I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, Of Jesus and his love: I love to tell the story Because I know ‘tis true; It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do,

I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory to tell The old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story; for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear It like the rest: and when in scenes of glory, I sing the new new song, ‘twill be the old old story that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory to tell The old, old story of Jesus and his love.

Unshakeable Truth Truth One - God Exists Truth Two - God’s Word Truth Three - Original Sin Truth Four - God Became Human Truth Five - Christ’s Atonement for Sin Truth Six - Justification through Faith Truth Seven - Living the Transformed Life Truth Eight – Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection Truth Nine - The Trinity Truth Ten - God’s Kingdom Truth Eleven - The Church Truth Twelve - The Return of Christ

A Lie to Reject “Church is not for me, it is full of hypocrites.” A Truth to Embrace “the church is Christ’s visible representation on earth, in which each transformed follower of Jesus is made part of his living body to individually and collectively fulfill God’s redemptive purpose.”

“the church is Christ’s visible representation on earth.” The Biblical argument: The church is the new real people of God. – Galatians 6:15,16 The church is God’s family. – Ephesians 2:19,20; Romans 8:16 The church is the body of Christ. – Romans 12;4,5 The church is Christ’s pure bride. – Ephesians 5:25-26 The church is Christ’s agent to fulfill his mission to redeem the lost. I Peter 2:9

What is Church? “The real church is where God lives and moves and accomplishes his purpose.”

The Evolution of Church The church started as a missionary movement in Jerusalem. It moved to Rome and became an institution. It traveled to Europe and became a culture. It crossed the Atlantic to America and became a big business. Historian, Dr. Brian Webber

The Church in Action “Lives are transformed by Christ’s saving power, those lives form a community of hope, love, and care, and they by nature become Jesus’ ambassadors to proclaim his kingdom message of love and redemption to the world around them.”

The Church in Action The logical arguments: “The church embodies what a community of redeemed people looks like.”  When the world looks at Jesus’ church they see a holy people (2 Peter 3:14)  they see a people in unity (1 Corinthians 12:25), they see a people depending on one another (Romans 12:5)  and they see a people caring for one another (Romans 12:15).

The Church in Action The logical arguments: “The church is a compassionate and healing presence to those in need” “The message of Jesus that we offer says that your solution can begin in a relationship with me—I’m your friend. I am here to remove your aloneness, I’ll comfort you, help carry your burden. I’ll connect with you as a person of value—I’ll feed you, care for you, and take you in as family. Ministries such as our own Helps Outreach are a wonderful example of this truth.

The Church in Action The logical arguments: “The church is God’s reconciling agent and ambassador to spread the gospel—the kingdom message.” “The heartbeat of the church is that of the relational heart of God, who wants to redeem and restore those who are alone and separated from him. Evangelism isn’t about church growth numbers or building an organization, it’s about leading people into relationship with God”

The Church in Action The logical arguments: “The church is an equipping agent to make disciples who make disciples” “Discipleship is not a vocation prescribed only for ministers and other full-time staff members in the church. Discipleship is the full-time spiritual vocation of all God’s “people. Time in discipleship is time to impress upon the new convert that he or she has a calling in Jesus Christ— the calling to be a disciple all the time in every place of life…[And] if the new convert is to grow, he or she needs a womb-like experience for a period of initial gestation.”

“Life Change" “God wants to love others through us to meet the human and spiritual needs of those around us. It is through this love of the whole person that God is pleased to make the church truly relevant in the lives of others. It is “your love for one another,” Jesus said, that “will prove to the world that you are my disciples [my church]” (John 13:35)

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for comfort” “Love gives comfort by giving hope; easing a grief or pain; consoling; and hurting with a person” II Corinthians 1:3,4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for attention.” “Love shows care or attention by taking thought of another, conveying interest and concern, entering another’s world” I Corinthians 12:25 - so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for acceptance.” “Love offers acceptance without conditions by loving others for who they are.” Romans 15:7 - Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for appreciation” “Love expresses appreciation by praising another and communicating gratefulness through words and deeds.” I Corinthians 11:2 - I praise you for remembering me in everything......

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for support” “Love expresses “Love provides support by coming alongside another to lift a load and help carry a problem” Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for encouragement” “Love offers encouragement by inspiring with courage and urging another forward to a positive goal” I Thessalonians 5:11- Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for affection” “Love shows affection that communicates care and closeness by offering endearing words and appropriate physical touch” Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for approval” “Love gives approval by expressing satisfaction with a person, demonstrating that he or she has pleased another” Romans 14:18 - For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for security” “Love provides security by eliminating danger and removing the fear of loss, want, and broken relationship.” I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

"Love Lifted Me" “ Love meets the need for respect” “Love shows respect by valuing a person highly and communicating to that person that he or she is of great worth” I Peter 2:17 - Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.