Acts 2; Romans 11; Ephesians 4
A) God's people were created, sustained and blessed by God's grace since the beginning.
Genesis 1:26-28;3:12-24; 4:1,2-26;6-9;12:3;Deuteronomy 7:7-9; Ephesians 1:3-12;1 Peter 1:13-16; Joshua 2:1-16; 6:22-23; Ruth 1:16-17; James 2:25; Isaiah 52:13-15; 60:1-3
B) God's people forgiven of sins and given the Holy Spirit to give light to the world
"As the moon reflects the sun, so the church reflects the light of God to a dark world." - original author unknown
1. Jesus is the prophesied Messiah and only begotten Son of God
Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 1:1-17; Hebrews 9:14; 10:14,19-22; Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 6:5-13; Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:7-13; 8:1-10; John 17; Romans 6:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Acts 1:1-11
2. Holy Spirit's trans-formative power in the world and in the individual
Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:16-17; Psalm 51:10-13; John 7:37-39; 14:17;16:7-8; Psalm 16:8-11; 110:1; John 3:3-8; Matthew 16:18; Romans 12:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Matthew 5:9; John 1:12-13; 11:51-52; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:23-29; 1 John 3:1-10; 5:2,19
3. The Church's mission is to proclaim God's word, making disciples of all people
Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9;22:17;Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:9-10; Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:1-3; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; John 3:5-6; 14:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 14:15; Romans 5:5; 1 John 14:15; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Revelation 22:1-5; Romans 12:1; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; Luke 21:24; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10
4. The trials and refinement of the Church brings with it unity and deeper dependence on God
Acts 8:1,4;Colossians 1:5-6; Romans 11:12,17-24; Revelation 5:9; Ephesians 2:1-9,14-18; John 17:22-23; Ephesians 2:14-18; John 17:22-23; Ephesians 1:1-14; John 13:35; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:20-32; Genesis 3:15; 12:3
And can it be?
5. The final state of the Church is eternal worship of God
Revelation 4:8-11;7:9-12;11:15-18;15:1-4;19:1-10;
A) God's people were created, sustained and blessed by God's grace since the beginning.
Genesis 1:26-28;3:12-24; 4:1,2-26;6-9;12:3;Deuteronomy 7:7-9; Ephesians 1:3-12;1 Peter 1:13-16; Joshua 2:1-16; 6:22-23; Ruth 1:16-17; James 2:25; Isaiah 52:13-15; 60:1-3
B) God's people forgiven of sins and given the Holy Spirit to give light to the world
"As the moon reflects the sun, so the church reflects the light of God to a dark world." - original author unknown
1. Jesus is the prophesied Messiah and only begotten Son of God
Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 1:1-17; Hebrews 9:14; 10:14,19-22; Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 6:5-13; Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:7-13; 8:1-10; John 17; Romans 6:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Acts 1:1-11
2. Holy Spirit's trans-formative power in the world and in the individual
Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:16-17; Psalm 51:10-13; John 7:37-39; 14:17;16:7-8; Psalm 16:8-11; 110:1; John 3:3-8; Matthew 16:18; Romans 12:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Matthew 5:9; John 1:12-13; 11:51-52; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:23-29; 1 John 3:1-10; 5:2,19
3. The Church's mission is to proclaim God's word, making disciples of all people
Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9;22:17;Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:9-10; Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:1-3; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; John 3:5-6; 14:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 14:15; Romans 5:5; 1 John 14:15; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Revelation 22:1-5; Romans 12:1; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; Luke 21:24; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10
4. The trials and refinement of the Church brings with it unity and deeper dependence on God
Acts 8:1,4;Colossians 1:5-6; Romans 11:12,17-24; Revelation 5:9; Ephesians 2:1-9,14-18; John 17:22-23; Ephesians 2:14-18; John 17:22-23; Ephesians 1:1-14; John 13:35; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:20-32; Genesis 3:15; 12:3
And can it be?
5. The final state of the Church is eternal worship of God
Revelation 4:8-11;7:9-12;11:15-18;15:1-4;19:1-10;
