True Church

Church is People

Ek = Out Ekklesia Kaleo = Call

Ekklesia = the called out people of God

Oxford defines “Church” A building The clergy Organization of religious believers A public divine worship The clerical profession

God loves People

Jesus died for People

Jesus trained People His Method is People

When we think of Church, we should think of People Not the Meetings Not the Programs Not the Building Not the “Things” we need to Do

Concentrate on People Concentrate on Loving People Concentrate on Building People Concentrate on Equipping People Concentrate on Empowering People

God created us for Relationships! Everyone can have Great Relationships! We are made for it! Church is all about it!

Jesus Formula John 13-17

John 13－17 This is the Formula of Jesus This must become the Formula of the Church This is the Formula for ALL Everyone Can

Jesus Formula Love One Another Faithful – “To the End” Serve One Another Be One – United

Chinese are not good at Loving We cannot express love We do not think of love Love is not a high priority in our lives We treat those who are closest to us the worst!

2017 is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation by Martin Luther Priesthood of ALL Believers Main Message of the Reformation

3 Solas of Luther’s Reformation Sola Fide – Only Faith Sola Gratia – Only Grace Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture

3 Solas of Luther’s Reformation Priesthood of ALL Believers Sola Fide – Only Faith Sola Gratia – Only Grace Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture

Priesthood of ALL Believers No need priest between man and God Cannot have any Person between Believer and God

Jesus directly leading us Jesus is Head Jesus directly leading us We are Christ’s Body

Cannot have Any Person between God and Man Leader God’s People God X

In the New Testament Leadership ≠ Headship

Leader = Servant

Cannot have Any Person between God and Man New Testament Order Jesus is Head Believer Leader Cannot have Any Person between God and Man

If Jesus is the Head – what is most important for the Believer? Go to the Head Trust in the Head Listen to the Head Obey the Head Leader needs to equip Believer to go to Jesus!

Most churches are not “Priesthood of ALL Believers” Most churches still has Priesthood (Clergy/Laity)

Teaching and Feeding the People Model The “Clergy-Laity” System GOD God’s Word Our Authority Teaching and Feeding the People Model

“Imitate me as I imitate Christ” The “Priesthood of Every Believer” System GOD God’s Word Our Authority “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”

Jesus is Head of the Church Cannot have Any Person between God and Man

This is an “Obey the Word” Church “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” The “Priesthood of Every Believer” System GOD God’s Word Our Authority This is an “Obey the Word” Church “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”

(Matthew 28:19-20) Therefore 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

Teaching to Obey ≠ Teaching

He who has my commands and obeys them is he who loves me John 14:21 He who has my commands and obeys them is he who loves me

Today, most churches see teaching as important and not obeying

Most Churches do not care whether the members Obey or not We only care whether the members Listen to our Teaching or not

The Wise and Foolish Builder Matthew 7:24-27 The Wise and Foolish Builder

Build a Church that is centered on “obedience” and not “teaching” The Key is Obedience

Believer mainly listens Leader mainly teach Believer mainly listens Leader do not do Believer do not do

Preaching is definitely not what every Leader can do Well Obeying is definitely what every leader can do Well

Preach Well Obey Well Preach Well Don’t Obey Well Don’t Preach Well Obey Well Don’t Preach Well Don’t Obey Well

Building an Obeying Church Start from the Leadership Leadership should be Obeying the Word Leading whole church to be an Obeying Church Build a Disciple-making Church

You never graduate from the School of Discipleship of Jesus

Leadership Leadership is a function Leadership is not a status Role is Leader is to Equip

Leadership through Life, Example and Honour

Not through Feeding and Teaching Through Equipping and Example Leadership Not through Feeding and Teaching Through Equipping and Example

Not teaching God’s Word but together learning from God’s Word Leadership Not teaching God’s Word but together learning from God’s Word

Mainly Teaching Mainly Obeying

Teaching and Feeding the People Model The “Clergy-Laity” System GOD God’s Word Our Authority Teaching and Feeding the People Model Where is this Church? Building Centered Church

“Imitate me as I imitate Christ” Church in Everyday Life The “Priesthood of Every Believer” System GOD God’s Word Our Authority Where is this Church? Church in the World “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” Church in Everyday Life

If Church is Doing the Word Then Church MUST be Daily Life The Pastor MUST be into the Daily Life of the Believers

Three Foundational Relationships in Ephesians Husband and Wife – Marriage (5:22-33) Parents and Children – Family (6:1-4) Employer and Employee – Work (6:5-9)

Believers need to Obey the Word in their Daily Lives Disciple-making is about Daily Life

Disciple-making must be Close-in Life Contact (With Him) Jesus lived with the Disciples for 3 Years

Disciple-making is not about Classroom Disciple-making MUST NOT be only Classroom

Disciple-making is Life, Relationship, Example, Personal Everyone is Different! Discipling MUST be Personal!