It is appropriate to call God Father- Deut 1:30-31 is the first reference to God as a father- More than 200 references in the New Testament- God shares his title of Father with Men. This shouldn't be taken lightly, He is expressing this to you in a way that you can understand.Four Aspects of Gods' Fatherhood1. The safety of the Father - Deut 1:29-30 - God will carry you as a Father carries his child- Strength, dependability and God is the definition of both- Psalm 62:11 God owns power (strength)- Proverbs 30:5 (dependability) He is a shield2. The joy of the Father- Psalm 16:11 - Joy in the presence of Father- Every good and perfect gift comes from God- God rejoices over His children with loud singing (Zepheniah)- God is a happy father, and we can be happy in his presence3. The Discipline of the Father- Hebrews 12:5-11 - the audience here was in a very rough spot (you are being persecuted, but you are not martyrs yet)- Discipline should be an encouragement that we are in fact God's children- Gods discipline should cause us to run to God not away from Him- It hurts to be disciplined, but we remain a part of the family- God does it to produce righteousness4. The Love of the Father- 1 John 3 - God's love for His children is infinite- God's love comes over His children like someone standing at the base of Niagara Falls,- God's love is eternalOur responses1. As a father, you may realize that you haven't properly represent the fatherhood of God to our children. We need to confess our failings, and ask forgiveness2. We can see God through our own fathers, which hides God's perfect fatherhood. We need to ask God to see Him as He is.3. If you've never seen God as a Father before, you my want to be His child.

Communion: What is it?- Remembering the gospel and experiencing Christ all rolled up into a community meal.History of Communion"Those who don't know the mistakes if the past are doomed to repeat them."- Eucharist = Thanksgiving - 2nd Century- Mass = To send - 4th Century- Transubstitution - 8th Century- Reformation - 16th CenturyGuidelines- Don't give it to yourself- Who gives it out (everyone's equal)- Frequency- One Cup- Break Bread- Real wine or juiceHow to Eat it Wrongly - Making a habit of a specific sin- Disunity in the churchHow to Eat it the Right WayThe Three Titles:- Lord's Supper- Communion- Eucharist

1. Foundations: God's Presence is Prizedv28a) The highest calling is to be a worshipper of God- The source of our greatest fulfillment/satisfaction- God gives us purpose in Christ through the Spirit- God shaped hole... Reserved for God's presenceb) Worship's purpose is to place the attention on God... Not us.- God is in us, yet He is "other"- He knows that our lives are enriched when we focus on Him- Worship brings to light the purpose of the churchc) We are called to worship God both individually and corporately- The "you" is plural- Takes time to learn to worship together2. Foundations: The Church Benefitting in WorshipIsaiah 62:4a) God delights in us- The intimacy of being with the Father- We can relax in His presence... As a family.- We enjoy liberty through Jesusset free from sin, guilt and shameb) We draw near to God; God draws near to us- We have completeconfidence to aproach our Dad- We may not see Him, but we are in His presence...- He makes Himself known to us through our worshipc) God ministers to us- We are built up and edified in God's presence- God refreshes us in worship by His Spirit- We are made more like Him in His presence- God reveals Himself to unbelievers3. Foundations: Free to Worship inthe Spirit1 Corinthians 14:26a) Gifts to/for the church- Charismatic worship assumes the gifts of the Spirit- God responds by speaking to us- God is with us, so His gifts flow in our meetings and individuallyb) For the common good...- There is a freedom in our meeting together- Our needs are met vertically and horizontally- Everyone participates- Anchored by Godly leadershipc) Word and Spirit working together- We do not emphasize the one at the expense of the other- The word revealed causes us to worship in spirit and in truth- We encounter God and we are changed, transformed

1. Foundations: Word of GodActs 2:42 a) Devoted to God's Word (the Bible)- Revelation & Relationshipb) Submitted to the Authority of God's Word- The Bible is our Standard for Truthc) Devoted the Apostle's Teaching - Godly leaders... teach, model, contextualize, equip, obey2. Foundations: CommunityActs 2:42,46 a) Devoted to the Fellowship/Community- Individualism/Selfishness or Together/Sharing/Generousb) TMP:- Heart Issues (Devotion) & Structure Issues (e.g. Life Groups)c) Today... Bylaws , Membership, Decision making- Changes to line up more with the Bible & honour Canadian Law3. Foundations: PrayerActs 2:42 a) Jesus is our model (His example & teaching)- The early church followed this pattern with amazing resultsb) If we pray, God will act... do we demonstrate this today?- Family, Life Groups, TAG... shows our dependence on Godc) How?- Big God, Access as Sons, Believing Promises, Holy Spirit, Plan!

1. Foundations: The People of God1 Peter 2:10 a) Define church?- Buildings? Tradition? Denominations? Services? Bake Sales?b) New Testament.. People and Power- A People you belong to by the Spirit, committed to Jesus and each otherc) Friendship- Transparent, Forgiving, Caring, Confronting, Laughing, Encouraging2.Foundations: The Family of GodGalatians 4:6 a) "Born" into a Family and Adopted!- God is our Father/Jesus our elder brother/brothers & sisters in Christb) Worldwide Family- Different races, cultures, colours, classes, languages... "In Christ"c) Local Family- Relationships, Structure, Discipline, Prayer, Friendship, Service...3. Foundations: The House of God1 Peter 2:5a) The Church (Temple/House) made of people (living stones)- Jesus is the Cornerstone & the Master Builderb) God "lives" in His House (Temple)- God is Present in & with His People by His Holy Spiritc) Worship fills the House- Praise and Service

1. Foundations: A New KingdomJohn 3:3 a) "Born" into a Kingdom- The Rule & Government & Authority of King Jesusb) Citizenship affects your whole life- Identity, Speech, Freedoms, Responsibilities, Lawsc) A New Worldview... Attitudes, Actions, Words, Values- Lifestyle, Goals, Purpose, Money, Sex, Suffering, Eternity2. Foundations: A New AuthorityColossians 2:9-10 a) Jesus is our Example... in authority and under authority- Jesus is Lord (in authority) and Servant (under authority)b) Kingdom Families- Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Singles, Datingc) Kingdom Work- Responsibility, Employees, Employers, Everything!3. Foundations: A New Ambassador2 Corinthians 5:20 a) Ambassadors: Each one of us!- Identity, Representative, authority, spokespersonb) "Personal" Ambassador + "Together" Ambassadors- Salt, Light, City on a hillc) Today: Kingdom Advancing... Local Churches: TMP/PEI/Jay's- Andrew and Janet Dreise & Family (Fredericton 1 year; then PEI?)

1. Foundations: New not OldEphesians 2:4-5a) Born Again!- A new creation "In Christ"b) "Born" into a family... A son of God!- Identity and Security and Inheritancec)ANewLife!-PrivilegesandResponsibilities2. Foundations: Grace not LawEphesians 2:8-9a) Two religions... Law (Do) and Grace (Done)-Amazing Grace = the Gift of salvation through Jesusb)The Purpose of the Law?-Reveals sin,Provokes sin,Leads us toJ esusc)The Grace of God in Jesus Christ after our salvation-Saves us from sin and the law + empowers us to live for God!3. Foundations:Win not SinEphesians2:10a)Free to live how I want?-a new heart,new spirit,new out look,new motivationb)Grace and the Holy Spirit-A new power to change us vs legalism (human effort)c)A Christian..."sinner"? or a "saint"?- Who is my master? not sin but Jesus!

1. Intro: FoundationsActs 2:38a) Go! Make Disciples (Personal & Together)b) TMP Church and Canada in 2011c)Foundations(Revelation&Response)d) Repentance : 180 degree turn, personal, action, mind/heart, on-goinge) Faith: God's Way! Trust in God's Word, God's Son for salvation & lifef) Today... Baptism in Holy Spirit and in Water2. Foundations: Baptism in WaterLuke 3: 21aa) Water Baptism is for Believersb) Water Baptism is by Immersionc) Baptism = Died with Jesus(Romans6)d) Baptism = Buried with Jesuse) Baptism = Raised with Jesusf) Baptism = Identified with Jesus & His Church3. Foundations: Baptism in the SpiritLuke 3:16 a)Born Again:In dwelling Holy Spirit,New heart,New natureb)The Promise of the Fatherc) Helper, Counsellor, Comforter, Advocate,teacher, truth, empowersd) Thirsty? (more on this in this message)e) Come to Jesus and Ask!f) Drink (Receive) & Go on Being Filled!

1. Intro: FoundationsActs 28:31a) Go! Make Disciples (Personal & Together) - Connected to Jesus, His Kingdom and His Churchb) Church and Canada- Biblical values + Incorporation, By-Laws, CRA, Insurance, etc.c) Changes in 2012- Growth, By-Laws, Members, Structure, Church Planting 2. Foundations: RepentanceActs 2:37- 38aa) Repent: "to turn from" or "to return to" b) To repent is a personal decision! c) To repent is a practical step!d) To repent is to change perspective!e) To repent is on-going!f) Today... Be open to God speaking to you 3. Foundations: Faith in Christ JesusActs 2:36a) Faith is God's Way b) Faith is Believing God's Wordc) Saved by Faith: Believe, Trust, Confess, Received) Justified by Faithe) Walk by Faith (Sanctified)f) Today?

1. The Holy Spirit fuels... Individual/Corporate Prayera) Under pressure... - Corporately we are called to respond to pressure- It is real and will come our way- It is an avenue by which God fuels our prayer togetherb) In this together...- We must learn to pray together- It is awkward at first, but necessary for success in God- God is calling us to do thisc) From partnership to passion- We are to be insistent... God will answer- Faith will grow as a result- His gifts will flourish 2. The Holy Spirit fuels... Individual/Corporate Courage a) The Holy Spirit will continue to strengthen and encourage us - God by His Spirit gives us what we need- As a church we strengthen and encourage one another- Boldness... a sign that we have been with Jesusb) We become risk takers as faith grows upon faith- God is challenging us to trust him in risk- We will need to exercise wisdom - There will be times when things may appear to not make sensec) The risk is calculated in the economy of the Kingdom - We must be courageous in giving, time, priorities- Ruthless about idols...- Courageous in spite of the odds...3. The Holy Spirit fuels... Unity a) The Holy Spirit is a member of a unified community - The Trinity- They hold all things in common- The love one another and they communicate perfectly- As a result He desires that for usb) We are called to be a unified community - The Church- Together- We are being called out of individualism- Members of one body, Christ being the headc) Unified for a purpose...- The world is looking for a real community- The Gospel as the focal point - Our values... members of a community