Who We Are - Part 1

Purpose: To remind ourselves who we are together as First Baptist Church, and what it means to Glorify Christ in Worship, Discipleship, and Mission.

1. Glorifying Christ

• • What it isn’t.

• • What it is.

2. Worship

• • What it isn’t.

• • What it is.

The True Church, Making the Gospel Visible

Purpose: faithfully and obediently living out the gospel via the marks of God’s true church

1. A True New Testament Church – The Gospel Made Visible

           Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; 28:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9

          Constituted of Born-Again New Covenant Christians               (John 3:3)

          Confessing Christ Together (Matthew 10:32-33)

           Ecclesia = “gathering”

          His People = His Body = His Church

2. Believer’s Baptism – The Visible Covenant Sign of Knowing Christ &
   Being in His Body

          Romans 6:1-14

          Believer’s Baptism declares Christ as Lord, and brings             the believer into His Church

3. Lord’s Supper – The Visible Renewal Sign of Christ’s People

            1 Corinthians 11:16-34, esp. v. 20

            The Cup of the New Covenant in Christ’s Blood
            (Luke 22:20;1 Corinthians 11:25)

             Baptized Believers Celebrating Salvation Past,                        Present, and Future in the Lord’s Supper

4. Glorifying Christ in Worship, Discipleship, and Mission

          Worship of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
          (John 4:23-24)

          Discipleship of One Another to be faithful followers of
          Jesus Christ (John 8:31-32)

          Mission of Jesus Christ’s Gospel to All the Nations                   (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:44-47)

         A foretaste of God’s blessings here at FBC

Purchased to Proclaim

Luke 4:14-20

2 Premises:

          – Matthew 11:29, 2 Peter 2:2 

          – 1 Peter 1:17-19; 2:9

Conclusion:

1. Proclaim the Gospel at Home
   Deuteronomy 6;1-9

2. Proclaim the Gospel Wherever You Are
   2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1 Peter 3:13-15; Acts 8:1-8

3. Proclaim the Gospel to the Nations
   Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21

Corporate Stewardship

Purpose: Rediscovering our place as God’s Church, for use in the Owner’s Plan

Seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)

The Kingdom is like a master who entrusted servants with his possessions (Matthew 25:14-30)

1. The Earth Is the Lord’s
   Exodus 9:29; Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:24

2. The Church Is the Lord’s
   Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:6, 13-14; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 2:8-10; Revelation 5:9

3. Believers Are the Lord’s
   1 Corinthians 6:11-12, 18-20

Application:

How God’s church Seeks First the Kingdom of God
We ought to see ourselves as God’s People for God’s   
Purpose!

Our FBC By-Laws

Living “the Greats” of Scripture

Glorifying Christ in Worship, Discipleship, and Mission

 Disciplined Stewardship
Matthew 6:16-34

Purpose: Stewardship is a litmus test of where our affections and allegiances lie.

1. Disciplined Self-Denial (Matthew 6:16-18)
   How well do I say, “No” to myself?

2. Disciplined Simplicity (Matthew 6:19-24)
   How content am I?

3. Disciplined Security (Mathew 6:25-34)
   Where do I place my trust and hope?

Spiritual growth comes through the Words and Ways of Christ. Disciplined stewardship will deepen our affections for God. A lack of disciplined stewardship will deepen our affections for the world.

Greater Glory Praying Together

Purpose: seeking God’s will and glory together in prayer

1. Prayer… for All the Nations
    A House of Prayer for All the Nations
    1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 2:8; 46:10
    Isaiah 56:7 & Mark 11:17

2. Prayer… for God’s Glory 
    God’s Will is to Exceedingly Abundantly Bless the 
    Church in Christ
    Ephesians 3:14-21

3. Prayer… for Power to Proclaim    
     Prayer, Proclamation, Persecution
     Acts 1:14; 2:42, 46; 4:18, 24, 29, 31

4. Prayer… Unified for the Gospel  
     Prayer with One Spirit, One Mind, Together for the
     Gospel
     Philippians 1:27

Conclusion:

Biblical Christian Prayer together will unify us under the will and purposes of God for His glory among all nations

Godly Prayer
Matthew 6:5-13

Purpose: Spiritual growth comes through the Words and Ways of Christ. How and how often we speak with the Father will either lead to spiritual health or spiritual disfunction.

1. Pray Intimately (Matthew 6:5-6)

2. Pray Authentically (Matthew 6:7-8)

3. Pray Systematically (Matthew 6:9-13)

Feasting Together

Purpose: To show why expository preaching is essential for the church’s spiritual growth

1. Expository Preaching: How to?

                 Nehemiah 8:8

                 Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4

2. Expository Preaching: Why?

                Jeremiah 36:1-2

                1 Corinthians 1:21-25

                John 10:27; 21:15-17; 1 Peter 2:2

3. Expository Preaching: What it does?

                 2 Chronicles 34:33

                 Acts 6:7; 19:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Words to Live By
(Psalm 1:1-3)

1. Feast On THE Truth. (Psalm 1:1)
       
    What am I feeding myself?

2. Find Your Joy In His Word. (Psalm 1:2a)

                   What am I delighting myself in?

3. Fight the Fight Against Your Sin. (Psalm 1:2b)

                  What am I doing about my sin?

4. Firmly Stand and Bear Fruit. (Psalm 1:3)

                   What kind of tree am I?

Spiritual Growth Through Spiritual Disciplines
1 Peter 2:1-10

Purpose: Spiritual growth comes through the Words and Ways of Christ, resulting in believers being built together by Christ as His Church.

1. Spiritual Growth by Spiritual milk. (1 Peter 2:1-3)

2. Living Stones Built Together by the Living Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

3. The Precious value of the Preeminent Christ. (1 Peter 2:6-8)

4. Possessed by Christ to Proclaim. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Church, Guard the Gospel Deposit!

1 Tim 6:17-21

Purpose: Christians in the household of God, the Church, are guardians of God’s gospel!

1. The Gospel is:

                 Your Salvation, if You Believe

                1 Corinthians 15:1-9

                The Power of God

                 Romans 1:16   

                 1 Corinthians 1:18, 24

                Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

                 Colossians 1:25-29

                 For All Nations

                  Psalm 2

                  Isaiah 49:6

                  Luke 24:44-47

2. God’s Gospel Treasure, Deposited in the Church (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

                 Matthew 6:19-33

                 Matthew 13:44

                 Colossians 2:1-5

3. The Church, Guardians of God’s Gospel (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

                 1 Timothy 3:15-16

                 2 Timothy 1:12-14

God With Us, God In Us
John 16:7-15, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:4-5, 2:4

1. The Holy Spirit is A Person. (John 16:7)

    

2. The Holy Spirit has a Specific Role (John 16:8-15)
   Just as the Son was sent, He is sent

3. The Holy Spirit is God. (Matthew 28:18-20a)
   With the Father and the Son.

4. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God with us and In Us. (Matthew. 28:20b, Acts 1:4-5, 2:4a)
           Old Testament, the Spirit would come and go           New Testament onward, He comes and stays

Living As God’s Household

1 Tim 6:11-16

Purpose: to live as those ready to meet our King!

1. The Pursuits of the Man of God (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
       Flee
       Pursue
       Fight
       Take Hold

2. The Basis of the Charge: God Gives Life to All (1 Timothy 6:13)

3. The Charge: Man of God, Keep the Command (1 Timothy 6:14a)
        Without Spot or Blame

4. Man of God, Be Ready to Meet Your King! (1 Timothy 6:14b-16)