The Church that Jesus is Building
The church must reflect the Heart of its Builder
Sunday, September 07, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
The Church in Jesus' Heart (1 Peter 2:6)
Though there is a good bit of debate among Biblical historians about the founding of the church, we cannot deny that the church existed in the heart of Jesus prior to both the confession of Simon Peter (Mathew 16:13-19) and the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered Christ’s followers. The ministry which He modeled for the twelve was an expression of His dream for the church. It was the church in Jesus’ heart. And, it is the church that we should seek to duplicate today. In these next few weeks we will examine The Church that Jesus is Building so that we can seek to be that church today.
6:30 p.m.
Xcav8: Justification and Adoption
Sunday, September 14, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. Peter Beck
6:30 p.m.
Franklin Graham Outreach
An evening of invitation to the neighborhood inviting them to join us at the Festival, September 19-21.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
The Table (Mark 2:15-17)
Early on Jesus defined the boundaries of His ministry and the reach of God’s Kingdom. Four distinct groups of people usually followed Him and attended His Kingdom lessons. Today, as we work through this particular text, we will identify those groups in a very vivid illustration of the kind of church He envisioned. This depiction of Christ’s Kingdom message will challenge us at many levels. One question will stand out: which place do you occupy? Will you be open to the others invited to the table?
6:30 p.m.
Franklin Graham Festival or Xcav8: Sanctification & Perseverance
You are encouraged to attend the Franklin Graham Festival at 4:00 p.m., especially if you can take an un-churched friend or relative. However, Xcav8 will still be offered for those who decide not to attend the FG event.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Fear Factor (Luke 12:4-7)
Jesus trained His disciples and sent them out to minister the words of the Kingdom to a culture that stood in opposition to it. Greeks, Romans, and traditional Jews violently opposed the redemptive message of the Good News and the Messiah who brought it. His followers were always threatened by synagogue leaders, political rulers, and government authorities (see Luke 12: 11). When He sent them out, however, He told them not to fear any of them. Today, Christians are often inhibited by their fears---rejection, persecution, imprisonment, workplace prejudice, lose of tax exemptions, court action, and oh yes, let’s not forget, fear that the world will infiltrate the church and make it a place of compromise. This great text redirects our fears. We must fear the right things if we are to be The Church that Jesus is Building.
6:30 p.m.
Xcav8: Death and Glorification
Sunday, October 05, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Gated Communities (Mark 9:38-41)
Historically the church has often existed in an “us versus them” tension that separates us from a world in need of redemption. One keen church observer has said that the church is the ultimate gated-community: without the password or permission of the gatekeepers, the uninitiated simply cannot enter. Author Reggie McNeal often referred to the modern church as an exclusive club, offering the comforts of the club house and the perks of membership to those worthy of being included. Our text today will reveal something shocking about Christ’s Kingdom. This truth may actually re-shape how we think about ministry today. Will this word reshape you?
6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Likewise, I'm Sure (John 13:12-17)
John’s recollection of the Jesus’ final evening with the Twelve differs significantly from the other Gospels. In this account, Jesus surprised the Apostles with an act of service that totally confounded them. Evidently our Lord could see the confusion on their faces. It was an astounding demonstration of the nature of the Kingdom that must have left them speechless. “Do you understand what I have done for you?”, He asked. Well, duh, yes, it is apparent. But, maybe not! They didn’t get it! He has to explain it to them. Do you get it? Do you understand this very basic element of walking with Him in faith, of being His redemptive community? Open your heart to this message right now!
6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
The Only Warning (Matthew 16:12)
Here’s another Kingdom surprise that may have been alluded to earlier: Jesus only warned his followers to guard against religious people. Of the many threats aimed at the followers of Christ in the first century, only the threat of legalism concerned our Lord. He portrayed legalism as yeast that could ruin an entire batch of dough. Translated, this means that the most dangerous menace to Kingdom faith is the arrogance of entrenched spiritual presumption. Today, The Church that Jesus is Building has strong theological foundations, solid underpinnings of Biblical doctrine, and ministry that exalts Christ. It is a community of grace, however, because He is a Lord filled with grace and truth. Praise His name!
6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Limits (John 14:12-14)
The Bible makes some incredible claims, and church people throughout history have tried to decipher many of them in more palatable, human terms. Post-modernism interprets many Kingdom principles in a more rational manner, seeking to make sense of that which is really beyond human reasoning. When you get up close to Scripture, however, you will see no asterisks in the margins beside these claims. The Church that Jesus is Building is not about debits and credits, X’s and O’s, common sense, or reality. It is about the miracle of new life, the construction project of people being transformed into the likeness of His beloved Son, an institution of the heart established on Kingdom expectations. Jesus instructed His followers to look up, and not to set their moral compass on things down. Today, we end this series with our expectations point to Him, so that we can be the living stones of the church that He is building.
6:30 p.m.