Zac Poonen - A Church That Functions Like A Body - NCCF Conference Mar 3 2012
New Covenant Christian Fellowship http://newcovenantcf.org
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that Jesus' promise to be with us always is conditional upon us actively making disciples and living according to His commands. He stresses the importance of daily obedience, particularly avoiding murmuring and complaining, which he links to a proper understanding of scripture. Furthermore, he argues that the true model for the church is found in the New Testament pattern of Apostles and Elders, contrasting it with modern hierarchical or unaccountable structures.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Who receives the promise of Jesus' presence?The promise of Christ's perpetual presence is tied directly to the condition of making disciples and obeying everything He commanded.
Doing all things without murmuringScripture explicitly commands believers to live without complaining or grumbling, and taking this seriously means repenting the moment we murmur.Philippians 2:14
Respecting the Bible means obeying itTrue respect for God's word is not about symbolic gestures like placing it on top of other books, but about obeying what is written inside.
What is Mount Zion and how do we find it?Mount Zion represents the New Covenant Church, where God brings people together individually from cities and families.Hebrews 12:22
Shepherds after God's own heartThe mark of coming to Zion is finding shepherds who are not interested in money or honor, but in feeding people with the knowledge of God and making them godly.Jeremiah 3:14
New Testament church structure versus human corporationsUnlike hierarchical corporate systems or independent answerable-to-no-one preachers, New Testament churches were planted by sent apostles who appointed local elders.
A burden for God's dishonored nameTrue revival starts when believers bow before God, offering themselves completely to see His name hallowed and no longer dishonored by Christian living.
God uses the humble, not just scholarsThe power to build the church comes from the Holy Spirit and humility, allowing God to use anyone—even those who cannot read or write—alongside scholars.
Holding fast to God's standards on marriage and divorceGod's standards on marriage and divorce must not be compromised to prevent people from leaving, and divorced individuals are never appointed to leadership.
Purity is greater than numbersLike Jesus and Noah, we must not chase after numbers or compromise the truth; small and pure is far better than large and corrupt.
