We’re the Body of Christ Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. Who are we? Where are we going?

Connect Who are we? Where are we going? Who are we? Our identity is not something that we choose, but rather something that we receive. It’s vital that we understand where we receive it from. We are new creations: Resurrection Power & Victorious Power We are justified: No longer guilty; But righteous Those with a certain hope: Life after death. What we do in this life matters. We are a resurrection people! Where are we going? Our Purpose flows out of our identity. New Commissions: Renewal of all things Overcoming corruption, decay and death Filling the whole earth with Jesus’ love, grace, power and glory. It means? Going straight from worshipping in the sanctuary to… Our schools, so there will no longer be child hunger & bullying. Our hospitals, so that there will no longer be sick people. Our prisons, so that there will no longer be any prisoners. Our homes, so that broken families will no longer exist. Our governments, so that laws are made to protect the weak and vulnerable Our businesses, so that people are a greater priority than profit.

On what foundation, are you building? This series, we’re going to continue to build on a resurrection foundation. We’re going to look to the book of Ephesians for answers to these questions.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Who are we? In relation to each member of the Trinity. Visual: Three- Dimensional Cube.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Our identity in relation to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Inclusive Relational Incarnational Eschatological Charismatic Missional Each aspect of our identity expresses itself in a fundamental attribute of who we are! Inclusive- people who wouldn’t fit together, joined in functional unity Relational- belong to a family. Contributor not consumer. Incarnational- here and now expression of Jesus and His authority. Eschatological- pointing to the future while representing it. Charismatic- filled with the Spirit because His presence, power and glory fill His temple. Missional- “Apostolic”- a sent people into a spiritual battle. Mission is who we are, not a project that we do.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Inclusive Relational Incarnational Eschatological Charismatic Missional Belonging Serving Now Not Yet Filling Sending Each attribute leads us also to an emphasis for FICF. A healthy FICF, should be expressing all these attributes and emphases in Eagan, Dakota County and Beyond.

Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Inclusive Belonging A couple of weeks ago, when I last spoke, the aspect of our identity that we focused on was “fellow citizens of God’s Kingdom”. Where are we going? On a journey that creates a church family that is fundamentally inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging. Why? Because the gospel brings radical inclusion to the excluded. How do we achieve this? Equal access God doesn’t show some of His sons or daughters favoritism. Do you believe that you have direct access to your heavenly Father or do you rely on others to draw you close to Him? Equal status The CEO is just as valuable as the toilet cleaner. Does our church family look like the community of Eagan? Primary Allegiance to Christ We’re no longer defined by belonging to a particular country. Our priority switches from a “patriotic agenda” to a “kingdom agenda” that aims to see the name of Jesus Christ affirmed as great by every heart, by every lip, by every knee in all of creation. Are our priorities or aspirations the same or different from those who are not citizens of the Kingdom of God? Examples= Gracia y Verdad and UNITE prayer gathering.

Who are we? Son Body of Christ Incarnational Now This morning, we will focus on the fact that we are the “body of Jesus Christ”.

Ephesians 1:15-23 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 

Ephesians 1:15-23 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Who is He? 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (1:22-23). Our identity is not something that we choose, but rather something that we receive. It’s vital that we understand where we receive it from. Who is He? Jesus Christ is Lord over all. He will NEVER fail. He is not simply the head of the church BUT the head over all things (which includes the church) ”to”, for the benefit, the church. Nothing is greater than Jesus. Transition: “he put all things under His feet”- quote from Psalm 8

Psalm 8 1 O Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,     to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,     the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him,     and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings     and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;     you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen,     and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,     whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! Describes God’s original intention of humanity. This position was lost due to bondage of sin. However, Jesus fulfills this divine purpose through His death and resurrection. Therefore, through Him and in Him, we’re restored to our true dignity.

Who are we? 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (1:22-23). Who are we? The Body of Christ: Metaphorically Different people fit together (1 Corinthians 12- one body, many parts) You have a role to play- no “opt out” clause. The team is at a disadvantage if you aren’t playing that role. Do you know your role? If so, how dependent are you on the H.S in that role? More than a metaphor Union with Him (John 15- vine and branches) What is the condition of your relationship with God? Authority and power to overcome all opposition because our leader and head is Lord of all. Do you believe you have Jesus’ authority or do you depend on other Christians to exercise Jesus’ authority? Here and now expression of Jesus Christ (incarnational). The Kingdom is Today! Stacey’s healing is a foretaste not the fullness. Salvation is not just an insurance policy. Satan is bound. How we live our lives matters. Would Jesus Christ live like we’re living? Full expression of Jesus: We must be filled with the fullness So that together we can fully express the fullness of Jesus Christ Because Jesus’ desire is to fill everything there is. Do we fully allow Jesus into every area of our lives?

Where are we going? Where are we going? On a journey to build a church family that is fundamentally incarnational. Meaning we embody the fullness of Jesus Christ by expressing His person and rule in the here & now. How do we do this? Strengthen our union with Him Exercise His authority: We command sickness to leave our bodies. Live like Him: We serve our community through initiatives like The Sheridan Story, Food Shelf & Clothing Closet and SonShine Pre-School. We become the hands and feet of Jesus in our spheres of influence. Love Somali video.