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The Church

Explore the reasons why we often withdraw from others and build walls, and discover God's answer for us in forming a loving Christian community.

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The Church

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  1. The Church Name Lay Person

  2. The Church Reasons we withdraw from others • Fear of what others will think • Fear others will find out our weaknesses • Memories of betrayed confidences • Memories of old hurts • Fear of being used by others • Fear of loss of power, or control of turf

  3. The Church Ways we build walls to hide behind • Material possessions • Physical superiority, threaten or intimidate others • Faking it • Being “the Know it all” • By withdrawal - “the lone wolf”

  4. The Church God’s answer for us • God offers a relationship with Him • God provided us with natural families • God sent his Son so we can be part of the family of God • Which is “The Church”

  5. The Church What is the Church? • A Christian community that responds to Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34-35) • The Body of Christ – (1 Cor. 12:12-21) • No one is excluded • God’s people • Not buildings, creeds, denominations, nor organizations

  6. The Church How can we BE the Church? • God, through His Holy Spirit, changes us so we can trust others. • The love of Jesus draws us together in a group. • When we say we are the Church, we are talking about us connected as part of a community, the Body of Christ.

  7. The Church WHO IS THE CHURCH? WE ARE THE CHURCH!!!

  8. The Church God WILLS Community • Jesus modeled life in community for us. • Jesus taught us to pray OurFather, who art in heaven…. Not My Father. • Jesus’ promise: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

  9. The Church Christian Life is Like a Cross • Vertical relationship: between a Christian and God. • Horizontal relationship: between a Christian and his brothers and sisters. • There are no “Lone Rangers” in Christianity

  10. The Church WHO IS THE CHURCH? WE ARE THE CHURCH!!!

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