River Church NOLA
Wed July 1
  • My Jesus
  • Open Up The Heavens
  • Freedom Reigns
  • Here As In Heaven
  • Intro
    Boudreaux decided he was gonna throw a boucherie all by himself this year. He told Thibodeaux, “Me, I don’t need nobody. I’m gonna cook, I’m gonna season, I’m gonna stir the cracklin’, I’m gonna play the accordion, AND I’m gonna eat.”
    A few hours later Thibodeaux come by and find Boudreaux sittin’ in a cloud of smoke — gumbo burnt, accordion fell in the pot, lookin’ like a possum that lost a fight with a ceiling fan. Thibodeaux say, “Boudreaux! What happen?” Boudreaux just shake his head: “Cher, turns out one man can’t be the whole party.” Thibodeaux grin big: “Mais, that’s why God made friends, you.”
    That right there is the church.

    God never meant for you to be the whole body by yourself.

    There was never meant to be a lone ranger Christian.

    A log in a fire burns bright as long as it stays in the fire.

    Pull it out, set it on the hearth by itself, and what happens? It smolders. Smokes a little. Goes cold. Not because there’s anything wrong with the log — but because it left the fire.
    That’s us. But god never intended that to be us.

    We don’t keep burning alone.

    ASK  Quick and honest — what’s one reason you’d give for going to church? And lately, what’s your attitude been: “I’m enthusiastic,” or “I’m checking social media”?

    Which if the following is your reasons to attend church?

    ☐   I need to get recharged to face life’s difficulties.
    ☐   I need to be taught God’s word.
    ☐   I need to worship God.
    ☐   I may meet a spouse.
    ☐   I need fellowship with other Christians.
    ☐   I meet interesting people in church.

    Circle the statements that describe your attitude toward church right now.

    I'm bored My mind wanders I hate the songs
    I'm focused on God I'm critical I'm enthusiastic
    I go through the motions I wish I had a book to read
    I'm paying attention I look at my watch
    I check out social media I play games on my phone

    What is the Church?

    The first thing we have to do is to unlearn some things.

    The church is not a building, it’s a assembly of believers.

    You don’t just go to church. If you are a believer, you are the church.
    Read…
    Ephesians 4:12–14 NLT
    12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

    The church is a place where we …

    Built up Nurtured Taught Encouraged Glad to be with others Equipped to work for Jesus

    When is a time when the Church built you up and carried you when you couldn’t carry yourself?

    get answers
    The Bible says the church is not a building — it’s Jesus’ body. Each one of us, as a part of that body, has certain responsibilities. An unknown author captured this beautifully:

    He has no hands but our hands to for his work today He has not feet but our feet to lead men his way He has no voice but our voice to tell men how he died He has no help but our help to lead them to His side

    How does Paul describe the church in 1 CO 12:12-20

    1 Corinthians 12:12–20 NLT
    12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

    Building Club Body Team Social Event TV or Radio show

    Notice verse 13. We were baptized by one spirit into one body. We didn’t put ourselves in the Body, the Spirit did. We didn’t earn it. He is the one who assigns us our place… hand… foot… mouth…

    What is the most significant teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:21-31?

    1 Corinthians 12:21–31 NLT
    21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
    ☐   Some members in the church are more important than others.
    ☐   It is easier to be a Christian if you stay away from church.
    ☐   The church is like a human body — everyone must work together for it to function the way God wants.
    ☐   Self-expression is the most important thing in the church.
    Paul says that the parts that look less important are actually the most important. There are no nobodies in the Church… no bench warmers… no spare parts… no 2nd string.

    According to Eph 5:25, how much does Jesus love the church?

    Ephesians 5:25 NLT
    25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
    The church is a gathering of believers, where each one carried out particular responsibilities, and Christ loves it enough to give himself for it.
    The church isn’t a club you joined — it’s a bride He bled for. You’re not part of the body because you signed up, behaved well, or showed up enough Sundays.  You’re part of it because Jesus already gave Himself to make you His. The body exists because of what He finished on the cross — not because of anything we bring

    Should I Attend Church?

    So if I’m already in the body by grace — do I still need to show up?

    Is going to church really important? Yes No Not sure

    Let’s look at Heb 10:24-25
    Hebrews 10:24–25 NLT
    24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
    Write out your answer.
    Look at WHY we gather — to stir up love and good works in each other. We don’t come to clock in for God. We come because, like that log, we keep each other burning. Stay away from the fire long enough and you start to smolder — not because God’s mad, but because you were built to burn together.
    ASK  Be honest —

    What tends to pull you OUT of the fire? And who in this room helps keep you in it?

    Showing up is not how you earn God’s love — you already have it in full through Christ.  Gathering is simply how you stay close to the grace that keeps you alive.  You don’t go to church to get saved; you gather because you already are.

    What are my responsibilities?

    If we are one body, we’ve got “one another” responsibilities. Let’s work the matching exercise on your sheet… connect each verse to what it tells us to do.
    Romans 12:10 NLT
    10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

    Serve one another

    Galatians 5:13 NLT
    13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

    Confess sin and pray for one another.

    Ephesians 4:2 NLT
    2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

    Love and honor one another.

    1 Thessalonians 4:18 NLT
    18 So encourage each other with these words.

    Be Patient, humble, and gentle, making allowance for one another.

    James 5:16 NLT
    16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

    Encourage one another.

    1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT
    27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
    SAY  Not “you will be if you try harder.” You ARE. Present tense. Finished work. A log doesn’t make the fire hot — the fire makes the log burn. You don’t make yourself part of the body; Christ already did, when He gave Himself for you. Your job this week isn’t to earn your place. It’s to stay in the fire — and help somebody else stay in it too.
    ASK  One word as we close — what’s God asking you to do with what we read today? (Go around the room.)
    PRAY  Father, thank You that we didn’t earn our way into Your body — Jesus gave Himself to make us His. Thank You there are no nobodies here, no spare parts, no one who doesn’t matter. Keep us in the fire. Teach us to build each other up, to serve from the grace we’ve already been given, and to love one another the way You first loved us. And when one of us starts to smolder, send the rest to pull us back to the flame. In Jesus’ name, amen.
    One Lord… One Spirit… One Body… and Every member matters.

      • Ephesians 4:12–14NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:12–20NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:21–31NIV

      • Ephesians 5:25NIV

      • Hebrews 10:24–25NIV

      • Romans 12:10NIV

      • Galatians 5:13NIV

      • Ephesians 4:2NIV

      • 1 Thessalonians 4:18NIV

      • James 5:16NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:27NIV

River Church NOLA
robert@riverchurchnola.com
504-578-8317
https://riverchurchnola.com
6 members • 19 followers