Finding What We Seek in Christ Together
(Preaching Outline)
1) When people tell me about their church:
a) Normal answers – worship, preacher, community, for their kids
b) Potential answers – we are a people who have encountered God, love Jesus and are committed to seeing His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Wisdom vs. Folly, Heaven vs. Hell, WLM)
c) Suggest – Encounter, mission and vision – Upon which Christ builds His church.
d) 1 John 1:3–4 (NRSV) — 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
e) Luke 11:9–13 (NRSV) — 9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
2) Emmaus Encounter
a) Luke 24:13–16 (NRSV) — 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
b) (Fill in context – they were walking sad – even though some told of his resurrection – a fresh encounter)
c) Luke 24:30–32 (NRSV) — 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
d) Reminds me of Elijah
3) God rewards those who seek Him
a) Hebrews 11:6 (NRSV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
4) Do we dare to seek what we find in Scripture?
a) PETER’S SHADOW – Acts 5:12–16 (NRSV) — 12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
b) THE GOSPEL INVADES SAMARIA: Acts 8:4–8 (NRSV) — 4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 7 for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
c) BAPTISED BELIEVERS STILL NEEDED THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 8:14–19 (NRSV) — 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
5) Finding What We Seek Together
a) 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NRSV) — 1 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.
b) Can we be a community that seeks the Lord?
c) Psalm 24:6–10 (NRSV) — 6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
