What is the Church? Four Characteristics God Expects to be Present. Ephesians 2-3:11

Ephesians 2:1-7 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-7 1) The Church is Future-Oriented Hebrews 11:8-10 8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Ephesians 2:1-7 Hebrews 11: He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 2 Peter 3: But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  Other examples from history

Ephesians 2:1-7 1) The Church is Future-Oriented APPLICATION:  If the Lake Merced Church of Christ is to be what God is calling us to be, we must continually look ahead to what will be!

Ephesians 2:8-17 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:8-17 2) The Church is a Loving, Christ- Centered Family APPLICATION:  a) If we’re to be the church God calls us to be, we must love one another.  b) If we’re to be the church God calls us to be, we must love the people God sends us.

Ephesians 2: For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2: ) The Church is “Being Built Together” – Involved in a Growth Process Two kinds of growth expected …

Two Kinds of Growth Expected: a) Spiritual growth 2 Peter 1:5-9 5… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:48 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Two Kinds of Growth Expected: b) Numerical Growth Matthew 28: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

Ephesians 2:18-22 APPLICATION: What are some things that hinder Spiritual Growth?  Being unteachable  Secret sin  Not being involved  Failure to exercise spiritual gifts

Ephesians 2:18-22 APPLICATION: What are some things that encourage Spiritual Growth?  Personal time with God  Spending time with other Christ-centered people  Attending workshops/seminars/retreats  Reading spiritually uplifting books  Spiritual conversation  Greatest way to: Exercising your spiritual gifts – getting involved in personal ministry (i.e. focusing on others instead of yourself)

Ephesians 2:18-22 APPLICATION: What are some things that hinder Numerical Growth?  Being unloving  Irrelevance  Dispassionate  Unfocused/Unorganized regarding our mission

Ephesians 2:18-22 APPLICATION: What are some things that encourage Numerical Growth?  Learning to connect with people where they are. Knowing our community and addressing spiritual needs.  Church-wide evangelistic equipping – every member confident in sharing their faith with outsiders.  What we’re talking about this morning: being future-oriented, being a loving family.  Not just being a friendly church, but being a church that is a friend.  Individually being intentional about forming relationships with outsiders.  Intentionally focused, church-wide outreach.

Ephesians 3:1-11 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:1-11 4) The Church is to Reveal the “Manifold Wisdom of God” Embodied in Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 1:30 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Ephesians 3:1-11 The Church is Jesus’ Body: Ephesians 1: And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Why did Jesus come to earth? Matthew 20:28 28… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Luke 19:10 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Ephesians 3:1-11 APPLICATION: The church is not a place, it’s a people. God wants to use us to reveal His wisdom – Jesus – to the world!

Ephesians 2-3:11 1) The Church is Future-Oriented 2) The Church is a Loving, Christ-Centered Family 3) The Church is “Being Built Together” – Involved in a Growth Process 4) The Church is Called to Reveal the “Manifold Wisdom of God”