A worshipping community of missional theologians

Church Vision Intro
Acts 2:42-47 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

As a church we hope to become a worshipping community of missional theologians. But what does that mean?
This week as we introduced this series, we answered that question - at least in brief. We see in this passage that the 1st church was devoted to:
Worship - celebrating communion together, attending the temple together, and praising God together. Worship was a way of life, not a weekly event.
Community - the first church "did life together." They were devoted to fellowship, koinonia fellowship. They shared their lives - their money, possessions, sorrow, joy...
Missional - By missional I mean that we will be a church engaging in Jesus' mission as we go through life. The first church had favor with all the people, favor with their city. They had favor (at least in part) because they not only told people about Jesus, they also lived like Jesus, and loved like Jesus. And the Lord added to their number daily.
Theologians - The 1st church was devoted to the Apostle's teaching. God desires that we know Him. He makes himself known through nature (general revelation) but perhaps more so, he has revealed himself through His Word. He has done so, so that we might know Him. Theology is simply the study of God. Like the 1st Church, NCCd will be a church of theologians - mommy theologians, daddy theologians, banker theologians, doctor theologians...

In the coming weeks we will unpack each of those essentials to personal spiritual health, and corporate personal health.

Life in the Light of the Gospel - Phil 3:12 - 4:1

12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

We wrapped up our Philippians study this week by talking about the great freedom that the Gospel brings to our lives. here's what we saw...
Living in the Light of the Gospel means:
1) We Live BECAUSE we are His.
We cannot earn the right to be a child of God - We cannot work hard enough or good enough to maintain a place in his presence. We don't live IN ORDER TO BE His.
This Frees us from a life of fear - fear that our works are not enough.
Instead - we live BECAUSE WE ARE His
2) We live life FORWARD.
We forget what lies behind - namely our sins.
Like Paul we a) Understand that forgiveness is NOT based on works (Romans 4), b) Understand that forgiveness is forever (Psalm 103), c) Understand that We are Robed in Righteousness (Philippians 3:9)
Rather than being frozen by the guilt of our past - the Gospel frees us to live life foreward - to press on to the prize that is set before us - Jesus!
3) We Live as Sojourners.
Our citizenship has changed. We are not citizens in this world - this country - this city - our citizenship is heaven. Ours is a different kingdom and we serve a greater king - Jesus.
This frees us from worldly pursuits - power, possessions, people... We are free to live as foreigners in a land that isn't our own!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS...
It appears that this weeks message may NOT have been recorded. If you weren't there, you just missed it!

The Heart of the Gospel Philippians 3:1-11

What a great passage! In the context of Paul's battle with the Judaizers who added the Law to Jesus, Paul takes us deep into the very heart of the Gospel!
To the religious Judaizer Paul says - I have more reason than any of you to have confidence in the flesh! By YOUR standards, I am far better than you. Yet, none of these matters of the flesh matter - they cannot satisfy God's righteous requirements. Be the best that you can be - do all the good that you can do - and it isn't enough. As bad as that sounds, the good news is that Jesus has accomplished for you what you cannot! So, Paul says, in the light of Jesus and the righteousness that is mine - IN HIM by faith - I count all my works as dung! The Gospel is about what He has done for us.
We looked as well at all that Paul had and had accomplished in a worldly sense. He had a great family and the right blood line. He was from the right tribe. And he was a Pharisee - which came with a great deal of power and authority and privilege. Paul had accomplished much of what we pursue in our jobs, in our relationships - with our lives. And in the light of the glory and beauty of Jesus all those things looked and smelled like dung! Paul found Jesus to be his joy and satisfaction - all that he needed for life and forever more! That too is the heart of the Gospel!

Not only will our fleshly works not satisfy God, our fleshly works won't satisfy us either! The good news is that Jesus satisfies both!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 3:1-3 Beware of the Religious Dogs

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:1-3

This week's passage serves as a great warning for us: a warning to fight the tendency we all have toward religious rules and away from the true Gospel, and it is a warning to stay away from those who teach a false gospel.

Paul (or God, through Paul) calls those who would add the Law to Jesus - Dogs, Evildoers (workers of evil), and mutilators. He contrasts those who teach "works of the Law" with the "true circumcision," true followers of Christ. He says that we (the true circumcision) worship by the Spirit (not by works of the Law or the Flesh) , Glory in Christ Jesus (not in works of the Law or the Flesh), and put NO confidence in the flesh (because we know that it is Christ who has worked for us, is at work in us, and works through us).

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

The sermon is up for streaming or download - HERE.

Philippians 2:5-11 Joy in Communion

Our verses today came in the context of Paul's call for living out the fruit of the Gospel in the community of believers (2:1-18). Paul uses Jesus as our example for such living.
Paul reminded the Philippians and reminds us of the humility of Jesus - who set aside the fullness of his glory and equality with God to take on the flesh of His creation. He lived a life of humility and suffering and calls His followers to the same life. Communion reminds us that we are to participate in such a life of humility, sacrifice, and even death.
Paul also spoke of how Jesus has been exalted and given a name above all names. At His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. As Jesus has defeated death we have a great hope for our future - a future that includes our own resurrection and forevermore with Him - creation redeemed.
Communion is a way in which we are reminded of the Life of Jesus and reminded of our future hope. While Communion does NOT save us and is NOT REQUIRED for our salvation, it is a means through which we commune spiritually with Jesus and participate with Him is His life, death, and resurrection.

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 2:1-18 Joy in the Gospel Community

Our passage comes in the same context as 1:27-30 - Walking worthy of the gospel. We talked about the radical call of God for the community of Christ followers. We are to be incredibly different - a community who loves one another unconditionally, who shares the same passion and drive, who walks in humility, and a community who is not only concerned with themselves but who is also genuinely concerned for others as well. Paul's "list" is not simply a religious list of do's and don'ts, rather it is a glimpse of what it looks like when the gospel of Jesus Christ is bearing fruit in the community. It is the outworking of this process - God has done a great work for us in Christ - God is doing a great work in us in Christ (transformation) - and God is doing a great work through us > that is the fruit of the gospel that Paul wrote of. So, this is not a "list" of religious things that we MUST do in order to be Christ followers, rather it is the fruit of Christ working in and through his followers.

Got questions or thoughts from this message - post them here!
Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Gospel Joy in our Midst!

Today we took a short break from our Philippians study for a great reason - the baptism of Jessica Enclard! Today we celebrated God's work thru the Gospel in our midst. Anny shared some of her Gospel story and recent baptism - then as I taught on baptism I was joined by Jessica and her friend Melissa. Here's the sermon rundown:

1) Baptism Does NOT Save Us and is Not Necessary for Salvation
By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone

2) Baptism Is a Public Profession of Faith
Here Jessica shared her Gospel story - Great job Jess!

3) Baptism is An Experience of Communion With Christ
a) In Death (Romans 6:3-4; II Corinthians 5:17)
b) In Resurrection
1. To A New Life (Romans 6:4-7; Eph 2:1-5)
Melissa and Jessica shared about the transformation
that has taken place in Jessica
2. To a Forever Future With Jesus (Romans 6:9-10; I Cor 15:50-55)
______________________________
1. What did you hear God saying today?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday as a streaming video.