#WeAreEmmanuel Values / 08. #WeAreEmmanuel 5 Everything Changes Except The Gospel Pt2
08. #WeAreEmmanuel 5 Everything Changes Except The Gospel Pt2
Originally recorded on Sunday 4th February 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo.
The Bible says there is only one foundation that is to be laid in the church and in our lives as Christians. When we talk about the gospel, we really talking about Jesus and what he has done. The Gospel means Good News. This preach will look at what difference it makes in having the right foundation of the church, drawing from in Colossians 3:12-17. The gospel is the final declaration that we have won the victory because of what Jesus has done. It changes your perspective on everything.
In the letters that Paul writes, they tend to be full of examples of what Jesus has done and then later he provides instructions. You cannot understand Paul’s instructions unless you understand what he says Jesus has done (The Gospel). You shouldn’t view your Christianity as something that is keeping a set of rules for you to be ‘a good Christian’ or approved by God. Firstly, that will be very discouraging because when you think you’re doing well, you still won’t be able to be approved by God by your works alone. Its only by God’s grace that we are approved. Christianity isn’t meant to be about us, it is all about what Jesus has done.
The story of our lives as Christians is that we belong to Christ, we are joined to him.
How do we stay on a gospel foundation?
1. Life Change- What difference does the gospel make to the pursuit of life change? The desire to improve is instinctive but we seem to be split on what improvement looks like as there seems to be so many options. Our story as humans is that without knowing the God whose image we are made in and to bear, we are really pursuing strange goals. Through finding God, we will find what genuine life is meant to be about. The grace of God changes the way you perform and how you see yourself.
It is true that we should change our behaviour with the instructions given in Colossians 3, but Paul is not writing these from the perspective of us doing it to earn holiness, but rather as a natural product of our behaviour because we have earned grace. You won’t be changed by law but when you realise How much God loves you, you will change inwardly. In John 14:15 Jesus says ‘If you love me than you’ll obey me’. The obedience is after you’ve received His love and learn to love him.
2. Relationships – Loving one another must be from the love of God. This is important and different because if it’s from your own limited human love, you’ll be loving people in the hope that they love you back. The only way to love one another with forbearance is by receiving the love that God has shown you and how much you don’t deserve it. Due to this, you realise you can be forgiving to others because ultimately God has forgiven you.
3. Diversity – God loves diversity. We can sometimes however get too stuck in a certain group we are familiar with and feel threatened by anything out of that. But God gives us something to humble ourselves. The gospel of grace is to create in us a humility that says, ‘I am here by shear grace and mercy and nothing else’. Therefore, when faced with someone outside of our group that we are not used to or comfortable with, if we dare to think they shouldn’t be allowed in, it proves that we haven’t really understood God’s grace. With God’s help we are to follow through with grace so that we are always ready for the diversity and breath of people he wants to bring into our lives and church.
4. Different things we do as a community: Sermons, Sacraments, Songs and Stories- We do these things because the foundation of the Gospel needs to be built on deliberately. All our regular practices bring us back to the one true foundation. Make sure that it is always The Gospel that comes through in all of these practices, so we are staying on the foundation.
The Bible says there is only one foundation that is to be laid in the church and in our lives as Christians. When we talk about the gospel, we really talking about Jesus and what he has done. The Gospel means Good News. This preach will look at what difference it makes in having the right foundation of the church, drawing from in Colossians 3:12-17. The gospel is the final declaration that we have won the victory because of what Jesus has done. It changes your perspective on everything.
In the letters that Paul writes, they tend to be full of examples of what Jesus has done and then later he provides instructions. You cannot understand Paul’s instructions unless you understand what he says Jesus has done (The Gospel). You shouldn’t view your Christianity as something that is keeping a set of rules for you to be ‘a good Christian’ or approved by God. Firstly, that will be very discouraging because when you think you’re doing well, you still won’t be able to be approved by God by your works alone. Its only by God’s grace that we are approved. Christianity isn’t meant to be about us, it is all about what Jesus has done.
The story of our lives as Christians is that we belong to Christ, we are joined to him.
How do we stay on a gospel foundation?
1. Life Change- What difference does the gospel make to the pursuit of life change? The desire to improve is instinctive but we seem to be split on what improvement looks like as there seems to be so many options. Our story as humans is that without knowing the God whose image we are made in and to bear, we are really pursuing strange goals. Through finding God, we will find what genuine life is meant to be about. The grace of God changes the way you perform and how you see yourself.
It is true that we should change our behaviour with the instructions given in Colossians 3, but Paul is not writing these from the perspective of us doing it to earn holiness, but rather as a natural product of our behaviour because we have earned grace. You won’t be changed by law but when you realise How much God loves you, you will change inwardly. In John 14:15 Jesus says ‘If you love me than you’ll obey me’. The obedience is after you’ve received His love and learn to love him.
2. Relationships – Loving one another must be from the love of God. This is important and different because if it’s from your own limited human love, you’ll be loving people in the hope that they love you back. The only way to love one another with forbearance is by receiving the love that God has shown you and how much you don’t deserve it. Due to this, you realise you can be forgiving to others because ultimately God has forgiven you.
3. Diversity – God loves diversity. We can sometimes however get too stuck in a certain group we are familiar with and feel threatened by anything out of that. But God gives us something to humble ourselves. The gospel of grace is to create in us a humility that says, ‘I am here by shear grace and mercy and nothing else’. Therefore, when faced with someone outside of our group that we are not used to or comfortable with, if we dare to think they shouldn’t be allowed in, it proves that we haven’t really understood God’s grace. With God’s help we are to follow through with grace so that we are always ready for the diversity and breath of people he wants to bring into our lives and church.
4. Different things we do as a community: Sermons, Sacraments, Songs and Stories- We do these things because the foundation of the Gospel needs to be built on deliberately. All our regular practices bring us back to the one true foundation. Make sure that it is always The Gospel that comes through in all of these practices, so we are staying on the foundation.
More Episodes
-
13.#WeAreEmmanuel 12 Stay Inspired Pt3
Originally recorded on Sunday 25th March 2018. Visit www.weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo.
Key reading: 1 Peter 2: 2-10
1. Worship Expresses Desire-...Show episode 42:22
-
12.#WeAreEmmanuel 11 Working With God (Spring Gift Day 2018)
This preach was originally recorded on Sunday 18th March 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Matt Carvel
This preach is on Gift Day- a time where the...Show episode 44:38
-
11.#WeAreEmmanuel 10 Stay Inspired Pt2
Originally recorded on Sunday 11th March 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Stephen Dawson
Jesus calls us to adventure.
Knowing the Holy Spirit...Show episode 42:27
-
10.#WeAreEmmanuel 9 Stay Inspired Pt1
Originally filmed Sunday 4th March 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Matt Carvel
This preach talks about following rules as humans and how much we generally...Show episode 43:16
-
09.#WeAreEmmanuel 8 Play As Team Pt2
Originally recorded on Sunday 25th February 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo.
This preach is based on the model of leadership at Emmanuel...Show episode 44:06
-
08.#WeAreEmmanuel 7 Play As Team Pt1
Originally recorded on Sunday 18th February 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Stephen Dawson
This preach looks at the value of playing as a team. However...Show episode 40:59
-
07.#WeAreEmmanuel 6 Everything Changes Except The Gospel Pt3
Originally recorded on Sunday 25th February 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Stephen Dawson
This preach will focus on the former part of the slogan...Show episode 41:31
-
06.#WeAreEmmanuel 5 Everything Changes Except The Gospel Pt2
Originally recorded on Sunday 4th February 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo.
The Bible says there is only one foundation that is to be laid in...Show episode 41:58
-
05.#WeAreEmmanuel 4 Everything Changes Except The Gospel Pt1
Originally recorded on Sunday 28th January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo
This preach titled ‘Everything Changes Except The Gospel’, draws...Show episode 41:11
-
04.#WeAreEmmanuel 3 Jesus Leads The Church Pt2
Originally recorded on Sunday 21st January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Joel Virgo.
At Emmanuel church, the Bible is God’s authoritative word. It must be...Show episode 42:50
-
03.#WeAreEmmanuel 2 Jesus Leads The Church Pt1
Originally recorded on Sunday 14th January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo
This preach looks at the question- who leads the church? The answer...Show episode 42:34
-
02.#WeAreEmmanuel 1 Helping People Find Their Way Back To God
Originally recorded on Sunday 7th January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo
As Emmanuel church, we are here to help people find their way back to...Show episode 42:28
-
01.#WeAreEmmanuel 1 Helping People Find Their Way Back To God
Originally recorded on Sunday 7th January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo
As Emmanuel church, we are here to help people find their way back to...Show episode 42:28
