<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
		xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
		xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
		xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"
		xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
		xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
>

	<channel>
		<title>The Church | Hope Fellowship of Hillsboro - The Church</title>
		<link>https://hopefellowship.life</link>
		<atom:link href="https://hopefellowship.life/topics/the-church/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
		<description>Beholding Christ, The Hope of Glory</description>
		<language>en-US</language>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2020 18:55:16 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
		<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
		<copyright></copyright>
		<itunes:subtitle></itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:author></itunes:author>
		<itunes:summary></itunes:summary>
		<itunes:owner>
			<itunes:name></itunes:name>
			<itunes:email></itunes:email>
		</itunes:owner>
		<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
		
					<itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
				<itunes:category text="Christianity"/>
			</itunes:category>
				
				<item>
					
					<title>Disciple of Christ</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/disciple-of-christ</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/disciple-of-christ#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2020 18:55:16 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=1380</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle></itunes:subtitle>
					
											<!--suppress CheckEmptyScriptTag -->
						<enclosure url="http://hopefellowship.life/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2020/10/Sermon-2020_10_11-101120-11.42-AM.mp3"
								length="47543612"
								type="audio/mpeg"/>
					
					<itunes:duration>00:49:31</itunes:duration>
											<itunes:keywords>discipleship, The Church</itunes:keywords>
					
									</item>
			
				<item>
					
					<title>Vision: What Does It Look Like To Be the Church?</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/vision-what-does-it-look-like-to-be-the-church</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/vision-what-does-it-look-like-to-be-the-church#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 02 Feb 2020 22:11:39 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=1067</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47, Eph 4:1-16 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are finishing a short series on the Church at Hope Fellowship. It is good to remember why, what, and how we are called to live as Christ followers, and why we gather as a church, what we— collectively, are called to, and how that should manifest in our church body and community. We don’t believe we have a unique understanding on what church should look like. In fact, what you’ll hear me say is this— I believe gospel-centered churches should, in large part, look the same!

In defining our purpose, mission, and vision, we seek to provide our church body a common language by which we maintain a clear focus on our Savior, the mission He has called us to, and the people we are called to be. 

Churches have used many descriptors and terms to define their operating values as a local church body. We are using the terms Purpose, Mission, and Vision.

Our purpose statement describes the Biblical-Theological purpose, the why, for God’s created image bearers: We exist to Behold, Delight in, and Display the glory of God.

Our mission statement is based on the great commission of Christ, and the overarching theme of the Bible to bear witness to the redeeming working of God: We have been sent into the world to give witness to the glory of King Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

This morning, we seek to outline a biblical vision of the church. A vision statement describes what an organization looks like as they carry out their purpose and mission. Purpose is why. Mission is what. Vision is how, or more descriptively put— what that looks like. Think—what would people see as we walk in our purpose and carry out our mission? 

I want to be clear, we aren’t looking to create a church based on our desires, what we want the church to look like. We want a big church, small church, old church, young church, hymn singing or praise chorus, with a quilting club, an archery team, a gym, and a ferris wheel! I’m not saying any one of those things are necessarily bad— except maybe the ferris wheel! But we stray from the God-given vision of the church if that is what we base our identity on. We would become insular, and our hobbies become the attraction, not the gospel.

We want to paint a vision of the church that our Lord Jesus has called us to, based on whom He has called us to be. It is a matter of being, which leads to doing! Who you are is reflected in what you do! And our identity has been changed, and is different from the world, for we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light! And now, as the redeemed covenant people of God, our actions flow from our renewed mind, and changed heart. 

Thus, the main question we seek to answer today is this: what does it look like to be the church?— and we look to Scripture to describe that for us!

There are many passages that describe the church, what it does, how it operates, and what it looks like. We are going to look at 2 passages today. Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and as the question, what does it look like to BE the Church?

Would you stand as we read our first passage in Acts chapter 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47

[42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

[pray]

According to Acts 2, what does it look like to BE the church?

I want to make the following observations. They were:

Devoted learners - Apostles teaching

Devoted to each other  - to the fellowship, attending temple, meeting in homes

Devoted to remembering the gospel - communion

Devoted to communion with God - prayers

The Result:

Was awe, wonders and signs through apostles. First, awe: reverence and worship of a powerful God! We ought to have a sense of awe as we recognize He is the God of the universe! Wonders: We, at Hope, wouldn’t say these signs have ceased, but they do appear less frequent. The proclaimed gospel word came with visible power which gave credence and authority to the message. These signs seemed to be carried out in large part through the apostles, though not solely. We don’t make the sign gifts the center of authenticating the Spirit or work of God. Why? Because Paul tells us not to! 1 Corinthians 12-13 aptly corrects this view. Not everyone is a prophet, or has the gift of tongues or miracles. Everyone is afforded varying gifts according to the will of God. If wonders and signs aren’t the required marking of a faithful church body, what is?

Love for each other — they were devoted to each other, caring for each other’s need. Selling their possessions and giving, sharing the burdens of those within the body. They hosted each other, ate together, shared life together (44-45). 

Glad and Generous hearts (46). Do you have a glad and generous heart when you share your provision, your resources? Hospitality. Does it lead you to the …

Worship of God (47) Do you worship Him in your provision and finance?

Favor with all people - When we are glad and generous, trusting of the Lord for provision, we share that provision. We share the fruit of the gospel in our lives. 

Growth in disciples  “the Lord added to their number daily.” Being the church is the best growth strategy! You attract people to what you attract them with!

I want to make a point - it wasn’t their outreach strategy that grew the church, it was their culture! When the church lives and acts according to what is being produced in their heart and mind, they are naturally compelling. Why? Because God’s love has been poured into our heart, and that same love flows through us to each other, and to the world! 

When I first felt called to church plant, the overriding question was: What are you going to do different than the church down the street?” Their intent was to ask — what is my strategy for attracting and retaining people to the church? What’s the lure?

In a Gospel Coalition article, Steve McAlpine, wrote“What we attract people with is what we attract them to!” 

If we attract people because of we want to be a small church, or big church, or have a social program, or we have Awanas, or specialized groups, then we aren’t attracting people to Jesus, but their preferences.

So they asked, What am I going to do differently? My response was— “Hopefully, nothing!” Hopefully, we look like every other gospel-preaching, Spirit dwelt church, that’s attractive because we are living out the vision set before us in the Bible!

Our culture at Hope is a result of who we are as a gospel people. Friends, our strategy is to BE the church! We are gospel bought people living out the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ! It will lead to awe, reverence, worship of God, love for each other, love for the lost, glad and generous hearts, favor with God, favor with people, and thus, the growth of our church community.

Next, turn to Ephesians 4:1–7, 11-16. 

What does it look like to BE the church? Paul tells us:

[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. …

[11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

According to Ephesians 4, what does it look like to BE the church?

Walk in holiness — a manner worthy of the calling. 

Hebrews 12:14: Pursue peace with all, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 

1 Peter 2:9 you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

He describes further what that looks like

in humility and gentleness, patience and love… Church, take on the character of Christ!

Unity of the Spirit, Bond of Peace. There is great emphasis on our unity together. We are to be of one accord, united by the gospel which we are called to live out, embody, and give away. 

How are we unified? Verse 4-6.

We have UNITY: in one body, by one Spirit, with one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father- over all, through all, and in all. 

This is the reason for our unity.

Paul also describes what Exercising the Gifts of the Spirit look like. And we were given gifts according to the measure of Christ’s gift to us! These are gifts given sovereignly by God, in the measure He has determined! We are to rejoice in them, in what He has given to us and to others in the body! We rejoice when someone has a gift that we don’t have, or they have it to a greater measure than we do! We are not to be jealous, envying their recognition, but rejoicing in their gift.

One of those gifts is Leadership. We find this in verse 11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

So, what does it look like to BE the church?

There is leadership in the church. There are pastors and elders and deacons and administrators. Why? To do what?

To equip the saints for the work of ministry— the building up the body of Christ. That resonates with the passage in Acts, does it not? To devote oneself to the teaching of Scripture. 

To what end? 

Unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God. This is consistent with our purpose statement: You were made to behold, delight, and display the glory of God. In beholding, we see God in His scripture, we come to know him, and delight in him. We have faith in His saving grace, and rejoice in the hope we have in Him!

To Mature manhood— measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This also is included in our purpose, that we may display Him. We grow up into His character, take on His righteousness and attributes, and become mature adults in Christ. In so doing, we are firm in faith, and do not remain as children! We grow and learn the word of God. We begin with the milk of the gospel, but then graduate to vegetables and meat! This is why we talk about hard doctrines!

Speak truth in love. What you will experience in a gospel-filled church body will not always be “sunshine and lollipops!” Jesus came, full of grace and truth. We are growing into His likeness, and we also are to speak the truth in love. This is to help each other grow up into Him— Christ. And this is good. Sin brings death. It is like a cancer. Would it be loving of your doctor to withhold from you the knowledge that you have cancer that is killing you? Would it then, be loving of a member of the body of Christ, to withhold speaking truth to you, that there is a persisting sin that is causing your harm? Would it be more loving to ignore, or to lovingly speak the truth?

Listen, this is the salt we are called to be! It is good for flavor, and for healing wounds. And we are called to be salt in the world, to speak the truth — even to our neighbor, as Christ did the world! And we are to grow up in Him in every way Him, for…

He is our head. He is our King. He gives the commands, we carry them out. He is the One who knows for what and how we are to live, and why were created. And thus, what it means to be the church. And He commands us to…

build ourselves up in Love. That’s what we are to do as a church. We are the temple of God, and we are to build ourselves up by speaking the truth to each other, in the gospel—, and doing so, because we love one another. Can I give a few examples of what that might look like? We will work on this in our men’s leadership cohort.

We often believe that addressing a brother or sister in their wrongdoing is going to damage our relationship. If we approach in anger, without vetting our own heart, it likely will! But if we prayerfully ask God to reveal our own sin, to give us pure motives, and then go to them gently, in love, it actually has the effect of bringing two people closer together. Have you seen this? I have. And the times I’ve seen it push others away, I’ve learned that our relationship was not built on something lasting in the first place. 

How do we go to them in a gentle way we are called to rebuke?

I have found it extremely helpful to begin requests and statements with the word because. It puts my intention right in front of them, so there is no guessing or assuming why I am saying what I’m saying. What if your gentle rebuke looked like this:

“Because I love you and want our relationship to grow, I want to address the way this came across… what you said…”

“Because the culture of this group is important, and you play an important role, can we talk about what it communicates when this happens?”

Listen, being the body means rubbing elbows, and being in close relationship with others. We will offend each other. We will sin against each other. Friends, because of Jesus, we are forgiven! What that means is when this happens, we have an opportunity to make peace with one another, to restore our relationship to unity, because we love one another! This is what being the body of Christ looks like! Love is an overarching theme in the Bible, for God is love, and his people are to love one another. A new commandment I give to you… love each other, love your neighbor, love your enemy.I want to offer the following as our overarching vision statement. It will likely be reworded by our elders when they are affirmed. But for now, I want to propose this, and ask that you take this statement and match it up against your vision for your life. What does your life look like? Does it look like this:

Our Vision Statement at Hope Fellowship: We are called as the Church to be fully devoted to God and one another, as disciples growing in His gospel. We are to walk in our identity as kingdom citizens, in holiness and unity, speaking the truth in love, exercising His gifts and leadership for the equipping and building of the body until we all reach the fullness of faith and knowledge of the Son of God. We are to be molded into His image and display His character to one another, in love, as salt and light to the world, and grow into the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. We thus behold, delight, and display the glory of God as we look to Christ and the day of His appearing.

[pray]]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47, Eph 4:1-16 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are finishing a short series on the Church at Hope Fellowship. It is good to remember why, what, and how we are called to live as Christ followers, and why we gather as a church, what we— collectively, are called to, and how that should manifest in our church body and community. We don’t believe we have a unique understanding on what church should look like. In fact, what you’ll hear me say is this— I believe gospel-centered churches should, in large part, look the same!

In defining our purpose, mission, and vision, we seek to provide our church body a common language by which we maintain a clear focus on our Savior, the mission He has called us to, and the people we are called to be. 

Churches have used many descriptors and terms to define their operating values as a local church body. We are using the terms Purpose, Mission, and Vision.

Our purpose statement describes the Biblical-Theological purpose, the why, for God’s created image bearers: We exist to Behold, Delight in, and Display the glory of God.

Our mission statement is based on the great commission of Christ, and the overarching theme of the Bible to bear witness to the redeeming working of God: We have been sent into the world to give witness to the glory of King Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

This morning, we seek to outline a biblical vision of the church. A vision statement describes what an organization looks like as they carry out their purpose and mission. Purpose is why. Mission is what. Vision is how, or more descriptively put— what that looks like. Think—what would people see as we walk in our purpose and carry out our mission? 

I want to be clear, we aren’t looking to create a church based on our desires, what we want the church to look like. We want a big church, small church, old church, young church, hymn singing or praise chorus, with a quilting club, an archery team, a gym, and a ferris wheel! I’m not saying any one of those things are necessarily bad— except maybe the ferris wheel! But we stray from the God-given vision of the church if that is what we base our identity on. We would become insular, and our hobbies become the attraction, not the gospel.

We want to paint a vision of the church that our Lord Jesus has called us to, based on whom He has called us to be. It is a matter of being, which leads to doing! Who you are is reflected in what you do! And our identity has been changed, and is different from the world, for we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light! And now, as the redeemed covenant people of God, our actions flow from our renewed mind, and changed heart. 

Thus, the main question we seek to answer today is this: what does it look like to be the church?— and we look to Scripture to describe that for us!

There are many passages that describe the church, what it does, how it operates, and what it looks like. We are going to look at 2 passages today. Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and as the question, what does it look like to BE the Church?

Would you stand as we read our first passage in Acts chapter 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47

[42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

[pray]

According to Acts 2, what does it look like to BE the church?

I want to make the following observations. They were:

Devoted learners - Apostles teaching

Devoted to each other  - to the fellowship, attending temple, meeting in homes

Devoted to remembering the gospel - communion

Devoted to communion with God - prayers

The Result:

Was awe, wonders and signs through apostles. First, awe: reverence and worship of a powerful God! We ought to have a sense of awe as we recognize He is the God of the universe! Wonders: We, at Hope, wouldn’t say these signs have ceased, but they do appear less frequent. The proclaimed gospel word came with visible power which gave credence and authority to the message. These signs seemed to be carried out in large part through the apostles, though not solely. We don’t make the sign gifts the center of authenticating the Spirit or work of God. Why? Because Paul tells us not to! 1 Corinthians 12-13 aptly corrects this view. Not everyone is a prophet, or has the gift of tongues or miracles. Everyone is afforded varying gifts according to the will of God. If wonders and signs aren’t the required marking of a faithful church body, what is?

Love for each other — they were devoted to each other, caring for each other’s need. Selling their possessions and giving, sharing the burdens of those within the body. They hosted each other, ate together, shared life together (44-45). 

Glad and Generous hearts (46). Do you have a glad and generous heart when you share your provision, your resources? Hospitality. Does it lead you to the …

Worship of God (47) Do you worship Him in your provision and finance?

Favor with all people - When we are glad and generous, trusting of the Lord for provision, we share that provision. We share the fruit of the gospel in our lives. 

Growth in disciples  “the Lord added to their number daily.” Being the church is the best growth strategy! You attract people to what you attract them with!

I want to make a point - it wasn’t their outreach strategy that grew the church, it was their culture! When the church lives and acts according to what is being produced in their heart and mind, they are naturally compelling. Why? Because God’s love has been poured into our heart, and that same love flows through us to each other, and to the world! 

When I first felt called to church plant, the overriding question was: What are you going to do different than the church down the street?” Their intent was to ask — what is my strategy for attracting and retaining people to the church? What’s the lure?

In a Gospel Coalition article, Steve McAlpine, wrote“What we attract people with is what we attract them to!” 

If we attract people because of we want to be a small church, or big church, or have a social program, or we have Awanas, or specialized groups, then we aren’t attracting people to Jesus, but their preferences.

So they asked, What am I going to do differently? My response was— “Hopefully, nothing!” Hopefully, we look like every other gospel-preaching, Spirit dwelt church, that’s attractive because we are living out the vision set before us in the Bible!

Our culture at Hope is a result of who we are as a gospel people. Friends, our strategy is to BE the church! We are gospel bought people living out the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ! It will lead to awe, reverence, worship of God, love for each other, love for the lost, glad and generous hearts, favor with God, favor with people, and thus, the growth of our church community.

Next, turn to Ephesians 4:1–7, 11-16. 

What does it look like to BE the church? Paul tells us:

[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. …

[11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

According to Ephesians 4, what does it look like to BE the church?

Walk in holiness — a manner worthy of the calling. 

Hebrews 12:14: Pursue peace with all, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 

1 Peter 2:9 you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

He describes further what that looks like

in humility and gentleness, patience and love… Church, take on the character of Christ!

Unity of the Spirit, Bond of Peace. There is great emphasis on our unity together. We are to be of one accord, united by the gospel which we are called to live out, embody, and give away. 

How are we unified? Verse 4-6.

We have UNITY: in one body, by one Spirit, with one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father- over all, through all, and in all. 

This is the reason for our unity.

Paul also describes what Exercising the Gifts of the Spirit look like. And we were given gifts according to the measure of Christ’s gift to us! These are gifts given sovereignly by God, in the measure He has determined! We are to rejoice in them, in what He has given to us and to others in the body! We rejoice when someone has a gift that we don’t have, or they have it to a greater measure than we do! We are not to be jealous, envying their recognition, but rejoicing in their gift.

One of those gifts is Leadership. We find this in verse 11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

So, what does it look like to BE the church?

There is leadership in the church. There are pastors and elders and deacons and administrators. Why? To do what?

To equip the saints for the work of ministry— the building up the body of Christ. That resonates with the passage in Acts, does it not? To devote oneself to the teaching of Scripture. 

To what end? 

Unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God. This is consistent with our purpose statement: You were made to behold, delight, and display the glory of God. In beholding, we see God in His scripture, we come to know him, and delight in him. We have faith in His saving grace, and rejoice in the hope we have in Him!

To Mature manhood— measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This also is included in our purpose, that we may display Him. We grow up into His character, take on His righteousness and attributes, and become mature adults in Christ. In so doing, we are firm in faith, and do not remain as children! We grow and learn the word of God. We begin with the milk of the gospel, but then graduate to vegetables and meat! This is why we talk about hard doctrines!

Speak truth in love. What you will experience in a gospel-filled church body will not always be “sunshine and lollipops!” Jesus came, full of grace and truth. We are growing into His likeness, and we also are to speak the truth in love. This is to help each other grow up into Him— Christ. And this is good. Sin brings death. It is like a cancer. Would it be loving of your doctor to withhold from you the knowledge that you have cancer that is killing you? Would it then, be loving of a member of the body of Christ, to withhold speaking truth to you, that there is a persisting sin that is causing your harm? Would it be more loving to ignore, or to lovingly speak the truth?

Listen, this is the salt we are called to be! It is good for flavor, and for healing wounds. And we are called to be salt in the world, to speak the truth — even to our neighbor, as Christ did the world! And we are to grow up in Him in every way Him, for…

He is our head. He is our King. He gives the commands, we carry them out. He is the One who knows for what and how we are to live, and why were created. And thus, what it means to be the church. And He commands us to…

build ourselves up in Love. That’s what we are to do as a church. We are the temple of God, and we are to build ourselves up by speaking the truth to each other, in the gospel—, and doing so, because we love one another. Can I give a few examples of what that might look like? We will work on this in our men’s leadership cohort.

We often believe that addressing a brother or sister in their wrongdoing is going to damage our relationship. If we approach in anger, without vetting our own heart, it likely will! But if we prayerfully ask God to reveal our own sin, to give us pure motives, and then go to them gently, in love, it actually has the effect of bringing two people closer together. Have you seen this? I have. And the times I’ve seen it push others away, I’ve learned that our relationship was not built on something lasting in the first place. 

How do we go to them in a gentle way we are called to rebuke?

I have found it extremely helpful to begin requests and statements with the word because. It puts my intention right in front of them, so there is no guessing or assuming why I am saying what I’m saying. What if your gentle rebuke looked like this:

“Because I love you and want our relationship to grow, I want to address the way this came across… what you said…”

“Because the culture of this group is important, and you play an important role, can we talk about what it communicates when this happens?”

Listen, being the body means rubbing elbows, and being in close relationship with others. We will offend each other. We will sin against each other. Friends, because of Jesus, we are forgiven! What that means is when this happens, we have an opportunity to make peace with one another, to restore our relationship to unity, because we love one another! This is what being the body of Christ looks like! Love is an overarching theme in the Bible, for God is love, and his people are to love one another. A new commandment I give to you… love each other, love your neighbor, love your enemy.I want to offer the following as our overarching vision statement. It will likely be reworded by our elders when they are affirmed. But for now, I want to propose this, and ask that you take this statement and match it up against your vision for your life. What does your life look like? Does it look like this:

Our Vision Statement at Hope Fellowship: We are called as the Church to be fully devoted to God and one another, as disciples growing in His gospel. We are to walk in our identity as kingdom citizens, in holiness and unity, speaking the truth in love, exercising His gifts and leadership for the equipping and building of the body until we all reach the fullness of faith and knowledge of the Son of God. We are to be molded into His image and display His character to one another, in love, as salt and light to the world, and grow into the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. We thus behold, delight, and display the glory of God as we look to Christ and the day of His appearing.

[pray]]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47, Eph 4:1-16 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are finishing a short series on the Church at Hope Fellowship. It is good to remember why, what, and how we are called to live as Christ followers, and why we gather as a church, what we— collectively, are called to, and how that should manifest in our church body and community. We don’t believe we have a unique understanding on what church should look like. In fact, what you’ll hear me say is this— I believe gospel-centered churches should, in large part, look the same!

In defining our purpose, mission, and vision, we seek to provide our church body a common language by which we maintain a clear focus on our Savior, the mission He has called us to, and the people we are called to be. 

Churches have used many descriptors and terms to define their operating values as a local church body. We are using the terms Purpose, Mission, and Vision.

Our purpose statement describes the Biblical-Theological purpose, the why, for God’s created image bearers: We exist to Behold, Delight in, and Display the glory of God.

Our mission statement is based on the great commission of Christ, and the overarching theme of the Bible to bear witness to the redeeming working of God: We have been sent into the world to give witness to the glory of King Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

This morning, we seek to outline a biblical vision of the church. A vision statement describes what an organization looks like as they carry out their purpose and mission. Purpose is why. Mission is what. Vision is how, or more descriptively put— what that looks like. Think—what would people see as we walk in our purpose and carry out our mission? 

I want to be clear, we aren’t looking to create a church based on our desires, what we want the church to look like. We want a big church, small church, old church, young church, hymn singing or praise chorus, with a quilting club, an archery team, a gym, and a ferris wheel! I’m not saying any one of those things are necessarily bad— except maybe the ferris wheel! But we stray from the God-given vision of the church if that is what we base our identity on. We would become insular, and our hobbies become the attraction, not the gospel.

We want to paint a vision of the church that our Lord Jesus has called us to, based on whom He has called us to be. It is a matter of being, which leads to doing! Who you are is reflected in what you do! And our identity has been changed, and is different from the world, for we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light! And now, as the redeemed covenant people of God, our actions flow from our renewed mind, and changed heart. 

Thus, the main question we seek to answer today is this: what does it look like to be the church?— and we look to Scripture to describe that for us!

There are many passages that describe the church, what it does, how it operates, and what it looks like. We are going to look at 2 passages today. Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and as the question, what does it look like to BE the Church?

Would you stand as we read our first passage in Acts chapter 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47

[42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

[pray]

According to Acts 2, what does it look like to BE the church?

I want to make the following observations. They were:

Devoted learners - Apostles teaching

Devoted to each other  - to the fellowship, attending temple, meeting in homes

Devoted to remembering the gospel - communion

Devoted to communion with God - prayers

The Result:

Was awe, wonders and signs through apostles. First, awe: reverence and worship of a powerful God! We ought to have a sense of awe as we recognize He is the God of the universe! Wonders: We, at Hope, wouldn’t say these signs have ceased, but they do appear less frequent. The proclaimed gospel word came with visible power which gave credence and authority to the message. These signs seemed to be carried out in large part through the apostles, though not solely. We don’t make the sign gifts the center of authenticating the Spirit or work of God. Why? Because Paul tells us not to! 1 Corinthians 12-13 aptly corrects this view. Not everyone is a prophet, or has the gift of tongues or miracles. Everyone is afforded varying gifts according to the will of God. If wonders and signs aren’t the required marking of a faithful church body, what is?

Love for each other — they were devoted to each other, caring for each other’s need. Selling their possessions and giving, sharing the burdens of those within the body. They hosted each other, ate together, shared life together (44-45). 

Glad and Generous hearts (46). Do you have a glad and generous heart when you share your provision, your resources? Hospitality. Does it lead you to the …

Worship of God (47) Do you worship Him in your provision and finance?

Favor with all people - When we are glad and generous, trusting of the Lord for provision, we share that provision. We share the fruit of the gospel in our lives. 

Growth in disciples  “the Lord added to their number daily.” Being the church is the best growth strategy! You attract people to what you attract them with!

I want to make a point - it wasn’t their outreach strategy that grew the church, it was their culture! When the church lives and acts according to what is being produced in their heart and mind, they are naturally compelling. Why? Because God’s love has been poured into our heart, and that same love flows through us to each other, and to the world! 

When I first felt called to church plant, the overriding question was: What are you going to do different than the church down the street?” Their intent was to ask — what is my strategy for attracting and retaining people to the church? What’s the lure?

In a Gospel Coalition article, Steve McAlpine, wrote“What we attract people with is what we attract them to!” 

If we attract people because of we want to be a small church, or big church, or have a social program, or we have Awanas, or specialized groups, then we aren’t attracting people to Jesus, but their preferences.

So they asked, What am I going to do differently? My response was— “Hopefully, nothing!” Hopefully, we look like every other gospel-preaching, Spirit dwelt church, that’s attractive because we are living out the vision set before us in the Bible!

Our culture at Hope is a result of who we are as a gospel people. Friends, our strategy is to BE the church! We are gospel bought people living out the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ! It will lead to awe, reverence, worship of God, love for each other, love for the lost, glad and generous hearts, favor with God, favor with people, and thus, the growth of our church community.

Next, turn to Ephesians 4:1–7, 11-16. 

What does it look like to BE the church? Paul tells us:

[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. …

[11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

According to Ephesians 4, what does it look like to BE the church?

Walk in holiness — a manner worthy of the calling. 

Hebrews 12:14: Pursue peace with all, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 

1 Peter 2:9 you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

He describes further what that looks like

in humility and gentleness, patience and love… Church, take on the character of Christ!

Unity of the Spirit, Bond of Peace. There is great emphasis on our unity together. We are to be of one accord, united by the gospel which we are called to live out, embody, and give away. 

How are we unified? Verse 4-6.

We have UNITY: in one body, by one Spirit, with one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father- over all, through all, and in all. 

This is the reason for our unity.

Paul also describes what Exercising the Gifts of the Spirit look like. And we were given gifts according to the measure of Christ’s gift to us! These are gifts given sovereignly by God, in the measure He has determined! We are to rejoice in them, in what He has given to us and to others in the body! We rejoice when someone has a gift that we don’t have, or they have it to a greater measure than we do! We are not to be jealous, envying their recognition, but rejoicing in their gift.

One of those gifts is Leadership. We find this in verse 11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

So, what does it look like to BE the church?

There is leadership in the church. There are pastors and elders and deacons and administrators. Why? To do what?

To equip the saints for the work of ministry— the building up the body of Christ. That resonates with the passage in Acts, does it not? To devote oneself to the teaching of Scripture. 

To what end? 

Unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God. This is consistent with our purpose statement: You were made to behold, delight, and display the glory of God. In beholding, we see God in His scripture, we come to know him, and delight in him. We have faith in His saving grace, and rejoice in the hope we have in Him!

To Mature manhood— measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This also is included in our purpose, that we may display Him. We grow up into His character, take on His righteousness and attributes, and become mature adults in Christ. In so doing, we are firm in faith, and do not remain as children! We grow and learn the word of God. We begin with the milk of the gospel, but then graduate to vegetables and meat! This is why we talk about hard doctrines!

Speak truth in love. What you will experience in a gospel-filled church body will not always be “sunshine and lollipops!” Jesus came, full of grace and truth. We are growing into His likeness, and we also are to speak the truth in love. This is to help each other grow up into Him— Christ. And this is good. Sin brings death. It is like a cancer. Would it be loving of your doctor to withhold from you the knowledge that you have cancer that is killing you? Would it then, be loving of a member of the body of Christ, to withhold speaking truth to you, that there is a persisting sin that is causing your harm? Would it be more loving to ignore, or to lovingly speak the truth?

Listen, this is the salt we are called to be! It is good for flavor, and for healing wounds. And we are called to be salt in the world, to speak the truth — even to our neighbor, as Christ did the world! And we are to grow up in Him in every way Him, for…

He is our head. He is our King. He gives the commands, we carry them out. He is the One who knows for what and how we are to live, and why were created. And thus, what it means to be the church. And He commands us to…

build ourselves up in Love. That’s what we are to do as a church. We are the temple of God, and we are to build ourselves up by speaking the truth to each other, in the gospel—, and doing so, because we love one another. Can I give a few examples of what that might look like? We will work on this in our men’s leadership cohort.

We often believe that addressing a brother or sister in their wrongdoing is going to damage our relationship. If we approach in anger, without vetting our own heart, it likely will! But if we prayerfully ask God to reveal our own sin, to give us pure motives, and then go to them gently, in love, it actually has the effect of bringing two people closer together. Have you seen this? I have. And the times I’ve seen it push others away, I’ve learned that our relationship was not built on something lasting in the first place. 

How do we go to them in a gentle way we are called to rebuke?

I have found it extremely helpful to begin requests and statements with the word because. It puts my intention right in front of them, so there is no guessing or assuming why I am saying what I’m saying. What if your gentle rebuke looked like this:

“Because I love you and want our relationship to grow, I want to address the way this came across… what you said…”

“Because the culture of this group is important, and you play an important role, can we talk about what it communicates when this happens?”

Listen, being the body means rubbing elbows, and being in close relationship with others. We will offend each other. We will sin against each other. Friends, because of Jesus, we are forgiven! What that means is when this happens, we have an opportunity to make peace with one another, to restore our relationship to unity, because we love one another! This is what being the body of Christ looks like! Love is an overarching theme in the Bible, for God is love, and his people are to love one another. A new commandment I give to you… love each other, love your neighbor, love your enemy.I want to offer the following as our overarching vision statement. It will likely be reworded by our elders when they are affirmed. But for now, I want to propose this, and ask that you take this statement and match it up against your vision for your life. What does your life look like? Does it look like this:

Our Vision Statement at Hope Fellowship: We are called as the Church to be fully devoted to God and one another, as disciples growing in His gospel. We are to walk in our identity as kingdom citizens, in holiness and unity, speaking the truth in love, exercising His gifts and leadership for the equipping and building of the body until we all reach the fullness of faith and knowledge of the Son of God. We are to be molded into His image and display His character to one another, in love, as salt and light to the world, and grow into the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. We thus behold, delight, and display the glory of God as we look to Christ and the day of His appearing.

[pray]]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47, Eph 4:1-16 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are finishing a short series on the Church at Hope Fellowship. It is good to remember why, what, and how we are called to live as Christ followers, ...</itunes:subtitle>
					
											<!--suppress CheckEmptyScriptTag -->
						<enclosure url="http://hopefellowship.life/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2020/02/Vision-2020.2.2.mp3"
								length="23817531"
								type="audio/mpeg"/>
					
					<itunes:duration>00:49:37</itunes:duration>
											<itunes:keywords>The Church</itunes:keywords>
					
									</item>
			
				<item>
					
					<title>Purpose: Why We Exist</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-purpose-of-the-church</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-purpose-of-the-church#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jan 2020 00:04:42 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=1052</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are entering a short series this morning on the Church— defining the why, what, and how of the church at Hope Fellowship. When we speak of the Church, we are not referring to the structure of the building, or the property we meet on. Church is not a place, it’s a covenant people in whom the Spirit of God dwells. And we exist as God’s chosen people whom he has saved by grace, through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. We, the covenant people of God, are the bride of Christ. We are saved— not to a place, but a person. My aim here this morning is to further define our purpose as a church. Purpose is what most often escapes articulation. Many know it intuitively, but it escapes definition. However, people recognize when it is lacking, or when they are doing something that is in-line with their purpose. Thus, our time this morning will serve to illumine why we exist, and why we gather together as a church body. Over the next 3 Sundays, we will look at the Purpose, Mission, and Vision of the Church, and see how we Hope Fellowship aim to carry that out. 

First, let me define what I mean by purpose. It’s the age old question, asked 100 times a day by my inquisitive, and/or exasperating children. It’s the question of “why?” And, believe it or not, it is the most important question you must answer as a conscious soul. Without knowing the why, you have no motivation for the what, and no driving force for the how! Let me give an example. Do you know why you go to work? Is it because your purpose in inherently filled in programming computers, answering phone calls and emails, driving bus, building roofs or constructing houses, or developing business opportunities and mergers? No. Though you may be operating in your skill set and gifting, those activities ultimately are your means for provision for food and shelter for your family. That job is a means to an end. And that end is not just that you and your family have provision; the end, or the why of your working 5 days a week, has a driving purpose which is this: you love life and the life of your family. Your why is to see, enjoy, and prosper that which you love, namely, your family.

So, why do you come and gather with the church? What do you think most people believe the is the purpose of church? I have listed what I believe to be a few misperceptions, which good-intended believers have proposed. Maybe you’ve heard these, and maybe they’ve come out of your mouth!

It’s a way for our children to learn good morals!

It’s what’s right! The right thing to do!

If I do the right things, I’ll receive God’s blessing!

It’s a means for the old, sick, and dying to be comforted!

If I go to church, I’ll receive forgiveness and my conscious will be appeased.

To be a part of a community and have relationship with others!

To glorify God!

I want to briefly address these supposed ‘purpose’ statements:

If the gathering of the church body exists for the root reason of teaching good morals, what do we produce? Self-righteous legalists, who believe the acceptance of their worship before God is based on their own righteousness. Is that the gospel? No.

If people gather together with the church body because they’re “doing the right thing, and will receive God’s blessing,” what does that reinforce to them? That God is one who can be in my debt, and if I do what he wants, he will give me what I want.

If gathering with the people of God is, at its root, a means of comfort for the old, sick, and dying, what does that speak of the gospel? That’s it’s power is limited to soothing the fear of death, and thus merely a psychological crutch for humanity.

If gathering with the people of God is merely the means to an appeased conscious, because I’m confessed my sin, paid my penance, so I can continue to live a life opposed to God without bearing the consequence of my actions, does that bear out the reality of the gospel of cross of Jesus, by which I have been saved? Does it rightly respond to the grace that had been afforded to me at the cost of the life of the Son of God? 

Lastly, and the most difficult one to argue with, is, the purpose of gathering with the church is to glorify God. First, I want you to know that I agree with this statement. This is the overarching purpose of all things. However, the way it is understood often misrepresents its reality. If what you mean by glorifying God is to offer to God a service, a work, a merit that would add to His glory, this purpose statement is wrong. You cannot add to the glory of God. He has everything, possesses everything and you exist because of His unmerited grace! Thus, there is nothing you can give to God that He doesn’t already have.

So, what does it mean to glorify God? You can’t add to His glory, but you can praise it! You can delight in it! And in doing so, you can display it.

Something important is happening in clarifying our purpose. The general principle is this: If purpose is to come and “do”— it implies a merit based salvation, and leads to a works based gospel. If purpose is to come and behold, delight, and be transformed so as to display glory, it is a work of God, and a gospel based in the glory and grace of God. 

As we develop as a local church body, we seek to have succinct statements that answer the why, what, and how. We identify these are our purpose, mission, and vision statements. This morning seek to propose and support to you the following purpose statement: We exist to behold, delight in, and display the glory of God.

Next week we look at Mission, which answers the what? The week after we will explore Vision, which answers how?

We have many texts today, as this is a Biblical Theological look at the question of why, but I want to begin in John chapter 17:1-5, 20-26. Would you stand, let’s read and then ask God to be with us as we look at His word this morning.

[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2] since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3] And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4] I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

… [20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (ESV). [pray]To Behold the Glory of God:

The entire arc of the gospel is this: mankind was created in God’s image, to be in face to face relationship with Him. This is our Creation narrative. Man and women sinned against God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In trying to be like God, they became less like God. This is the Fall. God set forth a plan from the foundation of the world to redeem His people from sin and death, and the wrath of God, which is the just consequence of rebelling against the perfect God of the cosmos. He had to create a new race, thus giving spiritual birth to mankind. He did so by sending the perfect Eternal Son of God to become flesh, fulfill the law perfectly, die the death we deserve, and satisfy the justice and wrath of God. This is called Redemption. And God, pleased with the perfect obedience of His Eternal Son, raised him from the dead, as a first fruits of the work of His Spirit which now dwells in mankind. He will give new life, transform, and raise from the dead all who believe in Jesus for salvation as their King, and bring them to His presence to live in the light of the glory of God, in face to face relationship with God the Father, and the Son, in the Spirit, for all eternity. This is called New Creation. 

Thus, we read in John 17, Jesus’ high priestly prayer, the purpose for which he came: to be glorified as the Son of God, and that His bride, His people, would behold His glory which he had before the world was.

Friends, you and I were created to behold glory! And not just any glory, but the glory of the most powerful, beautiful, perfect, magnificent being in the cosmos! 

Do you not feel that, when the greater joys of this earth seem to lack their luster? When something that had given you joy in the past seems to lose its sparkle. Could it be that your soul was never meant to be satisfied in that? Those joys are gifts from God, but they were meant as a taste of what is ultimately glorious, namely, the Supreme Being of the universe? And no, this is not yourself, but God.

Moses knew this when he asked, in Exodus 33, “Please show me your glory.” Do you see and understand that the petition to God to reveal His glory is exactly what he wants to hear from His people! Listen to Yahweh’s response: 

[19] And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (ESV)

And then God hid him in a cleft of a rock, for man cannot see his face and live. And he caused his glory to pass by him.

This isn’t the only place in the Bible where God declares that he will present himself before his people. Isaiah 40:9–10

[9] Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

[10] Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him. (ESV)

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4 that when we are saved, it is because we “see[ing] the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

The book of Revelation is replete with beholding the Son of God, whom puts the stars to shame, for the earth will walk by the light of His face!

Why would we say our purpose is to behold? I would respond that you behold what you love! Where you direct your eyes sets the course of your feet. It is the means by which knowledge and input enters your mind and heart, and your eyes are also directed by your heart. When the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has shone into your heart, your eyes will turn towards that glory. We praise with our mouths what we see with our eyes. Now, you might say, “what for the blind?” It is not the physical eyes we speak of, but the spiritual. They are connected, but it is the eyes of the heart that set their gaze towards the Lord and behold glory.

Briefly, how do we do that? How do we behold the glory of God?

We behold the glory of God, first and foremost, in the Word of God. Listen, the written word is life for those who find it. It was no accident that John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.” 

What we see in the Bible, the Word of God, is the glory of God recorded for us. In it His character is revealed, and His saving feats, and it is meant for us to pass on from generation to generation. We behold the glory of God in His word. That is why our aim every Sunday is to open the Word of God and reveal to you the person of Christ, His nature, character, and beauty!

We also behold the glory of God in His people. We, the church, who are weak sinners, saved by grace through faith, are being transformed into the very image of the Son of God. We display is saving grace, we display His mercy and justice, we display his steadfast love. We do this in context of the community of faith—the church, and this overflows into the world. We love and care for one another, we strive with one another, we sacrifice for one another. This is a means we behold the glory of God. 

Lastly, through creation. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaim His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1) The psalmist continued to say there was no place this voice declaring his glory would not be heard. Creation declares his glory.

And we were made to see it, to behold it!

But let’s be a good student and ask… why?

Why behold the glory of God? Because we are also purposed to …Delight in the Glory of God

Is this idea scandalous for any of you? That you were made to delight in God? Isn’t God about dutiful service, and most honored when I begrudgingly obey, doing the things I hate most in order to serve him? If that’s your paradigm, I wan’t to shatter it. I pray the Lord do so to you as he did me, and free you to enjoy worshiping him, delighting in Him, in all things!

First, let me point to scripture, that you may willingly follow me into discourse.

Psalm 1:1–2

[1] Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV)

Psalm 35:27

[27] Let those who delight in my righteousness

shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

“Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” (ESV)

Psalm 37:4

[4] Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Psalm 43:4

[4] Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy,

Psalm 111:2

[2] Great are the works of the LORD,

studied by all who delight in them. (ESV)

Psalm 112:1

[1]  Praise the LORD!

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commandments! (ESV)

Psalm 119:174

[174] I long for your salvation, O LORD,

and your law is my delight. (ESV)

Psalm 63:1–4

[1] O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

[2] So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

[3] Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

[4] So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands. (ESV)

Do you get the picture? There is to be delight in God! In His word! In His love! And this honors God! 

John Piper gives an example in his book, “Desiring God.” He contrasted duty and delight in the context of giving flowers to his wife. “Let’s say I give her flowers and she says, “Oh John, you shouldn’t have! Why did you do this?” And he replies, “Because it’s my duty as your husband to give you flowers…” That does not honor her! But if his response is, “Because it’s my joy to bring you flowers and make you happy!” That honors her! 

The same is true of God. We were made to behold, and delight in the glory of God— and his glory was most fully revealed in the person of Jesus, the Eternal Son.

Can I give you one more reference? In our passage in John 17, verse 13, Jesus says, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (ESV)

The God of the universe seeks to delight his people, his church, his bride…

Our purpose is this: we exist to behold, delight, and display the glory of God.To Display the Glory of God

This is where most learned and well-meaning Christians begin. But I tell you, without beholding and delighting, there is no displaying. For it is in beholding that one sees the glory of the Lord, and in response to seeing, our hearts are captured and transformed that we now love the glory of the Lord! But the efficacious power of the glory of God does not only capture our hearts to love him, it also transforms our person to display him!

2 Corinthians 3:18

[18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Do you see the power of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Beholding, and delighting, serve to transform and are the power for displaying the glory of God. And this magnifies the glory of God, resulting in the praise of God, not man!

What does this look like, practically!?

When one is taken over by the grace of God in their life, they become graceful and merciful to others, patient with the one who would bother and oppress them, hurl insults at them. The person who beholds and delights in God is steeped in the word of God, with an identity that is unshakably rooted in union with Christ. They have within them the abiding Spirit of God, with the same power to love and serve the lost, the hurting, the needy, even their enemies, as Jesus, for that is what Jesus did. All this points to the glory of God, for they themselves couldn’t conjure up the moral perfection to love someone who sets themself up as an enemy. The glory of God seems to shine brightest in our affliction. But it’s not the only means by which He shines through us.

Another example: The musician, or athlete, or business person, who performs or speaks or sings with such eloquence and grace, skill and power, is able to freely do so, knowing they are walking in the gifting and calling of God with the resources provided by God. And this does not puff up their ego but draws them even more to humility and praise of God for the opportunity to use their talents and gifts and feel his pleasure! When praise from man comes, it is appreciated, but not idolized. It is stated that such a performance, or service, is done from joy— not duty, thus giving opportunity to honor the Creator. This is a harder one to learn as a follower of Christ, isn’t it? When we do something well— I tell you, the humble response is to take joy in what God has gifted you to do! It honors him! The alternative is a false humility… “ah, that was nothing…”

“I barely practiced…” “I messed up a couple places…” We offer a humble brag instead of rejoicing with the person giving the compliment!

What if your response was— “I had so much fun running that race, singing that song, giving that talk! I’m so thankful to God for the opportunity!”

Recall with me the reasons we listed for church. To become a moral person. To do the right thing and so please God. To be a part of the community. To glorify God! By beholding, and delighting, we will display the glory of God.

In displaying the glory of God, it’s more about being then doing, for our doing is result of being. And his gospel saves us, and is so powerful, that it transforms us into the image of his Son. 

THAT is a glorious gospel! And we are called to behold it, delight in it, and display it! 

That is why we take communion on a weekly basis. Communion is for the believer. In taking communion we behold the body of Christ, broken for us, and the life-blood of Christ, poured out for us. We behold his glory, that God is love, and greater love has no man than this— that he would lay down his life for His friends. Church, in communion, we behold His glory —  the glory of His gospel, by which He has saved, redeemed, and is transforming us!]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are entering a short series this morning on the Church— defining the why, what, and how of the church at Hope Fellowship. When we speak of the Church, we are not referring to the structure of the building, or the property we meet on. Church is not a place, it’s a covenant people in whom the Spirit of God dwells. And we exist as God’s chosen people whom he has saved by grace, through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. We, the covenant people of God, are the bride of Christ. We are saved— not to a place, but a person. My aim here this morning is to further define our purpose as a church. Purpose is what most often escapes articulation. Many know it intuitively, but it escapes definition. However, people recognize when it is lacking, or when they are doing something that is in-line with their purpose. Thus, our time this morning will serve to illumine why we exist, and why we gather together as a church body. Over the next 3 Sundays, we will look at the Purpose, Mission, and Vision of the Church, and see how we Hope Fellowship aim to carry that out. 

First, let me define what I mean by purpose. It’s the age old question, asked 100 times a day by my inquisitive, and/or exasperating children. It’s the question of “why?” And, believe it or not, it is the most important question you must answer as a conscious soul. Without knowing the why, you have no motivation for the what, and no driving force for the how! Let me give an example. Do you know why you go to work? Is it because your purpose in inherently filled in programming computers, answering phone calls and emails, driving bus, building roofs or constructing houses, or developing business opportunities and mergers? No. Though you may be operating in your skill set and gifting, those activities ultimately are your means for provision for food and shelter for your family. That job is a means to an end. And that end is not just that you and your family have provision; the end, or the why of your working 5 days a week, has a driving purpose which is this: you love life and the life of your family. Your why is to see, enjoy, and prosper that which you love, namely, your family.

So, why do you come and gather with the church? What do you think most people believe the is the purpose of church? I have listed what I believe to be a few misperceptions, which good-intended believers have proposed. Maybe you’ve heard these, and maybe they’ve come out of your mouth!

It’s a way for our children to learn good morals!

It’s what’s right! The right thing to do!

If I do the right things, I’ll receive God’s blessing!

It’s a means for the old, sick, and dying to be comforted!

If I go to church, I’ll receive forgiveness and my conscious will be appeased.

To be a part of a community and have relationship with others!

To glorify God!

I want to briefly address these supposed ‘purpose’ statements:

If the gathering of the church body exists for the root reason of teaching good morals, what do we produce? Self-righteous legalists, who believe the acceptance of their worship before God is based on their own righteousness. Is that the gospel? No.

If people gather together with the church body because they’re “doing the right thing, and will receive God’s blessing,” what does that reinforce to them? That God is one who can be in my debt, and if I do what he wants, he will give me what I want.

If gathering with the people of God is, at its root, a means of comfort for the old, sick, and dying, what does that speak of the gospel? That’s it’s power is limited to soothing the fear of death, and thus merely a psychological crutch for humanity.

If gathering with the people of God is merely the means to an appeased conscious, because I’m confessed my sin, paid my penance, so I can continue to live a life opposed to God without bearing the consequence of my actions, does that bear out the reality of the gospel of cross of Jesus, by which I have been saved? Does it rightly respond to the grace that had been afforded to me at the cost of the life of the Son of God? 

Lastly, and the most difficult one to argue with, is, the purpose of gathering with the church is to glorify God. First, I want you to know that I agree with this statement. This is the overarching purpose of all things. However, the way it is understood often misrepresents its reality. If what you mean by glorifying God is to offer to God a service, a work, a merit that would add to His glory, this purpose statement is wrong. You cannot add to the glory of God. He has everything, possesses everything and you exist because of His unmerited grace! Thus, there is nothing you can give to God that He doesn’t already have.

So, what does it mean to glorify God? You can’t add to His glory, but you can praise it! You can delight in it! And in doing so, you can display it.

Something important is happening in clarifying our purpose. The general principle is this: If purpose is to come and “do”— it implies a merit based salvation, and leads to a works based gospel. If purpose is to come and behold, delight, and be transformed so as to display glory, it is a work of God, and a gospel based in the glory and grace of God. 

As we develop as a local church body, we seek to have succinct statements that answer the why, what, and how. We identify these are our purpose, mission, and vision statements. This morning seek to propose and support to you the following purpose statement: We exist to behold, delight in, and display the glory of God.

Next week we look at Mission, which answers the what? The week after we will explore Vision, which answers how?

We have many texts today, as this is a Biblical Theological look at the question of why, but I want to begin in John chapter 17:1-5, 20-26. Would you stand, let’s read and then ask God to be with us as we look at His word this morning.

[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2] since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3] And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4] I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

… [20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (ESV). [pray]To Behold the Glory of God:

The entire arc of the gospel is this: mankind was created in God’s image, to be in face to face relationship with Him. This is our Creation narrative. Man and women sinned against God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In trying to be like God, they became less like God. This is the Fall. God set forth a plan from the foundation of the world to redeem His people from sin and death, and the wrath of God, which is the just consequence of rebelling against the perfect God of the cosmos. He had to create a new race, thus giving spiritual birth to mankind. He did so by sending the perfect Eternal Son of God to become flesh, fulfill the law perfectly, die the death we deserve, and satisfy the justice and wrath of God. This is called Redemption. And God, pleased with the perfect obedience of His Eternal Son, raised him from the dead, as a first fruits of the work of His Spirit which now dwells in mankind. He will give new life, transform, and raise from the dead all who believe in Jesus for salvation as their King, and bring them to His presence to live in the light of the glory of God, in face to face relationship with God the Father, and the Son, in the Spirit, for all eternity. This is called New Creation. 

Thus, we read in John 17, Jesus’ high priestly prayer, the purpose for which he came: to be glorified as the Son of God, and that His bride, His people, would behold His glory which he had before the world was.

Friends, you and I were created to behold glory! And not just any glory, but the glory of the most powerful, beautiful, perfect, magnificent being in the cosmos! 

Do you not feel that, when the greater joys of this earth seem to lack their luster? When something that had given you joy in the past seems to lose its sparkle. Could it be that your soul was never meant to be satisfied in that? Those joys are gifts from God, but they were meant as a taste of what is ultimately glorious, namely, the Supreme Being of the universe? And no, this is not yourself, but God.

Moses knew this when he asked, in Exodus 33, “Please show me your glory.” Do you see and understand that the petition to God to reveal His glory is exactly what he wants to hear from His people! Listen to Yahweh’s response: 

[19] And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (ESV)

And then God hid him in a cleft of a rock, for man cannot see his face and live. And he caused his glory to pass by him.

This isn’t the only place in the Bible where God declares that he will present himself before his people. Isaiah 40:9–10

[9] Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

[10] Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him. (ESV)

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4 that when we are saved, it is because we “see[ing] the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

The book of Revelation is replete with beholding the Son of God, whom puts the stars to shame, for the earth will walk by the light of His face!

Why would we say our purpose is to behold? I would respond that you behold what you love! Where you direct your eyes sets the course of your feet. It is the means by which knowledge and input enters your mind and heart, and your eyes are also directed by your heart. When the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has shone into your heart, your eyes will turn towards that glory. We praise with our mouths what we see with our eyes. Now, you might say, “what for the blind?” It is not the physical eyes we speak of, but the spiritual. They are connected, but it is the eyes of the heart that set their gaze towards the Lord and behold glory.

Briefly, how do we do that? How do we behold the glory of God?

We behold the glory of God, first and foremost, in the Word of God. Listen, the written word is life for those who find it. It was no accident that John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.” 

What we see in the Bible, the Word of God, is the glory of God recorded for us. In it His character is revealed, and His saving feats, and it is meant for us to pass on from generation to generation. We behold the glory of God in His word. That is why our aim every Sunday is to open the Word of God and reveal to you the person of Christ, His nature, character, and beauty!

We also behold the glory of God in His people. We, the church, who are weak sinners, saved by grace through faith, are being transformed into the very image of the Son of God. We display is saving grace, we display His mercy and justice, we display his steadfast love. We do this in context of the community of faith—the church, and this overflows into the world. We love and care for one another, we strive with one another, we sacrifice for one another. This is a means we behold the glory of God. 

Lastly, through creation. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaim His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1) The psalmist continued to say there was no place this voice declaring his glory would not be heard. Creation declares his glory.

And we were made to see it, to behold it!

But let’s be a good student and ask… why?

Why behold the glory of God? Because we are also purposed to …Delight in the Glory of God

Is this idea scandalous for any of you? That you were made to delight in God? Isn’t God about dutiful service, and most honored when I begrudgingly obey, doing the things I hate most in order to serve him? If that’s your paradigm, I wan’t to shatter it. I pray the Lord do so to you as he did me, and free you to enjoy worshiping him, delighting in Him, in all things!

First, let me point to scripture, that you may willingly follow me into discourse.

Psalm 1:1–2

[1] Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV)

Psalm 35:27

[27] Let those who delight in my righteousness

shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

“Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” (ESV)

Psalm 37:4

[4] Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Psalm 43:4

[4] Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy,

Psalm 111:2

[2] Great are the works of the LORD,

studied by all who delight in them. (ESV)

Psalm 112:1

[1]  Praise the LORD!

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commandments! (ESV)

Psalm 119:174

[174] I long for your salvation, O LORD,

and your law is my delight. (ESV)

Psalm 63:1–4

[1] O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

[2] So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

[3] Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

[4] So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands. (ESV)

Do you get the picture? There is to be delight in God! In His word! In His love! And this honors God! 

John Piper gives an example in his book, “Desiring God.” He contrasted duty and delight in the context of giving flowers to his wife. “Let’s say I give her flowers and she says, “Oh John, you shouldn’t have! Why did you do this?” And he replies, “Because it’s my duty as your husband to give you flowers…” That does not honor her! But if his response is, “Because it’s my joy to bring you flowers and make you happy!” That honors her! 

The same is true of God. We were made to behold, and delight in the glory of God— and his glory was most fully revealed in the person of Jesus, the Eternal Son.

Can I give you one more reference? In our passage in John 17, verse 13, Jesus says, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (ESV)

The God of the universe seeks to delight his people, his church, his bride…

Our purpose is this: we exist to behold, delight, and display the glory of God.To Display the Glory of God

This is where most learned and well-meaning Christians begin. But I tell you, without beholding and delighting, there is no displaying. For it is in beholding that one sees the glory of the Lord, and in response to seeing, our hearts are captured and transformed that we now love the glory of the Lord! But the efficacious power of the glory of God does not only capture our hearts to love him, it also transforms our person to display him!

2 Corinthians 3:18

[18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Do you see the power of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Beholding, and delighting, serve to transform and are the power for displaying the glory of God. And this magnifies the glory of God, resulting in the praise of God, not man!

What does this look like, practically!?

When one is taken over by the grace of God in their life, they become graceful and merciful to others, patient with the one who would bother and oppress them, hurl insults at them. The person who beholds and delights in God is steeped in the word of God, with an identity that is unshakably rooted in union with Christ. They have within them the abiding Spirit of God, with the same power to love and serve the lost, the hurting, the needy, even their enemies, as Jesus, for that is what Jesus did. All this points to the glory of God, for they themselves couldn’t conjure up the moral perfection to love someone who sets themself up as an enemy. The glory of God seems to shine brightest in our affliction. But it’s not the only means by which He shines through us.

Another example: The musician, or athlete, or business person, who performs or speaks or sings with such eloquence and grace, skill and power, is able to freely do so, knowing they are walking in the gifting and calling of God with the resources provided by God. And this does not puff up their ego but draws them even more to humility and praise of God for the opportunity to use their talents and gifts and feel his pleasure! When praise from man comes, it is appreciated, but not idolized. It is stated that such a performance, or service, is done from joy— not duty, thus giving opportunity to honor the Creator. This is a harder one to learn as a follower of Christ, isn’t it? When we do something well— I tell you, the humble response is to take joy in what God has gifted you to do! It honors him! The alternative is a false humility… “ah, that was nothing…”

“I barely practiced…” “I messed up a couple places…” We offer a humble brag instead of rejoicing with the person giving the compliment!

What if your response was— “I had so much fun running that race, singing that song, giving that talk! I’m so thankful to God for the opportunity!”

Recall with me the reasons we listed for church. To become a moral person. To do the right thing and so please God. To be a part of the community. To glorify God! By beholding, and delighting, we will display the glory of God.

In displaying the glory of God, it’s more about being then doing, for our doing is result of being. And his gospel saves us, and is so powerful, that it transforms us into the image of his Son. 

THAT is a glorious gospel! And we are called to behold it, delight in it, and display it! 

That is why we take communion on a weekly basis. Communion is for the believer. In taking communion we behold the body of Christ, broken for us, and the life-blood of Christ, poured out for us. We behold his glory, that God is love, and greater love has no man than this— that he would lay down his life for His friends. Church, in communion, we behold His glory —  the glory of His gospel, by which He has saved, redeemed, and is transforming us!]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are entering a short series this morning on the Church— defining the why, what, and how of the church at Hope Fellowship. When we speak of the Church, we are not referring to the structure of the building, or the property we meet on. Church is not a place, it’s a covenant people in whom the Spirit of God dwells. And we exist as God’s chosen people whom he has saved by grace, through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. We, the covenant people of God, are the bride of Christ. We are saved— not to a place, but a person. My aim here this morning is to further define our purpose as a church. Purpose is what most often escapes articulation. Many know it intuitively, but it escapes definition. However, people recognize when it is lacking, or when they are doing something that is in-line with their purpose. Thus, our time this morning will serve to illumine why we exist, and why we gather together as a church body. Over the next 3 Sundays, we will look at the Purpose, Mission, and Vision of the Church, and see how we Hope Fellowship aim to carry that out. 

First, let me define what I mean by purpose. It’s the age old question, asked 100 times a day by my inquisitive, and/or exasperating children. It’s the question of “why?” And, believe it or not, it is the most important question you must answer as a conscious soul. Without knowing the why, you have no motivation for the what, and no driving force for the how! Let me give an example. Do you know why you go to work? Is it because your purpose in inherently filled in programming computers, answering phone calls and emails, driving bus, building roofs or constructing houses, or developing business opportunities and mergers? No. Though you may be operating in your skill set and gifting, those activities ultimately are your means for provision for food and shelter for your family. That job is a means to an end. And that end is not just that you and your family have provision; the end, or the why of your working 5 days a week, has a driving purpose which is this: you love life and the life of your family. Your why is to see, enjoy, and prosper that which you love, namely, your family.

So, why do you come and gather with the church? What do you think most people believe the is the purpose of church? I have listed what I believe to be a few misperceptions, which good-intended believers have proposed. Maybe you’ve heard these, and maybe they’ve come out of your mouth!

It’s a way for our children to learn good morals!

It’s what’s right! The right thing to do!

If I do the right things, I’ll receive God’s blessing!

It’s a means for the old, sick, and dying to be comforted!

If I go to church, I’ll receive forgiveness and my conscious will be appeased.

To be a part of a community and have relationship with others!

To glorify God!

I want to briefly address these supposed ‘purpose’ statements:

If the gathering of the church body exists for the root reason of teaching good morals, what do we produce? Self-righteous legalists, who believe the acceptance of their worship before God is based on their own righteousness. Is that the gospel? No.

If people gather together with the church body because they’re “doing the right thing, and will receive God’s blessing,” what does that reinforce to them? That God is one who can be in my debt, and if I do what he wants, he will give me what I want.

If gathering with the people of God is, at its root, a means of comfort for the old, sick, and dying, what does that speak of the gospel? That’s it’s power is limited to soothing the fear of death, and thus merely a psychological crutch for humanity.

If gathering with the people of God is merely the means to an appeased conscious, because I’m confessed my sin, paid my penance, so I can continue to live a life opposed to God without bearing the consequence of my actions, does that bear out the reality of the gospel of cross of Jesus, by which I have been saved? Does it rightly respond to the grace that had been afforded to me at the cost of the life of the Son of God? 

Lastly, and the most difficult one to argue with, is, the purpose of gathering with the church is to glorify God. First, I want you to know that I agree with this statement. This is the overarching purpose of all things. However, the way it is understood often misrepresents its reality. If what you mean by glorifying God is to offer to God a service, a work, a merit that would add to His glory, this purpose statement is wrong. You cannot add to the glory of God. He has everything, possesses everything and you exist because of His unmerited grace! Thus, there is nothing you can give to God that He doesn’t already have.

So, what does it mean to glorify God? You can’t add to His glory, but you can praise it! You can delight in it! And in doing so, you can display it.

Something important is happening in clarifying our purpose. The general principle is this: If purpose is to come and “do”— it implies a merit based salvation, and leads to a works based gospel. If purpose is to come and behold, delight, and be transformed so as to display glory, it is a work of God, and a gospel based in the glory and grace of God. 

As we develop as a local church body, we seek to have succinct statements that answer the why, what, and how. We identify these are our purpose, mission, and vision statements. This morning seek to propose and support to you the following purpose statement: We exist to behold, delight in, and display the glory of God.

Next week we look at Mission, which answers the what? The week after we will explore Vision, which answers how?

We have many texts today, as this is a Biblical Theological look at the question of why, but I want to begin in John chapter 17:1-5, 20-26. Would you stand, let’s read and then ask God to be with us as we look at His word this morning.

[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2] since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3] And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4] I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

… [20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (ESV). [pray]To Behold the Glory of God:

The entire arc of the gospel is this: mankind was created in God’s image, to be in face to face relationship with Him. This is our Creation narrative. Man and women sinned against God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In trying to be like God, they became less like God. This is the Fall. God set forth a plan from the foundation of the world to redeem His people from sin and death, and the wrath of God, which is the just consequence of rebelling against the perfect God of the cosmos. He had to create a new race, thus giving spiritual birth to mankind. He did so by sending the perfect Eternal Son of God to become flesh, fulfill the law perfectly, die the death we deserve, and satisfy the justice and wrath of God. This is called Redemption. And God, pleased with the perfect obedience of His Eternal Son, raised him from the dead, as a first fruits of the work of His Spirit which now dwells in mankind. He will give new life, transform, and raise from the dead all who believe in Jesus for salvation as their King, and bring them to His presence to live in the light of the glory of God, in face to face relationship with God the Father, and the Son, in the Spirit, for all eternity. This is called New Creation. 

Thus, we read in John 17, Jesus’ high priestly prayer, the purpose for which he came: to be glorified as the Son of God, and that His bride, His people, would behold His glory which he had before the world was.

Friends, you and I were created to behold glory! And not just any glory, but the glory of the most powerful, beautiful, perfect, magnificent being in the cosmos! 

Do you not feel that, when the greater joys of this earth seem to lack their luster? When something that had given you joy in the past seems to lose its sparkle. Could it be that your soul was never meant to be satisfied in that? Those joys are gifts from God, but they were meant as a taste of what is ultimately glorious, namely, the Supreme Being of the universe? And no, this is not yourself, but God.

Moses knew this when he asked, in Exodus 33, “Please show me your glory.” Do you see and understand that the petition to God to reveal His glory is exactly what he wants to hear from His people! Listen to Yahweh’s response: 

[19] And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (ESV)

And then God hid him in a cleft of a rock, for man cannot see his face and live. And he caused his glory to pass by him.

This isn’t the only place in the Bible where God declares that he will present himself before his people. Isaiah 40:9–10

[9] Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

[10] Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him. (ESV)

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4 that when we are saved, it is because we “see[ing] the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

The book of Revelation is replete with beholding the Son of God, whom puts the stars to shame, for the earth will walk by the light of His face!

Why would we say our purpose is to behold? I would respond that you behold what you love! Where you direct your eyes sets the course of your feet. It is the means by which knowledge and input enters your mind and heart, and your eyes are also directed by your heart. When the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has shone into your heart, your eyes will turn towards that glory. We praise with our mouths what we see with our eyes. Now, you might say, “what for the blind?” It is not the physical eyes we speak of, but the spiritual. They are connected, but it is the eyes of the heart that set their gaze towards the Lord and behold glory.

Briefly, how do we do that? How do we behold the glory of God?

We behold the glory of God, first and foremost, in the Word of God. Listen, the written word is life for those who find it. It was no accident that John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.” 

What we see in the Bible, the Word of God, is the glory of God recorded for us. In it His character is revealed, and His saving feats, and it is meant for us to pass on from generation to generation. We behold the glory of God in His word. That is why our aim every Sunday is to open the Word of God and reveal to you the person of Christ, His nature, character, and beauty!

We also behold the glory of God in His people. We, the church, who are weak sinners, saved by grace through faith, are being transformed into the very image of the Son of God. We display is saving grace, we display His mercy and justice, we display his steadfast love. We do this in context of the community of faith—the church, and this overflows into the world. We love and care for one another, we strive with one another, we sacrifice for one another. This is a means we behold the glory of God. 

Lastly, through creation. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaim His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1) The psalmist continued to say there was no place this voice declaring his glory would not be heard. Creation declares his glory.

And we were made to see it, to behold it!

But let’s be a good student and ask… why?

Why behold the glory of God? Because we are also purposed to …Delight in the Glory of God

Is this idea scandalous for any of you? That you were made to delight in God? Isn’t God about dutiful service, and most honored when I begrudgingly obey, doing the things I hate most in order to serve him? If that’s your paradigm, I wan’t to shatter it. I pray the Lord do so to you as he did me, and free you to enjoy worshiping him, delighting in Him, in all things!

First, let me point to scripture, that you may willingly follow me into discourse.

Psalm 1:1–2

[1] Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV)

Psalm 35:27

[27] Let those who delight in my righteousness

shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

“Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” (ESV)

Psalm 37:4

[4] Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Psalm 43:4

[4] Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy,

Psalm 111:2

[2] Great are the works of the LORD,

studied by all who delight in them. (ESV)

Psalm 112:1

[1]  Praise the LORD!

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commandments! (ESV)

Psalm 119:174

[174] I long for your salvation, O LORD,

and your law is my delight. (ESV)

Psalm 63:1–4

[1] O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

[2] So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

[3] Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

[4] So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands. (ESV)

Do you get the picture? There is to be delight in God! In His word! In His love! And this honors God! 

John Piper gives an example in his book, “Desiring God.” He contrasted duty and delight in the context of giving flowers to his wife. “Let’s say I give her flowers and she says, “Oh John, you shouldn’t have! Why did you do this?” And he replies, “Because it’s my duty as your husband to give you flowers…” That does not honor her! But if his response is, “Because it’s my joy to bring you flowers and make you happy!” That honors her! 

The same is true of God. We were made to behold, and delight in the glory of God— and his glory was most fully revealed in the person of Jesus, the Eternal Son.

Can I give you one more reference? In our passage in John 17, verse 13, Jesus says, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (ESV)

The God of the universe seeks to delight his people, his church, his bride…

Our purpose is this: we exist to behold, delight, and display the glory of God.To Display the Glory of God

This is where most learned and well-meaning Christians begin. But I tell you, without beholding and delighting, there is no displaying. For it is in beholding that one sees the glory of the Lord, and in response to seeing, our hearts are captured and transformed that we now love the glory of the Lord! But the efficacious power of the glory of God does not only capture our hearts to love him, it also transforms our person to display him!

2 Corinthians 3:18

[18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Do you see the power of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Beholding, and delighting, serve to transform and are the power for displaying the glory of God. And this magnifies the glory of God, resulting in the praise of God, not man!

What does this look like, practically!?

When one is taken over by the grace of God in their life, they become graceful and merciful to others, patient with the one who would bother and oppress them, hurl insults at them. The person who beholds and delights in God is steeped in the word of God, with an identity that is unshakably rooted in union with Christ. They have within them the abiding Spirit of God, with the same power to love and serve the lost, the hurting, the needy, even their enemies, as Jesus, for that is what Jesus did. All this points to the glory of God, for they themselves couldn’t conjure up the moral perfection to love someone who sets themself up as an enemy. The glory of God seems to shine brightest in our affliction. But it’s not the only means by which He shines through us.

Another example: The musician, or athlete, or business person, who performs or speaks or sings with such eloquence and grace, skill and power, is able to freely do so, knowing they are walking in the gifting and calling of God with the resources provided by God. And this does not puff up their ego but draws them even more to humility and praise of God for the opportunity to use their talents and gifts and feel his pleasure! When praise from man comes, it is appreciated, but not idolized. It is stated that such a performance, or service, is done from joy— not duty, thus giving opportunity to honor the Creator. This is a harder one to learn as a follower of Christ, isn’t it? When we do something well— I tell you, the humble response is to take joy in what God has gifted you to do! It honors him! The alternative is a false humility… “ah, that was nothing…”

“I barely practiced…” “I messed up a couple places…” We offer a humble brag instead of rejoicing with the person giving the compliment!

What if your response was— “I had so much fun running that race, singing that song, giving that talk! I’m so thankful to God for the opportunity!”

Recall with me the reasons we listed for church. To become a moral person. To do the right thing and so please God. To be a part of the community. To glorify God! By beholding, and delighting, we will display the glory of God.

In displaying the glory of God, it’s more about being then doing, for our doing is result of being. And his gospel saves us, and is so powerful, that it transforms us into the image of his Son. 

THAT is a glorious gospel! And we are called to behold it, delight in it, and display it! 

That is why we take communion on a weekly basis. Communion is for the believer. In taking communion we behold the body of Christ, broken for us, and the life-blood of Christ, poured out for us. We behold his glory, that God is love, and greater love has no man than this— that he would lay down his life for His friends. Church, in communion, we behold His glory —  the glory of His gospel, by which He has saved, redeemed, and is transforming us!]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: The Church At Hope Fellowship | We are entering a short series this morning on the Church— defining the why, what, and how of the church at Hope Fellowship. When we speak of the Church, we are not referring to the struct...</itunes:subtitle>
					
											<!--suppress CheckEmptyScriptTag -->
						<enclosure url="http://hopefellowship.life/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2020/01/TestProject-12220-3.57-PM.mp3"
								length="25886011"
								type="audio/mpeg"/>
					
					<itunes:duration>00:53:55</itunes:duration>
											<itunes:keywords>The Church</itunes:keywords>
					
									</item>
			
	</channel>
</rss>
