God’s Plan for the Church

I love this church!!
· What do you think I meant?
· The building or you?

Don’t get me wrong – I love this building
· The property
· It’s beautiful, like a park
· Walking trails
· Nature
· God’s creation right out our windows – I chase geese off regularly

Love the large lobby for fellowship
· The comfortable seating
· 750 seats and not a bad seat in the house
· Kids and youth areas
· Gym
· Kitchen

Impact Tomorrow Today
· Nearly $400,000 paid off in 3 years
· Tipped the percentage of $$ paid to interest versus principle – 50/50 to 65/35
· Thank you!!
· The campaign is over, but we’ll keep paying our mortgage 😊
· $$ for ministry
· Programs
· Missions
· Staff
· Ministry with South acreage
We will pay that off together – everyone doing their part – just like your own mortgage

Buildings are Important
· Place to meet
· Specialized for services like this
· Meetings for
· Equipping the Saints for works of service
· Studying God’s word together
· Serving the community
· Collecting Christmas boxes
· Distributing financial blessings to those in need
· Training kids & youth

Most importantly…It’s where the actual church meets
· You are the church
· You
· All of you
· The ones who’ve been here 80 years to 80 minutes

Together we are the expression of the Body of Christ
· At 5950 NE Lakewood Way
· Crown Pointe Church

Body of Christ?
· What is that?
· How is that…??

We are his hands and feet
We are his plan to reach the world with his message…

To some of you this is new
Some it is old
Are you accomplishing the mission?
How would you know?

How do you measure if the church is accomplishing the mission?
What are the metrics?
Budget – giving?
Attendance – seats – On line

Those matter
They say something

Giving – not just the bank account
· Percentage of those who give
· How many are actually contributing of the total attenders?
· Engaged…part of the mission

Attendance
· Being here matters
· Learn
· Challenge
· Worship together
· Accountability
· Care for one another
· Relationships that transcend family
· Family made of friends
· Know and known

Another metric…
· Goes back to Jesus himself…
· It’s not really about us
· It’s about him and how he defines the Church

In Matthew’s eye witness account
Jesus had been with his disciples for a while
He’d fed the 5000
He’d healed many people

The setting for this private gathering is appropriately in the district of Caesarea Philippi, a non-Jewish area near the headwaters of the Jordan, where there was no Galilean crowd in attendance

Spoiler Alert – Gates of Hades/Hell
Grotto of Pan

the word ekklēsia in Hellenistic Greek often simply meant an assembly, as is also true of the underlying Aramaic qāhāl—a gathering of people for a particular purpose.

In the Old Testament these gatherings normally involved the Israelites at worship, so that precisely such a community surrounding the Messiah had become a standard Jewish expectation.

Jesus promises that he will establish a gathered community of his followers and help them to grow

Christ’s “church” will comprise the community of people who submit to God’s kingly rule

The church – Christ’s People – will overcome the gates of hell/death/hades

Are Christ’s people under attack?
Or are they supposed to attack?

Under attack?
Duh!
· Family
· Life
· Happiness
· Joy
· Kids
· Parents
· All that is good and holy

But we’re also promised a Rich and satisfying Life
And we have a JOB to do:

Make disciples
· Of all nations
· Spread the Good News
· Too much?
· You up to the job?

So here’s some thoughts on the Church…
· Who’s Church?
· JESUS

He said, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH!”

I – it is Christ’s Church
Not Mine
Not anyone’s but his

Will – it is Christ’s Purpose
He will accomplish his purpose
Pray for his purpose (will) to be done

Lord’s Prayer:

He accomplishes his mission through us

So you want to join this group of people aligned with Christ’s mission?
Join?