Imperfect 1 - The Church: Ordained & Messy

Evergreen Christian Community

Big Idea: The Church: Ordained by God, messed up by man, still God’s plan.

Matthew 16:13-18

1 - The Church is different from any other organization or organism.

The Church originated with Christ.

"Church" comes from the word "ekklesia" meaning “Called out ones”

Christ is The Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Christ is Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18)

The Church has both eternal & present purposes

Matthew 28:19-20

Acts 2:42-45

2 - The Church has its flaws and it is YOU and ME

The Church is divinely ordained & humanly flawed

3 - God calls us to ALL PLAY

• Fight the urge to be selfish and only consume

• Fight the urge to be safe and hold back

“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.” -C.S. Lewis

“Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.” - Charles Spurgeon

Response:

• Thank God for The Church

• Be open to healing throughout this series

• Be open to play your role in The Church

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's passage: Hebrews 2:11-22

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)