MOVEMENT - Part 5

MOVEMENT - NEW PREACHING SERIES

Health, happiness and holistic fulfillment are the unspoken desires for every one of us. Jesus dreamed of building our lives in a “church.” His dream was not about building an institution. His dream is about giving people the systems, relationships and tools for a MOVEMENT; a movement for personal heart-transformation.

Where governments, academia, business and cultural success have failed to transform human hearts, this divine community called the “church” is the singular, commissioned-by-God, organization designed to be the hope to the world.

Church was never to be a merely a building to go to, or corporation to be controlled by, or the spiritual finish line to mark off. The church was to be the central powerhouse for a movement. Church is about leading people through the systems, relationships and tools that transform them at the deepest levels, and thereby transforming marriages, recovering addictions, healing relationships, empowering vocational aspirations, and breathing life into inspired-dreams; giving us a purpose to live… and die for.

When church attenders understand, integrate and apply the functions of this movement, it changes their lives, then they too become the embodiment of the movement to outsiders. This is how we arrive at our commission, to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  If you desire life-change and deep purpose, join us for the entire series. We will MOVE your health, happiness and holistic fulfillment to new heights!   

MATTHEW 16:18-19 NLT (Jesus said) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I WILL BUILD my CHURCH, and all the POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT. 19 And I will give you the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM of Heaven. Whatever you FORBID on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you PERMIT on earth will be permitted in heaven."

CHURCH = EKKLESIA = ASSEMBLY = YOU!

Church was never to be a merely…

  • A building to GO TO,
  • Or corporation to be CONTROLLED BY,
  • Or the spiritual finish line to MARK OFF.

The church was to be the central powerhouse for a movement. Church is about leading people through the systems, relationships and tools that transform them at the deepest levels, and thereby transforming marriages, recovering addictions, healing relationships, empowering vocational aspirations, and breathing life into inspired-dreams; giving us a purpose to live… and die for.

When church attenders UNDERSTAND, INTEGRATE and APPLY THE FUNCTIONS of this movement, it changes their lives, then they too become the embodiment of the movement to outsiders. This is how we arrive at our commission, to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  

 

TODAY'S SERMON NOTES:

1 TIMOTHY 3:15 NIV (Paul said) If I am delayed, YOU WILL KNOW HOW people OUGHT TO CONDUCT themselves in GOD’S HOUSEHOLD, which is THE CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and FOUNDATION of the TRUTH.

 

CHURCH GOVERNMENT:

CHURCH GOVERNMENT is THE SYSTEM

by which DECISIONS ARE MADE in a church;

a description of WHERE AUTHORITY RESIDES.

 

PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT:

The PURPOSE of GOVERNMENT is to LOVE

and SERVE the PEOPLE WELL.

 

UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY:

  1. AUTHORITY requires a SINGULAR HEAD
  2. The AUTHORITY that is given is ANSWERABLE to the one WHO PLACES him/her in that position of AUTHORITY

 

LIFEPOINTE GOVERNANCE:

  • LED/RULED by a PASTOR, DIRECTOR & CAPTAIN system
  • PROTECTED by a BOARD of ELDER-MINISTERS (civil authority)
  • REVIEWED by ACCOUNTANTS

 

CIVIL AUTHORITY STRUCTURE:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pastor

Bishops (Directors)

Deacons (Captains)

Saints/Disciples (Members)

 

QUESTIONS WE WILL ANSWER:

  1. What does the Board of Directors do? Who serves on our Board of Directors?
  2. What is the governing-authority structure for the finances of the church? Do we operate with a church budget? How are budgets decided?
  3. Who sets the pastor’s salary? Who sets the staff salaries? Do we have a methodology for setting salaries?
  4. Does LifePointe prepare for economic downturns with adequate reserves?
  5. What is the status of our capital campaign funds, as well as our plans for acquiring a new campus?
  6. Why do we not have full disclosure of church finances, including all spending decisions, to the church membership?
  7. What happens if the pastor gets into error?
  8. What are the succession plans if something happens to Pastor Patrick?

 

HOW TO APPLY:

  • PRAY for your church leaders
  • PRACTICE trust in God’s ultimate authority
  • PROTECT the culture of the church

 

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 NLT (Paul said) I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to LIVE IN HARMONY with each other. Let there be NO DIVISIONS in the CHURCH. Rather, be of ONE MIND, UNITED in THOUGHT and PURPOSE.

Patrick NorrisComment