, providing assurance and benefiting our lives. We must be open to the Spirit's work in us, allowing it to change us continually. [01:09:38]

- Imitating Christ and Leaders: We are called to imitate Christ and the spiritual leaders in our lives. This imitation involves living out the gospel authentically and being a model for others. We must seek to be like Jesus in every aspect of our lives, allowing His example to guide us. [01:26:17]

- Community and Fellowship: Being part of a gospel-oriented church means being part of a family united by God's love. We must support and encourage one another, recognizing the importance of community in our spiritual growth. Together, we can stand firm in our faith and influence the world around us. [01:23:38]

- Facing Persecution with Joy: As believers, we may face persecution for our faith, but we are called to welcome it with joy, knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us. Our faith should remain steadfast, and we should consider it a privilege to suffer for the sake of the gospel, just as Jesus did. [01:12:43]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:51] - Announcements and Fellowship
[41:50] - Prayer and Offering
[52:36] - Gospel Orientation
[54:52] - Influence and Transformation
[57:51] - Proclaiming Jesus as Lord
[01:00:59] - Family and Love in the Gospel
[01:03:16] - Salvation and Transformation
[01:05:19] - Addressing Heart Issues
[01:09:38] - Empowerment of the Gospel
[01:12:43] - Assurance of Faith
[01:23:38] - Community and Fellowship
[01:26:17] - Imitating Christ and Leaders
[01:28:33] - Altar Call and Closing Prayer
[01:33:07] - Final Reflections and Dismissal

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6
2. Romans 1:16
3. John 15:17

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6, what are the characteristics of the Thessalonian church that Paul commends? How did they receive the gospel despite persecution? [52:36]

2. In Romans 1:16, Paul speaks about the power of the gospel. How does this verse describe the gospel's role in salvation?

3. John 15:17 commands us to love one another. How does this command relate to the idea of being a gospel-oriented community?

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate how the Thessalonian church influenced their culture with the gospel? [52:36]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "chosen by God" in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 influence a believer's identity and purpose? [01:00:59]

2. The sermon mentioned the empowerment of the gospel through the Holy Spirit. How does this empowerment manifest in a believer's life? [01:09:38]

3. What does it mean to be imitators of Christ and spiritual leaders, as discussed in the sermon? How can this imitation impact a believer's daily life? [01:26:17]

4. How does the assurance of faith, as mentioned in the sermon, provide comfort and confidence to believers in their spiritual journey? [01:12:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Is the gospel the guiding force in your daily decisions and actions? If not, what steps can you take to reorient your life towards the gospel? [54:52]

2. The sermon emphasized the importance of community and fellowship. How can you actively contribute to building a gospel-oriented community within your church or small group? [01:23:38]

3. Consider a time when you faced opposition or persecution for your faith. How did you respond, and how can you prepare to face such challenges with joy in the future? [01:12:43]

4. Identify a spiritual leader or fellow believer who models the gospel authentically. What specific qualities or actions do they exhibit that you can imitate in your own life? [01:26:17]

5. The sermon discussed the power of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives. What area of your life do you feel needs transformation, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in that area? [01:09:38]

6. How can you ensure that your interactions with others reflect the love and truth of Christ, as commanded in John 15:17? What practical steps can you take this week to demonstrate this love?

7. The sermon mentioned the importance of prayer, scripture, and fellowship. Which of these areas do you feel needs more attention in your life, and how can you make it a priority? [01:05:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Gospel-Centered Living
Our lives and church must be centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. This orientation requires us to actively engage with the Word of God and allow it to transform us. We must evaluate what influences our lives and ensure that the gospel is our guiding force. The church in Thessalonica serves as a model for us, as they were encouraged by Paul to remain steadfast in their faith and to continue influencing their culture with the gospel, despite facing persecution. By aligning our lives with the gospel, we become beacons of light in a world that often opposes the message of Christ. [52:36]

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What are the primary influences in your life today, and how can you ensure that the gospel remains your guiding force in all decisions and actions?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of the Gospel
The gospel is not just words; it is the power of God that brings salvation and transformation. It empowers us through the Holy Spirit, providing assurance and benefiting our lives. We must be open to the Spirit's work in us, allowing it to change us continually. This transformation is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ. As we embrace the gospel's power, we experience a profound change in our hearts and minds, leading to a life that reflects God's love and truth. [01:09:38]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to be more open to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, and how can you invite Him to bring about change today?


Day 3: Imitating Christ and Spiritual Leaders
We are called to imitate Christ and the spiritual leaders in our lives. This imitation involves living out the gospel authentically and being a model for others. We must seek to be like Jesus in every aspect of our lives, allowing His example to guide us. By following the example of those who live out the gospel authentically, we learn to embody Christ's love, humility, and truth in our daily interactions. This call to imitation is a reminder that our lives are a testimony to the world of who Jesus is. [01:26:17]

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: Who is a spiritual leader in your life that you can learn from, and what specific qualities or actions of theirs can you begin to imitate today?


Day 4: The Importance of Community and Fellowship
Being part of a gospel-oriented church means being part of a family united by God's love. We must support and encourage one another, recognizing the importance of community in our spiritual growth. Together, we can stand firm in our faith and influence the world around us. The church is not just a building but a community of believers who share in each other's joys and burdens, providing strength and encouragement in times of need. [01:23:38]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community this week, and who in your fellowship needs your support and encouragement today?


Day 5: Embracing Persecution with Joy
As believers, we may face persecution for our faith, but we are called to welcome it with joy, knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us. Our faith should remain steadfast, and we should consider it a privilege to suffer for the sake of the gospel, just as Jesus did. This perspective transforms our trials into opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. By embracing persecution with joy, we demonstrate the strength and resilience of our faith to the world. [01:12:43]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge or opposition you are currently facing for your faith, and how can you choose to embrace it with joy and see it as an opportunity for growth?

Quotes

people say amen you may be seated today i hope whatever you're going through that you are raising up a hallelujah to the lord whether you're in a storm or whether you're on a mountaintop or in a valley the word of the lord says this is what i command you love one another john 15 17 i want to welcome everyone here digitally and in person to lexington park baptist church where god is on the move [00:14:49]

Thessalonians are in the city of Thessalonica. They didn't totally get it right. They kind of thought Jesus was going to come right then. So they kind of stopped influencing their culture and society. I want to encourage you, as Paul is in this text, our job to take the gospel doesn't end until Jesus comes back. So if Jesus hasn't come back, your job is to take the gospel. Period. Amen. Every Baptist, your job is to take the gospel until Jesus comes back. All right. That's all. Not pastor. Not me by myself. Not the deacons. You and me. It's all of our jobs to do that. [00:51:27]

We see people that have been taught the word of God, you know, and then they abandon it because the culture has more influence. I want you to think about this. I started doing the math in my head. So if I preach 52 sermons a year and you don't come to Word of Encouragement, which I do daily to cover what I just taught during the week so we can go at a deeper level, and I appreciate those that come to that, and I hope that maybe you can make that into your repertoire too. [00:54:06]

So if we want to be a gospel -oriented church, now I know many of you are in the Word of God, and many of you do the Bible app studies with me, and I know some of you desire to go out there and share the gospel, and you're trying to live a godly life. So I know we're doing more than that, but I want you to know what's influencing you. What's really orienting your life? Is it the gospel? Is it the Word of God? Or is it something else? Is it your friends? Is it the radio? Is it politics? What is it? [00:55:21]

As people of Jesus, we have to know. So the true north for us is the gospel. Look right here. One of our core values, proclaiming the gospel of Christ. You got four values up here. You notice I point out them a lot in my sermons? Because they should be four of the most important things that guide your life. Right there, proclaiming the gospel. Being oriented on Jesus Christ. Being oriented on his word. Being oriented on what he's called you to be. Are we that way? [00:57:12]

This Jesus I proclaim to you is the Messiah. You can go right there to Acts chapter 17, right there in the first couple, in the middle of that whole correspondence about him going to plant that church. I proclaim this to you. Jesus is the Messiah. He's the Christ. He's the Lord. That's the message we proclaim. To a world that doesn't know him, doesn't matter who sits in that White House, you all. Jesus is Lord. [00:58:34]

What can change Annapolis and the White House and our county and other areas and our houses and our lives and our schools is Jesus Christ. He's Lord. Either he's Lord or he's not. You can't have half. You can't say he's Lord while I'm sitting here in church for the 20 minutes. I'm going to listen to Pastor Chris and go, good job, Pastor Chris. That was good. He was on fire today. Amen. Amen. No, it's 24 -7. Jesus is Lord. [00:59:55]

The gospel is the power, empowerment. And then we are to be imitators of a gospel life. So we want to imitate that in our life. So let's look at those three things. The first one is verse four. No curveballs, we're just going to go through each verse. And each verse I'll talk about each one of these things. Our reputation. We are family. Me, there you go, right there. He opens up. Paul wrote that song. [01:00:16]

So a true church is gospel oriented right here. A true church is going to be about the family of God. The church is going to be about the love of God. It's going to be about we are the people of God and we have a task. God has given us a purpose here on earth. And I'm going to tell you the good news saves souls. Amen? It should have saved your soul. [01:02:16]

God wants to transform your life. Not only is the gospel good for salvation, it's good for the transformation of you and me, making us more like Jesus Christ. So we should want to be a part of this family. We want to know the love of God. And we want to be the chosen of God, which should be saying, I want to be saved by God and I want to be transformed by God. The transformation from our sins. [01:03:33]

There's a lot of transformation that can take place in our hearts and our minds. Maybe your life is totally disoriented from the gospel and the word of God, and you've drank the worldliness on big issues like marriage and sexuality and gender and all this kind of stuff that's going on in our culture. It's just nuts. And then they make us look like we're the bad guys, but we've got the gospel. [01:05:31]

The gospel does all five of those things. It brings the word to your life to change you because we are changed by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God or the word of Christ, the message of Christ. When we hear the word of God and we hear it come into our life and we receive it, it changes us. Now here's what I can't do for you. There's a parable that Jesus talks about about the sower and the seed and the soil. [01:06:57]

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Transcript
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