GracePointe Church of Christ in Elizabethtown, PA

In this series COLLIDE, we have talked about some realities in scripture:

Yet, we must realize that it is through the CHURCH, that is GOD’s PEOPLE that this collision is witnessed.  

So, as we wrap up this series, I want to give you ten practical ways the collision that Jesus prays about can come to light, come to life, satisfy your soul…and point people to the final victory of God.  

Jesus Prayed: 

God’s work of salvation remains ever incomplete.  Because we have already experienced the powers of the age to come, it remains more than a hope; it is a certainty based both on the teaching of Scripture and on the Christian experience. (George Ladd, Apocalyptic and New Testament Theology, 296.)

Those who are satisfied are those who…

    1. Seem to give you attention and advise you need on a consistent basis without the threat of needing something from you.  

    2. Can praise you and love you without asking anything in return.  

    3. Serve, not for the recognition, but because they draw closer to God through it

    4. Pray - because it’s done when people aren’t looking

    5. Worship - all the time, every time, not just on Sunday or when they feel like it.  

    6. Are Satisfied — and have a peace even through the hard times, because God’s Kingdom is Alive in them, they have living water.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN:

Today, we acknowledge that Heaven has come to Earth in the form of Jesus, Jesus has collided with the natural laws of our world and he has overcome them.  We want more of that, and so pray along with him:

Our Father who is in heaven,

We must feel free to tweak this as we see fit, maybe ministry might come before connections for some people — But it is a good plan, a good strategy...

It is a biblical concept, one that comes straight from Jesus and the apostles.  

It started right here:

Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

And it continues today…right here, right now, with us. 

How are you participating in the growth of disciples? 

Our theme verse for the day can be from Ephesians 4: 

The gifts of leadership in the church were given by Christ…why?

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.