Thursday, September 26, 2013
Discovering A Relationship With God
Become A Member of Life Anglican Church Riverstone
Why Does Life Anglican Church –Riverstone Exist?
WE EXIST TO CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Matt. 4:10
“...The Father seeks worshipers...and His worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Jn 4:23-24
Life Anglican Worship Style
“Celebration” Psalm 122:1
“Inspiration” Isaiah 40:31
“Preparation” Eph. 4:11-12
WE EXIST TO COMMUNICATE GOD’S WORD
“His intent was that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known...” Eph. 3:10
“Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But who can ask Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells him?” Rom. 10:13-14 (LB)
WHY OUR CHURCH MUST NEVER STOP GROWING
1. Because
“The Lord...is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Pet. 3:9
2 Cor. 5:14, Luke 15:3-10,
2. Because
“Go out into the country...and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My House will be full.”
Luke 14:23 (LB)
“...you will be my witnesses...” Acts 1:8
3. Because
“Under Christ’s control, the whole Body is nourished...and grows as God wants it to grow.” Col. 2:19 (GN)
“(Jesus) I will build my church.” Matt. 16:18
WE EXIST TO EDUCATE GOD’S PEOPLE
“Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity...” Heb. 6:1
“Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18
“(God has given)...some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of ministry, so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all...become mature...like Christ.” Eph. 4:11-13
WE EXIST TO DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE
“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples — that you have love for one another.” John 13:35, 1 John 3:16-17, Matt. 25:34-40, Heb. 13:16, Rom. 12:13
“Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities.. and there are different kinds of service to God(ministry)... All of you together form the one Body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” 1 Cor. 12:4-5, 27 (LB)
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Believe
• In essential beliefs — we have unity.
“There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all...” Eph.4:4-6
• In non-essential beliefs — we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.”
Romans 14:1,4,12,22
• In all our beliefs — we show charity.
“...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” 1 Cor. 13:2 (Ph)
THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
1. Admit THAT GOD HAS NOT BEEN FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9
2. Believe THAT JESUS DIED TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS AND THAT HE ROSE AGAIN ON
EASTER, AND IS ALIVE TODAY.
“If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
3. Receive GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. DON’T TRY TO EARN IT.
“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
Our relationship to God is not restored by anything we do, but on the basis of what Jesus already did for us!
4. Ask JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE AND BE THE DIRECTOR (“LORD”) OF YOUR LIFE.
“To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. All we need to do is to trust Him to save us. All those who believe this are reborn! — not a physical rebirth...but from the will of God!” John 1:12-13
YOU CAN TAKE THESE STEPS BY PRAYING A SIMPLE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT TO GOD:
“Dear Jesus, thank you for making me and loving me, even when I’ve ignored you and gone my own way. I realize I need you in my life and I’m sorry for my sins. I ask you to forgive me. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Please help me to understand it more. As much as I know how, I want to follow you from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new person inside. I accept your gift of salvation. Please help me to grow now as a Christian.”
“Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Discovering A Relationship With God
