OGBC Podcasts

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Tue, 3 Nov 2015 22:40:00 -0500

In Pursuit of a Rebel - Rebel on the Run - November 1, 2015

Purpose Not Preference - October 11, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 20:27:00 -0400

Purpose, not preference, Philippians 2:1-11

As we continue our series on I Am a Church Member, seeking to rediscover what it means to be a member of God’s Church, we have already seen how God has established the global Church, all those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord, and the local church, a gathering of believers in a community. We are God’s church and members of it by our faith in Jesus.

As members, God has given each of us a gift to use to accomplish his mission of redeeming worshippers from every tribe and tongue for his glory. He assembled these gifts together in the local church to serve a one body with many members and many functions, much like the human body. All of us are united together as one by our faith in Christ, but creates problems especially when we fail to love each other well. Through forgiveness and bearing with one another, we can strive to remain united and show our community and the world the grace and mercy of God. God’s attributes displayed through us, members of God’s church.

Being a church member is not about me, but about we. It’s being united, not uniform. And today we’ll discover that being a Church member is all about purpose, not preference.

God’s church exists for one thing and one thing only – to bring God glory. Being a Church member means I pursue God’s purpose, not my preference. If Jesus said in Matthew 26:39, “not as I will, but as you will,” then who am I to say I want it my way?

Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God established His church for one purpose – to accomplish God’s mission of redeeming mankind and filling the earth with worshippers for God’s glory, and personal preference cannot take priority over God’s mission.

1. Gospel compels us to live with purpose (v.1-2)

The Gospel gives us life and purpose. He rescued you from sin and the grave and gave you encouragement, comfort, affection and/or sympathy and eternal hope. God’s work in your life compels you to live with distinct purpose.

2. Gospel compels us to live for other people (v. 3-8)

When the Gospel gives you life, other people become a priority. As you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, your focus begins to shift from seeing your reflection in the mirror to seeing people beyond your reflection. It is almost like they start to come into focus for the first time and your life becomes less and less prominent.

The Gospel leads us to lay aside our preferences and make others a priority instead of me. As members of God’s church, the same Gospel that saves us should also compel us to live with purpose that places other people in greater prominence than any of our preferences.

3. Gospel compels us to live in preparation for eternity (v. 9-11)

The Gospel compels us to live purpose for other people in preparation for the return of Christ. If we live for any preferences, we live preferring only those things that exalts Christ and gives people opportunities to be transformed by the Gospel. That is why we are here. Every day, every breath is to be lived in preparation for eternity.

To help us apply this text, let me encourage you to write down a few questions for you to prayerfully consider.

1) What would it look like for you to sacrifice your preference in pursuit of God’s purpose?

2) What do you need to do to accomplish God’s purpose at Oak Grove?

3) How is your membership making an eternal difference in the lives of others?

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 20:25:00 -0400

God's Kingdom, Not Mine - October 25, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:26:00 -0400

Community Not Consumer - October 18, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Sun, 4 Oct 2015 21:57:00 -0400

Unity Not Uniformity - October 4, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Phillips) — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 21:05:00 -0400

Not Me, But We - September 27, 2015