The Purpose of Church, Part 2.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Every Bob was go ahead and I take them out open them to Titus chapter 1

[0:05] last week we started a journey through the book of Titus and [0:11] Started with a bang a lot of good conversations came out of last week’s sermon [0:15] Actually, I’m gonna do a confession with you right now. I only made it halfway through last week’s sermon. I [0:21] got a little chatty and [0:24] Cut it off halfway through it was either that or we were gonna be here till about 2 o’clock in the afternoon [0:28] And I figured you guys might want to go to lunch

[0:30] So I just kind of cut it off early and saved the second half of last week [0:34] Which was the title of the purpose of the church? Why do we exist? [0:39] Why does the church exist because that’s really what the opening statement of the book of Titus is really about [0:47] Is why we exist? Why do we do what we do? [0:50] Why do we live the way that we live and what that video showed us was that how we believe and [0:57] What we believe about God is really going to determine how we live and the path that we choose in our lives

[1:04] And it’s either gonna be one or two things because I don’t really see any gray areas where God is concerned [1:10] Same way I don’t there aren’t really any gray areas with my wife [1:13] I either know who she is or I believe a lot of lies about her [1:16] And if I believe a lot of lies about my wife [1:18] I’m probably not going to treat her or be the husband that I should be [1:23] God is the same way

[1:25] we either believe the truth and we accept the truth as he has revealed himself to us or [1:32] We come up with our own conceptions [1:35] We come up and use our own imaginations to tell God who he is to us [1:40] And those are really the two paths that we have and the first path where we just [1:44] Allow God to reveal himself to us [1:47] Which he clearly has in his word and in the person of Jesus Christ

[1:50] And we base our lives on the revealed truths of God [1:55] Which will lead to right living which will lead to a life that is lived bringing him glory or the second option [2:03] Is is that we choose to live a life where we use our [2:06] Imagination to define who God is and we base it on our own thoughts and our own feelings and in that category [2:12] I’m gonna come up with a lot of wrong thoughts [2:15] Just like I would with my wife if I

[2:19] Just sat and said this is what my wife is like and did not get her input did not ask her any preferences [2:24] She would love NASCAR. She would love the ultimate fighting championship [2:29] because what I would do is I would turn her into a mirror image of myself and [2:34] I would say I’m gonna make you and my image so that we do all the things that I want so that your plans will fit [2:41] My desires and [2:43] That’s often what we do with God when we don’t simply humble ourselves

[2:50] under his revelation and [2:52] That’s why Paul begins Titus the way that he does the opening statements in the book of Titus [2:57] Which if you weren’t here last week the book of Titus is a book that is a by Paul to a young pastor [3:04] Named Titus and he’s a pastor in a church called Crete [3:08] Well a city called Crete but uh in an island called Crete now the Crete was an island in the Mediterranean Sea and [3:15] Paul had planted churches throughout this small island

[3:18] It was only about 250 kilometers across not a very large island and Paul had planted a few churches around there and he had left [3:25] Titus who had been traveling with him there to disciple the people to raise up pastors and leaders in the church and [3:33] Soon thereafter the same thing that happens in any church happens as people began to come in with their own [3:40] ambitions with their own thoughts with their own wrong assumptions and with their own belief systems and [3:47] began to attempt to sabotage the work of Titus and so Paul writes this and [3:54] He begins with probably in the New Testament, especially of all the Pauline letters the most

[4:00] theologically deep [4:01] Hey, how are you that I’ve probably read throughout the New Testament because that’s what the first four verses are Paul is simply [4:08] Introducing himself and introducing the subject matter and he starts off with talking about the redemptive plan of God for all time [4:16] It doesn’t get much deeper than that and so he begins by saying God has made me his servant [4:22] He has made me an apostle. He has given me authority and I leverage that authority [4:28] I use the authority that God has given me for the sake

[4:32] That’s what that term for the sake it means. He’s leveraging his authority for the sake of God’s elect [4:38] And what he’s saying there [4:40] I use my authority so that I can use it and leverage it to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ [4:48] So if you have your Bible’s go ahead and open a Titus chapter 1 [4:51] He says he uses it for the sake of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness [4:56] Then in verse 2 he says in hope of eternal life which God who never lies

[5:00] Promised before the ages began if you weren’t here last week [5:04] To really go with where we are this week [5:08] I challenge you to after this if you haven’t heard it go and listen to the podcast. It’s on our website [5:13] It’s on iTunes. We really spent a good [5:17] 4550 minutes just nailing down what that sentence meant [5:22] What is Paul talking about for the sake of God’s elect?

[5:26] Their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness in the hope of eternal life which God who never lies promised before the ages began [5:34] And we laid out verse after verse after verse last week to what is Paul talking about? [5:39] Who are God’s elect and what does it mean that he had chosen them and that he had laid this plan out before? [5:47] The ages even began and what we came to find out was that before the foundations of the earth [5:54] Before God spoke the earth into existence before Genesis 1 [5:59] Says in the beginning God created God in eternity past

[6:05] Had laid plans to redeem man [6:08] Who would turn from him who would rebel against him? [6:12] So that in the end he would receive glory [6:15] through redeeming man so that they would worship him and [6:20] That’s not a really good summary, but if you want a really good one [6:23] I spent 50 minutes on last week and believe it or not

[6:25] That’s a summary because we could spend a good eight or nine hours talking about that one that one has troubled Christians for probably [6:31] 2,000 years and Christianity has existed for about 2,000 years [6:34] So we’ve been fighting about that one for a long time [6:38] But the conversations what pleases me so much is that after church last week the [6:42] Conversations that came out of the talk that we had last week here [6:46] Was so edifying and so great and so encouraging that we all showed a lot of I think

[6:53] Theological humility where God is concerned and we came together and we said let’s reason together. Let’s figure out [6:58] What does that mean? I didn’t quite understand. Let’s let’s get together [7:01] Let’s see how that is the hope of our mission because last week we ended and we said God’s [7:07] Sovereign plan of redemption as we went to Revelation 7 9 God’s sovereign plan to have people of all tribes all tongues all [7:15] Nations [7:16] Gathered around his throne praising him and saying salvation belongs to our Lord

[7:21] God’s sovereign plan is sure because of his sovereign hand in redemption through the finished work of his son Jesus Christ [7:30] And so this week we’re gonna go from looking at God’s redemptive plan for all time [7:36] And we’re gonna see how does that impact the way that we live [7:42] How do we take this knowledge and [7:46] Apply it to our lives so that it catapults us to live this mission that God sent Jesus [7:53] To perfect Hebrew says he’s the perfector of our faith or the author and finisher

[7:58] And how does he give that to us so that we can live it? [8:02] So that we can be people who bring the harvest that God has made sure in and in verse 3 [8:11] When he finishes and he says before the ages began there’s a there’s a conjunction there [8:16] Where we go into verse 3 and he says and at the proper time [8:21] Manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of our God and Savior [8:30] So what Paul is doing here is he’s transitioning and saying this is the promise that God made

[8:38] God has promised that he will use us as his tools to bring in an election [8:45] That he has made sure and he has promised that his plan will be fulfilled [8:51] but then he transitions and he lays out the plan even fuller and says more specifically that at the proper time [9:00] God [9:02] Manifested his word through preaching with which I have been entrusted in other words that God did not simply stand back and say [9:10] This is what it’s somehow going to look like and I hope it works out

[9:16] Because we looked at last week that God’s plan through Jesus was not simply a [9:22] Rescue mission that was planned at the last minute. He did not create Adam and Eve and say oh no [9:26] Failure then he did not choose Israel and say oh no [9:29] Failure all of the Old Testament was leading up to [9:34] Jesus [9:35] That everything that was written in the Old Testament

[9:38] Everything that was there was there for the purpose of bringing about [9:42] His mission and his redemption in his way [9:46] Which has been sure from before time began and then Paul says at the proper time [9:52] In other words God even in his sovereignty before the foundations of the earth knew [9:58] Exactly when in the timeline of man which time is a creation of God as well [10:04] He knew when the minute was that he would send his son to be born of a virgin God becoming a man

[10:13] He said in Paul’s writing and at the proper time he manifested it to us [10:19] He made his revelation to us [10:23] So what we’re seeing Paul lay out is that there’s something special about [10:28] This revelation that God has made of himself to us [10:32] I mentioned earlier that God has made a revelation of himself [10:37] Through his son, but he’s also made a man made a revelation of himself through his word

[10:42] And Paul is saying there’s something special about the spoken [10:46] Word that God has given us and what he’s telling us is that God’s word reveals God’s message [10:53] I [10:54] Do not believe that there is just a non significant accident that John 1 [11:01] Says that Jesus is the word in the beginning was the word [11:06] All right, and the word was with God and the word was God and

[11:10] The fact that he uses the exact same language that he will use about the scriptures as well [11:17] That this is his word and that there’s also something significant about the fact that what we speak the language that we use it is word

[11:27] Alright God has sanctified and he has redeemed even language itself to further his mission [11:35] And what he does is he gives us this special? [11:39] Significant word for preaching notice what Paul says about even himself in this task [11:43] He says and at the proper time it was manifested in his word through what?

[11:50] through the preaching if you look throughout the Old Testament [11:54] God rises up prophets [11:56] Okay, and these prophets existed for the purpose of what speaking God’s word to who God’s people? [12:05] Who existed for what God’s purpose? [12:09] So God uses his word through man to drive home a mission that will bring about his son [12:17] Well after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus nothing about that changed

[12:23] He is still redeeming people and giving himself to people [12:29] so that they can preach his word and [12:33] Paul says he says this word with which I have been [12:37] Entrusted by the command of our God and Savior [12:41] So we have to ask ourselves this begs the question [12:45] Why did God reveal himself to us?

[12:50] What was his purpose for this what do we learn last week? [12:55] His purpose is the redemption of man through the work of his son Jesus [13:00] So God has had this purpose that he was leading up to that he was redeeming people for then his son comes [13:07] And then he says I have come to seek and to save that which was lost then he goes to the cross [13:11] Takes our sin on to himself expiates our sin from us dies [13:16] Then rises again from the dead three days later winning victory over sin and death and then gives us through that

[13:24] victory over sin [13:26] All right hit the scripture says in second Corinthians 5 which we’ve talked about quite a bit says that he who knew no sin [13:32] Became sent on our behalf not just so that he could take sin, but also so that he could give us his righteousness [13:40] So the question we have to ask what did he give us his righteousness for?

[13:46] What purpose is God doing in redemption through this preaching of his word? [13:52] Which is his redemptive plan of all time if you want to you can flip over to Ephesians chapter 2 [13:58] In Ephesians chapter 2 we’re gonna start reading in verse 18 [14:03] for through him [14:05] speaking of Jesus [14:07] We both have access in one spirit to the Father

[14:11] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [14:14] But you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of the household of God [14:17] So he’s speaking to people here who have already experienced this redemption who have already understood the revelation that we are redeemed [14:25] Through Jesus for God’s purposes and he says you are no longer strangers and aliens of God [14:31] You’re no longer living in that rebellious state that Adam and Eve put us in through their sin as it was passed on [14:38] To all people ever born like we talked about last week in Romans chapter 5

[14:42] Says you have been brought in through him [14:45] Jesus so that you are now citizens and members of the household of God Galatians chapter 4 [14:52] I believe it is a chapter 3 says that we have been adopted by God [14:57] All right, but look there’s not just some static being in that we’re not just saved given a ticket to heaven [15:04] And then we exist now just looking forward to heaven certainly that is something to look forward to but we now have a purpose [15:11] He continues

[15:12] And says but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of the household of God [15:16] Built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone [15:22] All right, he says that it starts using the analogy of a building [15:27] Says that he has laid a foundation on the teachings of the Apostles [15:31] Who did Paul say he was said he was an apostle of Christ Jesus [15:35] So Paul is included in this that God through the Apostles is doing a special work that is laying a foundation

[15:42] For the other fellow members of the household of God to follow [15:47] and he says [15:49] Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone [15:51] Well when you put a foundation down you gotta start somewhere and that’s where the weights gonna lay while you’re laying the rest [15:56] of the foundation so the Apostles depended on [15:59] Jesus the same way we depend on Jesus if you take the cornerstone out what’s gonna happen to the rest of the house

[16:05] It’s gonna fall [16:06] So he’s even in this analogy saying everything that we do is completely dependent on Jesus [16:13] It’s not dependent on us is dependent fully on Jesus [16:16] Everything is laying on Jesus who has finished the work of redemption for God’s people [16:22] but he finishes this work so that [16:27] In verse 21 and whom the whole structure being joined together

[16:33] grows [16:34] The language there is not a passive past tense or present tense. It is a continuous [16:40] Imperfect tense that’s going on and on [16:44] into a holy temple in the Lord [16:48] When you see in the Lord you can just go ahead and say for the purposes of God [16:53] That it’s totally it’s not our purpose we’re not allowed to come into it and say this is what that holy temple is gonna look like

[16:59] God has determined since before time began what that temple is gonna look like [17:04] And then in verse 22 it says in him [17:06] You also are being built together into a holy dwelling place for God by the Spirit [17:14] so we see in this [17:16] magnificent little [17:18] Analogy that Paul uses of building a house that the Apostles are the foundation will the Apostles are gone

[17:24] All right, they’ve been dead for a while [17:26] But they’re the foundation and the foundation is unchanging what happens when you change the foundation on a house [17:34] Well, you got put something the house on something else and [17:38] This is an unchanging foundation [17:39] It’s a foundation that was founded by the Apostles on Jesus Christ and now we the church are building the walls on this foundation [17:47] Bringing our lives into and humbling ourselves

[17:51] To the purposes of God and the plan of God and we build the walls so that it can be built up to a [17:57] Dwelling place of God through the Spirit [18:01] All right, so our task [18:04] Our privilege and our honor in this is that we are entrusted [18:09] Go back in Titus chapter 1 [18:11] We are entrusted to the same word and the same message that Paul himself was entrusted to and we are now

[18:20] building a house onto the foundation that God built through the Apostles and [18:25] That purpose how this house is being built is always that gospel of Jesus [18:31] God’s purpose is the gospel [18:35] We come we can come into [18:38] Worship we can come into religion and we can try to make this about a bunch of different things [18:45] But our smartest and most significant and most honest thing that we can do where God is concerned is allow God

[18:53] To define the purpose of what we’re doing right here right now [18:58] Are we just coming together to spend time together to to become friends? [19:04] Are we coming together to just hear inspiration so that we can make it through one more week [19:10] Are we coming together just simply for the purpose of a hobby?

[19:16] Surely we could do better than this for a hobby

[19:20] Why are we here why do we as a church [19:26] Do the things that we’re doing we do that so that we can see Ephesians chapter 2 [19:31] Come into existence and what Paul is saying is is that I’ve been entrusted with a word to spread [19:37] Throughout the world so that churches can build these walls together and continue to add people [19:44] Because when we’re talking about building walls, we’re talking about people [19:48] We’re not erecting monuments. We’re not doing anything else

[19:52] But what we’re doing is is we’re drawing people in to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ [19:58] That’s what Paul said he leverages

[20:03] His authority for [20:05] Okay, and if you understand that God’s purpose is the gospel you have to understand that the gospel must also be our purpose [20:16] All right [20:18] This is what God does remember Revelation chapter 7 verse 9 [20:21] That’s the vision of where we’re going in history and you say well [20:27] Too bad

[20:29] That’s where it’s going. You don’t get a say I don’t get a say [20:33] God is revealing to us before it happens [20:36] And we have no idea when that picture of the end is going to look like and we can make all the films [20:42] We want about apocalypse breaking out and everybody’s gonna die and the world’s falling into the ocean [20:47] All right, that’s not the picture that God gives us of the end of time [20:52] The picture that God gives us of the end of the existence of the earth and the end of the earth

[20:58] Culminating its purpose is all nations all tribes all tongues gathered around his throne in worship of him [21:08] All right [21:09] 2012 if you’re in here and you think there’s a significant date [21:12] That’s probably just the time that the map that the calendar maker. It’s probably just the time he died and stopped making calendars [21:20] All right, I mean when he made it that was a long ways away [21:23] Or maybe he just got bored and he’s like well, I’ll just pick that up another time and then he caught the flu and he died

[21:29] All right, that’s the significance of that [21:33] But God’s purpose that he has given us is for his worship and [21:38] the way that worship is going to happen is [21:43] First through the work of Jesus and then second it’s through the work of his church [21:49] All right [21:50] If you go but if you were to go back one chapter of Ephesians chapter 2 and you read the final closing of Ephesians chapter

[21:56] 1 what you’re gonna see in verse 23 is that it says and the church the body of Christ is the fullness of [22:03] Him who fills all in all so God has constructed this plan of redemption from before time began [22:10] So that the church [22:12] would be the book of Ephesians calls it the body of Christ and [22:17] Chapter 1 he fulfills and he says and it’s going to be the fullness of [22:23] Christ so basically God has designed a plan so that without his church

[22:28] He does not have fullness because God wants to be worshiped [22:34] And you’re like well that sounds vain and prideful who else is supposed to be worshiped

[22:39] If God were to say someone else were to be worshiped that would be God

[22:45] God must be worshiped it is his desire [22:48] It is why we exist it’s why we were created and we screwed that up by sinning and Jesus brings us back in and says no [22:55] Through me I’m gonna make the plan sure you’re gonna worship and [22:59] Then Jesus leaves and in Matthew chapter 28. This is what he says he says [23:03] All authority in heaven earth has been given to me [23:06] go

[23:08] make [23:08] disciples of all nations [23:11] All right, so he gives the church the same task that he came and he perfected and now we’re going and we’re building [23:20] Those walls we’re making disciples [23:23] So that purpose that God has for himself is the purpose that we are allowed to live for and it’s really the only [23:31] life worth living for

[23:33] So what do we do with that all right in Titus chapter 1 in verse 3 Paul [23:39] I’m gonna go back to it. He says that at the proper time [23:43] Okay, he manifested it to us through the word [23:48] All right through the preaching which he has been entrusted to by the command of God. So I think Paul [23:54] In Titus here, which was written in about 65 AD [23:58] He’s referencing what Jesus had said

[24:02] Jesus did not make the mission of the church very confusing we have because we tend to be very good at that [24:08] All right, we can make it about a hundred things that it’s not about [24:12] Jesus made it really simple in Matthew 20 is it go make disciples as your mission [24:15] Go bring people in teach them to observe all that I’ve commanded you and I’m gonna be with you and I’m gonna work through [24:20] You and I’m gonna do it through you [24:22] Right. So Jesus makes it simple and Paul says

[24:25] This is what I exist for [24:27] This is what I’m leveraging my authority for so that I can actually bring myself under humility to what Jesus has already [24:34] revealed to me his [24:36] Purpose of election for worship is [24:39] What I exist to bring about because God’s gonna use me as a tool through preaching his word to people to bring them in [24:46] And if it is our purpose, we must then have to exist for it

[24:50] And then you may ask the question, all right, which is the question that all people have if God is so sovereign [24:56] If God has already figured it out if God has made sure that Revelation 7 9 [25:01] He’s gonna have all these people worshiping him if he’s so sure that’s gonna happen [25:05] What does he need me for? [25:07] Why do I need to do anything? Can’t we just sit around and wait for it to happen and God’s just gonna do the work? [25:13] right

[25:15] The easiest answer I can give you is no that’s wrong. All right, and you’re like well why?

[25:20] Because that’s not how God planned it [25:23] All right. Remember the whole issue here is bringing ourselves under the true knowledge of God [25:28] Not some false imaginative thought that we could have but the true knowledge of God. Okay turn to Romans 10

[25:37] Roman chapter and I’m gonna start reading in verse 13

[25:41] It’s also gonna be on the screen [25:44] For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

[25:50] That verse fills me with so much hope [25:52] Because that’s just one more way of Paul saying it does not depend on us [25:56] If we call in his name, he’s trustworthy [25:59] He gives us security. He gives us identity [26:02] But then that’s usually where we stop on our little trip through Romans Road you ever go to VBS [26:07] That’s usually where we stop. All right, we got to go a little further than that Paul doesn’t stop talking right there

[26:13] All right [26:13] He says he asks some questions and Paul’s really gonna ask them questions right now about the mission of Jesus and their [26:20] Involvement in it because if you’ll remember if you take yourself back to last week [26:23] All right [26:23] We looked at Luke 10 where he stands with his disciples in front of a field a wheat field that was ripe for harvest [26:30] And he says the field is white for harvest

[26:32] But the laborers are few telling them you’re gonna be the tools I use to bring in the harvest that I’ve already made sure [26:38] All right. Well if Paul puts a little different angle on that in verse 14 [26:43] He says how then will they call on him in whom they have not believed and

[26:51] How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard and how are they to hear? [26:56] Here’s the word Paul uses again over in the book of Titus Kareemah he says and how are they to hear without someone preaching

[27:06] Paul looks at him and he says everyone who calls on the name of God is going to be saved if they trust in Jesus [27:13] God will be sure to save them [27:16] But then he says how are they going to call on somebody they don’t believe and how are they gonna believe in someone? [27:21] They’ve never even heard of and how are they gonna hear of him if you don’t go and tell them

[27:28] Paul once again is saying you are God’s tool to bring in his harvest [27:36] But you’ve got to actually get up and go trust in God is not shown through us [27:44] Sitting and saying well if he’s God he’ll make it happen true trust is shown in getting up and actually walking [27:52] And say well, I’m gonna trust he’s gonna use this [27:55] You’re not trusting if you’re just sitting there you’re only trusting if you’re humanly speaking risking

[28:05] That’s what trust is it’s a risk it’s saying I trust this is true, so I’m gonna risk everything

[28:14] That I humanly have to say this is truth

[28:21] Paul writes in first Corinthians chapter 15 he says if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not true then my life is a pity [28:32] You say why doesn’t Christianity give you what we would call a better life? [28:37] Not according to Paul because Paul lived in such a way that it was clearly obvious that he based every single decision he made [28:46] Every single action that he took in his life on the fact that the resurrection was true and that God was going to use him [28:53] To bring in his harvest and he said if the resurrection is not true I sure have wasted a lot of time and I could have had a much more comfortable life [29:03] The faith that most of us have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ looks more as a twist on the American dream than it does biblical Christianity

[29:17] And then he goes on

[29:21] And he says and how are they to preach [29:24] That’s where the church comes in unless they are sent

[29:32] He says as it is written how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news but they have not all obeyed the gospel [29:40] For Isaiah says Lord who has believed what he has heard from us [29:46] And then in verse 17 he says so faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word [29:53] Manifested at the proper time the word of Christ

[29:58] Here is where we are as a church [30:00] By the way if you want to know what we as a village church exist to see happen [30:07] We want to see God use us to fulfill the Romans chapter 10 command right there to go and descend

[30:14] What I want to spend the next few minutes doing is I want to unpack where we are in bringing ourselves into line of obedience [30:23] In the Romans chapter 10 where he says you have to go out to build those walls [30:39] Where are we? What are we doing to see this happen?

[30:46] That’s why we came that’s why we started that’s why we planted [30:49] If you want to know one thing as to why we exist it’s because we are in the midst of a new world [30:53] That’s the gospel we don’t make that a secret [30:57] If you have been here for any period of time you know that I say the word gospel quite a bit [31:03] I say the word mission of Jesus words mission of Jesus quite a bit [31:07] We sing about the mission we sing about God we sing about that quite a bit

[31:13] So if you are confused as to why we exist as a church in Midlothian that’s it [31:18] There’s the vision it’s nothing new it’s thousands of years old it’s older than the foundations of the earth [31:25] It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ that’s why we exist as to go into this culture and see that happen [31:32] So how are we doing that? [31:35] Well we are young no secret we are not a mega church [31:38] On any given Sunday there’s probably 80 people here

[31:42] And how are we starting to build? [31:45] How are we starting to build? [31:47] First here we are we started a service [31:51] After we had been here for about a year meeting in a house building a core group [31:55] Building and cultivating a community where we could build on [31:59] And saying and getting it in our heads and ingraining it in myself we exist for the gospel

[32:04] We started having worship services [32:06] And you say is that obedience to Romans 10? [32:10] I believe that in this culture it absolutely is [32:14] Sunday morning worship services in the United States especially in an area like this [32:19] A suburban area like Midlothian is still where people go to learn about Jesus Christ

[32:26] It just is [32:28] You can say well is that the way God intended it? [32:31] He didn’t tell us [32:32] And I believe that’s one of the most fascinating things about the gospel [32:36] Is God made the gospel to be in such a way that it would fit in any culture [32:40] That you could contextualize it to any culture

[32:43] It’s as contextual in Midlothian as it is in Russia [32:48] In Russia as it is in Zimbabwe [32:51] You can make it contextual anywhere you are in the world [32:55] And that’s why we did it the way that we did it here [32:58] Because here in Midlothian people want to have a safe place of anonymity [33:03] To go and hear the gospel

[33:05] Why do we sing the music we do? [33:07] Because number one it has the message of the gospel in it [33:10] And number two it’s pleasant to your ears [33:14] I’ll be honest there’s nothing worse than going into a church and hating the music [33:18] And if you hate the music I’m sorry [33:21] And you’re like I know that’s true I’m here

[33:23] I’m sorry about that

[33:28] Chances are if you don’t like the music here you just don’t listen to the radio [33:30] I don’t know what’s wrong with you [33:32] Maybe you’ve been in church too long [33:34] Don’t get offended my email address is on the website [33:36] Alright second thing [33:40] What else do we do?

[33:42] This is why [33:43] By the way we have the best volunteers in the world here [33:45] I have no idea how they pulled off what they pulled off this morning [33:48] This is why we put screens up [33:50] This is why we set an atmosphere [33:52] This is why we put up so much pipe and drape

[33:55] This is why we went to a great expense to stop using those chairs [33:58] That I was afraid we were going to break if I sat in them [34:00] Because we’re creating an atmosphere [34:03] Without the distraction of saying that doesn’t look right [34:07] I don’t look like [34:08] We’re trying to make this as comfortable as possible

[34:11] So that people can come in here and hear the most uncomfortable message possible [34:16] And that they’ve sinned against God and they need Jesus to save them [34:19] It doesn’t get much more offensive and uncomfortable than me calling you a sinner does it? [34:24] Alright you’re like you don’t know me you don’t know me I’m a big sinner [34:26] I needed them more than you did probably

[34:30] The guys that are laughing right now they know me [34:32] And they’re like yep that’s true [34:35] You should have met him when I met him [34:38] Alright so we do all of this so that people will come in [34:42] And hear the gospel and do it in a comfortable and attractive environment [34:47] Because we live in Midlothian

[34:49] Our task is not to change people’s preferences [34:55] And that’s what we do in church all the time [34:57] We put up barrier after barrier and say [34:59] You need to change yourself to like what we like before you come in here [35:04] And we’re telling you if you’ve been in church any significant amount of time [35:08] You’ve probably got a lot of Christianized preferences

[35:11] Well you need to change your preferences for the way that the world thinks [35:14] So that they can hear the gospel [35:16] Anything else is a hindrance which God says get rid of [35:21] Because I got rid of the barrier of my law [35:24] Which proclaims my holiness [35:26] And I ripped the veil to the holy of holies and sold the whole world

[35:29] You can come in through the holiness of my son [35:32] You don’t need any on your own

[35:36] That’s why we work so hard on Sunday mornings [35:40] And nobody’s going to tell me we shouldn’t do it [35:44] Because I’ve heard story after story from you guys [35:48] As to how you’ve come in here and heard the gospel [35:51] And this is a place you were comfortable to hear it [35:53] And it changed your life

[35:57] Some of you think that Romans 10 can only be fulfilled if you’re up here preaching [36:02] If you were here this morning setting up signs [36:05] Setting up piping drape [36:07] Setting up lights and screens [36:10] You were obeying Romans chapter 10

[36:15] Because you did it [36:18] So that people could hear the gospel

[36:23] That’s why you were here [36:25] You’re saying I’m going to bring them in [36:27] I want them to see those signs [36:28] We’ve had people [36:30] You might drive by and say is there a circus in there [36:32] What’s up with all those signs

[36:35] Alright let me tell you [36:37] It blew me away when we first started the stories I heard of [36:40] Why did you come in [36:43] I just saw a sign [36:45] And I said I don’t know what’s going on in there [36:46] They must be crazy they must be weird

[36:48] And they came in and heard the gospel and they stayed [36:52] That’s why we do that [36:53] Because I believe Romans 10 applies to me [36:57] I’m not even out there anymore putting them up

[37:01] I’m thankful for that [37:03] Thank you so much [37:05] I sweat a lot [37:06] It’s just bad especially in the summer months

[37:10] This is what we’re doing here [37:12] We’re setting an atmosphere for the gospel [37:14] This is why we’re trying to expand our space for child care [37:17] Because we know those kids need to hear the gospel and so do the parents [37:22] You need to hear the gospel [37:25] This is why we have community groups

[37:27] Because I know that in here on Sunday mornings [37:30] You’re not getting to know each other [37:32] It’s no secret to me [37:34] You’re not getting to know me either [37:36] But on Monday night I have this community group of guys that I get together with [37:40] And we talk and we tell the truth to each other

[37:43] And we hear about each other’s lives [37:45] Our pains, our comforts, our joys [37:47] And we go through the word of God together [37:49] And we get to know each other [37:51] Why? So that we can grow in transparency and authenticity [37:55] To bring our lives under humility of the gospel

[37:59] So that we can live for the gospel [38:01] Because Jesus says we’re not going to be able to do it alone [38:04] That’s why what Ephesians 2 is saying, we’ve got to come together [38:08] We’ve got to put life on life [38:10] And what you’re going to see next week and on through the next few weeks is [38:14] This life on life thing is called the church

[38:18] Where we come together and teach each other how to live for the gospel [38:22] Because if you’re anything like me, you’re never going to figure it out by yourself [38:27] You need somebody to teach you [38:29] You need somebody to tell you, because I do [38:31] And I have people in my life that do that [38:34] Most pastors won’t tell you that

[38:36] But let me tell you, if it weren’t for the men who are on staff here at the village [38:40] And who surround me and preach the gospel to me weekend and week out [38:44] I don’t know what I’d be doing [38:46] We need community [38:48] That’s why it’s one of our core values [38:51] What else are we doing?

[38:53] We’re at a place right now [38:55] As a church, because of your generosity [38:58] 20% of our budget is going to the mission of Jesus outside of the walls of the village [39:06] 20% of our budget is doing that [39:10] And we’re doing it first [39:12] We’re supporting a church plan

[39:14] This is the first time a lot of you are ever going to hear this [39:16] We’ve got a church planer that we’ve found that’s going to Boston, Massachusetts [39:19] One of the most densely populated areas in the nation [39:23] And one of the least churched areas in the whole nation [39:27] Those people need the gospel desperately [39:30] And we’re just starting to help a church planer

[39:33] To move with himself and a team [39:35] A lot similar to the way we moved to Midlothian [39:37] To go to Boston and begin to impact the culture there by themselves [39:42] Excuse me, with our help [39:43] We’re doing a partnership with them [39:45] And it’s because of the gifts that you give

[39:49] Secondly, in October, we’re going to China [39:52] When we started in September, we’re not even a year old [39:56] I would have never thought in a year we’d be going to China [39:59] As a church [40:01] Part of our budget is going to that trip [40:03] And we’re starting a long term partnership with a missionary that’s already on the ground in China

[40:09] So that we can reach the people of that nation [40:12] Which is a closed off nation typically to the gospel [40:14] But we’ve found a way in [40:16] And we’re going to go there [40:17] One of the biggest nations in the world [40:19] Their cities make our cities look pathetic

[40:22] Just because of people [40:24] And those people need the gospel [40:26] And we’re going there [40:28] We’re sending people there [40:29] We’ve already got people that have been sent there that we’re going to help [40:32] We’re sending people to Boston

[40:34] And guess what? [40:35] We’re sending you to Midlothian [40:38] And to Richmond [40:39] And Henrico [40:40] Wherever you live in this area [40:42] That’s where we’re sending you

[40:44] You come together and you gather as a church here [40:47] You gather as a church in community groups [40:49] You gather as a church in September [40:51] When we’re going to start again cleaning up the football field [40:53] At Clover Hill High School [40:55] I mean a lot of filth goes there

[40:56] It’s disgusting and I don’t like it [40:58] I think I caught a disease last year when I was doing it [41:00] But we’re going to go and we’re going to serve the community that we live in [41:04] So that we can have open doors into the schools as a church [41:08] So that we can proclaim the gospel [41:11] The way Paul says in Titus 1, verse 3

[41:15] That he’s been entrusted with the message of Jesus our Savior

[41:22] What you believe about God [41:26] Determines how you live for God [41:30] And we’re either going to humble ourselves under his mission [41:34] That he has made clear through his word [41:36] The redemptive plan of all time [41:38] And we’re going to start strategizing for the most effective way possible

[41:44] To reach cultures with the gospel of Jesus Christ [41:48] Or we’re going to sit here and make it all about ourselves

[41:52] Alright? [41:54] And we’re going to say well you’re not meeting my felt needs

[41:58] Sitting about your felt needs [42:00] I hope I can meet them [42:03] But more than that I hope that you will have a changed life [42:08] Where you will go with the gospel to the community of Midlothian and beyond [42:14] The church is God’s plan A

[42:21] Alright? [42:22] And here’s the bigger truth [42:23] There is no plan B

[42:28] You say what does that mean?

[42:32] We’re the wall builders [42:34] The foundation has been laid [42:36] The most important part of the house has been put down [42:40] And we’re building the walls of the church [42:43] We’re either going to live the mission of Jesus [42:46] The most effective way possible

[42:48] Look for new strategies to take the gospel to this community and beyond [42:53] Or we’re going to waste our lives

[42:57] That’s the mentality that we’ve got to have as a church [43:01] That’s the vision that we’ve got to take in to the rest of the book of Titus [43:07] We’re either going to be a safe place [43:09] Where you can escape from the evils of the world [43:13] And surround yourself with a lot of cultural conservatives [43:17] And people that look moral enough for you

[43:20] Because if you go to Starbucks and brush shoulders with some of those people in line [43:23] You’ll get some of their sin on you [43:25] And then you’ve got to go home and take another shower before you can go to work [43:28] We can be that kind of church, it’s a safe place, safe for the whole family

[43:34] Or we can be a dangerous force for the gospel of Jesus Christ in this world

[43:46] You are the village

[43:52] And I’m joining together and I’m saying we are the village [43:55] It’s not about me, it’s not about the guys that play the band when you come [43:58] You’re not coming to a place to see the village perform for you [44:02] You’re coming to a place where you are the church [44:05] And we need to be the church [44:09] We’re moving into the fall months

[44:12] Where if somebody’s going to start going to a new church [44:15] If somebody’s going to start trying out church for the first time [44:18] And the statistics show us the fall months right after Labor Day [44:21] Are the biggest time of the year that people visit churches [44:24] And what I want to do is I want to raise up an army of people that are willing to say [44:28] I’m repenting, I’m humbling myself, and I’m going to live for the mission

[44:32] Because it’s about Jesus and it’s not about me [44:35] And I’m going to bring the harvest in [44:37] I’m going to bring it in [44:39] And this is how he finishes it out in Titus chapter 1 verse 4

[44:45] He looks at Titus and he says [44:48] To Titus [44:50] My true child in a common faith [44:53] Grace and peace from God the Father [44:56] And Christ Jesus our Savior [44:59] And you’re like what significance is that?

[45:03] The significance is in the fact that Paul [45:06] Looks to Titus and he says [45:10] My true child [45:11] You know why he says that to Titus?

[45:15] Because Paul led Titus to faith in Jesus Christ [45:18] And Titus was busy shaking up a whole island [45:22] With the gospel [45:24] Because Paul said I’ll go [45:29] And he went and Titus believed [45:31] And then Titus changed the culture

[45:36] Who will be your true child?

[45:40] Will you be in the majority that never lead a person of faith in Jesus Christ? [45:44] Or will you join us in being a dangerous force [45:47] Of bringing people in for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

[45:52] Let’s be the church [45:53] Father we come before you [45:57] We praise you [46:01] God you have blessed us [46:03] With every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places [46:06] Through your Son Jesus Christ

[46:08] We praise you, we thank you [46:12] God we humble ourselves right now [46:15] To your mission [46:17] We humble ourselves to trust in you [46:21] That a life spent obeying you [46:24] Is better than any life that we could ever lay out possible

[46:31] Right now what we’re going to do is we’re going to respond through communion [46:35] We’re going to proclaim the gospel to each other through the bread and the cup [46:39] If you’re a believer and you’re here this morning [46:42] The table is wide open for you [46:44] If you’re not a believer [46:47] Today is the day of salvation

[46:50] I’ll be in the back [46:52] You can trust Jesus today