Introduction:
The first message of the New Year, What does the Lord desire to share with us. I hope its answers, encouragement, a plan. I think it is safe to say we are all in a state of seeking answers to questions like "What is happening with Grace Covenant Church? Is it worth the effort to keep such a small church going? There are other Churches in town why not go there? Am I going to be feed by the teaching that remains here?"
I want to first start out by sharing where I am at. I went to CCC for some 10 years. I was blessed there and was a committed Member. Committed to be there through thick and thin. Just before a trip to New Hampshire the Lord was ministering to me. "I am going to draw you out, that I might draw you in." (James 4:8) where his words to me. I had no idea what that meant but had several weeks in New Hamshire to try and figure it out. God did get my attention and made it very clear that he desired to do something new with me. I discussed it with Shana and we wrote a letter to the Elders telling them we were being led to resign our membership, prepared to give reasons why God was behind our leaving. We came to Grace Covenant and we began hearing the word like never before from Pastor Dana. In these past couple of years God has drawn me closer to him. But now that Dana is gone does that mean I am done here. Shana and I have asked God this as well the questions I just quoted, and yet he has not led us out. In fact I believe my message is the first part of his answer for me. I believe the Lord has us boiled down to some new beginnings, back to the roots of some very basic principles and understanding for good reasons. Because if you are going to build something, anything, it needs to built on a solid foundation for it to last.
Subject: "The Church"
Purpose; To Discover or Rediscover What is a Church
Objective; To return to the root understanding of "What is a Church?" Because with out a strong foundation, a strong understanding of why we are here, is like building on sinking sand.
1. The Word Church defined
The translators of the English version of the Bible used the word "Church" to define the word "ecclesia"
A. The word " ecclesia" is a derivative of two Greek words. . 1. The first word is "ek" meaning "from", . 2. The second word is "kalea" meaning "to call out". . 3. Thus the word "ecclesia" means "to call out from". 1 Peter 2:9-10
B. How the word "ecclesia" was used during the time of Christ. . One example of the use of the word was in announcing a town meeting. A town crier would go through the streets, blowing a horn, to call out the citizens from their homes to assemble them together in a common place for the town meeting.
C. How the word church is used today
a. One way the word "Church" is used today is to describe a body of Christian's having a common belief. About nine out of ten times it is used in this same manner in the New Testament.
b. Another way the word "church" is used toady is to describe a building. This is the wrong use of the word. A building is not a church but merely a meeting place for the Church.
c. Webster’s dictionary describes a "Church" as any body of worshippers be it Christian or Satanic
D. As used in the new Testament
a. The word "church" is used in the New Testament 117 times. Of the 117 times the word "church" is used in the New Testament all but 5 refer to Christ's "ecclesia".
b. These 112 usage's of the word "Church" refer either to a particular assembly of born again believers here on earth or to Christ's general assembly in heaven.
c. The most common usage of the word "Church" in the New Testament however, refers to a particular local assembly of believers on earth, such as "unto the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:1)
d. The word is also used to describe more than one Church collectively. Paul used the word in the plural to describe the many churches that he persecuted: "how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God" (Galatians 1:13).
E. The Definition of a True New Testament Church
a. For believers the definition of a Church should be a called people, people who are called out of the darkness and into the town square of Heavenly light. Assembled together to hear the Word of God, to Observe it and exhort one another in Love.
b. The true Church here on earth is a called out visible, local, assembly of born again, believers, built by Jesus Christ, who have come together by a common faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. God has a Plan
A. God Has a plan that has been revealed to man in His Word
Ephesians 1: 3-14
A Plan
A. of redemption through his shed blood
B. for the Forgiveness of Sins
C. for us to be Holy and without blame before him
D. to gather everything together in Christ
E. to give us an Inheritance
C. It is Gods Plan believers are called out and assembled together to
make up His Church
--Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God's people ----brought into one Spiritual Precinct
and members of God's household, -----under one roof
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,-on one foundation, one gospel
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. --under one authority
In Him the whole building is joined together -----Nailed together, being built up
and rises to become
a holy temple in the Lord. ----One Building
(Corporately and Individually)
And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Matthew 19:6 What God has joined together let no man separate
in reference to marriage but truth still the same in
Whatever God has joined together let no man separate
Hebrews 10: 24-25
And let us consider on another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching
B. The Church is part of His plan
1. How we are a part of that plan becomes obvious in verses like
Matthew 28: 18-20
and
Ephesians 3:811
a. the manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church
b. which was in keeping with his purpose from the beginning. 3. The Structure of the Church
1. Its Foundation
A. Is built upon a Declaration
1. As Made by Peter
read Matthew 13-18
If we where to pull up the floor boards and investigate the foundation of this church any church we are not going to find Peter. The church is not built upon Peter but upon the declaration of what Peter just said. "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." The heavenly father has revealed this to Peter and he declares it to Jesus, then Jesus proceeds to say that upon this rock I will build my church.
Esphesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
Like Isaiah 53
B. the foundation laid through Obedience to Christ
Luke 6:46-48
Whoever comes to me, and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like : He is like a man who building a house, who dug deep (started low and began at the fundamental roots) and laid the foundation on the rock (Which is the Confession of one’s hope in Jesus Christ )
And when the trials come they will;
1. Be able to keep their integrity in times of temptation and persecution. They shall stand fast in the lord.
2. they shall keep their comfort, and peace , and hope and joy in midst of great distresses. there feet securely set upon the rock
3. remain eternally secured for obedient believers are kept by the power of Christ through faith, unto salvation
2. The Church is a Spiritual Building /Christ’s Body
And God placed all things under his (Christ's) feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. --Ephesians 1:22,23
A. Where his Spirit dwells
In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become
a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together
to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them
B. Is composed of believers
Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God as precious, you also, as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through Christ Jesus
1st Peter 2: 4-5
3. Jesus Is head of the Church
A "Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the
body" - Ep 5:23
a. He is authority over the church
b. Christ is the Savior, not of all men,
but of His body, the church!
the implication is clear; to be saved, we must be in
His body, the church!
B. Christ "loved the church and gave Himself for it" - Ep 5:25
a. Jesus loves His church, even as husband is to love his wife
b. His death on the cross had His church in view; He was dying
for the church!
C. Jesus' plan is to present it as "a glorious church" - Ep 5:
26-27
a. He seeks to "sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word"
b. He desires for it to not have spot or wrinkle, but to "be
holy and without blemish"!
D. Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church - Ep 5:29-30
a. Even as you care for your own body
b. So Jesus has the same concern for His body, the church!
-- All because "we are members of His body"!
.
What does a Church do?
HEBREWS 10:24-25 NKJ
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
ACTS 2:42,46,47 NKJ
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
ACTS 20:7-12 NKJ
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Receiving Contributions
1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2 NKJ
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Receiving Missionary Reports
ACTS 14:27 NKJ
27 And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.



Teaching
ACTS 11:26 NKJ
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Praying For The Sick
JAMES 5:14 NKJ
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Spiritual Gifts
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 NKJ
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.


Conclusion:
Why are we here as Grace Covenant Church? are we an assembly of believers?
Are we declaring to the world the Good News of Jesus? Is Gods presence with us.
Are we gathered together in his name obeying his word, then his promise is , his presence and security and prosperity is with us.

We're The People of God
WITH OUR LIPS LET US
SING ONE CONFESSION
WITH OUR HEARTS
CALLED TO
ONE TRUTH ALONE
FOR HE HAS ERASED
OUR TRANSGRESSION
NAMED US AND CALLED US
HIS OWN
HIS VERY OWN
WERE THE PEOPLE OF GOD
CALLED BY HIS NAME
CALLED FROM THE DARK
AND DELIVERED FROM SHAME
ONE HOLY RACE
SAINTS EVERYONE
BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD
OF CHRIST
JESUS, THE SON
SO HEAR US OH SPIRITS
OF DARKNESS
SO YOU WILL KNOW
WHERE WE STAND
WE ARE HIS SERVANTS,