Reflections from my message today at NRN

Here are a few reflections from my message today about the Called Out Ones.  You can listen to the audio message at our church web site - NRN.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”.  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."    Matthew 16:13-19

 

1. What is the “Rock?”.

 Understanding Our LORD   AS   GOD.

Why we CHOOSE   TO   FOLLOW  Christ?

 

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."                                                                  Matthew 16:16 

 

 

 

2. What is the “Church?”

Understanding Our UNITY  in DIVERSITY .

                      Who we are in Christ?

I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.          Matthew 16:18 

ekklēsia - “called out”

 

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

3. What are the “Keys of the Kingdom?”

Understanding Our  MISSIONAL    AUTHORITHY  .

              What we are to do in Christ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROCK   -   CHURCH  -   KEYS  

 

 "When we seek out that which is lost, we are loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and valuing people as God values them. If we as the Church keep this as our core focus and mission, we will never become an empty building or mere tourist attraction. We will be so occupied and fulfilled with doing what the Church was placed on this earth to do – taking what is inside the Church out into a broken world – that our doors will never close. The lost will be drawn to us because of our open arms and our loving, safe environment.

 

- Christina Caine, Stop Acting Like a Christian, Just Be One (Regal, 2007)