Lesson Four • Gather
Pastor Jayson Combs
My wife and I just bought our son a metal detector. He loves it. He immediately went into the back yard. He was going through the yard hoping to find a hidden treasure. At one point he came into the house with a metal pole he had found. As I looked outside, it was easy to see where he found it as there was a hole in the yard. He was digging in several spots. He was hoping to find something of value, but only found junk.
1. Have you ever used a metal detector?
As I researched the definition of valuable, I found things like to bring in a high price, quality – worthy of respect admiration and esteem, and or considerable use or service importance.
My mind raced to the church. Does the church match these definitions of valuable?
2. Is the church valuable?
I found it surprising that 120 million people every week attend Church in the United States. That is more than all professional sports attendances combined for a year. About two billion will attend this week around the world.
3. What are some of the values of attending church?
I have heard people say things like, “It makes my wife happy. It keeps my kids out of trouble. Church makes me feel better. I get to see some people I like. The church encourages me; it keeps me going. The message challenges me; it points out things I need to change.”
I believe the church is on a downward turn. People use to go Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I just heard a study that people who attend church do so less than twice monthly.
4. Were you raised going to church whenever the doors were open?
David Platt put it this way, “The Church appears to be irrelevant or optional for many professing Christians today.” This will have an adverse outcome on our community and families.
The church has an amazing value. Without it, you cannot become all that God wants you to become, you will not be all that God wants you to be, and you will not do all that God wants you to do.
I want to look at 1 Timothy 3:15 for the premise of this study guide. Paul says, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
When I speak of the church, I am referring to the gathering of the saints. Church means assembly, those called out. The church is the assembly of the Living God.
I want to point out three values of the church as seen in 1 Timothy 3:15.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Household of God
Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger Pastor, so he would know how things are to operate in the church. These letters have come to be known as the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy; Titus).
The Bible is clear that the church is not a building. It is not an institution. I try not to say, “Go to church” because that is wrong. However, I also try not to say, “You are the church” because that is wrong too. Too many people use it as an excuse to stay home, listen to a sermon on TV, read the Bible, read a book, and even give on the website. You are not the church, we are the church.
Here is the push back - The Household of God. I am not the household of God. You are not the household of God. The church is the household of God. God dwells in me and I am part of the church. God lives in me, so I am part of the household of God.
We are The Household of God. We are the church.
I read an illustration about the Cliff nutrition bar. I enjoy this as a supplement after a good workout; however, I do not want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The same is true of Christian podcasts, TV services, and Christian books. They are supplements that are added and not to replace.
We are the Household of God. We are the universal church. However, God also talks about the local assembly or church. You cannot do the local church by yourself. It becomes more obvious when you realize there needs to be a faithful proclamation of the Word of God, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, godly leaders, the appointing of Elders (Timothy, Titus), and the care and correction of God’s people. The real church feels a calling to change the world.
5. How can the church change the world?
Ephesians 2:19-22 adds, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
The Household of God can be compared to our own homes. If my son has a friend over who is using inappropriate language or puts his feet up on the table, I might sit them down and say, “Hey, it is great having you over, but we have some rules in our house.”
Rules can bring success. There are times when I want to explain something new to the boys I am coaching. I might sound strict, but I do not want them to dribble a basketball or talking while I am explaining something. However, once they follow the instructions in a game and score a basket, I am jumping up and down with them giving high fives.
The church is a team that works together and celebrates together.
6. What are some things we could or should celebrate in the church?
Here are some other values of the church.
An Inheritance in this Household
In 1 Peter 1:4, we read, “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
The Purchase Price of the Family
Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
The Teachings and Correction of the Father
In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
The Closeness of Siblings
Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
You are not an only child!
The church is invaluable. I just cannot give it up. There is not a price or thing that can replace it.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Dwelling Place of the Living God
The church is not just the household of God, but it is the dwelling place of the Living God. Again, we look to 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
Ephesians 2:22 adds, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
7. What initial thoughts do you have from these verses?
He is the Living God. The church is not a dead thing. It is not fake. It is a real and living thing. Paul continues the concept in the next verse. In 1 Timothy 3:16, he says, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
This makes me want to sing, He’s Alive, by Don Francisco.
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the sky
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heavens gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
8. What other songs come to mind for you?
The church is the household of God, it is the dwelling place of the Living God, and it is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Foundation and Pillar that holds up the Truth
I recently had a family say they did not need gatherings. They felt there was nothing that could be said that they did not already know. Sadly, they were doubting the power of the Word of God and the importance of worshipping together.
We see that the third point is also from 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
9. What image comes to mind when you think of a pillar?
A pillar brings strength and support. In this case, it holds up the truth.
10. What defines a church?
We are the household of God. We are the family of God. We worship a Living God. There are pillars for all of this.
There are instructions on how we are to come together. An example is in 1 Timothy 5:1-2, where Paul says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” There are guidelines on how we are to act.
The Church has been purchased with the blood of God’s Son. Acts 20:28 adds, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Christ founded the church, died for the church, identifies intimately with it, calls it His bride, and refers to it as His body.
We are the guardians of God’s Word. We have the responsibility of preserving God’s Word. This study is not man’s opinions, man’s innovations, man’s creativity, man’s wisdom, or man’s passions. Instead, we lift up one thing and that is the Word of God. Let us magnify it, amplify it, spotlight it, and spread it in the church and all over the World.
Please realize, listening to the Word of God alone is a good thing, and singing to God alone is also good, but singing to God together and hearing His Word preached together is better.
This is why The River Church is about Reach, Gather, and Grow. Our goal is to point people to the feet of Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to point people to Him. We Gather together as the church to be the household of God, to worship (to grow, to give, and to take), and to enter into the body to be with other believers to be called out. We are to be called up to be cared for, loved, directed, and corrected. This is all done through the local church.
1. Have you ever used a metal detector?
As I researched the definition of valuable, I found things like to bring in a high price, quality – worthy of respect admiration and esteem, and or considerable use or service importance.
My mind raced to the church. Does the church match these definitions of valuable?
2. Is the church valuable?
I found it surprising that 120 million people every week attend Church in the United States. That is more than all professional sports attendances combined for a year. About two billion will attend this week around the world.
3. What are some of the values of attending church?
I have heard people say things like, “It makes my wife happy. It keeps my kids out of trouble. Church makes me feel better. I get to see some people I like. The church encourages me; it keeps me going. The message challenges me; it points out things I need to change.”
I believe the church is on a downward turn. People use to go Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I just heard a study that people who attend church do so less than twice monthly.
4. Were you raised going to church whenever the doors were open?
David Platt put it this way, “The Church appears to be irrelevant or optional for many professing Christians today.” This will have an adverse outcome on our community and families.
The church has an amazing value. Without it, you cannot become all that God wants you to become, you will not be all that God wants you to be, and you will not do all that God wants you to do.
I want to look at 1 Timothy 3:15 for the premise of this study guide. Paul says, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
When I speak of the church, I am referring to the gathering of the saints. Church means assembly, those called out. The church is the assembly of the Living God.
I want to point out three values of the church as seen in 1 Timothy 3:15.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Household of God
Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger Pastor, so he would know how things are to operate in the church. These letters have come to be known as the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy; Titus).
The Bible is clear that the church is not a building. It is not an institution. I try not to say, “Go to church” because that is wrong. However, I also try not to say, “You are the church” because that is wrong too. Too many people use it as an excuse to stay home, listen to a sermon on TV, read the Bible, read a book, and even give on the website. You are not the church, we are the church.
Here is the push back - The Household of God. I am not the household of God. You are not the household of God. The church is the household of God. God dwells in me and I am part of the church. God lives in me, so I am part of the household of God.
We are The Household of God. We are the church.
I read an illustration about the Cliff nutrition bar. I enjoy this as a supplement after a good workout; however, I do not want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The same is true of Christian podcasts, TV services, and Christian books. They are supplements that are added and not to replace.
We are the Household of God. We are the universal church. However, God also talks about the local assembly or church. You cannot do the local church by yourself. It becomes more obvious when you realize there needs to be a faithful proclamation of the Word of God, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, godly leaders, the appointing of Elders (Timothy, Titus), and the care and correction of God’s people. The real church feels a calling to change the world.
5. How can the church change the world?
Ephesians 2:19-22 adds, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
The Household of God can be compared to our own homes. If my son has a friend over who is using inappropriate language or puts his feet up on the table, I might sit them down and say, “Hey, it is great having you over, but we have some rules in our house.”
Rules can bring success. There are times when I want to explain something new to the boys I am coaching. I might sound strict, but I do not want them to dribble a basketball or talking while I am explaining something. However, once they follow the instructions in a game and score a basket, I am jumping up and down with them giving high fives.
The church is a team that works together and celebrates together.
6. What are some things we could or should celebrate in the church?
Here are some other values of the church.
An Inheritance in this Household
In 1 Peter 1:4, we read, “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
The Purchase Price of the Family
Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
The Teachings and Correction of the Father
In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
The Closeness of Siblings
Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
You are not an only child!
The church is invaluable. I just cannot give it up. There is not a price or thing that can replace it.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Dwelling Place of the Living God
The church is not just the household of God, but it is the dwelling place of the Living God. Again, we look to 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
Ephesians 2:22 adds, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
7. What initial thoughts do you have from these verses?
He is the Living God. The church is not a dead thing. It is not fake. It is a real and living thing. Paul continues the concept in the next verse. In 1 Timothy 3:16, he says, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
This makes me want to sing, He’s Alive, by Don Francisco.
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the sky
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heavens gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
8. What other songs come to mind for you?
The church is the household of God, it is the dwelling place of the Living God, and it is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Foundation and Pillar that holds up the Truth
I recently had a family say they did not need gatherings. They felt there was nothing that could be said that they did not already know. Sadly, they were doubting the power of the Word of God and the importance of worshipping together.
We see that the third point is also from 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
9. What image comes to mind when you think of a pillar?
A pillar brings strength and support. In this case, it holds up the truth.
10. What defines a church?
We are the household of God. We are the family of God. We worship a Living God. There are pillars for all of this.
There are instructions on how we are to come together. An example is in 1 Timothy 5:1-2, where Paul says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” There are guidelines on how we are to act.
The Church has been purchased with the blood of God’s Son. Acts 20:28 adds, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Christ founded the church, died for the church, identifies intimately with it, calls it His bride, and refers to it as His body.
We are the guardians of God’s Word. We have the responsibility of preserving God’s Word. This study is not man’s opinions, man’s innovations, man’s creativity, man’s wisdom, or man’s passions. Instead, we lift up one thing and that is the Word of God. Let us magnify it, amplify it, spotlight it, and spread it in the church and all over the World.
Please realize, listening to the Word of God alone is a good thing, and singing to God alone is also good, but singing to God together and hearing His Word preached together is better.
This is why The River Church is about Reach, Gather, and Grow. Our goal is to point people to the feet of Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to point people to Him. We Gather together as the church to be the household of God, to worship (to grow, to give, and to take), and to enter into the body to be with other believers to be called out. We are to be called up to be cared for, loved, directed, and corrected. This is all done through the local church.
Lesson Four • Gather
Pastor Jayson Combs
My wife and I just bought our son a metal detector. He loves it. He immediately went into the back yard. He was going through the yard hoping to find a hidden treasure. At one point he came into the house with a metal pole he had found. As I looked outside, it was easy to see where he found it as there was a hole in the yard. He was digging in several spots. He was hoping to find something of value, but only found junk.
1. Have you ever used a metal detector?
As I researched the definition of valuable, I found things like to bring in a high price, quality – worthy of respect admiration and esteem, and or considerable use or service importance.
My mind raced to the church. Does the church match these definitions of valuable?
2. Is the church valuable?
I found it surprising that 120 million people every week attend Church in the United States. That is more than all professional sports attendances combined for a year. About two billion will attend this week around the world.
3. What are some of the values of attending church?
I have heard people say things like, “It makes my wife happy. It keeps my kids out of trouble. Church makes me feel better. I get to see some people I like. The church encourages me; it keeps me going. The message challenges me; it points out things I need to change.”
I believe the church is on a downward turn. People use to go Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I just heard a study that people who attend church do so less than twice monthly.
4. Were you raised going to church whenever the doors were open?
David Platt put it this way, “The Church appears to be irrelevant or optional for many professing Christians today.” This will have an adverse outcome on our community and families.
The church has an amazing value. Without it, you cannot become all that God wants you to become, you will not be all that God wants you to be, and you will not do all that God wants you to do.
I want to look at 1 Timothy 3:15 for the premise of this study guide. Paul says, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
When I speak of the church, I am referring to the gathering of the saints. Church means assembly, those called out. The church is the assembly of the Living God.
I want to point out three values of the church as seen in 1 Timothy 3:15.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Household of God
Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger Pastor, so he would know how things are to operate in the church. These letters have come to be known as the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy; Titus).
The Bible is clear that the church is not a building. It is not an institution. I try not to say, “Go to church” because that is wrong. However, I also try not to say, “You are the church” because that is wrong too. Too many people use it as an excuse to stay home, listen to a sermon on TV, read the Bible, read a book, and even give on the website. You are not the church, we are the church.
Here is the push back - The Household of God. I am not the household of God. You are not the household of God. The church is the household of God. God dwells in me and I am part of the church. God lives in me, so I am part of the household of God.
We are The Household of God. We are the church.
I read an illustration about the Cliff nutrition bar. I enjoy this as a supplement after a good workout; however, I do not want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The same is true of Christian podcasts, TV services, and Christian books. They are supplements that are added and not to replace.
We are the Household of God. We are the universal church. However, God also talks about the local assembly or church. You cannot do the local church by yourself. It becomes more obvious when you realize there needs to be a faithful proclamation of the Word of God, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, godly leaders, the appointing of Elders (Timothy, Titus), and the care and correction of God’s people. The real church feels a calling to change the world.
5. How can the church change the world?
Ephesians 2:19-22 adds, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
The Household of God can be compared to our own homes. If my son has a friend over who is using inappropriate language or puts his feet up on the table, I might sit them down and say, “Hey, it is great having you over, but we have some rules in our house.”
Rules can bring success. There are times when I want to explain something new to the boys I am coaching. I might sound strict, but I do not want them to dribble a basketball or talking while I am explaining something. However, once they follow the instructions in a game and score a basket, I am jumping up and down with them giving high fives.
The church is a team that works together and celebrates together.
6. What are some things we could or should celebrate in the church?
Here are some other values of the church.
An Inheritance in this Household
In 1 Peter 1:4, we read, “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
The Purchase Price of the Family
Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
The Teachings and Correction of the Father
In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
The Closeness of Siblings
Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
You are not an only child!
The church is invaluable. I just cannot give it up. There is not a price or thing that can replace it.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Dwelling Place of the Living God
The church is not just the household of God, but it is the dwelling place of the Living God. Again, we look to 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
Ephesians 2:22 adds, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
7. What initial thoughts do you have from these verses?
He is the Living God. The church is not a dead thing. It is not fake. It is a real and living thing. Paul continues the concept in the next verse. In 1 Timothy 3:16, he says, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
This makes me want to sing, He’s Alive, by Don Francisco.
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the sky
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heavens gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
8. What other songs come to mind for you?
The church is the household of God, it is the dwelling place of the Living God, and it is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Foundation and Pillar that holds up the Truth
I recently had a family say they did not need gatherings. They felt there was nothing that could be said that they did not already know. Sadly, they were doubting the power of the Word of God and the importance of worshipping together.
We see that the third point is also from 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
9. What image comes to mind when you think of a pillar?
A pillar brings strength and support. In this case, it holds up the truth.
10. What defines a church?
We are the household of God. We are the family of God. We worship a Living God. There are pillars for all of this.
There are instructions on how we are to come together. An example is in 1 Timothy 5:1-2, where Paul says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” There are guidelines on how we are to act.
The Church has been purchased with the blood of God’s Son. Acts 20:28 adds, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Christ founded the church, died for the church, identifies intimately with it, calls it His bride, and refers to it as His body.
We are the guardians of God’s Word. We have the responsibility of preserving God’s Word. This study is not man’s opinions, man’s innovations, man’s creativity, man’s wisdom, or man’s passions. Instead, we lift up one thing and that is the Word of God. Let us magnify it, amplify it, spotlight it, and spread it in the church and all over the World.
Please realize, listening to the Word of God alone is a good thing, and singing to God alone is also good, but singing to God together and hearing His Word preached together is better.
This is why The River Church is about Reach, Gather, and Grow. Our goal is to point people to the feet of Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to point people to Him. We Gather together as the church to be the household of God, to worship (to grow, to give, and to take), and to enter into the body to be with other believers to be called out. We are to be called up to be cared for, loved, directed, and corrected. This is all done through the local church.
1. Have you ever used a metal detector?
As I researched the definition of valuable, I found things like to bring in a high price, quality – worthy of respect admiration and esteem, and or considerable use or service importance.
My mind raced to the church. Does the church match these definitions of valuable?
2. Is the church valuable?
I found it surprising that 120 million people every week attend Church in the United States. That is more than all professional sports attendances combined for a year. About two billion will attend this week around the world.
3. What are some of the values of attending church?
I have heard people say things like, “It makes my wife happy. It keeps my kids out of trouble. Church makes me feel better. I get to see some people I like. The church encourages me; it keeps me going. The message challenges me; it points out things I need to change.”
I believe the church is on a downward turn. People use to go Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I just heard a study that people who attend church do so less than twice monthly.
4. Were you raised going to church whenever the doors were open?
David Platt put it this way, “The Church appears to be irrelevant or optional for many professing Christians today.” This will have an adverse outcome on our community and families.
The church has an amazing value. Without it, you cannot become all that God wants you to become, you will not be all that God wants you to be, and you will not do all that God wants you to do.
I want to look at 1 Timothy 3:15 for the premise of this study guide. Paul says, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
When I speak of the church, I am referring to the gathering of the saints. Church means assembly, those called out. The church is the assembly of the Living God.
I want to point out three values of the church as seen in 1 Timothy 3:15.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Household of God
Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger Pastor, so he would know how things are to operate in the church. These letters have come to be known as the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy; Titus).
The Bible is clear that the church is not a building. It is not an institution. I try not to say, “Go to church” because that is wrong. However, I also try not to say, “You are the church” because that is wrong too. Too many people use it as an excuse to stay home, listen to a sermon on TV, read the Bible, read a book, and even give on the website. You are not the church, we are the church.
Here is the push back - The Household of God. I am not the household of God. You are not the household of God. The church is the household of God. God dwells in me and I am part of the church. God lives in me, so I am part of the household of God.
We are The Household of God. We are the church.
I read an illustration about the Cliff nutrition bar. I enjoy this as a supplement after a good workout; however, I do not want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The same is true of Christian podcasts, TV services, and Christian books. They are supplements that are added and not to replace.
We are the Household of God. We are the universal church. However, God also talks about the local assembly or church. You cannot do the local church by yourself. It becomes more obvious when you realize there needs to be a faithful proclamation of the Word of God, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, godly leaders, the appointing of Elders (Timothy, Titus), and the care and correction of God’s people. The real church feels a calling to change the world.
5. How can the church change the world?
Ephesians 2:19-22 adds, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
The Household of God can be compared to our own homes. If my son has a friend over who is using inappropriate language or puts his feet up on the table, I might sit them down and say, “Hey, it is great having you over, but we have some rules in our house.”
Rules can bring success. There are times when I want to explain something new to the boys I am coaching. I might sound strict, but I do not want them to dribble a basketball or talking while I am explaining something. However, once they follow the instructions in a game and score a basket, I am jumping up and down with them giving high fives.
The church is a team that works together and celebrates together.
6. What are some things we could or should celebrate in the church?
Here are some other values of the church.
An Inheritance in this Household
In 1 Peter 1:4, we read, “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
The Purchase Price of the Family
Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
The Teachings and Correction of the Father
In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
The Closeness of Siblings
Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
You are not an only child!
The church is invaluable. I just cannot give it up. There is not a price or thing that can replace it.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Dwelling Place of the Living God
The church is not just the household of God, but it is the dwelling place of the Living God. Again, we look to 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
Ephesians 2:22 adds, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
7. What initial thoughts do you have from these verses?
He is the Living God. The church is not a dead thing. It is not fake. It is a real and living thing. Paul continues the concept in the next verse. In 1 Timothy 3:16, he says, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
This makes me want to sing, He’s Alive, by Don Francisco.
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the sky
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heavens gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
8. What other songs come to mind for you?
The church is the household of God, it is the dwelling place of the Living God, and it is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth.
Amazing Value - The Church is the Foundation and Pillar that holds up the Truth
I recently had a family say they did not need gatherings. They felt there was nothing that could be said that they did not already know. Sadly, they were doubting the power of the Word of God and the importance of worshipping together.
We see that the third point is also from 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
9. What image comes to mind when you think of a pillar?
A pillar brings strength and support. In this case, it holds up the truth.
10. What defines a church?
We are the household of God. We are the family of God. We worship a Living God. There are pillars for all of this.
There are instructions on how we are to come together. An example is in 1 Timothy 5:1-2, where Paul says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” There are guidelines on how we are to act.
The Church has been purchased with the blood of God’s Son. Acts 20:28 adds, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Christ founded the church, died for the church, identifies intimately with it, calls it His bride, and refers to it as His body.
We are the guardians of God’s Word. We have the responsibility of preserving God’s Word. This study is not man’s opinions, man’s innovations, man’s creativity, man’s wisdom, or man’s passions. Instead, we lift up one thing and that is the Word of God. Let us magnify it, amplify it, spotlight it, and spread it in the church and all over the World.
Please realize, listening to the Word of God alone is a good thing, and singing to God alone is also good, but singing to God together and hearing His Word preached together is better.
This is why The River Church is about Reach, Gather, and Grow. Our goal is to point people to the feet of Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to point people to Him. We Gather together as the church to be the household of God, to worship (to grow, to give, and to take), and to enter into the body to be with other believers to be called out. We are to be called up to be cared for, loved, directed, and corrected. This is all done through the local church.
Audience of One
Dr. Randy T. Johnson
Join The Team (JTT) is the opportunity of being part of something bigger than yourself. It is the calling of God to be involved with other believers in serving the Lord. Although it is a high calling, it is still a calling to all believers.
The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.
1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?
2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?
3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?
4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.
As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.
5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?
6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?
7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?
LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.
Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.
8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?
In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”
• “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
• “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
• “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43
• “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
• “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29
9. What verses stand out to you? Why?
10. What principles can be learned from these verses?
There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!
The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.
1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?
2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?
3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?
4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.
As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.
5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?
6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?
7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?
LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.
Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.
8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?
In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”
• “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
• “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
• “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43
• “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
• “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29
9. What verses stand out to you? Why?
10. What principles can be learned from these verses?
There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!