I LOVE MY CHURCH - Message Notes 5:31:20

---

MESSAGE NOTES Practical Teaching for Everyday Living I LOVE MY CHURCH Pentecost Sunday Kevin T. Hardy May 31, 2020 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matt. 16:18 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Eph. 3:10-12 PENTECOST is the ____________________________________________________. TWO BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE CHURCH 1. YOU ARE CONNECTED TO ____________________________________________ But now you belong to Christ Jesus... Eph. 2:13 We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Eph. 2:21 •

BEING CONNECTED INCREASES OUR _______________________________

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. •

BEING CONNECTED INCREASES OUR ______________________________

•

BEING CONNECTED INCREASES OUR ______________________________

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1Cor. 12:12-13 2. YOU STAND ON ________________________________________ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, Eph. 2:17-19

•

regardless of where you fall on the socio-economic scale, you are an important part of this church.

•

regardless of your ethnic or cultural heritage—you are an important part of this church.

•

regardless of your past, you are accepted here, and you have something to offer this church.

We are ______________ in the eyes of Jesus Christ. 3. YOU are RESPONSIBLE FOR _____________________________ For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us...His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. Eph. 2:14-15 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death, an our hostility toward each other was put to death. Eph. 2:16