TEACHING

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021
10:30 AM ONLY (In-person + kids!, IBC campus)
SUNDAY POWER
Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Timothy 2:14-15, James 3:.1, 2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 1:10, John 4:21-24
We usually only learn to release the need to control circumstances or situations by an experience of “The Wall” or what is often called deconstruction. When we let go of this false power and control, we mature and receive the very life we were trying to achieve. This is an upside-down life principle. We don’t give up our personal say-so or power, but when faced with challenges, we learn to lean into grace, and become graceful.
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TEXTS: Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Timothy 2:14-15, James 3:.1, 2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 1:10, John 4:21-24

BIG IDEA: Sundays are Doorways
Taking off - a Story
The Flight
1. Sabbath to Sunday
2. The Core Elements of the Sunday Gathering(s)
Worship - worship is a word we use in several ways - an attitude in general, but specifically an activity we do when we gather around Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; cf. Romans 15:9 Some of this hymnody apparently was composed in advance while much was spontaneous and glossolalic.

• Spirit and Truth - Engagement with the heart/feeling and mind
• The Content: Ephesians 5:19
• The Goal

‘About that time we realised our worship blessed God, that it was for God alone and not just a vehicle of preparation for the pastor’s sermon. This was an exciting revelation. After learning about the central place of worship in our meetings, there were many instances in which all we did was worship God for an hour or two....‘At this time we also discovered that singing was not the only way to worship God. Because the word worship means literally to bow down, it is important that our bodies are involved in what our spirits are saying. In Scripture this is accomplished through bowing heads, lifting hands, kneeling, and even lying prostrate before God...‘A result of our worshipping and blessing God is being blessed by him. We don’t worship God in order to get blessed, but we are blessed as we worship him. He visits his people with manifestations of the Holy Spirit.’ ‘Thus worship has a two-fold aspect: communication with God through the basic means of singing and praying, and communication from God through teaching and preaching the word, prophecy, exhortation, etc. We lift him up and exalt him, and as a result are drawn into his presence where he speaks to us.’
-John Wimber
Congregational Prayers and Word Gifts Matthew 6.9-13, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

• Early Creeds and Confessions Philippians 2:6-11 “Many particularly concise and rhythmic passages in the New Testament appear to be creedal statements regularly used for instruction and worship in the early churches.”
• Offering/Giving 1 Corinthians 16:2, Philippians 4:18 
• Preaching/Proclamation/Teaching James  3:1 – 2, Matthew 18:6, cf. Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2,  2 Timothy 4:1-3
  • Alignment and a consistent character - “Do not heap up teachers”

Walter Liefeld: (1) Preaching is important and should be given an immense amount of prayer and preparation. (2) Preachers should make sure that they are doing what God intends for them, serving where God wants them and living as God commands them, for their influence for good or ill is enormous. (3) Congregations should give more of their own time to share in the church’s ministries (and perhaps also enlarge the church staff), providing freedom from other time-consuming pastoral tasks that may not be areas of the preacher’s giftedness or calling. (4) Balancing the above, Christians should recognize the importance of other ministries and not inflate the preacher’s ego. It is already too easy for the preacher to neglect prayer and people in order to preach a polished sermon.

• Consistency of a Person is what builds credibility in the pulpit
  • Credibility in the main communicator/preacher/teacher builds healthy churches. The Sunday pulpit is not the place for experimentation with untested character.
• Clarity, Alignment, Direction

Response to the word - “Repent…be baptized…And you will receive the gift  of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

• Prayer Ministry
• Communion
• Decision/Next Steps

Outside of Worship

• Next Generations
• The Small Group AKA Home Church—Today at all church leadership meeting!
  • Fellowship, Application, Friendship, Fun
• Sharing Jesus + Compassion + Justice
• Deeper Discipleship training

Landing the Plane
Sources: Commentaries, A Brief History of Sunday: From the New Testament to the New Creation -Justo L. González; Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for this Urgent Time, Marva J. Dawn; Equipping the Saints, John Wimber; others.