Assignment this week: Read through Ephesians in one sitting (it should take about 30 minutes). As you read keep this Summary of Ephesians in mind: Peace with God, unity, spiritual restoration, our salvation overall - is described within the context of the Body of Christ.
Why do we, Fellowship Baptist Church, exist?
This new sermon series will answer questions like:
What is the church?
Why do we call ourselves “Baptist?”
Why do we sing, pray, and read the Bible so much?
Why does the word “gospel” come up so frequently?
What is church membership?
and many more.
The ultimate goal of this sermon series is:
For each of us individually
to Love Christ more,
to Love the Body more
And Together Grow in holiness, unity, and love
So that Christ is glorified both in us and through us.
This series builds on our Church Mission statement: Worshiping Jesus, Following Jesus, Sharing Jesus, TOGETHER! both theologically and practically.
This week’s central passage is 1 Corinthians 12:12 – For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians is instruction to our church in many areas, including holiness, unity, and love
Three things need to be emphasized as we begin:
• Holiness
1 Corinthians 1:2-3 – To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus...
1 Peter 1:13-17 – ...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct
Holiness carries the idea of “other.”
The one who is holy - is strange. To our world - it just doesn’t make sense.
1 Corinthians 1:18 – the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing
The Gospel is crazy. It doesn’t make sense.
1 Corinthians 3:16 – ...you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
As a believer, you possess the Spirit of God inside you. If that’s not a call to holiness, I don’t know what is.
1 Corinthians 6:11, 19-20 – ...you were sanctified... 19 your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, ... 20 ...so glorify God in your body.
Isaiah 6, Psalm 145, Romans 7, Psalm 22:3
In the death of Christ on the cross - we see His holiness more clearly than anywhere else.
Holiness is not optional. It’s not something that is a advanced-level trait
Ephesians 1:4 ...that we should be holy..
We cannot together be something that we’re not striving toward individually.
Holiness doesn’t just happen.
• Unity
1 Corinthians 1:10-12 – I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Ephesians 2:13-14 – in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
1 Corinthians 3:3 – while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
This a strong correction. Don’t act like the world.
Unity really does wrap around everything else in the church.
Ephesians 4:16 – the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Philippians 1:27 – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, [what does that look like?]: standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
• Love
Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved... as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
1 Corinthians 8-14 is really all about love.
John 13:34-35 – [Jesus commands us to] love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The 47 “One Anothers” in the New Testament are mostly about love.
1 Peter 1:22 – Fervently love one another from the heart
1 Corinthians 14 begins with “pursue love” and then shows us practically what it looks like.
In the Body - our goal should be to edify the other person - not yourself.
When we gather, we should be focused on what’s edifying for the other person
• Why all of this is necessary?
The character of the church is to reflect the character of God.
We are to be holy because God is holy
1 Peter 1:16 – You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Hebrews 12:14 – Strive for .... holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:2 – to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 6:11, 19-20 – you were sanctified... So glorify God in your body.
We are to be Unified because God is One.
To not be unified is to tell a lie about God.
1 Corinthians 12:20 – many parts, yet one body.
We must constantly ask ourselves these questions:
• How am I reflecting holiness?
• How am I contributing to unity?
• How am I showing love?
both in my personal life
and as part of the Body?
Listen to this song, which is a wonderful call to put all of this into action:
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