Living Out Our Faith: The Church Within Us
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that the church is not a building or a Sunday morning event, but it is each one of us living out our faith daily. We are called to be the church in our homes, workplaces, and communities. This series has been about understanding our identity as the church and the importance of being active in our faith. We are not just called to know that we are chosen; we are called to act on it. This means being active in our marriages, families, and workplaces, and not letting procrastination or feelings of inadequacy hold us back.
We also delved into the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is here to teach us about Jesus, who in turn teaches us about the Father. This divine relationship is essential for us to live out our calling effectively. The Holy Spirit equips us with gifts and empowers us to be who we are called to be. We must align our thoughts with God's thoughts to avoid mediocrity and truly live out our faith.
Unity is another crucial aspect we discussed. True unity in the church comes from being in alignment with the Holy Spirit, which leads us to Jesus and ultimately to the Father. This unity is not about denominational lines or personal preferences but about being united in Christ. We must strive for peace and avoid confusion by being obedient to the Holy Spirit.
Finally, we talked about the importance of understanding Jesus in His fullness—not just at the cross, but also in His resurrection and ascension. This comprehensive understanding helps us live a life of true prosperity, which is not about material wealth but about having the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father in our lives. We are called to be the church, united and active, living out our faith in every aspect of our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Church is You: The church is not confined to a building or a Sunday service. It is each one of us living out our faith daily in our homes, workplaces, and communities. We are called to be active in our faith, not just knowing we are chosen but acting on it in every aspect of our lives. [01:52]
2. Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is essential in teaching us about Jesus, who teaches us about the Father. This divine relationship equips us with the gifts and empowerment needed to live out our calling. Aligning our thoughts with God's thoughts helps us avoid mediocrity and live a life of true faith. [03:42]
3. Unity in the Church: True unity comes from being in alignment with the Holy Spirit, which leads us to Jesus and ultimately to the Father. This unity transcends denominational lines and personal preferences, focusing instead on being united in Christ. Peace and lack of confusion are signs of this true unity. [07:19]
4. Understanding Jesus Fully: To live a life of true prosperity, we must understand Jesus not just at the cross but also in His resurrection and ascension. This comprehensive understanding helps us live a life filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father. Prosperity is about having all three in our lives, not material wealth. [22:03]
5. Living Out Our Faith: We are called to be the church, united and active, living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. This means being obedient to the Holy Spirit, understanding the teachings of Jesus, and aligning ourselves with the Father. Our testimony is being written daily, and it should reflect our unity with Christ. [46:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - Introduction to the Series
[01:52] - The Church is You
[03:42] - Role of the Holy Spirit
[05:15] - Unity in the Trinity
[07:19] - Unity in the Church
[09:11] - Practical Unity in Marriage
[11:02] - Obedience to the Holy Spirit
[12:49] - Revival through Unity
[14:21] - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
[16:16] - Living Out Our Faith
[18:04] - Spiritual Phenomenon of the Church
[20:02] - Peace and No Confusion
[22:03] - True Prosperity
[24:20] - Obedience and Wisdom
[26:25] - Unity with the Holy Spirit
[29:04] - Jesus' Instructions
[32:24] - Jesus' Final Prayer
[35:05] - Daily Transformation
[37:19] - Understanding Jesus Fully
[39:14] - Case Dismissed at the Cross
[41:33] - Resurrection and Ascension
[44:27] - Obedience to All Three
[46:39] - Living Out Our Faith
[49:21] - Communion and Unity
[51:47] - Obedience to the Holy Spirit
[54:57] - Covenant with the Holy Spirit
[56:16] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 14:33 - "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
2. Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
3. John 17:20-21 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the true definition of the church? How does this differ from common perceptions? [[01:52]]
2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in teaching us about Jesus and the Father? [[05:15]]
3. How does the sermon describe the unity that should exist within the church? What are some barriers to this unity mentioned? [[07:19]]
4. What does the sermon say about understanding Jesus in His fullness, including His resurrection and ascension? [[22:03]]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the church being "you" change the way one might approach their daily life and interactions? [[01:52]]
2. In what ways does aligning our thoughts with God's thoughts help us avoid mediocrity and live a life of true faith? [[03:42]]
3. How can the unity described in Ephesians 4:3 be practically achieved in a diverse church community? [[07:19]]
4. What does it mean to live a life of true prosperity according to the sermon, and how does this differ from common notions of prosperity? [[22:03]]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life. How can you actively live out your faith in your home, workplace, and community? What specific actions can you take this week to be the church in these areas? [[01:52]]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being active in our faith. What are some areas in your life where you feel called to be more active? How can you overcome feelings of inadequacy or procrastination? [[02:48]]
3. How can you better align your thoughts with God's thoughts? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to help with this alignment? [[03:42]]
4. Unity in the church is crucial. Are there any personal preferences or denominational lines that you need to set aside to achieve true unity in Christ? How can you contribute to peace and avoid confusion in your church community? [[07:19]]
5. Understanding Jesus in His fullness includes His resurrection and ascension. How does this comprehensive understanding impact your daily life and faith? What steps can you take to deepen this understanding? [[22:03]]
6. The sermon mentions that our testimony is being written daily. How does this perspective influence the way you live your life? What changes can you make to ensure your testimony reflects your unity with Christ? [[46:39]]
7. Think of a specific situation where you need to be more obedient to the Holy Spirit. What practical steps can you take to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit's guidance in that situation? [[51:47]]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church is You
The church is not confined to a building or a Sunday service. It is each one of us living out our faith daily in our homes, workplaces, and communities. We are called to be active in our faith, not just knowing we are chosen but acting on it in every aspect of our lives. This means being present and engaged in our marriages, families, and workplaces, and not letting procrastination or feelings of inadequacy hold us back. Our daily actions and interactions should reflect our identity as the church, showing love, compassion, and integrity in all we do. [01:52]
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
Reflection: How can you actively live out your faith in your home, workplace, or community today? What specific actions can you take to reflect your identity as the church?
Day 2: Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is essential in teaching us about Jesus, who teaches us about the Father. This divine relationship equips us with the gifts and empowerment needed to live out our calling. Aligning our thoughts with God's thoughts helps us avoid mediocrity and live a life of true faith. The Holy Spirit guides us, provides wisdom, and strengthens us to fulfill our purpose. By being in tune with the Holy Spirit, we can better understand Jesus and, through Him, the Father, allowing us to live a life that is pleasing to God and impactful to those around us. [03:42]
John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit today? How can you align your thoughts with God's thoughts to live out your faith more effectively?
Day 3: Unity in the Church
True unity comes from being in alignment with the Holy Spirit, which leads us to Jesus and ultimately to the Father. This unity transcends denominational lines and personal preferences, focusing instead on being united in Christ. Peace and lack of confusion are signs of this true unity. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, we experience harmony and clarity in our relationships and within the church. Striving for unity means prioritizing our shared faith in Christ over our differences, working together to build a community that reflects God's love and grace. [07:19]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: How can you contribute to unity within your church community today? What steps can you take to promote peace and avoid confusion?
Day 4: Understanding Jesus Fully
To live a life of true prosperity, we must understand Jesus not just at the cross but also in His resurrection and ascension. This comprehensive understanding helps us live a life filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father. Prosperity is about having all three in our lives, not material wealth. By embracing the entirety of Jesus' journey, we gain a deeper appreciation of His sacrifice, victory, and ongoing presence in our lives. This holistic view empowers us to live with purpose, hope, and a sense of divine calling. [22:03]
Ephesians 1:20-21 (ESV): "That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' resurrection and ascension change your perspective on prosperity? What steps can you take to embrace the fullness of Jesus in your daily life?
Day 5: Living Out Our Faith
We are called to be the church, united and active, living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. This means being obedient to the Holy Spirit, understanding the teachings of Jesus, and aligning ourselves with the Father. Our testimony is being written daily, and it should reflect our unity with Christ. By living out our faith, we become a testament to God's love and power, influencing those around us and fulfilling our divine purpose. Each day presents an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to God through our actions, words, and attitudes. [46:39]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can live out your faith today? How can your actions reflect your unity with Christ and your commitment to being the church?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In this crazy, hurly-burly world, it's pretty easy to forget why we're here. Well, I've got to get to work. I've got to do this. I've got to do that. I've got to do the other. And we've been journeying through this series for the last three weeks. Don't worry if you've missed it. You can just text the word LIGHTCC to the number 94000. And tap on all the resources and you'll be able to go back and not only just listen to the messages, but all the study guides are there, all the prayer times are there, all your Bible readings are there. You can really soak in this." [00:53] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Remember, we said that you are the church. Husbands, how you conduct yourself at home is the church. Wives, how you conduct yourself at home is the church. Teenagers, how you conduct yourself while no one's looking for you and you're just with your friends, that's the church. Not what we do on a Sunday morning. No, no, what you do every day. What you do every moment of the day, that's you being the church." [01:52] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We've got to get our thoughts out, and we've got to get his thoughts in. Otherwise, we will always be mediocre. Otherwise, we'll always be that addictive person. Otherwise, we'll always have that cussing problem. Otherwise, we'll always have those anger issues. Oh, we're the church. But I can be who I want to be, right? No, you've got to be, if you're going to stand up and say, I'm with Jesus, you've got to stand up and say, I am the church in my circumstance." [03:42] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son are all working together to get the church out of you active, equipped, and this morning's message, united. I want to talk about this word, union, for a little while. It's the foundation. The foundation of the word communion. And we're going to be sharing in communion at the end of the service because the service is about unity." [05:15] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You can't have prosperity without obedience. Can I say that again? You can't have blessing without obedience. But we want to skip to the prosperity without being obedient to the tripartite things of the Holy Spirit. We want to skip to the blessings of the Father without being obedient to the Holy Spirit, introducing us to the teachings of the Christ, which helps us understand the blessings of the Father." [06:38] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The church by and large on a Sunday morning is an imperfect situation. I can't bring the Holy Spirit into this building to make Him perfect, to make the building perfect, but you can. You can bring Jesus into your heart. You can be perfect on the inside. Jesus said, I am the perfecter of your faith. You can have the perfection that you seek in the building in your heart. But people run around looking at church asking for the perfection in the building before they've worked out the perfection of the faith that Jesus Christ has promised them in their hearts." [10:17] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we are in unity with the Holy Spirit, we're at the heart of the spiritual phenomenon called the church, and because we are the church, the spiritual phenomenon is happening in us. You are a spiritual phenomenon. With your past, do you really think Jesus should forgive you? It's a spiritual phenomenon that he's given you the grace to forgive you and then still given you eternal life on top of that." [18:04] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The journey of the church is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit as He directs you towards your relationship with Jesus so you can understand the Father. Church, we've got it all wrong. We have chained ourselves to the cross. The cross. Yes, it's an important part, but it's only one part. We want to be obedient to the blessing of salvation before we are obedient to the blessing of the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The two cannot work in separate places." [11:02] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Prosperity is when I'm getting all of the Holy Spirit, all of the Christ, and all of the Father all together all the time. That's prosperity. Trust me, I can walk through any circumstance if I've got the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the wonder of Jesus Christ, and the love of the Father in full color in front of me. I don't even see my circumstance. What illness? What financial crisis? What do you mean? We're going to be loved and we're going to go in numbers in summer and therefore it's going to be our lowest giving weeks. What do you mean? I don't bow down to the accountancy of this world. I bow down to the wonder of Jesus Christ who introduced me to the counsel of the Holy Spirit that completely is sold out to showing me the relationship with the Father." [22:03] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You can't have authority over your circumstance unless you are under the authority of Jesus Christ directed to you by the Holy Spirit. Let's read it. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 2 to 10 in closing. Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. Anybody feel that? My life was trash. Like I was dying inside. My journal was covered in dark thoughts. I was dark. Everything I thought about was dark. It was dead. It was going nowhere. I didn't want to be with myself, let alone be with other people. In fact, if I could just call up into a little ball and let some hole swallow me, I'd be much better off." [42:39] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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