The Christian and Self-Renewal The Church and Renewal (1) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” {Matthew 16:18}

The Church and Renewal The word church is a Greek word that means “a calling out.” {Strong’s} “A gathering of citizens called out of their homes into some public place; assembly.” {Thayer’s} The church is NOT the building, but those who comprise the group.

When used in the New Testament, the word church refers to Christians. The church consists of those called out of the world to form a relationship with Christ. Used in two senses: –Universal church –Local church The Church and Renewal

The church is the body of Christ. –“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” {Ephesinas 1:22,23} The Church and Renewal

Each of us is a member of Christ’s body, the church. For example, each part of the human body performs its own function. –“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” {1 Corinthians 12:12} The Church and Renewal

If we desire self-renewal in our minds and lives, we NEED to be part of a growing, thriving, church and striving to promote it. –“From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” {Ephesians 4:16} The Church and Renewal

At times, the church needs renewal (or revival ). Even in the first century, some churches began to drift. Consider the seven churches of Asia {Revelation 2,3}. – Ephesus left her first love {Revelation 2:1-7}. – Sardis said they were alive; God said they were dead {Revelation 3:1-6}. – Laodicea was lukewarm {Revelation 3:14-22}. The Church and Renewal

Many passages express concerns about drifting churches and individuals. Because of iniquity, Jesus warned, “The love of many will grow cold.” –“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” {Matthew 24:11,12} The Church and Renewal

Many passages express concerns about drifting churches and individuals. Some will fall asleep and need to be awakened. –“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” {Romans 13:11} The Church and Renewal

Many passages express concerns about drifting churches and individuals. Some have shown little progress. – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” {Hebrews 5:12-14} The Church and Renewal

Many passages express concerns about drifting churches and individuals. Some no longer endure sound doctrine. – “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” {2 Timothy 4:2-4} The Church and Renewal

What about today? It remains a fact that many of the Lord’s churches are not what they ought to be. Many are doctrinally sound but dying. Their fires need to be rekindled. Some churches are barely holding their own. Some outwardly seem to be alive, but inwardly are dead. The Church and Renewal

What about today? Far too many have become complacent— satisfied with where they are. They’re afraid of or resistant to growth for fear of change. All need the same thing—revival! A spiritual awakening. Needed when something is about to die. –Acts 3:19 The Church and Renewal

Have we restored the New Testament church? Confidently looking at what and how we do it, we say “yes.” But have we restored all of it? Have we restored the attitudes and zeal we read about in the book of Acts? –1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 The Church and Renewal

Renewal begins with us. The church is made up of individuals; it’s not going to renew itself. Each person must step up and do his part. The church has a work to do; if we’re not careful, it will die out. What can we do to prevent this from happening? The Church and Renewal

Planning for Growth Individual Christians need to recognize the need for growth. Churches need to be growing. Consider Jesus’ teaching about the “ kingdom of heaven.” – “…The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Another parable He spoke to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.“ {Matthew 13:31-33}

Individual Christians need to recognize the need for growth. Churches need to be growing Consider the example of the early Jerusalem church as it was beginning… – “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.“ {Acts 2:41} – “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” {Acts 4:4} Planning for Growth

We need to be moving forward, and we need to be willing to move forward. Not all the problems in the early church were worked out immediately. In Acts 6, the apostles and disciples came together to discuss a problem. The church addressed the problem, adapted the solution, and moved forward. –Acts 6:1-7 Planning for Growth

The church addressed the problem, adapted the solution, and moved forward. –“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” {Acts 8:4} –“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.’ Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.” {Acts 15:5,6} Planning for Growth

Understanding our purpose. Why are we here? What is the purpose of the Knollwood church? If we are to thrive, we must know our purpose. To determine what it is, we we must turn to His word. What does He expect from us? Planning for Growth