Service

• James 2:14-18 – We have to act and do good to others, not just wish them well. Our faith is dead if we don’t act!

• Mark 9:35

• Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

• I Peter 4:8-11 – We have a cornucopia of gifts we can share with others, including time, money, and acts of service.

• Mark 10:43-45

• Ephesians 6:5-9 – Render service with a good will.

• Galatians 5:13-15

• I John 3:15-20

• Hebrews 13:16 – Do not neglect to share what you have!

Introduction

• John 15:19; II Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 26:18; I Peter 2:9

• The church is God’s chosen people.

  • Titus 2:14

  • John 3:9; I Peter 1:23; Galatians 3:26

  • I Timothy 3:15; Romans 8:16-17

• Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:19

• I Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18

The purpose: to glorify God

• Ephesians 3:21

• Psalms 111:9

• Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34

• Matthew 20:25-28

• I Corinthians 11:20; James 2:2

• Galatians 1:10

• Romans 16:17-18

• II Timothy 4:2-4

Its name

• Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2

Its worship

• John 4:24

• Prayer – Acts 2:42; I Thessalonians 5:17, 25

• Singing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 26:30; I Corinthians 14:15; James 5:13; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 15:9; Psalms 119:128; Jeremiah 6:16

• Lord’s Supper – Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:26; Acts 20:7; 2:42

• Preaching and teaching – Acts 2:42

• Giving – I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7

Its organization

• Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1

• Elders/bishops – I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; I Peter 5:1-4

• Deacons – I Timothy 3:8-13

Its work

• Preaching the gospel to the lost
  • Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20; II Timothy 2:2; Acts 8:4; I Thessalonians 1:8; Philippians 4:15-16; II Corinthians 11:8; I Peter 5:2
• Preaching the gospel to the saved
  • Colossians 2:6-7; Romans 10:17; Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 14:11-12; Ephesians 4:16
• Benevolence to needy saints
  • Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34; 6:1-4; 11:27-30; I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:4; 9:7; Romans 15:25-26; I Timothy 5:16
• Jeremiah 6:16

The importance of the church

• Establishment of the church

  • Daniel 2:44; Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:15

  • Matthew 16:18-19

  • Mark 9:1; Luke 24:49

  • Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4, 22-24, 36-41, 47

  • Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9

• Spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 5:44-45; Acts 17:24; II Timothy 2:1, 10; Colossians 1:14

• Galatians 3:27; I Corinthians 12:13, 20; Ephesians 5:23; Acts 9:4

• Matthew 25:31-40

• John 10:27-28; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:25; II Thessalonians 2:14; John 15:19; Titus 2:11-2, 14

• Jesus died for the world – I John 2:2; 4:14; John 3:16; Acts 20:28

• The church is the body of Christ.

• Acts 2:47; I Timothy 3:16; Romans 8:14, 16; Galatians 4:7; I Corinthians 6:17-18

There is one church

• Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4; 1:20-23

• Romans 6:3; I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:47

• The gospel call allows entrance to Christ’s church – Mark 1:15; 16:15-16; Romans 10:16; II Thessalonians 2:14; John 6:44; Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Mark 16:16

James 3:1-18

James 3:1 – Teachers will be subject to a stricter judgment. Servants of God must be able to teach, though. II Timothy 2:24; Romans 2:17-24. We can’t be the reason that God is dishonored. People are looking at us!

• Matthew 5:19

• Luke 12:48 – We are blessed to have the complete word of God, but this gives us greater responsibility.

• Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents.

James 3:4 – Compare I Peter 3:10. If we are doing God’s will, our life will be better! Controlling our speech is part of that.

James 3:5-6 – Proverbs 16:27; Matthew 15:11, 17-20

James 3:7-8 – We can tame all kinds of animals, but not the tongue! The tongue is a restless evil.

• The tongue is small but damaging. A few examples:

  • Chatter – Proverbs 10:8; 12:8; 29:20

  • Lying – Proverbs 12:19, 22

  • Arrogant boasting – Proverbs 18:22

  • Gossip – Proverbs 10:18

James 3:9-12 – The tongue is small but revealing.

• Mark 12:33-35 – We should be characterized by our good fruit!

• Luke 6:43-45

• Matthew 15:18-19 – What comes out of our heart is what defiles us.

• James 2:3 – Our tongue can reveal our partiality!

• Ephesians 4:29; 5:4

• Don’t forget that technology leaves a visible record of our words!

James 3:13-18 – The solution to the problem of the tongue

• James 3:13 – Speak in the gentleness of wisdom.

• I Peter 4:11

• Ephesians 4:15, 25, 31-32

Acts 8:1-3

Acts 9:1-2 – Paul was zealous for whatever he thought was right.

Acts 16:1-5 – Paul and Timothy strengthened the churches.

Hebrews 2:1; 1:1 – Warning against drifting away.

Galatians 5:1-4 – It is possible to fall from grace!

II Timothy 1:3-7 – Paul and Timothy came to faith by different routes. We have to make our faith our own.

I Peter 3:15 – We must be able to defend our faith!

There is a difference in perspective between first- and second-generation Christians.

• First generation Christians hear the gospel for the first time from a vantage point of unbelief and error.

• For first generation Christians, conversion is often a traumatic experience in terms of physical relationships. Conversion is generally not traumatic for second generation Christians.

• First generation Christians see faith differently. Their loyalty is to the truth, not particular people. Second generation Christians have to be careful not to be loyal to people or tradition.

• First generation Christians have a tendency to become radical about issues. Second generation Christians have a tendency to become liberal and rationalize innovations.