I LOVE MY CHURCH Why Church? I LOVE MY CHURCH Why Church?
WHY CHURCH? Pros Ebraisous ‘To Hebrews’ WHY CHURCH? Pros Ebraisous ‘To Hebrews’
The earliest Church was a Jewish Church!
The Gospel in Context Bunyon’s Pilgrims Progress, Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia & Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings are all re-tellings of the Gospel! The Gospel in Context Bunyon’s Pilgrims Progress, Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia & Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings are all re-tellings of the Gospel!
A Contextualization of the Gospel The first was Hebrews! A Contextualization of the Gospel The first was Hebrews!
Hebrews 10: Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us… Hebrews 10: Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us…
…through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…
…having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…
…for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…
…as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Looking at Jesus through a Jewish Lens!
Hebrews is the Most thorough listing of Christ’s Accomplishments !
Holy of Holies: Entering into the Presence of God! Holy of Holies: Entering into the Presence of God!
The Inner Veil: No More Separation! The Inner Veil: No More Separation!
A High Priest: Jesus as the Head of the People of God! A High Priest: Jesus as the Head of the People of God!
The Mikvah: Transformation & Consecration! The Mikvah: Transformation & Consecration!
The Promise: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction! The Promise: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction!
Church, the Continuation of God’s Work in Us! The Call to Practice Redemptive Community!
Consideration (24a) ‘And let us consider one another...’ Consideration (24a) ‘And let us consider one another...’
Activation (24b) ‘...in order to stir up love and good works…’ Activation (24b) ‘...in order to stir up love and good works…’
Association (25a) ‘...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together’ Association (25a) ‘...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together’
Proclamation (25b) ‘...exhorting one another...’ Proclamation (25b) ‘...exhorting one another...’
Anticipation (25c) ‘...so much the more as you see the Day approaching.’ Anticipation (25c) ‘...so much the more as you see the Day approaching.’
Church then, is not a location, a building or even an institution…
…it is the living work of God in the midst of His people…
…a people called by Himself, for Himself and His Purposes!
In short, Church is an Organism, not an Organization!
What was President Lincoln’s problem? He had something on the inside that changed the outside! What was President Lincoln’s problem? He had something on the inside that changed the outside!