Elements City Church
The Gospel - wk4
We're launching 2020 pursuing clarity around The Gospel. We want us all to not just know it. But to live it. We want to be a people captivated by it and enfolded into it. Because it's way bigger and better than you thought it was. Join us Sundays in January!
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
We pray that tonight would be encouraging for you. If you're a guest here with us we want to invite you to our 10 Minute Party immediately following service. We'd love to meet you, and we have a free gift just for you. Click the link below to see THE WEEKLY - our digital announcements/info for all things happening in and around Elements, or find everything you need in our app.
http://elem.cc/weeklyOne way to better understand the Gospel is to see it as part of God’s predetermined plan, which was “promised beforehand through the prophets in holy scriptures concerning His Son…” (Rom. 1:2-5). Here is a list of passages that speak about and reveal what this once hidden but now revealed mystery is.
(Mt. 13:11; Mk. 4:11; Lk. 8:10; Rom. 16:25; I Cor. 2:7, 14:1-2, 15:51; Eph. 1:9, 3:3-4 & 9, 5:32, 6:19; Col. 1:9-27, 4:2-3; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9 & 16; Rev. 1:20, 10:7, 17:5-7.
(For further reading get, “Hidden but now revealed” by G. K. Beale)
And for gaining a better understanding of the Gospel as fulfillment of Israel’s Scriptures get, “The King Jesus Gospel” by Scott McKnight. And finally for clarity on what the Gospel is (and is not) and what its purpose is and how people should respond get, “Gospel Allegiance” by Matthew Bates.
(Mt. 13:11; Mk. 4:11; Lk. 8:10; Rom. 16:25; I Cor. 2:7, 14:1-2, 15:51; Eph. 1:9, 3:3-4 & 9, 5:32, 6:19; Col. 1:9-27, 4:2-3; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9 & 16; Rev. 1:20, 10:7, 17:5-7.
(For further reading get, “Hidden but now revealed” by G. K. Beale)
And for gaining a better understanding of the Gospel as fulfillment of Israel’s Scriptures get, “The King Jesus Gospel” by Scott McKnight. And finally for clarity on what the Gospel is (and is not) and what its purpose is and how people should respond get, “Gospel Allegiance” by Matthew Bates.
In this series we're going to spend 4 weeks unpacking this:
1. The Unseen story: The Story of God
2. The Seen Story: Story of Israel
(Kingdom through Covenant story)
3. The Gospel Story: Story of Jesus (Fulfillment)
-Purpose and goal
-Response
-Benefits
4. The Gospel as Path: Life “In Christ”
A. Identity
B. Participation
C. Incorporation
D. Union
1. The Unseen story: The Story of God
2. The Seen Story: Story of Israel
(Kingdom through Covenant story)
3. The Gospel Story: Story of Jesus (Fulfillment)
-Purpose and goal
-Response
-Benefits
4. The Gospel as Path: Life “In Christ”
A. Identity
B. Participation
C. Incorporation
D. Union
The Gospel is so much BIGGER and BETTER than we thought it is...
*recommended book: Eternity is Now in Session…a rediscovery of what Jesus really taught about salvation, eternity and getting to the good place. (John Ortberg)
*recommended book: Eternity is Now in Session…a rediscovery of what Jesus really taught about salvation, eternity and getting to the good place. (John Ortberg)
The Gospel as 7 Act Play:
1. Incarnation.
-Pre-existence of Christ and plan of Trinity.
-What it reveals about Jesus, fully God and fully Man and His humility as Servant and His Mission to become Saving King
2. Jesus’ Life, message, and Acts.
-Jesus is Pioneer of our faith
-Jesus life as “Path” we are to follow.
3. Jesus’ Death on the Cross
-Perfect Obedience
-Defeat of all powers, sin, and death.
4. Resurrection of Christ.
-New Creation inaugurated.
-All things fulfilled and made new.
5. Ascension of Christ.
-Climax of Gospel
-What this rule looks like now and to come.
6. Christ sends Holy Spirit as Promise of Father.
-Christ’s rule comes by way of Holy Spirit.
-Make Disciples of all nations so as to bring all Nations into “Faithful Obedience”.
7. Christ’s return.
-His bodily return to earth to consummate His rule over all creation by filling all things through Resurrection power.
1. Incarnation.
-Pre-existence of Christ and plan of Trinity.
-What it reveals about Jesus, fully God and fully Man and His humility as Servant and His Mission to become Saving King
2. Jesus’ Life, message, and Acts.
-Jesus is Pioneer of our faith
-Jesus life as “Path” we are to follow.
3. Jesus’ Death on the Cross
-Perfect Obedience
-Defeat of all powers, sin, and death.
4. Resurrection of Christ.
-New Creation inaugurated.
-All things fulfilled and made new.
5. Ascension of Christ.
-Climax of Gospel
-What this rule looks like now and to come.
6. Christ sends Holy Spirit as Promise of Father.
-Christ’s rule comes by way of Holy Spirit.
-Make Disciples of all nations so as to bring all Nations into “Faithful Obedience”.
7. Christ’s return.
-His bodily return to earth to consummate His rule over all creation by filling all things through Resurrection power.
Tonight: we wrap up our series looking further into the powerful reality of being IN CHRIST.
Through faith – we are now: IN CHRIST (fully adopted w/ all rights, privileges, benefits and identity)
Not only does that affect our IDENTITY – but it gives us UNION with God - we’ve not only had our identity changed, but we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, so that Christ’s power and presence is within us now, helps us to follow him, to walk in obedience and choose his ways more easily and more often!
We’ve been united/incorporated into Christ – he’s the source of power for us to live the life we’ve been rescued, redeemed and reunited to live.
Through faith – we are now: IN CHRIST (fully adopted w/ all rights, privileges, benefits and identity)
Not only does that affect our IDENTITY – but it gives us UNION with God - we’ve not only had our identity changed, but we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, so that Christ’s power and presence is within us now, helps us to follow him, to walk in obedience and choose his ways more easily and more often!
We’ve been united/incorporated into Christ – he’s the source of power for us to live the life we’ve been rescued, redeemed and reunited to live.
John 15 – the Vine and Branches
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
The branch’s job is NOT to produce fruit. The branch’s job is to continually receive life from the vine! – to abide (make it’s home there). The fruit then is the external manifestation of what’s going on inside the branch!
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
The branch’s job is NOT to produce fruit. The branch’s job is to continually receive life from the vine! – to abide (make it’s home there). The fruit then is the external manifestation of what’s going on inside the branch!
In union with God, the default mode of my will becomes to BLESS
The will that is disconnected from God constantly seeks what it wants.
The will that is ‘on the vine’ constantly moves outward in blessing.
The will that is disconnected from God constantly seeks what it wants.
The will that is ‘on the vine’ constantly moves outward in blessing.
Friends, as you read through NT Scripture – CIRCLE the phrase “In Christ” – it captures so much; it’s so RICH IN MEANING. It’s in Paul’s letters, and all throughout the N.T. around 150 times. It’s attempting to unpack and reveal all we’ve been given as we’ve been redeemed, united and tied to all Christ has done and all he says about those who have trusted IN HIM!
IN CHRIST = we been given union with Christ; we enter into the flow of relational love within the TRINITY (Father, Son, Spirit)
= we’ve been given a new identity through Christ, invited into participation with Christ and grafted into Christ & the amazing family of God.
IN CHRIST = we been given union with Christ; we enter into the flow of relational love within the TRINITY (Father, Son, Spirit)
= we’ve been given a new identity through Christ, invited into participation with Christ and grafted into Christ & the amazing family of God.
The CHURCH is an entity of connected believers who are following King Jesus as we each have gifting’s to contribute, roles to play as God’s gospel story continues to influence, impact and reach people. The church is the Body of Christ in our here and now.
Read 1 Corinthians 12
(here's couple snippets from verses in that chapter)
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
18 …our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
(here's couple snippets from verses in that chapter)
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
18 …our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
We’ve EACH been put together with one another in order to function as the body of Christ in this world! We each have a part to play, a role to fulfill, a function to accomplish.
This isn’t about (sameness) uniformity, but it is a UNITY on display that speaks strong for God, His good and His ways, despite our diversity.
Togetherness is our witness
This isn’t about (sameness) uniformity, but it is a UNITY on display that speaks strong for God, His good and His ways, despite our diversity.
Togetherness is our witness
A community following Jesus putting a UNITED love on display is a powerful force and statement to the love of Christ!
QUOTE:
For the watching world, we ourselves serve proof that God is alive. We form the visible shape of what he is like. -Philip Yancey
Oneness > Sameness
WE > ME
QUOTE:
For the watching world, we ourselves serve proof that God is alive. We form the visible shape of what he is like. -Philip Yancey
Oneness > Sameness
WE > ME
IF YOU'RE NEW:
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you!
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you!
REMINDER: WE DO NOT HAVE SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE NEXT WEEKEND FEBRUARY 2ND. we will be serving together in the morning via Serve Sunday and then invite you to enjoy the 'big game' with friends and family that evening. Bryan is giving the details tonight for Serve Sunday at the end of service and watch Social Medial channels this week for further details. We will return to normal SUNDAY NIGHT services at 5PM on FEBRUARY 9TH
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Thank you for financially & faithfully partnering with us! You can give here, online or easily within our app on your phone or tablet.
http://elem.cc/give