January 06, 2019 | Pat Schultz
Passage: Ephesians 4:11-13
The State of the Church - 2019
Setting our sights on:
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31
1.) The Great Commandment.
- How well am I loving the Lord my God?
- How well am I loving my neighbor as myself?
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
2.) The Great Commission.
- How well am I making disciples of those in my family & in my circles of influence?
- How well are we making disciples of the next generation? (Children, teens, college students, and young adults?) - See Psalm 78
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry… growing into maturity…
Ephesians 4:11-12
3.) The Pastoral Prime Mandate.
- As a church, how well are we helping saints to grow into maturity and equip saints “for the work of ministry?
24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25
4.) Transitions: Following Christ in life, death and change.
- What might God be seeking to put to death?
- What might God be seeking to raise to new life and greater fruitfulness?
How is God asking you to trust Him in new ways this year?
How is God asking us, as a church, to trust Him in new ways this year?