11th December 2022 - How God Planted A New Covenant Church In Bangalore - India - Zac Poonen
11th Dec 2022 - CFC Bangalore - Sunday Church Service For more sermons please visit https://www.cfcindia.com/
Summary
The service began with congregational singing praising Jesus' lordship and the glory of God. The sermon preparation included prayers for the Holy Spirit to open understanding and for the church to be built up. The message transitioned to scripture, noting the memory verse (1 John 2:25) and the week's command (Ecclesiastes 12:13), which emphasizes fearing God and keeping His commandments.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
A call to praise Jesus as LordThe service begins with a song proclaiming that all of creation, from the sun and moon to the stars, declares that Jesus is Lord.
Singing togetherThe speaker invites the congregation to sing along with a short chorus about God being close to us as Emmanuel.
A prayer for focus and the reading of memory versesAfter a prayer to quiet the spirit and focus on God's holiness, the speaker introduces the week's command from Ecclesiastes.
Introduction and greetingZac Poonen joins the service via Zoom to share what is on his heart regarding the history of the church.
The principle of pure sacrificeUsing Malachi as a backdrop, the speaker explains that God rejected Israel's blemished offerings and that CFC was founded on the principle of offering the very best to Him.
The expansion of the church's witnessThe speaker describes how the church moved from Bangalore to reaching 180 countries via the internet, fulfilling the call to be witnesses in all places.
Is Jesus your Savior or just your forgiver?The speaker argues that true salvation is not just about being forgiven for future sins, but being saved from the power of sin in the present.
Hungering for righteousness leads to satisfactionDrawing from the Beatitudes, the speaker shares his personal struggle with sin and how desiring freedom from sin is the key to being satisfied by God.
Living a life of daily dependence and self-denialThe speaker concludes by teaching that true discipleship requires taking up the cross daily to deny the self and live in total dependence on Christ.Luke 9:23
The reward of obeying God's commandObeying the command to make disciples brings the presence of the Lord into your life and home. While following Jesus requires a price, the spiritual rewards far outweigh any sacrifice made.
What does it mean to be a disciple?Based on Luke 14, being a disciple means loving Jesus more than your closest family and taking up your cross daily. It also involves having a loose attitude toward possessions so that they do not possess you.Luke 14:26–33
Walking as Jesus walkedTo remain in Christ, we must walk in humility and mercy, specifically by being merciful to those in our own homes. The speaker emphasizes that the church is built on a foundation of knowing God, personal walk, and godly family life.1 John 2:6
The cost of not lowering standardsPaul experienced many people turning away from him because he refused to compromise on biblical standards. This serves as a warning that true followers of Christ may be few compared to those who depart.
The danger of losing your first loveDespite receiving massive amounts of teaching in Ephesus, the church there lost its initial fervor for Christ. The speaker defines backsliding as any decrease in one's fervent love for Jesus.Revelation 2:4–5
Closing remarks and the power of God's wordThe host thanks the speaker for his simple teaching style, followed by a final encouragement from the speaker to walk as Jesus walked and a closing song about the good news of what God can do.
