“Why Church”
September 11, 2011
A five week series on “Why Church” or “What is the Purpose of Church” This is based in part on Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Church.” We will use the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as we look at different aspects of being the church. We will consider “5 Ms”: Membership, Magnify, Maturity, Ministry, and Mission.
“Maturity”
Hebrews 6:1-3 Going toward perfection
Luke 8:4-15 Parable of the Sower
Discipleship – Maturity – Change
The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40)
Love God & Love your neighbor
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
Go & Make Disciples, Baptizing, Teaching
*Discipleship: A willingness to (a) ______
A student of a teacher (master)
A student (b) ________ the voice of the teacher
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (Matthew 7:24)
“You have heard … but I say to you…”
(Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28; 31-32; 33-34; 38-39; 43-44)
Anger; Lust; Divorce; Oaths; Retaliation; Love
“Now when Jesus had finished _______ these things…” (Matthew 7:28)
A student (c)_______ the words of the teacher
“All (d)__________ is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
A disciple is not necessarily a believer
A Believer: a disciple who (e) _______ on teachings
**Maturity: A willingness (f)_________
A Warning:
“I feed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:2)
A Recognition:
“But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by (g)_______ to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
“Therefore let us go on toward perfection (maturity)” (Hebrews 6:1)
***Change: A willingness to be (h) ____________
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds
Memory Verse: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God;” (Luke 8:10)
Closing: Fishing
Note: All scripture quotes are from the NRSV unless otherwise noted.
(a) study, (b) hears, (c) reads, (d) scripture, (e) acts,
(f) grow, (g) practice, (h) transformed