SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS “JOURNEY” “U” MUST BE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY THE BASIC PREPARATION IS SIMPLE!!! “KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS LORD (BOSS) AND SAVIOR!!!!” WHY????????

SO HE CAN BE YOUR SPIRITUAL GUIDE ON THIS JOURNEY

!!TRIVIA QUESTION!! Jesus didn’t do many miracles in His home town because there they lacked, what??

!!TRIVIA ANSWER!! WHO LED THE FIRST (1 st ) RETURN TO JERUSALEM IN “538 B.C.”??? “JERUBBABEL” EZRA 2:2

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) I) In the New Testament the word “Church” is never used to identify a “building” or “denomination” Church or EKKLESIA…ek-clay-see-uh, means “THE CALLED OUT OR ASSEMBLY” GOD’S FAMILY

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) GOD’S FAMILY DOES WHAT? “We have come into this House” “Gathered in His name” “TO WORSHIP HIM” “So forget about yourself” “Concentrate on Him” “AND WORSHIP HIM” “Let us lift up holy hands” “Magnify His name” “AND WORSHIP HIM” “WORSHIP HIM, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD”

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) 1. I Tim. 3:15 “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church” (TGN) “But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of truth”

2. Heb. 10:25a “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (TGN) “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

II. “A New Testament Church” 4 Things About It A) The Organization of the Church 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (TGN) “So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the sacrificial death of his Son”

A) The Organization of the Church 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) (cont.) 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) (cont.) I Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers —not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve” I Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers —not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve” (TGN) “I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

A) The Organization of the Church 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) (cont.) 1. Pastors (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) (cont.) II Tim. 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” II Tim. 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (TGN) “To preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

A) The Organization of the Church 2. Deacons (DIAKONOS..dee-ock-uk-nos) 2. Deacons (DIAKONOS..dee-ock-uk-nos)Servant Acts 6:3 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are “known” to be full of the Spirit and Wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them” Acts 6:3 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are “known” to be full of the Spirit and Wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them” (TGN) “So then, brothers, choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this matter” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

II. “A New Testament Church” 4 Things About It B) The Proclamation of the Church “THE ORDINANCES” 1. Baptism 1. Baptism 2. The Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-29) 2. The Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-29) Bread—”Take and eat; this is my body” Fruit of the Vine—”This is my blood of the convenant” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

II. “A New Testament Church” 4 Things About It C) The Evaluation of the Church “Before joining U should ASK” 1 st Does the church teach that all the Bible is the Word of God? 1 st Does the church teach that all the Bible is the Word of God? II Tim. 3:16a “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” II Tim. 3:16a “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (TGN) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instructions for right living” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

C) The Evaluation of the Church (cont.) “Before joining U should ASK” 2 nd Does the church try to reach lost people? 2 nd Does the church try to reach lost people? Acts 1:8b “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (TGN) “And you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!)

C) The Evaluation of the Church (cont.) “Before joining U should ASK” 3 rd Does the worship style draw me closer to God and inspire me to live for Him? !!LETS DISCUSS THIS!! D) The Capitalization of the Church 1. Your Responsibility!! Time…Work of the Church Time…Work of the Church Talent…Church Work Talent…Church Work Treasures…Your TITHES (10% Money) Treasures…Your TITHES (10% Money)

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) II. “A New Testament Church” 4 Things About It D) The Capitalization of the Church (cont.) Pro. 3:9,10 “I must honor the Lord with my wealth, with the firstfruits of all my crops (income); then my barns (finances) will be filled to over- flowing” Pro. 3:9,10 “I must honor the Lord with my wealth, with the firstfruits of all my crops (income); then my barns (finances) will be filled to over- flowing” (TGN) “Honor the Lord by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces. If you do, your barns will be filled with grain, and you will have too much wine to store it all”

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) D) The Capitalization of the Church (cont.) II Corin. 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, For God Loves a Cheerful Giver” II Corin. 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, For God Loves a Cheerful Giver” (TGN) “For God loves the one who gives gladly” Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you? In tithes and offering’” Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you? In tithes and offering’” (TGN) “I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. How? you ask. In the matter of tithes and offering”

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) D) The Capitalization of the Church (cont.) 2. Why Tithe?? 2. Why Tithe?? Matt. 6:21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also” (TGN) “For your heart will always be where your riches are” III. What To Consider?? a) The Organization of the Church b) The Proclamation of the Church c) The Evaluation of the Church d) The Capitalization of the Church

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) !!WHAT I WANT MOST!! ??WHY?? THE EVALUATION OF THE CHURCH ALL ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT; BUT WHEN I MUST CHOOSE, IT’S THE ABOVE. IT OFFERS THE SUBSTANCE NEEDED TO HAVE THE CHURCH GROW WITHIN ME, AND BECAUSE OF ME

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY (!!Which CHURCH Should I JOIN?!!) B.asic I.nformation I.nformation B.efore B.efore L.eaving L.eaving E.arth E.arth

NEXT WEEK!!!! !!WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES!! !!ABOUT BAPTISM!! “JOURNEY THROUGH SPIRITUAL” “BOOT CAMP”