SLIDE: CityChurch Vision: “We are a Biblically Based, Relationally Driven, Spirit-Led church called to Radically Love an Practically Serve  the City of Charlottesville”

The sermon will focus on each of the 3 pillars to ensure that each of us clearly understand “who” we are as a church and the “why” behind “what” we do.

SLIDE:

1. Biblically Based
2. Relationally Driven
3. Spirit Led

SLIDE:

1. Biblically Based

SLIDE: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God Breathed –  Inspired

We become something so that we can DO something.

SLIDE: Feet to Your Faith  – WHY?

Voltaire – The enlightenment – famous skeptic, proclaimed that within 25 years, the Bible would be forgotten and Christianity would be a thing of the past. However, 40 years after Voltaire’s death in 1778, the Bible and other Christian literature were being printed in what had once been Voltaire’s own home. Here is Voltaire’s actual quote “Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth.”

SLIDE: Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word of God is – “ALIVE” (present tense)

“ALIVE”  – ZOR – first word!

ACTIVE–   Energesfrom en = in + érgon = work) that which is working, efficient, effective, operative or powerful. Energes describes activity which produces results or is effective in causing something to happen.

WORD – Alive and Active – Accomplishes stuff

Sharper than – precise – cutting tool

SLIDE: RAZOR – photo

SLIDE:   VAN –  photo

Judges – separates – truth – heart

POWER?

FAITH, humility and openness – seeking, knocking

Distant – academic – without heart or faith

SLIDE: John 5:39-40

You studythe Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

66books, 40 authors, 1,500 years, history, philosophical thinking and theological thinking and systematic thinking.

Hundreds of prophecies

There is a single thread that runs all through it.

that all point to one single person.

The person of Jesus –

Zechariah – prophecy of Christ – they will look on him who was pierced.

Isaiah 700 years before Jesus – the Virgin birth

OT: Authors – their writings as the words of God over 3800 times!

Jesus quoted from 24 OT books –

6 OT not quoted in NT – all eluded to

3,500 years of this book. 2,000 years of Jesus’ life.

Bruce Metzger 99% – 5,000 documents that undergird this book.

MOST IMPORTANT – The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ

Jesus: You have heard that it was said… But I tell you!!!

SLIDE:

2. Relationally Driven

SLIDE:Matthew 22:35-40

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with allyour heart and with allyour soul and with allyour mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Allthe Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

LIFE GROUPS – Small groups – Soul Care – Emotionally Healthy

SLIDE:Matthew 5:23-24  “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Relationship is primary to Jesus

SLIDE: Matthew 5:43-47Love your Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[ and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 

Our final pillar – is what makes this possible!

SLIDE:

3. Spirit-Led

SLIDE: John 14:16

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

Advocate – an attorney who walks with you.

SLIDE: John 16:13

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

He (person) … Spirit of truth – Guide you into all the truth

SLIDE: 1 Corinthians 12:13

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

SLIDE:

1. Biblically Based
2. Relationally Driven
3. Spirit Led

Jesus – Inspired Word – Holy Spirit  30 years

Transforms individual lives – Transforms families  Transforms communities – transforms culture

Mission – FOLLOW JESUS – SERVE OTHES