Jesus, His Church, and His Mission – Part 1
I preached this past Sunday evening from Matthew 16:13-18. It was my introductory sermon to a series I’m beginning in October entitled, “Jesus, His Church, and His Mission”. I’ve been fascinated with the strong lines that are drawn between these three topics–Christology, Eccleisiology, and Missiology. In my series I hope to examine how each of these themes builds on the other.
My main goal in this frist sermon was to give a taste of the series without preaching the whole series in one sermon. The text I chose tied these themes together well. First, Jesus receives Peter’s confession that Jesus was indeed “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Second, Jesus goes on to describe the church as a group of people that he himself builds. Third he gives the church the mission of assualting the gates of Hell–a metaphor for death in all its manifestations.
Joe, this will be great! I also am embarking on an evening series (in my new church) on a similar subject, entitled, “Unless God Builds His House: Toward God’s Heart on Mission & Ministry.” We will look at God’s “blueprint” for true vitality (Trinity in Justification, Sanctification and advancing Kingdom) and then God’s “tools” for carrying this out, i.e., ordinary means of grace (both in narrow and broad sense). I therefore am looking forward to hearing your messages and will likely learn from them as well as steal from you here in Sylacauga AL! This is beginning like a core-group bible study which will I hope turn into a full fledged evening worship.
Hope all is going well with you in Kosciusko. God is blessing you in a good place with good people – by the way.
Harris
Harris Bond
September 17, 2008 at 3:29 pm
That’s exciting! Great (or lesser) minds think alike. You’ll need to keep me posted as you work through your series. Hope all is well in Sylacauga!
Joe Holland
September 18, 2008 at 12:52 pm