Sunday
Circles
Building Your Family With Friends
Church On
The Rock
Gtcotr/sc101115
Prayer
Hymn: Psalms 19
Memory Verse: Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of
my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Lesson: Church Goals and
Responsibilities
Pastor remarks and intro of first principle
First Principle: Reach the Lost
Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and said to them, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The
Church has always been one generation from extinction.
Sinners
are being born every day.
Jesus
commissioned all believers to do their part in reaching their immediate world
and the whole world with the Gospel.
The
Church is responsible to take the Gospel to every nation in each generation, beginning
at home.
God
sees each person as a functioning part of the local Church in which God has
placed them.
Question: What are some of the
current ways our Church reaches out to the lost in our communities and around
the world?
Follow Up Question: Discuss and list some ideas
that might help us do better together.
Conclusion: The Apostle Paul
encouraged us to be a witness by saying, “how shall they know except someone
tells them … and how shall someone tell except they be sent?” It is our
responsibility to both tell and to send others to tell. Each person should
consider their personal contribution to the Great Commission and its mandate to
reach the lost. How do you contribute?
Pastor remarks and intro of second principle
Second Principle: Teach the Saints
Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:20a “teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
The
scripture does not say to go and be a disciple, but rather to go and make
disciples.
The
Church has a responsibility to teach believers how to follow Christ. The Church
is us.
Jesus
made His disciples by both mentoring and modeling the Word of God.
Question: In what ways has the
Church offered instruction to you and your family since you believed?
Follow Up Question: Discuss and list other ways
the Church could offer life instruction to saints.
Conclusion: The scriptures
encourage each believer to grow up into Christ in all things. In order to
facilitate this growth, God has chosen the Church to be a mother image to each
believer. The Church is patterned after the family model and as such holds a
responsibility to birth the children of God by reaching the lost and to raise
the children of God in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord through godly
instruction on purpose.
Pastor remarks and intro of third principle
Third Principle: Keep the sheep.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:20b “And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
There
is an element of permanency that is undeniable when born into the family of
God.
Jesus
likened His followers to sheep and Himself as their Shepherd.
Psalms
23 is a picture of a shepherd caring for (keeping) His flock.
The
Church has been given the earthly responsibility to tend to, care for, and keep
the members of God’s family.
The
Church is more than a revival tent and more than a teaching center, the Church
is a home for every believer where they grow with the family of God.
Question: How has the Church
been a family to you and others you know?
Follow Up Question: In what ways could our Church
do a better job in caring for the sheep of this fold?
Conclusion: God assigns each
believer and every family to be a member of a local Church body as it pleases
Him, not always as it pleases them. Just like we are born into an earthly
family by God’s design so also God has a plan for the Church we join. God has a
plan to join us to a local Church family according to His will and purpose. The
Church is made up of people … we are the Church … and we are responsible to
care for our family.
Pastor closing remarks
·
Connect Cards;
Offering and Prayer
·
Memory Verse
·
Pre-Praise &
Worship Prayer
will be hosted in the Sanctuary Studio. Worship will begin in just a few
minutes.
