I DENTIFYING THE L ORD S C HURCH G OSPEL P REACHING A N A CT OF W ORSHIP

Worshipping God By Preaching and Hearing His Word! The Church Jesus Built Introduction Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Acts 20:7

People gathered as one man - (8:1) Ezra Read From The Law - (8:1-8) The people expressed reverence and worshipped – (8:5,6) Ezra read distinctly, then he, and others, gave the sense – (8:7,8) Peoples reaction to hearing the Law of God – (8:9) People told to go and obey – thus they did – (8:9-18; 13) Worshipping God By Preaching and Hearing His Word! The Church Jesus Built Introduction N EHEMIAH 8:1-8

The Church Jesus Built The Aim of Preaching To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26:18 The Word of God

The basic aim of preaching is to change people: To help them to better serve God acceptably and faithfully – Everyone needs to change – Some need to become Christians, Some Christians need to become more faithful, Even strong Christians need to grow stronger – Whether one is preaching to royalty or country folks in Kentucky, the aim of preaching is the same!! The Aim of Preaching Introduction

The basic aim of preaching is to change people: The Aim of Preaching Introduction Requires Preaching the word- 2 Timothy 4:2 Requires Reception of the word- 2 Timothy 4:3,4 James 1:21

To Open Their Eyes The need 2 Corinthians 4:2-6 That man knows his need - Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10 That man knows his duty Ecclesiastes 12:13; Romans 12:1,2 That man knows his end 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48 The Aim of Preaching To Enlighten Understanding

The Aim of Preaching To Enlighten Understanding But has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Titus 1:3 To Open Their Eyes

The method Titus 1:3 Through preaching the word - Mark 16:15,16; Romans 10:14-17 Considered foolish and insufficient by men 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Emphasizes the free will of men Romans 6:16,17 Destroys the D.O. of the Holy Spirit concept John 6:45; 16:8-13; 17:20 The Aim of Preaching To Enlighten Understanding

The Aim of Preaching To Correct Conduct And saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. Acts 14:15 To Turn them from Darkness to light, The Method (Acts 14:15)

Through preaching the word-- Sin is distinguished from righteousness - Ephesians 5:1-18; Galatians 5:7-26 Men are urged to repent Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 1 John 2:3-6 Men are told the consequences of rejecting it Acts 13:46; 17:31; 24:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; John 12:48 The Aim of Preaching To Correct Conduct To Turn them from Darkness to Light

The Aim of Preaching To Free From Oppressive Control …as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ... He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Colossians 1:6-13 To Turn them from… the power of Satan to God, The Method (Colossians 1:6-13)

We choose whom we serve – Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Kings 18:21; Romans 6:16-18 We cant serve two masters at the same time - Matthew 6:24 To commit sin is to serve sin John 8:34; Acts 8:23 Many are under bondage due to false teachers 2 Peter 2:19 The Aim of Preaching To Free From Oppressive Control To Turn them from… the power of Satan to God The Method (Colossians 1:6-13)

The Aim of Preaching To Help Others Stand Before God Justified And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47 That they may receive forgiveness of sins, The Method (Luke 24:47)

Forgiveness=acquittal – Acts 3:19; 22:16 Through the blood of Christ - Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14 The alien sinner receives forgiveness, when they obey the gospel H,B,C,R and B. Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:11-13 The Christian must repent and confess- Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9 The Aim of Preaching To Help Others Stand Before God Justified That they may receive forgiveness of sins

The Aim of Preaching To Change Peoples Future For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God…So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:27,32 An inheritance among those who are sanctified By faith in Me. The Method (Acts 20:32)

An inheritance – 1 Peter 1:4 One must get INTO Christ where all spiritual blessings are - Ephesians 1:3; 2:11-13 Accomplished by grace through faith. Galatians 3:26,27; Joshua 6; 2 Kings 5 Those in Christ are set apart from sin and its consequences- 1 Corinthians 1:2; Revelation 21:27; John 17:17. The Aim of Preaching To Change Peoples Future An inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

Do you properly respect it? – Isaiah 66:2 Do you sincerely love it? - Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Do you hunger for it? Matthew 5:6; Psalm 19:10 Do you believe it?- Hebrews 4:12. Do you do it ? Matthew 7:21-27; James 1:21-25 The Aim of Preaching Success Depends Upon The Hearer What is your attitude toward the word of God?

Keeping Our Windows Towards Heaven Open C ONCLUSION PREACHINGPREACHING T O E NLIGHTEN U NDERSTANDING T O C ORRECT C ONDUCT T O F REE F ROM O PPRESSIVE C ONTROL T O H ELP O THERS S TAND B EFORE G OD J USTIFIED T O C HANGE PEOPLES F UTURE

Preaching Keeping Our Windows Towards Heaven Open Conclusion Preaching Aims to Persuade People to Become Faithful and Remain Faithful Children of God in Christ Jesus ! Success Depends Upon the Hearers- 2 Timothy 4:3,4 James 1:21