Building the Household of Faith
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1. Finding our Place Ephesians
2:19-20
God's presence is made real in community, through the proclamation of
the Word of God, in worshiping the Lord together, by caring for one another,
and through serving others in the name of Christ. The life of faith is
not a private spiritual journey lived out independent of the fellowship
of believers and the needs of others. No one truly comes to Christ only
to be left alone.
2. Working from the Blueprint Acts
2:42
There is considerable concern today to re-invent the church so it will
compete more effectively for people's attention, but there is no better
pattern for building the Household of Faith than the blueprint followed
by the New Testament Church. We don't have to design new structures to
meet ever-changing demands. We need to build the Household of Faith from
the Lord's blueprint.
3. Laying the Foundation 1
Corinthians 3:11
In every age and in every place the church must remember that "no
one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus
Christ." Everything we do in the Household of Faith is based on Jesus
Christ, our sure foundation. We keep coming back to the truth that we
are rooted and grounded in the crucified Savior and risen Lord.
4. Framing the House 2
Timothy 2:15
Making sure the Household of Faith is built square is an on-going responsibility.
We are constantly assessing our efforts according to the "level"
and "plumb line" of God's Word. "Squareness" in the
Household of Faith means that our vertical dimension with God is true
and our horizontal dimension with others is on the level.
5. Building the Home Ephesians
3:16-17
The difference between a house and a home has to do with relationships
rather than with real estate. In a home, affection counts for more than
architecture. The key to transforming a house into a home is in the hands
of God. What marriage is to the family, the Trinity, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, is to the Household of Faith.
6. Arranging the Interior Romans
12:1-2
In building the Household of Faith we are urged to distinguish between
interior decorating and interior devotion. Following the Lord Jesus means
much more than changing the decor of our lives. It's not a remodel; it's
a re-creation.
7. Living in the Neighborhood Romans
12:9-13:1
Jesus leads us into the real world of work and family and society for
the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. He tells us to take up our cross and
follow Him. Jesus calls us to follow him into our Jerusalem, into our
families, work places, and schools, with the soul-saving, life-transforming
gospel. The Christian's personal faith was meant to have public impact
everywhere, from our home life to the marketplace. And the challenge to
make disciples extends to the ends of the earth.
8. Moving Up 2
Peter 3:11-13
The Household of Faith is a temporary dwelling with a critically strategic,
but limited purpose. It is God's provision for us in the in-between time,
while our new home is "under construction."
