- Of identifying American Christians, 60% attend church regularly
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- Of the 40% who do not, they said:
- 37% said church is not essential for their faith and they practice in other ways
- 37% said they dislike the congregation
*67% of New Testament is committed or written for or about church
- Church of Ephesus
- Characteristics
- Mega church
- Famous church
- Wealthy Church
- Problems
*The church was saturated with competing versions of the gospel
*The church chased spiritual experiences over chasing Jesus
*The church began to look no different than the culture
*Simply, the church of Ephesus forgot, or lost trust, in what it meant to follow Jesus, and what the church was meant to be
your Mixtape
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Rewind Your
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
*Improper perspective of the faith leads to an improper perspective of church and worship
Rewind Your
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Rewind Your
*Each one of us has been given a grace and gift appointed by Christ
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
- Sunday morning service is not for evangelism, its for equipping for evangelism
- 1 Corinthians 14:24
- Focus on gifts that build up the church-1 Corinthians 14:12
- Everything must be done to build the church up-1 Corinthians 14:26
Rewind your
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Reflection
Does your perspective need a rewind?
Who in your life do you need to choose to love?
What gifts are you sharing with the church? Has worship become more about you?