Home Community Questions A note from the pastors: Sometimes the question comes up, “What’s the vision of the church? Where are we going? What are we doing?” We’d like to take this opportunity to recast our vision and show how HCs are part of what we do. If last Sunday was any indication, we are not a commercial enterprise. We don’t need electricity or PPT to inspire worship. We just need the Word and faithful servants who love the Lord to come together in worship of the Triune God without compromise. The simplicity of last Sunday was a reminder that doing church is simple. The power behind what we do is truth energized by the Spirit. We believe church is simple. We come together in fellowship and worship on Sundays and small groups (HCs). During these gatherings we are to be devoted: to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, to each other, to sharing food and resources, to prayer, and inviting new people into this community. As we do this, we will experience the Lord’s blessing in terms of spiritual joy and conversion growth (in short: edification & evangelism; cf. Acts 2:42-47). In talking with the pastors and elders, we believe our strength is edification and our weakness is evangelism. Thus, the pastors-elders have chosen to focus on evangelism in 2019. This is why we are preaching Matthew; this is why we will have Dare2 Share on February 16 th ; this is why HC questions between now and then have a thrust of prayer and repentance to spur group conversations about why we don’t invite non-believers, and about why we might be stagnant. Questions: Based on Matt. 3:1-12, what is involved in repentance? Is there a connection between “repentance” and “belief”? If the offer of the Kingdom of Heaven began with John (Matthew 3:2) and Jesus (Matthew 4:17), and if it was passed on to the disciples as a mission (Matt. 28:19-20), and if we as an HC group are not seeing conversion growth, then what do we (you and me) need to repent of concerning evangelism? Dare2Share is coming up on February 16 th . Our elders and pastors view this event as a potential catalyst to a harvest at Grace Church. But to bring this about we believe it takes all of us. What might hinder you from participating in D2S? Jesus the KING The Arrival: of the King and His Kingdom Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” BI: The gospel is Jesus’ winnowing fork – within the Kingdom is life; outside the kingdom is death 1) John’s ministry was the beginning of the gospel for Israel, specifically. 2) John confronted the religiously arrogant who were inwardly focused. 3) John speaks about the ministry of the Kingdom & how it relates to you. What do you need to repent of based on this scripture?
4
Embed
Home Community Questions Jesus the KING · 2019-01-14 · Home Community Questions Jesus the KING A note from the pastors: Sometimes the question comes up, “What’s the vision
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Home Community Questions
A note from the pastors: Sometimes the question comes up, “What’s the vision of the church? Where are we going? What are we doing?” We’d like to take this opportunity to recast our vision and show how HCs are part of what we do.
If last Sunday was any indication, we are not a commercial enterprise. We don’t need electricity or PPT to inspire worship. We just need the Word and faithful servants who love the Lord to come together in worship of the Triune God without compromise. The simplicity of last Sunday was a reminder that doing church is simple. The power behind what we do is truth energized by the Spirit.
We believe church is simple. We come together in fellowship and worship on Sundays and small groups
(HCs). During these gatherings we are to be devoted: to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, to each other, to sharing food and resources, to prayer, and inviting new people into this community. As we do this, we will experience the Lord’s blessing in terms of
spiritual joy and conversion growth (in short: edification & evangelism; cf. Acts 2:42-47).
In talking with the pastors and elders, we believe our strength is edification and our weakness is evangelism. Thus, the pastors-elders have chosen to focus on evangelism in 2019. This is why we are preaching Matthew; this is why we will have Dare2 Share on February 16th; this is why HC questions between now and then have a thrust of prayer and repentance to spur group conversations about why we don’t invite non-believers, and about why we might be stagnant.
Questions:
Based on Matt. 3:1-12, what is involved in repentance? Is there a connection between “repentance” and “belief”?
If the offer of the Kingdom of Heaven began with John (Matthew 3:2) and Jesus (Matthew 4:17), and if it was passed on to the disciples as a mission (Matt. 28:19-20), and if we as an HC group are not seeing conversion growth, then what do we (you and me) need to repent of concerning evangelism?
Dare2Share is coming up on February 16th. Our elders and pastors view this event as a potential catalyst to a harvest at Grace Church. But to bring this about we believe it takes all of us. What might hinder you from participating in D2S?
Jesus the KING
The Arrival: of the King and His Kingdom
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
BI: The gospel is Jesus’ winnowing fork – within the Kingdom is life; outside the kingdom is death
1) John’s ministry was the beginning of the gospel for Israel, specifically.
2) John confronted the religiously arrogant who were inwardly focused.
3) John speaks about the ministry of the Kingdom & how it relates to you.
What do you need to repent of based on this scripture?
1) John’s ministry was the beginning of the gospel for Israel, specifically.
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
2) John confronted the religiously arrogant who were inwardly focused.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3) John speaks about the ministry of the Kingdom & how it relates to you.
Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Baptism: 3 kinds in the NT
John’s water Baptism
Jesus’ Spirit-Fire Baptism
Regenerating Salvation- Sanctification
Christian water Baptism
Prepare Israel for Jesus
Testimony of Christians
BI: The gospel is Jesus’ winnowing fork – within the Kingdom is life; outside the kingdom is death
What do you need to repent of based on this scripture?
GRACE CHURCH 10323 28TH AVE SW SEATTLE, WA 98146 (206) 937 -8400 GRACECHURCHSEATTLE.ORG
Dr. Ryan Faust - Senior Pastor [email protected] or his blog: prfaust.wordress.com