Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 2:11-17

Theme: We Are Better Together (Week 2)

Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.

Notes:

* God has gathered us together in a Person: Jesus Christ

* John 17

* Acts 9:4, “…why are you persecuting me“

* Acts 20:28, “…the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.”

* Titus 2, “…a people for His very own possession”

* Throughout history, when God calls a people He gathers them together

* Throughout history, when God gathers His people He gathers them to Himself

* Adam & Eve in the garden

* Tabernacle in the nation of Israel

* Christ in flesh

* Spirit indwelling

* Future state: we will be physically with God for eternity

*  God has gathered us together as His People

* Ephesians 2:19, “…fellow citizens…household of God…building, temple, dwelling place of God”

* Christ saved each of us–not just from death and Satan–but for His glory and His people

* Salvation isn’t about me, it’s about us

* We are saved by covenant–into a covenant community

* Those are inseparable

* “Like every family, we have weird aunts and loud cousins”

* God made us for community

* As humans

* As His people

* Heb 10, “…stir each other up to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves”

* 1 Corinthians 12, “…you are a temple of God…”

* But more accurately, “…y’all are a temple of God…”

* “you” is plural

* God has called us together for a Purpose

* Ephesians 3:10, “…that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church…”

 

Live It Out!

* Make the gathering a priority

* Planning to attend church Sunday morning starts before Sunday morning

* Failing to plan is planning to fail

* Failing to plan to attend is to plan not too attend

* Prepare so that you can attend with joy