Encounter Church
Sunday Morning 03.15.26
      • Bible Trivia
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  • Jesus Be The Name
  • The Mighty Name of Jesus
  • Flow to you
  • I am a Friend of God
  • Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone)

      • Proverbs 11:24-25NIV2011

  • The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power

      • Matthew 26:26–28NIV2011

  • Jesus Be The Name
  • yaweh will manifest himself

      • Matthew 5:1–2MESSAGE

      • Matthew 5:1–2ESV

      • Mark 3:13–15NLT

      • Matthew 4:23–25NKJV

      • Matthew 5:13–16NKJV

      • Ephesians 2:14CSB

      • Acts 17:26NKJV

      • Galatians 3:28CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 5:11NLT

      • 2 Corinthians 5:16NLT

      • 2 Corinthians 5:18–21NLT

      • Matthew 28:18–20NKJV

      • Ephesians 3:14–15KJV1900

      • Luke 19:40NKJV

      • Colossians 3:16KJV1900

  • Climbing Companions
    Matthew 5:1-2
    When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said . . . (MSG)
    I have read from the paraphrase of Scripture called The Message generated by pastor/theologian, the late Eugene Peterson
    In the copy of the Bible that I read from daily and have carried with me to the pulpit this morning, the English Standard Version, (ESV) the passage reads:
    “Seeing the crowds, he went up on a mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:” (Matt 5:1–2, ESV)
    Listen again, to the passage in The Message
    I am fascinated by the rendering of the editorial introduction to what we traditionally call the Sermon on the Mount was provided by Matthew, He identifies two groups that are important for our consideration.
    Crowds (huge crowds)
    Climbing companions
    o Those apprenticed to him
    o The committed
    o Climbing companions
    A second intriguing observation is the verb “climb”—action oriented
    · He (Jesus) climbed a hillside
    · Climbed with him (Jesus)
    · Climbing companions (Jesus and the disciples)
    In the paraphrase of this particular passage, the leadership of Jesus and the consequent dynamics of the two groups who surrounded him are clearly indicated.
    We understand that the committed ones, the climbing companions, were the disciples with whom Jesus traveled and mentored during his 3 ½ years of earthly ministry
                The gospel writer Mark communicates that,
    Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones [the committed ones, the climbing companions] he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. (Mark 3:13-15, NLT)
               
    Inherent in the passage is the reality that the disciples/the apostles were to be with Him
                            They were to learn from Him
                                        They were to be mentored by Him
                In keeping company with Him, they learned from his teaching
    Matthew’s introduction points to what Jesus will subsequently teach them in the SOM, chapters 5, 6, and 7:
    · Beatitudes (Blessed Life—Human flourishing) 5:3–12
    o Our Lord’s teaching is antithetical to the philosophy of the world.
    o Jesus’ decisively contrasts the KOG and the Kingdom of this world.
    o The propositions spoken by Jesus here are countercultural to the aspirations of the world
    § v-5: blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
    · World reads the weak—no—strength under control (horse)
    · Power that is harnessed for specific purpose
    § V-9: blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God
    · Not peacekeepers
    · Not peacefakers
    · Our Lord calls/commissions the disciples/climbing companions to be salt and light, 5:13–16
    · You have heard—but I say unto you: 6 times (NOT abrogation—NO—fulfillment)
    o Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
    § 5:21-26: conflict resolution
    § 5:27-30: immorality/lust
    § 5:31-32: marriage/divorce
    § 5:33-37: truth telling, honest living, being trustworthy
    § 5:38-42: retaliation for wrongdoing done to you personally
    § 5:43-48: love enemies
    · Jesus teaches the Model Prayer: Matt 6:9–13
    · Lifestyle of forgiveness
    · Spiritual discipline of fasting
    · Heart of contentment
    · Challenges of Anxiety-driven living
    · Various other teaching points
    Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
    Matthew 6:9–13 ESV
    Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
    Jesus concludes the sermon by identifying two types of people in the audience.
    Share with young men and women that I mentor in gospel ministry that there are always two types of people in the audience to which you preach.
                Hear Only
                Hear and Obey
               
    This identity as the committed, the phrase climbing companion is significant for our consideration today
                      There are crowds—and then there are the committed
                                  There is community—and then there are climbing companions
    There are congregations—and then there are the committed climbing companions
    Don’t mistake the crowd for the committed
                Don’t mistake the congregation for the climbing companion
                            When Jesus scaled the mountain, the crowd stayed at the bottom
    Crowds assemble easily—they like the fanfare and the freebies, but they recoil at the call to commitment
               
                           
    Let’s consider key phrases in these first two verses of this editorial
    · Jesus’ ministry is drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside
    o Notice the context in which Matthew writing about the crowds
    § Matthew 4:23-25
    · “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond Jordan.”
    · Without the aid of social media, modern communication, mass mailings, and zoom meetings the fame of Jesus was spreading because of the supernatural miraculous healings that were occurring
    · People were coming from north, south, east, and west to hear this new prophet, this new preacher and to receive from his hand
    · Matthew 4:23–25 is the immediate context of the SOM—but then the crowd stopped short—they didn’t want to climb
    · This is crowd mentality: attracted to the sensational/supernatural, but recoils from commitment
    · Washington Men’s Retreat
    o Mt. Rainier with boys
    o Group preparing to scale the mountain as we were coming down
    o They had all the gear, each man/woman carrying his/her own supplies-days climb
    But let’s look at the other group, the committed ones, the climbing companions
    · Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him
    o Watch this, we will unpack this more in a moment
    o There is a difference in being a part of the crowd, and a climbing companion
    o Climbing companions are apprenticed to the Teacher, not just enamored by his charisma
    § Apprenticeship is a mentoring relationship of younger with older: spiritual father/mother
    · Mt. Rainer: on the shoulders of the giants (downed trees)
    · “Mentoring from the cemetery”—E. Peterson
    § Inexperienced learns from the experienced
    § Student learns from the master
    § Unskilled acquires the skills of the trade
    § Influenced by the personality of Teacher
    § Assumes the character of the trainer
    § In a successful apprenticeship, someone can look at the work of the apprentice and know who his master is
    § Perhaps, this is why Jesus said, Mt. 11:28—take my yoke upon you and learn of me
    Matthew 11:28–29 ESV
    Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
    o A climbing companion expends energy to climb with the Teacher, rather than just wait at the bottom of the mountain for the Teacher to come back down
    o Committed climb with him
    § Karen in the Smoky Mountain trails
    § Step where I step
    · Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said
    o Climbing companions are committed to the Teacher, but also to the process of being taught/trained
    o Climbing companions make the sacrifice for the journey: journey is not simply the physical climb. It also encompasses the learning curve, climbing to learn new skills, concepts, principles, and ideas by committing ourselves to being taught.
    § Leadership is not a destination, it’s a journey
    § Never fully arrive—always improving
    · About showing up when others stay home
    · Climbing when others remain at the bottom of the mountain
    § Being a church is not about completing a task and coasting for the rest of time, it is about being visionary
    § Indeed celebrating the achievement, pausing to rest, and then continuing the climb!
    The reason the crowd stays at the bottom of the mountain
    The reason the congregation allows others to make the climb while they watch and critique their progress (Children’s church sanctuary at Grayson—you missed a spot)
                            Is because they don’t want to pay the price
                                        They are not climbing companions
    The old gospel song made famous by African American preacher, E. C. Barnes, encapsulates this fundamental truth
                I’m comin’ up on the rough side of the mountain,
                I must hold to God, His powerful hand.
                I’m comin’ up on the rough side of the mountain,
                I’m doin’ my best to make it in
    The late Aretha Franklin, (d. 2018) was the Queen of Soul
    “It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hold on to.”
    Climbing companions, the committed not only see the vision of a new sanctuary, ministry opportunities to the community, they are committed to make it a reality
    · Congregations coast, while the committed climb
    · Crowds twiddle their fingers, while climbing companions put one foot in front of another
    · Communities critique the progress and say “you should’ve done it this way”, while the core group pleads “come join us on the journey”
    o HWC—we’re going forward with or without you
    You can identify the crowd because they are on the sideline.
                You can identify the committed because they are on the side of the mountain.
    The congregation is dressed in their Sunday best
                Climbing companions are dusty, they wear hiking boots and gloves
    Crowds gather at the bottom of the mountain with lemonade, shade umbrellas, and funeral fans in their hands to keep the breeze going
    While the committed are perspiring under the intense heat of the sun, their shins are scraped and bloody from falling while climbing, their knuckles are bruised because of reaching for a higher point in the cleft of the rocky crags while pulling themselves up the steep precipice, but they’ve caught a glimpse of a heavenly vision and they are committed!
                           
    “Climbing is difficult. The tug of gravity is constant. There are barriers to be surmounted and hazards to be met. Ordinarily, though, with a moderate amount of determination and stamina, people complete the climb they begin. But sometimes the foothold gives way and there is a slide backward.” (Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, 77)
                Sleeping Bear Dunes (900 feet tall)
                            Three steps up, slide back two steps—sand up past your ankles
    For the church to be the church, it must be comprised of climbing companions, not just be a congregation!
                Make no mistake, this sanctuary didn’t get remodeled because of a crowd
                            It got remodeled because of the committed
                This church will not grow and reach its full potential because of a crowd mentality
                            It will grow when the congregation become climbing companions!
    In His SOM, Jesus said it this way
    You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before me, that they may see your good works and glory your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:13-16)
    Salt and light
                Salt seasons that which is bland while light dispels darkness
                            Salt heals wounds while light illuminates the pathway
                                        Salt preserves food/meat while sun light enables growth
                                                    Salt disinfects while light reveals mold and disease
    Salt makes you thirsty, light reveals who the LIVING water is!
                Some mistakenly conclude that darkness overtakes light, that is not true
                            Light is more powerful than darkness
                                        Wherever light shines, darkness recoils
                                                    When light is turned on
                                                                Cockroaches run away
                                                                            Rats look for cover
                                                                                        Spiders scurry for the dark places
    Jesus told the apostles that what the world needs is salt to season that which is bland
                Salt to heal the wounds of humanity
                            Salt to preserve the family and societal unit
                                        Salt to disinfect that which is diseased
    Jesus further said to the apostles that as the Church of the Living God they were to shine from the top of the mountain
                But you can’t shine from the top, until you climb to the top!
                            They were to be the light of the world
                                        Light is more powerful than the sinister darkness of racism
    Light is more powerful than the drug cartels and their cockroach ways
    Light is more powerful than spiders that walk the streets at night engaging in human trafficking
    Jesus informed the apostles, the climbing companions, the committed ones that they were salt and light
                He did not say this to the crowd
                            He did not tell this to the congregation
                                        It’s the climbing companions who are salt and light
    Indeed, the church of the living God, the committed ones, the climbing companions, we are to be the conscience of the community
                Not in a haughty condemnatory way—but to say there is a better way
    REMEMBER the words of our Lord
                You have heard—but I say to you (there is a better way!)
    The church of the living God, the committed ones, the climbing companions, we are to be countercultural
    Society does not dictate to the church, the pace of the church is set in motion by the Holy Spirit!
    One of the tragedies of the pandemic and the draconian lockdowns is that the church has become a bit anemic. My diagnosis of anemia
                We’ve become a bit timid
                            We’ve become a bit apologetic
    I am not encouraging that we be militaristic or combative
    But we must not abdicate our spiritual authority and call to be salt and light in this world!
    The world does not get to define what holiness and righteous living is
    That’s the call of the church through the correct preaching and teaching of the Word of God        
    The world does not get to define when life begins
                That’s the call of the church—fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139)
    Psalm 139:14 ESV
    I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
    The world does not get to pontificate on biblically valid marriages
    That’s the call of the church: a man shall leave his father/mother and be joined to his wife and be one flesh
    And the church does not take its marching orders about the sin of racism, bigotry, and discrimination from society
    The Lord Jesus Himself has commissioned the church to be the unifier in this world because He has broken down the middle wall of partition through the cross!
    For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14)
    Ephesians 2:14 ESV
    For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
    You have to love me in Christ, even though my paternal grandmother was a descendant of the Shawnee Native American Nation
    You have to love me in Christ, even though my maternal grandmother was a descendant of the Cherokee Native American Nation
    You have to love me in Christ, even though my maternal grandfather was of German descent
    You have to love me in Christ, even though my paternal great-grandfather times 7, Johnson Harper, fought in the Revolutionary War
                            In Detroit they call me their Jamaerican Bishop
    My ancestry is so mixed up and convoluted that some would say, you don’t even know who you are
                Oh but yes I do! I am the son of the Most High King!
                            His royal blood now flows through my veins!
    I hear the apostle Paul as he preaches in the Areopagus about the identity of the unknown God as he exposes all the false idols housed in the temple
    And he has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth (Acts 17:26, NKJV)
    Acts 17:26 NKJV
    And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
                I’ve read from the pen of the Apostle Paul as he writes to the church at Galatia,
    There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28, NKJV)
    Galatians 3:28 NKJV
    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
    Make no mistake, as the climbing companions of Christ
                As the committed ones to God
                            This church has been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation
    To the church at Corinth, who had been divided along partisan lines of their favorite teacher, preacher, and socio-economic statuses, Paul admonishes
    Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this too. . . . So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view . . .  . [indeed Red, Yellow, Black, and White—we are all precious in His sight!] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [Does this mean that we abdicate our cultural identity—NOT at all. But we allow our identity in Christ to be the preeminent identity]
    All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’ For God made Christ, who never sinner, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Cor 5: 11, 16, 18-21, NLT)
                                       
    My point is that the world should not be leading society on race relations
                This is the call of the church!
                            The world divides us
                                        Our Lord unites us through the cross of Jesus Christ!
    If I might add, this sanctuary is not just for you and your family
                Take a look at it now, it’s pristine, freshly painted, everything is in order
                            But in a ministry of reconciliation
                                        Scuff marks will appear on the wall
                                                    Stains will get on the carpet
                Trash will be strewn throughout the sanctuary
                            But then living things produce trash!
                You’re gonna have to get comfortable with messiness
    But then some committed people will need to be salt and light and clean up the mess, paint over the scuff marks, and pick up the trash and throw it in the receptacles
                Crowds complain about the mess
    Congregations say I didn’t donate to the building fund for the church to look like this, somebody needs to clean it up
    But the committed ones, the climbing companions, put on gloves, get out cleaning buckets and mops and sing as they clean up the mess, as they are salt and light—thank you Lord that you have allowed me to be part of the ministry of reconciliation!
    There is a leadership principle called the Pareto Principle—80/20 Rule
                80% of the results come from 20% of effort
    In the church this is clearly seen as 80% of the work/ministry is accomplished by 20% of the people/committed ones
                20% of the people (climbing companions) do 80% of the work/ministry
    80%=is the congregation, they think the church exists to serve them
    20%=the committed ones, the climbing companions, they realize they’ve been redeemed and entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation to actually do the work of the ministry
                I served as a pastor for 24 years, I know what I’m talking about
                            Bishop for 21 years, I know about that of which I speak
    20% of the people cook the food for a church fellowship dinner, while 80% show up to eat it!
    As soon as everybody gets through the line, 80% of the people whip out take home boxes for the leftovers!
                My mother-in-law, loved my and Karen’s cooking
    She would show up to our house with empty Tupperware containers!
    Preached her funeral, I brought a Tupperware container to the pulpit with me
    This sermon is a call to the 80%, it’s time to step up to the mountain and become a climbing companion!
                Quit scratching around the hen house with the rest of the chickens
                            Soar with the eagles!
    [raise and keep chickens—chickens are territorial, they like familiarity. They don’t like their rituals being interrupted]    
                Margaret find another pew to lay your egg in
                            Lois thinks it’s Harper Hill B&B
    Time to quit scratching around with the chickens and mount up with wings like the eagles (Is 40:31)
    Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
    But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
    Being the committed is not about having our favorite seat, it’s about giving it up for someone else
    Being the committed is not about everybody waiting on us, it is about us serving others that God brings to us
                They won’t look like us many times
                            They won’t smell like us
                                        They won’t talk like us
                Hair may be purple and pink
                            They may have metal growing out of their nose
                                        They may wear clothes that convey a dark side
                You don’t have to say to them when they walk in
    Here, I’m gonna throw the salt of God all over you to season you up a bit
                No, you just be the salt of the earth
    When they walk in with all their worldly paraphernalia, you don’t jump over three pews to get your Church of God flashlight to shine it on them, NO—you just be the light of world!
    This is the ministry of reconciliation
               
    And, if we are going to fulfill our mandate with the ministry of reconciliation as climbing companions, then the Church of the Living God

    Be A Missional Climbing Companion

    When I talk about the church being missional, I am not suggesting that we simply give emphasis to a missions program and make sure that we donate money to the missions department
                Being a missional church is a way of life—not another program of the church
               
                The church must be intentionally missional—which is much more than a program or a
    department—it is what the church is
    Leonard Sweet, in his book So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church points out that
    “Mission is not an activity of the church but an attribute of God.  God is a missionary God, Jesus is a missionary Messiah, and the Spirit is a missionary Spirit.  Mission is the family business.” (p. 55).
                Indeed, Missions is the call of the church
    Jesus said it succinctly, when He entrusted to the Disciples, the Great Commission
    "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." - (Mat 28:18 NKJV)
    "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," - (Mat 28:19 NKJV)
    "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen." - (Mat 28:20 NKJV)
    We need to notice that our Lord has fully resourced this ministry for us
                All authority has been given to Him both in heaven and  in earth (v. 18)
                            I am with you always—even to the end of the age (v. 20)
    Too often, we allow fear and intimidation to stop us short of sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us
    However, our Lord indicated that the same authority that He has, journeys with us as we engage the harvest
    Indeed, this is the call of the church—to be missional
                In this Great Commission issued by our Lord, the central verb is “make disciples”
                            It is modified by three action participles
                                        Going
                                        Baptizing
                                        Teaching
    This church is to be a Going church, a Baptizing church, a Teaching church
                We are to go to the streets and tell people about Jesus Christ
                            We are to baptize new converts into Christ in water baptism
                                        Teach new converts how to live and be a disciple of Jesus Christ
    Indeed, this is  the call of the church—the call to be missional
    Being missional is not something that we focus on in church, but it is a calling to be engaged in the harvest, sensitive to the needs of neighbors and co-workers, in whatever environment we may find ourselves in our daily context
    Church is not something we do on Sunday, it is who we are throughout the week
                Sunday we are the church gathered
                            Monday-Saturday we are the church scattered
    Indeed, when we are missional, the Holy Spirit will open doors of opportunity for us to share Christ on the job, across the neighbors’ fence, and at our children’s soccer game
    We will then understand that our church doesn’t exist to provide us a pew, but that it exists to train us to take advantage of the platforms available to us in our daily lives in order to make Jesus famous in the world
    Being missional simply becomes a way of life
    The Good Samaritan was missional when he stopped to minister to the man bruised and beaten on the Jericho Road (Luke 10)
                This same man had been noticed by both a priest and a Levite, who the
    Scripture says “passed by on the other side.”
    Perhaps, the priest was late for a missions board meeting at the local synagogue—so he did not have time to stop and assist
    Perhaps, the Levite was expected at the Temple to present a slide show on his latest mission trip—he must hurry to get the presentation set up
    Samaritan saw the man, bruised, beaten, and robbed
                The Bible says,  he came to where he was and had compassion on him
                            He involved himself into the life of this man whom he did not know
    Make no mistake, the Holy Spirit will open doors for us to share the good news of Jesus
                Yet, how many opportunities do we squander?
                (Kindle illustration)
    Presbyterian Pastor John Huffman said often
                Either you are a minister or you need one.
                Either you are a missionary or you need one.
    Either a missionary or a mission field.
               
    The Church of God is to be . . .

    Be A Relational Climbing Companion

                The life of the church is clearly expressed within the context of community.
                            We are a community of faith
                                        We are the family of God
                The Apostle Paul stated it this way
    "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," - (Eph 3:14 KJV)
    "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," - (Eph 3:15 KJV)
    In a relational church—we will create an environment that is conducive to healthy worship of our Lord
                                       
    Worshiping God is to our spirit what oxygen is to our lungs
                            Without oxygen we will die
                                        Without worship we will spiritually die
    On Palm Sunday, the day our Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, amid the shouts of praise and Hosannas of the people
                The religious elite, the Pharisees and Saduccees, became uncomfortable with the
    worship that was being directed toward Jesus           
    In an effort to be in control of the, the leaders asked Jesus to re-direct the exuberance of  those who were worshiping Him
                However, Jesus looked at the religious leaders and said
    I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Luke 19:40, NKJV)
    Indeed, the church is a worshiping community
                We make no apology for lifting up the name of Jesus
                Indeed, we understand that He is our
    · Jehovah-Jireh              The Lord our Provider
    · Jehovah-Raphe           The Lord our Healer
    · Jehovah-Rohi              The Lord our Shepherd
    · Jehovah-Shalom         The Lord our Peace-giver
    · Jehovah-Shammah      The Lord who is there
    · Jehovah-Tsidkenu       The Lord our Righteousness
    This church will not be silent about Jesus Christ
                We will worship Him
                            We will lift Him up
    We will magnify the name of our Lord as we gather together as the community of faith
    Worship will include not only singing, but testifying about the blessings of the Lord
                We will bring our tithes and offerings into the store house of the church
    We will gather around the Lord’s table-- eating the bread and drinking the cup
                                        We will engage in the preaching of the Word
    This is the emphasis of the Apostle Paul as he entreated the Colossian church
    "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." - (Col 3:16 KJV)
    Notice what the Apostle says
    Worship is to be a community expression
    To be sure, there are private times of worship, closet prayer moments—when it is just me and the Lord
    However, the NT church is about gathering together in community to worship—and as we worship together in community, we take on the image of the cruciform church
    Cruciform (vertical beam—Godward; horizontal—manward)
    To be sure, we worship only Jesus Christ
                However, in our worship of Jesus, something horizontal occurs
                            Not only do we relate to Jesus, we relate to one another
                                        Again, notice what the Apostle says
    When we are worshiping and singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord—we are admonishing one another—we are teaching one another
    When I have had a difficult week and my faith has been put to the test
                I come to church on Sunday, hear the community of faith sing that great old hymn
                            Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
                            There is no shadow of turning with Thee
                                        Something begins to witness within my spirit
                                                    Hear worshipers in unison testify to the faithfulness of God
    This is being the relational church
                The reality is—I cannot be a church by myself
                            It takes a community covenanted together with God to be a church
    This is the dynamic of Paul’s emphasis on admonishing and teaching “one another”
                This phrase “one another” occurs over 50 times in the NT
                           
     Greet one another (Rom 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)
    Romans 16:16 ESV
    Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
    1 Corinthians 16:20 ESV
    All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
    2 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
    Greet one another with a holy kiss.
    1 Peter 5:14 ESV
    Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
     Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)
    1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV
    Therefore encourage one another with these words.
     Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)
    Colossians 3:13 ESV
    bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
     Build one another up (Rom 15:2; 1 Thess 5:11)
    Romans 15:2 ESV
    Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
    1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
    Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
     Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
    Galatians 5:13 ESV
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
     Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
    Galatians 6:2 ESV
    Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
     Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)
     Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)
    Hebrews 10:25 ESV
    not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
     Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)
    Ephesians 4:32 ESV
    Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
    Romans 12:10 ESV
    Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
     Receive (or welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)
    Romans 15:7 ESV
    Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
     Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)
    1 Corinthians 12:25 ESV
    that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
     Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)
    1 Peter 4:10 ESV
    As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
     Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
    1 Peter 4:9 ESV
    Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
     Pray for one another (Jas. 5:16).
    James 5:16 ESV
    Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
    Just as worship is the oxygen of the church
                Fellowship is the glue that binds us together
    Conclusion:
    Will you accept the call to be a climbing companion? A committed apprentice?
    Will you hear only? Or, will you hear and obey?

      • Matthew 6:9–13KJV1900

      • Matthew 11:28–29KJV1900

      • Psalm 139:14KJV1900

      • Ephesians 2:14KJV1900

      • Acts 17:26KJV1900

      • Galatians 3:28KJV1900

      • Isaiah 40:31KJV1900

      • Romans 16:16KJV1900

      • 1 Corinthians 16:20KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 13:12KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 5:14KJV1900

      • 1 Thessalonians 4:18KJV1900

      • Colossians 3:13KJV1900

      • Romans 15:2KJV1900

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:11KJV1900

      • Galatians 6:2KJV1900

      • Galatians 5:13KJV1900

      • Hebrews 10:25KJV1900

      • Ephesians 4:32KJV1900

      • Romans 12:10KJV1900

      • Romans 15:7KJV1900

      • 1 Corinthians 12:25KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 4:10KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 4:9KJV1900

      • James 5:16KJV1900

Encounter Church
http://www.encounter360.org
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