Our Mission at RLCF - Santosh Poonen - January 1, 2012
http://rlcfchurch.org/our-mission-at-rlcf River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon outlines the vision for the local church, defining it as an expression of the universal Body of Christ. The speaker emphasizes that the church should function like a body, requiring mutual submission and cooperation rather than relying on a single leader. He draws parallels to the formation of the early church in Luke chapter 1 to illustrate how the Holy Spirit works to build up the body through individuals.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why we are a local church fellowshipSantosh and Phil share why they are reminding the congregation of their vision as a church on the first Sunday of the year.
The danger of the single pastor mentalityA single-pastor church lacks accountability and resembles a single-parent family, whereas shared leadership allows God's power and authority to work.
What Christmas really meansChristmas translates to Christ's Mission, pointing not just to the historical manger, but to Jesus working through His body on Earth today.
Building a local expression of Christ's bodyThe core vision of the church is to function as a local cross-section and expression of the universal body of Christ.
Looking at the first body of Christ in Luke 1Santosh directs attention to the events in Bethlehem and Nazareth to understand how God forms the body of Christ.
What is a spiritual virgin?A spiritual virgin is someone who is chaste, uncontaminated, and married to Christ alone rather than committing spiritual adultery with the world.
Cleansed by Christ to be made wholeNo matter how sinful a person's past looks, Christ can cleanse them through the Holy Spirit so they can begin the work of forming Christ within.
The danger of returning to spiritual adulteryAfter being cleansed, believers must not contaminate themselves again through the spirit of the world, anger, gossip, or lust.
Congregations versus true churchesThere are different types of churches people try to build, but true spiritual life requires both vertical relationship with God and horizontal fellowship.
The vertical and horizontal beams of the crossThe vertical beam represents personal love and connection to God as the head, while the horizontal beam represents unity with fellow believers.
