2020 LIFE & CHURCH REIMAGINED - Part 6

2020 LIFE & CHURCH REIMAGINED

2020 will bring vision and clarity! Decades ago, futurists predicted what the world would look like in this milestone-year in human history. They said we would have self-driving cars, vote electronically from home, depression would be a primary disease, people would live on mars, and that we would work 26 hours a week. Some predictions were spot-on, while others have alluded us. Some of us dreamed of “Jetson’s” lifestyles with robot-maids and travel by spaceships. What will be your 2020 predictions for marriage, parenting, business, and church? Will you be happy this year? Where will you be by the end of this decade? Will the derailing compulsions, addictions and unhealthy patterns still haunt you? As a church, what will be the future? Will we reimagine God’s kingdom in church community? Will we find peace, joy and fulfillment? Will we see ourselves with a futuristic clarity? This year will be the beginning of something special!

TODAY’S MESSAGE

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF

WHEN YOU THINK OF

GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?

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WHAT you think about

WHEN you think about

GOD, LIFE and CHURCH

will DEFINE EVERYTHING else

ABOUT YOU!

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WHAT SHOULD WE THINK OF

WHEN YOU THINK OF

GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?

LOOK FIRST AT JESUS!

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LUKE 4:16–21 TPT JESUS read where it is written (in Isaiah), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has ANOINTED me to be… FREEDOM for the BROKENHEARTED, and NEW EYES for …Then he added, “These Scriptures CAME TRUE TODAY in front of you.”

EPHESIANS 5:25, 27, 29-30, 32 NKJV[The Apostle Paul said]CHRIST also LOVED the CHURCH and gave Himself for her, ... 27 that He might present her to Himself a GLORIOUS [endoxon] CHURCH, NOT having SPOT or WRINKLE or any such thing, but that she should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH. ... 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but NOURISHES and CHERISHES it, just as the LORD [DOES] THE CHURCH. 30 For WE ARE MEMBERS of His BODY, of HIS FLESH and of HIS BONES. ... 32 This is a GREAT MYSTERY, but I speak concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH.

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HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

LOVE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY

TO HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS!

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YOU CAN KNOW

THE CONCEPT OF LOVE

AND NEVER EXPERIENCE

LOVE’S TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING!

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QUESTION:

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ORGANIZE FOR LOVE EXPERIENCES?

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CHURCH - (The Ekklesia )

CHURCH IS AN“ASSEMBLY”

A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN DYNAMIC, INTERDEPENDENT, AND TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIPS,

FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES!

OR

CHURCH IS A BUNCH OF LOVING FRIENDS

WHERE WE GIVE EACH OTHER MIRACLE-HEALING EXPERIENCES!

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QUESTION:

HOW WOULD GOD

ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM

CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL

LOVE EXPERIENCES?

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QUESTION:

HOW WOULD YOU

ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM

CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL

LOVE EXPERIENCES?

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 IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE…  

  • BONDING WORSHIP – LOVE GOD

  • PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – LOVE PEOPLE

  • HEALING SKILLS – GROWING IN LOVE  

  • VOLUNTEER STAFFING – LOVE WITH GIFTS & TALENTS

  • INVITING OUTSIDERS – NEW EXPERIENCES IN LOVE

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HOW THE EARLY CHURCH SAW IT…

ACTS 2:42-47 NIV They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the APOSTLES' TEACHING and to FELLOWSHIP, to the BREAKING OF BREAD and to PRAYER. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed …. 45 They sold property and possessions TO GIVE TO ANYONE who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ATE TOGETHER with glad and sincere hearts, 47 PRAISING GOD and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER daily those who were BEING SAVED.

  • devoted to apostle’s teachings HEALING SKILLS

  • devoted to fellowship” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS

  • devoted to prayers… praising God” – BONDING WORSHIP

  • gave to anyone who had need” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING

  • “…added to their number daily saved” – INVITING OUTSIDERS

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HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL SAW IT…

[Paul said] We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me.

  • “We proclaim Jesus” – INVITING OUTSIDERS

  • admonishing” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS

  • teaching everyone HEALING SKILLS

  • present everyone perfect in Christ” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING

  • laborwith all energy”BONDING WORSHIP

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QUESTION:

HOW WOULD YOU

ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM

CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL

LOVE EXPERIENCES?

IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE… 

  • BONDING WORSHIP – SUNDAY WORSHIP / FIREPITS

  • PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – GROUPS / RETREATS

  • HEALING SKILLS – WORKSHOPS / RETREATS 

  • VOLUNTEER STAFFING – SERVE TEAMS / TITHING

  • INVITING OUTSIDERS – SUNDAY EXPERIENCES / INVITES

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 IT IS UP TO YOU!

GOD CAN

ONLY PROMOTE

WHERE WE ALL ARE

WILLING TO DEVOTE!

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WHAT IF WE ALL

DEVOTED OUR LOVE WITH

TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND TUNING FOR…

SUNDAYS

GROUPS

WORKSHOPS / RETREATS

TEAMS

Patrick NorrisComment