The Doctrine of Church

00:00 Thank you dear pastor for leading us in a time of worship. Can we do the confessions together? I believe in the almighty God our father and creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ God and my savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He suffered, died and rose again. He ascended into heaven. He shall soon come again. I believe in God the Holy Spirit who worshiped and my guide. I believe in holy fellowship, faithful giving, and service to God in this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have and I can do what it says I can do. Today, as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I am blessed, healed, anointed for a holy and victorious living, I will never again be the same in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. You may be seated in God's presence. And as you're seated, you will find a booklet on your

01:03 chair. If you haven't found a booklet on your chair, just raise your hands. One of the volunteers will reach out to you with the booklet. But if you found the booklet, it's fine. All those who watching online, the booklet is there on the description. You can just download the booklet and you can participate with us. Amen. What a beautiful morning to worship our Lord. You know, so amazing that today we're going to learn from God's word. We're not learning a myth. We're not learning some story, some history. We're learning God's holy word. And God's word stands strong. God's word stands through every time, every civilization. His word doesn't change. Amen. What a privilege that we have that we can learn from his word. And his word brings changes in our life. His word transforms our life. His word can do the impossible things in our life. Amen. Hallelujah. [applause] So pay attention as you learn God's word. Amen. All right. Today we're going to learn about the church. We are the church. Amen. We're going to learn about

02:07 the doctrine of the church. Okay. So the doctrine of the church like biology, it's called as ecclesiology. Okay. There are a few Korean and Japanese car names written in this. Okay. Today you'll find them. Pastor Danny makes fun of me when one of the names in this is there. We have a fun laugh on this. Okay. [snorts] So, the doctrine of the church is what the church is, why God called the church into existence and how to live out the calling of the church. Church is not just a building, denomination, institution or just a Sunday gathering that we have come here today. Church is a community formed by the gospel. Okay. Church, we are a community that is formed by the gospel. What is the gospel? people who are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, not born in a Christian family. It is a community that is formed by the gospel where people are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, united to Christ, and brought together

03:09 by the Holy Spirit. Amen. So, while our relationship with God is personal, it was never meant to be private. What does that mean? that God's saving work was forming a people in Christ of different cultures, generations, backgrounds and social groups. We are brought into one new humanity. You know that's the beauty about it. This church has different colors, different cultures. You have all the way you know our pastor says from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and way beyond and we are still together in one place. Why? We are united in Christ. Amen. The blood that we have is the blood of Jesus in us. That is what runs in our body. Amen. All right. So we are formed into one community. So the Christian life is not simply Jesus and me. The Christian life we're talking about is a life in Christ with his people. You're meant to be with your people, your group of people through the Holy Spirit. Why? For the sake of the world to see that there is a God that lives in

04:12 you. Okay. Can we read the second paragraph last line? Okay. We cannot Christian life without belonging to the church. Let's read it again. We cannot fully live the Christian life without belonging to the church. You have to belong where you believe. You can't just say I believe in Jesus. I don't need to go to church. No, you're not living a full Christian life. God created the church so that you can belong there. And when do you belong there? Not only on first Sunday of the month, not only on the last Sunday of the month or second Sunday or the third Sunday, whenever you feel convenient to go, you need to belong. Whenever the church has something to pray, worship, Bible study, anything to serve, you need to belong. >> Don't wait for only special moments of Easter, Good Friday or Christmas or New Year. No, first day of the year I want to give to the Lord. Give the 365 days of the year to the Lord.

05:13 >> Amen. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. >> So you understood? So you cannot fully live a Christian life without belonging to the church. For those who are sitting on your sofas and your bed, if you're having breakfast, you know, one day actually you know it so happened during the me message I told you're sitting there and you're cutting your nails. Okay? And I forgot about it and I just said stop cutting the nail. I just said that evening service one sister came to me and she was guilty. She said pastor I was cutting my nail today morning when you I didn't want to make her feel guilty. So you're not only participating online but make sure that you belong to this community. You're not meant to be alone in that room. You mean to be with this community. Okay. All [snorts] right. So when you look at ecclesiology or the doctrine of the church, some essential question it's asked is what is this church? What is its nature and mission? Why does following Jesus require belonging to his people? And how does

06:16 the church participate in God's redemptive purpose in the world? So that's what we're going to look to. Lord Jesus said who is the head of the church? He said can we read that in the fifth paragraph or fourth paragraph? I will >> and the gates of hell. Who is building the church? It belongs to him. He's building the church and he says, "I will build my church. I will build each one of your lives." Who is the church? We have come to a building. We have come to this place. But God is not building. We have to build this building. But God is going to build your life. >> Amen. >> And the Bible said Jesus says, "And the gates of hell will not prevail against it." That means your progress, your growth, your increase, your prosperity for you to grow with whatever God has planned, your God's plan on your life, God's purpose on your life, nothing in hell can stop it. >> And I like, okay, you want to give the Lord a hand of praise [applause]

07:19 and it says the gates of hell. When there is a gate, it is not a offensive weapon. It is a defensive weapon. That means the gates of hell will not prevail against anything to progress your life. [snorts] It cannot stand in the way of what God's plan, his mission for your life. >> Amen. So, who is building your life? Amen. All right. All right. So, he's the one who builds, leads, loves, and gave himself to the church. Let's read the last uh thing on the first page. To understand the church is to >> God's presence. So you can't be a lonely person as a believer. You have to belong to a place. So if there's one thing that you have to take from today, it's not only important to believe in Christ, you know need to belong where Christ has placed you. Amen. That means not anonymous. Okay? It means you should be part of everything that the church is doing.

08:21 Okay? Next page. What is the beginning of the church? When did the church begin? The church did not begin because apostles made a decision okay now we are Christians let's just start a church you know and then they established an organization absolutely no it is not an arrangement because okay Jesus has spoken all these things so let's just preserve what he has spoken so because of that they started a church no it is God himself who intended to gather a people who would know him god created you and me so that we would know him >> he already knows us, right? But he wants you to know him. He wants you you to love him. He wants you to worship him under his rule and bear witness to his purposes in the world. So you're living in this world to bear God's uh witness to God's purposes in this world. Amen. Okay. So church is not a human initiative of some shared beliefs or religious practice. No,

09:23 church [snorts] is a community called into existence by God. It didn't start, you know, as something okay fine, you know, uh uh okay, now that we all are a group together, let's start a WhatsApp group. No, no, no. Church started way long back. It was in the mind of God when he created you. Amen. Through the saving work of Christ, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. So let's read that uh just before envisioned by God that paragraph there. So church is envisioned by >> established by Christ >> and empowered by the Holy Spirit. >> You see? All right. So what does it that's why Psalm 103 there's a beautiful scripture. It says know that the Lord he is God. It's not there here. And the scripture say know that the Lord he is God. We are his. We belong to him. We are the sheep of his pasture. This is how the psalmist write. So envisioned by God, church is envisioned by God. What

10:25 does that mean? God has always desired people who would belong to him. His redemption purpose when humanity fell his redemption purpose was you know unfolded through Abraham and his descendants and he chose Israel as a treasured possession and called them to live as a people who would be devoted to him to make his name known among the nation. But what happened? Israel's continuous repeated unfaithfulness, you know, could not provide that path. But God did not cancel the plan. See, I love something about God. Because something didn't work, God does not change his plan. Because something he could not get through with some people does not mean does not change his plan. Because you committed a sin, God does not cancel his love for you. He still gives you chances, opportunities for you to change because you disobeyed God. He's not saying from now on I will never think about you. No, he's still waiting. I love how the scripture says that, you know, he is slow to anger,

11:28 but he's abounding in love. He stretched out his hand in love, but he's also slow to anger. Amen. All right. So he did not cancel God's purpose and his plan moved towards fulfilling it through Jesus Christ. That is why through Christ Jesus God gathered a people. That's why we are here when we come here to worship Jesus. Why are we worshiping the Lord Jesus? That God's redemptive plan to bring us to him is through Christ Jesus. That's why we worship him. Amen. And we gathered here and our identity is no longer determined by what ethnicity you come from, what is the nationality you are, what culture you are, what social status you are. Do you hear these questions in the church? Do you hear any of the volunteers in the church? Which cast do you come from? Nothing. Because when you are here, you're under one name, Jesus. >> [applause]

12:36 >> culture or social status. But you your identity is determined by one simple fact and truth, faith in Christ Jesus. >> The only question you get to hear, brother, are you a believer? That is the only thing that you get to hear here. Are you a believer? You're born again? You're baptized? Are you going to a prayer group? These are the questions that we we don't ask which name where which family background you belong to are you lower cast upper cast none of these things you get to hear because the reason church exists and why we are here together our identity is faith in Christ Jesus >> that's it >> amen so I I've written something faith is the color of the church hope is the culture of the church and love is the language of the churchmen >> amen and The greatest is love. If the language is right, everything else will stand. Amen. All right. So, Peter describes in page three, Peter describes this church as a chosen people, a royal

13:38 priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession. You are God's special. Amen. All right. So, the church is not an afterthought. Church did not start as an afterthought like somebody got enlightened then they started one community they started one group and they started one you know movement no no church did not start like that church did not start you know because Jesus died now all the disciples formed a group no church was already a thought in God's mind when he created you get what I'm saying church did not start after Jesus died yes birthday of the church is there but church already started in the mind of God. It was his intention to start a church. Amen. All right. When is the birthday of the church? Pentecost is the birthday of the church. What does that mean? Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter. Okay. The 50th day after Easter is Pentecost where the disciples

14:42 gathered together and Jesus told them, "Wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be my witnesses. On that day was the birthday of the church. And how did the church start? How did the church start? You see it so beautifully. Three signs accompanied this Holy Spirit's coming. A church without the Holy Spirit does not celebrate the church that Christ has ordained. I'll say that again. A church without the Holy Spirit does not ordain the church that Christ has ordained actually. Okay. So the church started with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Three signs you see of the spirits coming. There was a sound of a mighty rushing wind. Tongues of fire were on the disciples on the believers and they started speaking in other tongues. Okay. The wind speaks of the Holy Spirit's lifegiving power. Okay. The tongue speaks of God's holy presence. And when they spoke in different languages,

15:44 tongues, it became a visible sign that gospel is def destined for every people, every language. It's not meant only for a few. That is why we believe in a large church. Imagine if Jesus think about this. What if Jesus said only 20 people I need in heaven. No, 200 is enough. I am so glad that God included me in his salvation plan because God desires that his people would belong to him. That is why we don't have a maximum number for a church. Minimum number is 3,000 people. Our pastor says that that's how it started. Minimum starts from 3,000 and then that is why as a church we believe as extensively large we should grow and God will make us intimately strong. >> Amen. >> We are meant to grow. We are meant to populate heaven and plunder the hell. >> We are not supposed to be satisfied with

16:48 people just standing out. We more people should stand. More people should come. Why? It's not because we are growing a community. We are doing what the Bible tells us to speak about Jesus so that everyone could know and belong to the church. Amen. You know when I came to this church there were 5000 people but I'm so happy. I'm not saying no we have to go back to 5000 people. I'm so happy to see that we are able to extend grow because that is what God's plan is. Amen. All right. So the Christian community is born as a spiritfilled worshiing and missionary community. So the church is born out of a spiritfilled worshiing community. That's why when we come here your pastor says sometimes lift your hands and worship the lord. You know worship him in spirit and in truth. That is the worship that the holy spirit requires us. Okay. And though we have so much of colors and different pattern, diversity

17:51 is not an obstacle for the unity of the church. Because we are diverse does not mean there's no unity. We are all united here. We are all united here. We are sitting here only with one thing. We are united in Christ. That is what and see how powerful that is. In an apartment group, one decision to make holy is very difficult. One person says one thing, 10 people will say another thing. But here when we speak, since we are united in Christ, we're able to see things achieve. That is the power of the unity that we have in Christ. Amen. All right. Are you enjoying the message? Is it okay? All right. So, we're not living a spiritual experience, okay? Christian life. It's about a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread. Okay. Prayer, generosity, and mission. Let's go to page number four. Okay. The church is the people gathered by

18:54 Christ's saving work and sent to participate in his mission. Next one. Empowered by the spirit. Before that, you know, empowered, established by Christ. So Christ is the one who built the church. Okay? He's the one who is the lord, head, and foundation of the church. He brought a new way to the church empowered by the spirit. The Christ, the church was brought to life by the coming of the Holy Spirit which I already mentioned to you. Okay? So that we will be bold. That's why you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You need to ask the Holy Spirit. If you're not filled with the Holy Spirit in your prayer time, I say, "Holy Spirit, come and fill me. I want to have the experience of the early church. I don't want to be a cold Christian. I don't want to be a traditional Christian. I want to be a spiritfilled Christian. as a spiritful church. That is exactly how it started. So I can be a bold witness. I can be a worshiing witnessing community. Amen. All right. Next page number five, we come to the nature of the church. What is the nature of the church? What is the church supposed to be? All right. It is not defined by what happens when people gather every Sunday.

19:57 Okay? It's much richer picture what the church is meant to be. In the New Testament, you find two important words to understand the nature of the church. Number one, ecclesia and the second one coonia. These are not Japanese cars or Korean cars. Okay, that's where we have fun. All right, elesacia and coonia. The church is an ecclesia. What does that mean? A people called and gathered. So the Greek word ecclesia means assembly or gathering. It refers to people who have been called together as God's people. The emphasis is not a place. The emphasis is on the people. We have come to a place. But the meaning of the word eklesia is the people. Okay? The church exists because Christ calls his people to himself into a new community. And we all have a common Lord, one Lord, one faith and a common calling. We might relate with God in different ways because God has a beautiful I love every

21:00 time when I think about God on this front. I just really love God is like an ice cream with different flavors. You're still enjoying the same thing but he can relate to you in different flavors. There's no flavor that will not hit you. There's nobody in this place who say no I didn't get to taste the right one. You can taste God and see that he is good. >> Amen. All right. Okay. All right. Page number six. Okay. What are the characteristics of ecclesia? Okay. We are called by Christ. What does that mean? We belong to Jesus before we belong to church. That means first we belong to Jesus. We don't belong to the Christian community first. We belong to Jesus first and then we belong to we are gathered in the same. Why are we here? We're not here for tradition. We're not here for business. We're not here for you know fun. We are here to worship,

22:02 pray, learn, communion, fellowship, mutual encouragement. Third, we are shaped by the word. How is our life shaped every week? We are shaped by the word. The scripture is what gives our beliefs. The scripture is what gives the values. The scripture is what gives the character and the way of life. The holy bible this is what shapes our beliefs and our character. Okay. We are ordered as a community. That means the church has leaders. You see pastors, prayer group leaders. There are so many leaders and they have responsibilities. There are spiritual gifts and there's a structure that enables the church to function faithfully. Then we are distinct from the world. We are not like the world. We may live in the world but we do not belong to the world. Our way of living is different. Our way of living is holiness, love, justice, generosity, forgiveness, faithfulness. This is what we practice. We are sent on a mission. What does it mean? That God has called us to make disciples and bear witness to who Jesus is. So, Ecclesia reminds us that church is not a place to

23:08 attend. It is a people whom we belong and among whom we all have a calling. Okay. Page number seven, churches coonia, [clears throat] a community of shared beliefs. If ecclessia means who we are as a gathered people, coonia describes how we are to live with one another. That is the most difficult part. Sometimes living in a group of four in a family itself sometimes is difficult. But the Bible is saying we have to live with one another in peace. How? Through Christ. When you take Christ out of a community, you will have all the problems. That is why in our church, there's only one thing we left. Jesus. This church is Christ. It belongs to Christ. When you take Christ out of a community and you bring all the traditions, every problem you will have. But when you keep Christ in the community, everything is drawn from that. Amen. >> All right. So, coonia means fellowship.

24:12 Okay. It's not just a social interaction spending time together in front of the canteen. It's an idea of sharing. We are participating partnership. Partnership is not business partners and all that. That's not what it mean. Partnership. We connect with the church and we serve the church. We have communion in the church. Okay. So, it's a shared life. We have been united with Christ. Okay. Let's go to what are the characteristics of Coonia. Number one, belonging. We are members of God's household. You are a member in this house. Okay. And we belong to one another. Okay. Two, we have shared life. What does it mean? We carry one another's burdens. We celebrate one another's victories. You know, one of the beautiful things when we go and celebrate uh a housewarming, nobody is jealous you why you got this house. We are so happy. You should see sometimes prayer groups, they are so happy to see somebody else's house get a house. That is so beautiful. You should be jealous and envious how they got why they got ch not good.

25:17 I have seen people so happy. What a beautiful house here you've got. I don't know what's inside that. I don't know. But [laughter] no, no, no. Our people are good. You know why? We are not envious or jealous. What he's done for others, he will do it for you also. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. He's not a partial God. He knows to bless you at the right time. You will have your blessing. Amen. >> Hallelujah. Okay. Okay. Mutual care. We encourage. We pray. We forgive. We bear with another server others. Page number eight. We participate. Every believer has a place in this church and a contribution to make. You're not here to come warm the chair and go back just like that anonymous. No, you're called to contribute. Why? Because God the spirit has given you different each person sitting here has different spiritual gifts for the common good. Next unity and diversity. I like that. Language, culture, generation, education, profession, background do not have the power to divide those who are

26:21 united in Christ. Amen. I like how our pastor says, you know, unity does not mean we all are wearing the same uniform. Though we wear different uniforms, we can still be united. >> Amen. All right. Presence. We are meant to be present for one another both in joy and suffering. Okay. So, Eklesia says we are God's people called and gathered by Christ. Coonia says because we belong to Christ, we belong to one another. Page number nine quickly. All right. Spiritual practices of the church or the ordinance of the church. Okay. The church is the fruit of the gospel. Life, death, and resurrection and ascension through what Jesus did. Christ accomplished what sinful humanity could never accomplish. So, he dealt with our sin. He reconciled us to God. He defeated death, opened the way into God's presence. This is the good news that we preach. The good news that we preach is not come

27:23 to Jesus, you'll be blessed. Come to Jesus, you'll be healed. No, no, no. The good news according to the Bible, the gospel is that he dealt with your sin. He reconciled you to God, defeated death, and open the way into God's presence. That is the gospel that we've preached. Yes, he's a God who heals. He's a God who can change your situation. But the gospel is what he did for us on the cross. Amen. And gave us the hope of eternal life. So the church is the community created by this gospel that we just spoke right now. Okay? So from this gospel that you'll find the church has two practices that we constantly do because this was given to the church. One is water baptism. Second is holy communion. Okay let's go to water. Both these expressions of water baptism and holy comm communion are visible expressions of our inward faith continually reminding us what Christ has done. Okay let's come to baptism. Jesus commanded. Some everybody say Jesus commanded.

28:26 >> Jesus commanded. >> In Matthew chapter 28 he says 8:20 you know go and make disciples baptizing them in the name of the father son and the holy spirit. Jesus was not giving a suggestion. He was not giving an opinion. What do you think? Should they get baptized? My idea is baptism. Do you have another opinion? Jesus commanded and said all those who believe must be baptized. Baptism is not an option. It is a priority of the faith that you believed in the gospel. The first step of believing in the gospel of Christ is to get baptized. For those who are not yet baptized, it is the first step of your faith in Christ. If you didn't know, this is the first thing to do. All right? So baptism is a command. That means all those who believe in the gospel were baptized and then they were added to the church. So baptism is an outward expression of your

29:30 inward response to the gospel. Okay? You're identifying yourself with Christ. The baptism water does not save you. Jesus saves you. Baptism is not what brings faith. Faith leads you into baptism. That is the difference between traditional baptism and adult baptism. I have a picture I have two pictures in my house. One picture is when I was baptized when I was 6 months old and I have another picture when I was baptized when I was 13 years old. The 6 months old I'm crying not because you know I'm Lord I'm I really love you Lord. Thank you for saving me Lord because my parents left me. They were standing far away and somebody else was handling me. First 13 years nothing changed in life. Traditional child Baptist nothing changed. There was no faith. Then at the age of 13 I got baptized not

30:33 because my parents were Christians, not because you know I'm supposed to. I got baptized because I had faith in Christ. From that day, everything changed. Amen. So that's the baptism that the Bible is talking about. Next, holy communion. Holy Communion, Lord's Supper is instituted by Jesus. Before crucifying, he told, "Take the bread and the cup." He commanded his disciples to continue the practice in remembrance of them. Do this in remembrance of me. So when we take communion, we are not doing memorial service here. Where's are you? He died. It's sad. We're remembering once in a while. You know, we're not recalling, oh God. Some, you know, the beautiful thing about biblical remembrance of the communion is when you think about what Jesus said it, you're remembering and reflecting how [snorts] that communion impacts your present. >> Amen. >> Right now, how it impacts you're not some memory somewhere you're thinking and then after you go back. know what happened on the cross has the power to

31:37 effect even today in each one of our lives. Amen. So how do you approach how do you approach this communion? Come with faith. Come with repentance. Come with reconciliation and come with a renewed commitment to Christ. That is why next Sunday when we celebrate, we also examine ourselves. We celebrate what Christ did for us. We also put ourselves through an exam. Lord, am I right? God, is there anything that is not pleasing to you? Lord, change me. And the truth is how the holy communion, the blood of every other blood when it falls on the ground dies. Only the blood of Jesus still speaks every time we have the communion. >> Hallelujah. Come on, give the Lord a hand of praise. Hallelujah. Let's go to page number 12. The mission of the church. This is my I finished the main part. So now it goes faster. What is the mission of the church? Two things. great commandment and the great commission. This is the framework of understanding what is the mission. Okay. And this mission is not impossible. It

32:39 is very much possible because we have Christ. Okay. So what is the great commandment? Shall we read that scripture there? Jesus replied, "Love the all your soul." And this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your >> all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. Let's look at the great commission. What does it say? Therefore, go and baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I'm with you always to the very so the five-fold missions of this page number 13. Number one, love god. Okay, these two the great commandment and commission we put it in pastor Danny has put it in nice fivefold mission. Okay, number one love god love god is worship. Okay. Second, love your neighbor. It is to serve ministry. Third, go and make disciples. That is your evangelism. Baptize them. That's your fellowship.

33:44 Teach them to obey. Making disciplehip. So, love God with all your heart. Worship is not just coming on a Sunday singing a few songs. No, it is a whole person's response of who God is and what he has done. Why do we worship? First thing, for who God is in your life. Second, because of what he did for you on the cross. And third, then we thank him for every blessing and everything. It's not the other way. We worship God for who he is. So every time when you come to the church, you might be in a bad mood, good mood, things are well, things are not well. But when we worship God, we say, "God, you are still God in my life. Thank you for what you did for me on the cross. Lord, thank you. I'm still standing here. I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for you, Lord." When you have that perspective, you will know how to handle every situation that brings you down. When you don't have that perspective, you will complain, criticize and compare. Amen. Today, change that perspective. Amen. Love God with all your heart. Worship. Okay. Next. All right. We praise, we pray, we scripture

34:46 person page number 14. Okay. But worship also extends to everyday life. [snorts] Offering our bodies to God. Not only on Sunday morning worship, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday becomes easy. But Monday becomes hard. Monday is when you should give God the best praise. The first day you gave God on Sunday. Second day you're starting your mission in the world. Worship God. Amen. Love your neighbor as yourself. It is ministry. Okay, you already understand. It is for caring for people, helping poor people, vulnerable. Okay? Visiting the sick, supporting families in difficult times, counseling those who are hurting, standing for what is right, being generous, meeting the needs of our community. Now, do all of this with one word, wisdom. Don't go overboard and then after come back crying saying, "Pastor, I helped that person, that person did." Sometimes serving can be thankless job. Don't serve so someone can thank you. I

35:52 always say this, I believe how our church thinks about it. When you serve God, your record is in heaven and your reward is from heaven. Leave it there. But serve with wisdom. Don't go overboard. Okay. Next, go and make disciples. Evangelism. You I already told you you're bearing witness not for your personal testimony. You're bearing witness to Jesus testimony of his life, his death, his resurrection. and saving work. All right? So, you become a witness in your homes, in your friendships, workplaces, communities, neighborhoods, and every sphere of life. Wherever you are, you're called to be a witness for this gospel of what Jesus did. Amen. And you share your personal testimony how God changed your life, too. All right, let's go to page number 16. Baptize them. I already told you what baptize. Meaningful fellowship requires you to belong somewhere. Not just being baptized. You belong to the community. Get involved in a small group

36:55 where a place where you build your relationship like a prayer group. Study the scriptures, pray, share burdens, encourage one another. And there's also food. There are people who come to the prayer group only for food. You come for food, no problem. But come for the other parts of the thing. You require you know everything. So next is serving teams. Find out what is the gift God's given each one of you and start serving in the church. Don't just come go and serve somewhere outside. It's first your gifts first you should use in God's presence because when it has the touch of God's presence, it will multiply in the place where you are. Amen. I'll say that again. When you use your gifts and talents in God's presence, then how it reflects outside also will have a different meaning. Amen. >> All right, let's go. Teach them to obey. All right, teach disciplehip. Okay, make disciples of Jesus, not yourself. I say that again. Make disciples of

38:03 All right. Now, this is where God's given you certain gifts. Okay? And you're here to help people be more like Jesus. And here sometimes the problem is when we are trying to make disciples. We have this thing of becoming a mentors to somebody controlling them. You're not called to control them. You're here to shepherd them and get out of the way and let them connect with Jesus. You're not here to tell which dress you should wear tomorrow, pastor. Which dress I should wear tomorrow? Pastor which fridge should I buy? Only if the pastor says only pastor which boy should I marry? Which girl should I marry? You can ask suggestion. You can ask advice. But disciplehip is not controlling you. You know mentorship is to make a person better. Disciplehip is much deeper. Is to make a person like Jesus. That is what the Bible's talking about. All right. Let's go. Seven biblical metaphors of the church very quickly. Number one, we are called

39:06 as a body of Christ. Okay, we belong to one body. Christ is the head. Second, we are a temple of God. God's presence dwells in us also in the gathering that we are are in. His holy spirit is there. How we treat our community is very important. That is what is important. We are the bride of Christ. The church metaphors are it's like the images. Not one image can say the church completely. So this is giving you a picture of different images of the church. Bride of Christ. Christ is the groom and we are the bride. That is why please do not misuse the bride. Please do not make a mockery of the bride. Don't manipulate the bride. Don't do all these things because the bridegroom will come. He won't be happy. Don't in the name of money, in the name of this, don't manipulate. And you bride focus only Jesus. Jesus is your groom. Don't get involved with side.

40:10 Jesus is your groom. What is did the groom send that person? Ask. Okay. We are called as the flock of God where God is the good shepherd. He's not the celebrity man. He's a good shepherd. Shepherd takes care of the sheep. He's with the sheep. Okay. Okay. He brings comfort to believers. He is the building of God. Church is the building of God. We are being built. Christ is the foundation and we are being built together. He is the vine. We are the branches. That means we cannot be fruitful without Christ. Seventh, we are the family of God. We are God where this metaphor provides that we are a strong foundation for belonging and fellowshipping with one another. All right, let's go to the last bit. Okay, so what is a Christian living all about? It's formed by God, centered on Christ, and indwelt by the spirit. You see the work of trinity here. A church is complete. A church is what a church

41:15 is when the father, the son, and the holy spirit according to the Bible is involved in the church. That is the true church where you you know because it was God's idea to start the church. It was Christ who established the church and the church is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Amen. So God has preserved a conclusion. He's preserved to be belong to him and we begin to witness his truth. While the world cannot destroy the church, there's only one problem. Sometime the church can lose its power when we stop living like Jesus Christ. That is the only way church loses power. Nothing will destroy this church. Nothing can destroy the Bible said Jesus said it. The only way we can lose power is when we stop living like Christ. Amen. All right. So the question here is not about whether church will survive. The question is will we faithfully participate in what God is building. Amen. Let's close eyes look to go. Heavenly Father, we want to thank you

42:17 for this beautiful morning and we thank you God for your word. We pray father God today that Lord you'll help us oh God to honor what you instituted, what you started. Church is your idea. Church is where you want us to belong. And today help us oh God to commit oursel to belong to where you have planted us to be faithful where you have planted us and to be fruitful where you've planted us. And God help us to trust you. Help us, oh God, to be people who would not just attend but participate, contribute, oh God, according to how you have called us to be. Thank you once again. Bless your people. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Let's put hands together. Welcome our dear pastor. Thank you, Pastor Jenny, for that beautiful Bible study. You all enjoyed God's word today. The church is not just a place we believe, it's a place we belong. Amen. All right. This week, uh, thank you. Thank you so much for that beautiful study, Pastor Jimmy. This week

43:21 on, uh, oh, first of all, thank you, dear pastor. What a lovely time of worship. Thank you for blessing us today. Thank you. [clears throat] Uh, this week on 30th Wednesday, it's the last day of the month. So midnight [music] we are having prayer starting at 10:30 p.m. So 10:30 to 12:00 on Wednesday night we will meet together in prayer and that night we will start our fasting prayer with communion. Okay the midnight [music] we'll start with communion. October 1 2 3 Thursday Friday Saturday we're going to have morning 10:30 and evening 6:30 we are going to spend some time [clears throat] worshiping studying God's word and in prayer I just had a strong inspiration to spend 3 days in fasting and prayer so I'm making [snorts] this announcement devil will do everything to stop you let's see who succeeds in our life I want to welcome all of you who have come to this church for the first time thank you for coming today God bless you abundantly. May God's favor be on you.

44:25 Uh before you leave today, if you will step into the guest launch which is outside and give us your details. Some of us are waiting there to meet you, greet you, treat you, pray with you, and collect your details so we can keep in touch with you. But thank you for coming. And if you're not going to another uh Bible-based spiritful church, I want to welcome you to keep coming here [music] regularly and uh grow in the gra belong to God's family over here and grow in the grace of God. This booklet you can distribute it to others. Okay? You don't have to keep it like a secret and all. No [music] problem. Um but at the last page there are some announcement. We'll run through that quickly. Every Wednesday there is chapel service at 700 p.m. So this is happening in the temple of God ground. Uh those who like to attend a weekday midweek prayer join there. Teens church is happening every second Saturday. This all teenagers. Teenagers means 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. If your chronological age falls in

45:30 that then uh that is biological age falls in that then [music] you can participate otherwise you can come with your children drop them there you can stay out don't you don't go inside you stay out pray for your children while they're attending the prayer fasting prayer is given there then 10th October Saturday at 11:30 child dedication is happening this is for infants if you have a newborn that you want to dedicate to the Lord Lord, then please call up the church office and let them know so they'll prepare the documents for your child dedication uh of your baby. And then the same no Saturday uh 17th October at 4 p.m. those who want to be members there is membership class. Those announcements are at the back. I just thought I'll read it out today. [music] Shall we stand? We'll sing a song. We'll pray and close. Would [music] you be free from the burden of sin? As far in the blood, oh power in the blood

46:33 you or evil [music and singing] a victory. There's wonderful power. Come on [music] church. Oh there is power wonder [music] working power in the blood. Hallelujah. Thank you Lord. [music] There is power [singing] in the [music] precious. Would you be [music] free from your passion and pride? There's power. [music] Yes, there is. Come for a cleansing to Calary side. There's [music] wonderful [singing] power in the blood and there is power far power [music] wonder working power in the blood [music] of the lamb. Oh there is power far power far power

47:36 far power far power far power far power far power far power far power far power wonder [music] working power. [music] Would you be wider? Yes. Brighter than snow. There's power in the blood. Power. [music] Thank you, Lord. In its lifegiving flow. There's wonderful power in [singing] the blood. [music] And there is power. Come on, church. Shout it out with faith. There is [music] power in the blood of the lamb. Oh, there is power [music] on the working power. Yes. [music] Would you do [singing] service for Jesus your king? There's [music] power in the blood power. Would you [music] lift daily [singing]

48:38 his praises to sing this wonderful power? [music] Amen. Oh, there is power, power, wonder working power in [music] the blood of the lamb. There is power. [music] Power wondering power in the precious [singing] blood [music] of the lamb. Go ahead. This is our time to lift up our voice, [music] worship him for Sunday. Oh, the power of [music] the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus that cleanses [music] every sin, that heals every sickness, that breaks every bondage, that turns every curse

49:43 into a blessing, [music] that will break every power of witchcraft, that will destroy every power of territorial [music] spirits in the mighty name of Jesus. By the speaking blood of Jesus. By the blood of the [music] sprinkling of the new covenant. By the holy blood of Jesus. By the blood that overcome every power of the enemy. Come on church, lift up your voice and praise him. [music] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In the mighty name of Jesus, every bondage be broken by the blood of Jesus. And the yoke shall be destroyed because [music] of the anointing. And the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Every controlling yolks whether they are habits or bondages be broken by the blood [music] of Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

50:49 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh, we thank you Lord for your anointing. We thank [music] you Lord for your grace. We thank you Lord for the new strength. We thank you Lord for your [music] mighty touch. We thank you for the prophetic grace, the prophetic grace in the mighty name of Jesus. [music] Let doors open for your children. Let the shut doors of opportunities open up by the blood of Jesus. [music] Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. Father, this beautiful morning we want to thank you for the name above every other name. The joy of worshiping [music] the name of Jesus. We thank you that we belong to you. We thank you Lord that you have [music] chosen us while we don't deserve it. You have chosen us in your mercy, in your grace that we should belong [music] to you. Thank you for speaking

51:51 to us with such clarity, Lord, that you have called us as the ecclesia, [music] as the chosen ones. You have called us to have that [music] fellowship with you and with other children of yours. And it's our [music] prayer that we will learn to walk in that grace. It's our prayer Lord that we will walk in that success [music] and the authority of your word. Hallelujah. Now Lord, we pray for those who [music] are in this church as first time visitors or guests. We pray that they will go back with your salvation [music] in their life. Lord, we pray for those that are celebrating their birthdays or anniversaries this week. And it's our prayer Lord that their years ahead will be filled with your [music] goodness and your blessings. Master, we pray for those that are traveling. Let your journey mercies go with them. [music] Give them success in their e efforts. Lord, now we pray for some who may have

52:54 gone through a very [music] bad time last week. Maybe there's something that was disastrous for them, a beriement, the [music] loss of a loved one, and they're coming to terms with it. They're trying to cope with the pain. Father, we pray that instead of running away, your grace will help them to run to you and draw strength from you and find comfort in you. >> [music] >> Give them the wisdom, Lord, to come back to you and to see your [music] favor and grace abound on their life that their weeks ahead, months ahead will become stronger, victorious, better, and you will guide them in your faithfulness. Father, now we pray over the tithes, the offerings that we give you from a heart of love. [music] Because everything in our life that is good has surely come from you, [music] master. And as we give back a portion of it in worship, may your blessing be upon it. [snorts] May

53:58 your [clears throat] anointing be upon it. [music] May your goodness be upon it. Father, we speak your blessing on the church. Thank you for your plan and purpose. [music] May the church continue to grow and fulfill your purpose, your plan for the city, [music] for the nation and beyond in Jesus' name. As the servant of the house of God, as a priest over your flock, I bless your people that they will continue to prosper. Doors open up like never before. Irrespective of what happens in the marketplace, let your children see justice. [music] Let them see victory. Let them see new openings. Let them see growth in their spiritual life. Let them walk in your favor and miracles. Let the hand of God be mighty upon them with the favor of God increasing on their life. We thank you Lord for you are faithful and you're able. Dismiss us with your blessings today. [music] In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. and

55:01 the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of our heavenly father and the sweet [music] abiding presence of the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of us from now and forever more. And the people of God [music] said, "Amen." God bless you. Love you. Bye-bye. Heat. Heat. Woo! Heat! [music]

56:35 Heat. Heat.