A Heart For The House

Introduction

1 Co 1:26-29 NIV Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. (27) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (28) He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, (29) so that no one may boast before him.

Gen 28:16-22 NIV When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (17) He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." (18) Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. (19) He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. (20) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear (21) so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God (22) and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

God is here – not aware of it

  • Response – How awesome is this place – HOUSE of GOD
  • It is easy to take Gods house for granted
  • Familiarity breads contempt
  • No organization suffered such opposition

I went to a conference and came back with a greater love for the local church

  • Many – just go to the next conference

Today: Reminder of what the church is – so we don’t take it for granted

1. Church is a family

A place of unconditional love

Rom 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God SO loved the world that He gave

  • What parent gives up on their child
  • E.g. – caught shop lifting
  • It is the good – bad and the ugly

God sets the lonely in families (Ps.68:6)

  • Not orphans in an orphanage
  • A place of belonging – We all need to belong to something and someone
  • Not good to be alone

2. Church is a body

  • A place where we can function – fulfil our purpose
  • All have a part to play

1Co 12:14-18 NIV Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? (18) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

All parts are important

  • Different giftings than that of my brothers – and other leaders
  • E.g. Pete – not better just different

Unseen parts just as important

  • Some of the unseen parts of the body are the most important parts
  • Heart – liver (baking cakes)

3. Church is a house

  • A base to impact our world

Mat 28:18-20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus is highlighting 2 major things

1. GO

  • Into ALL world – he loved the WHOLE WORLD
    • Your world – school – work – shops
    • Make disciples = teaching people a better way to live

2. BUILD

  • God wants us to build His house – the church

Because people are homeless

  • A lot of homeless people in society
    • No homes to got to – no food to eat – no hope
  • A lot of homeless people in our society that have a house too!

A home is more than a house

  • A home is not about the walls, rooms, the roof, or the furnishings
  • There is much more to a home than the physical structure

Same is true for the house of God

  • He wants HIS house to become OUR home

What should a home look like – think of your home

  • Front door – place of entrance (people can come in)
  • Living room – place where we do life together
  • Bathroom – lace of cleaning
  • Kitchen – place of service
  • Bed room – place of rest
  • Dining room – place to eat

First mention of the house of God is connected to the tithing

  • House of God is to be a house of provision

Conclusion

Kath and I going to South Africa – we love you

  • Don’t neglect fellowship

(Heb 10:25 ICB) You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing. But you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the Day coming.