Chandler Christian Church Sermon Notes

December 1-2. 2001                                                                                                                       Selected

THE CHURCH ON PURPOSE!

*** Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  [NIV]

TO TAKE THE WHOLE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD

BEFORE HE COMES BACK!

“HELPING EVERYONE FIND AN EVER-DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THROUGH THIS, HIS CHURCH!”

& THE GREAT COMMANDMENT: Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”  [NIV]

& THE GREAT COMMISSION: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. "  [New International Version]

FIVE PURPOSES OF CCC!

1. WE CELEBRATE CHRIST!  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart”

*** Acts 2:42 “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to…sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer.”  [New Living Translation]

2.  BY BECOMING COMMUNITY OF CHRIST!Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

*** Acts 2:42 “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the fellowship….”  [NLT]

3.  BY BECOMING COMPLETE IN CHRIST! Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands”

***Acts 2:42 “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching…and prayer.”  [NLT]

4. BY BECOMING COMMISSIONED BY CHRIST!  'Love your neighbor as yourself”

*** Acts 2:42-45 “ They joined with the other believers…all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.”  [NLT]

5. BY BECOMING COMMUNICATORS OF CHRIST!  Make disciples of all nations”

***  Acts 2:42-47 “ They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves…all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”   [NLT]

ð BRING THEM IN

ð BUILD THEM UP

ð TRAIN THEM WELL

ð SEND THEM OUT

ð IN THE NAME OF JESUS! 

·        WHAT’S YOUR BUSINESS?

·        HOW’S BUSINESS?

 

1. GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE AMAZING!

!This year we have baptized 230 precious souls and welcomed 150 by transfer of membership (previously immersed) for a total of 380!

! 61% of our adult members are involved in ministry at least monthly!

! 794 have moved a CLASS base this year!

 

2. GOD’S PLANS ARE EXCITING!

*** Ephes. 4:11-12 “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ….”  [NLT]

! WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING PEOPLE NOT BUILDINGS!

*** 1 Peter 2:5 “And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house.” [Contemporary English Version]

 

3. GOD’S NEEDS ARE CHALLENGING!

! FOUR NEEDS AT CCC!

1. MORE REACHING UP!

*** Col. 1:28 “So we continue to preach Christ…and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ.”  [NCV]

 

2. MORE REACHING OUT!

*** 2 Cor. 5:18-20 “God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak…!”  [NLT]

! WE WANT TO FILL THIS PLACE FOR JESUS SAKE!

 

3. MORE REACHING IN!

*** 2 Cor. 8:7 “Since you excel in so many ways…now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving”  [NLT]

! GROWING CHURCHES REQUIRE GREATER SACRIFICE!

 

4. MORE REACHING AROUND!

! SERVING NOT BEING SERVED – LEADING NOT BEING LED!

*** 1 Cor. 15:58 “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.”  [NCV]

 

*** Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he  fell asleep; he was buried…”  [NIV]

 

! LIVE YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE!