This Week’s Sermon: What makes a church a church?

(Sermon Outline – Sunday Feb.1st 2009)

What makes a Church a Church?
By Richard Daughtridge

1.Calling

Ephes. 4:1-4
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

2. Cause

NE 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

3. Careful Relationships

NE 2:4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, [5] and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

4. Compassion

Exodus 32:31-33
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. [33] And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

5. Contact with God

Neh. 2:12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

6. Congregation

Philip. 2:1-7
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

7. Change

When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.
— Alexander Graham Bell

Pastor is sharing a new sermon series entitled,” Capturing the Opportunities of 2009″

This week’s Sermon Notes Sunday Jan 19

Series:  Capturing the Opportunities of 2009

Sermon:  The Journey of the Gifted Pastor Richard Daughtridge

Matthew 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

1 Cor. 12:14-17    For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

1 Cor. 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Gifts are  God given   1. (for others)  2. (for the church) 3. (for the world)

1 Cor. 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Cor. 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Growing process of giftedness.

1. Vision   2. Passion   3. Pursuit    4. Practice  5. Maturity  6. Reward

Responsibility of the gifted.

Romans 11:29   For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

We are SHAPEed like our giftedness. .

Spiritual Gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experience

1 Cor. 12:27-31  [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? [30] Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? [31] But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.