How do you see the church?

At some point your belief in Jesus and your commitment to church is going to be challenged. 

Our purpose:

Grace Family Church exists to establish every person, family, marriage, and child on the foundation of Jesus.

3 ways to build on the foundation of Jesus

1. We must build our personal lives on the foundation of Jesus.

Matthew 7:24-25

"24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock."

Jesus tells us the storms will come.

If we are going to build our lives on Jesus it requires an active commitment to his instruction.

Matthew 7:26-27

"26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”"

Only fools expect stability from environments that are inherently unstable.

2. We must build the lives of others on the foundation of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9

"6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building."

This is the work of the church:

To plant and water the seeds of the Gospel in the lives of those around us.

How we engage with the church either magnifies or minimizes the mission Jesus has given to us.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

"10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ."

A spiritual foundation is laid in every person.

The only true foundation is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14

"12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward."

What we build into those we disciple will be tested by the world and its survival or destruction will be evident. 

3. We must be built together on the foundation of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:20-21

"20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord."

Christ is the cornerstone

- The cornerstone is the first stone.

- The cornerstone aligns the other stones.

- The cornerstone stabilizes the other stones.

Without Jesus our faith would crumble.

Christianity built on anything other than Jesus will crumble.

"Strong faith in a weak object fails, but even weak faith in a strong object succeeds."

                                                - Tim Keller

Bad reasons to be a Christian:

"Because the Bible says so."

"Because my pastor says so."

"Because my parents taught me."

"Because I want God to be happy with me."

"Because church is fun."

Bad reasons to leave Christianity:

"Because christianity and my lifestyle are at odds."

"Because science and the Bible don't align."

"Because Christians don't follow Jesus."

"Because I see faith differently today."

Good reasons to be a Christian:

"Because Jesus was real."

"Because Jesus is God."

"Because Jesus rose from the dead."

Good reasons to leave Christianity:

"Because they found Jesus still in the grave."

Why do we exist?

To establish every person on the foundation of Jesus.

Why does it matter?

Because a person whose faith is founded on the reality, resurrection, and redemption of Jesus will never crumble.

Why do you follow Jesus?

What would cause you to stop?