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6 episodes with dream church
7 episodes with dream church
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2 episodes with dream church
2 episodes with dream church
2 episodes with dream church
2 episodes with dream church
2 episodes with dream church
In this episode, Cedric Lauchner of Dream Church in Jacksonville, FL shares his story of planting in an urban context during Covid, and what prayer has meant to his life and church as a church planter and pastor.
Pursuing Jesus
In this week's sermon, Rev. Terence Gray explores the concept of the "Dream Church" and how our fantasies of a perfect church can undermine the true beauty and value of the real church. Drawing from 1 Peter, he emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort and commitment in our relationships within the church community. Pastor Terence challenges us to move beyond consumerist mindsets and transactional relationships, calling us to a Christ-like mindset that values unity, diversity, and sacrificial love. He reminds us that lasting communities and relationships are built and sustained by people who don't put their self-interests first. Join us as we delve into what it means to be part of a true gospel community, committed to one another and to the ongoing work of the Spirit in this world.
Today I am joined by author, life coach, pastor, speaker, wife, mother Julia Gentry! I recently comoleted her group coaching program dream coaching Abundance, avoidance and Website: https://thejuliagentry.com/Dream Church: https://www.youtube.com/@thejuliagentry
Midnight Hour Oil
Pastor Josh looks at James 2:1-13
Miami Valley Church
Miami Valley Church
God’s Dream Church Ephesians 4:1-16 Ken Pierpont, Lead Pastor Bethel Church | Jackson, Michigan
Heaven Revelation 21:4 // ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Until Lakeland Looks Like Heaven Matthew 6:10 // Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 KJV // Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Kingdom: A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen Kingdom: Wherever the will of a king is carried out Mark 6:1-6 // Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. If we understand what restrains Jesus, we'll understand what restrains us. We are… 1. High Honor HONOR - Valuable, Precious, Weighty such as gold DISHONOR - Devalue to treat something valuable as common. We want to be know for what we're FOR not what we're AGAINST 2. Hope Dealing “A record 78% didn't think their children's generation will live better than their own, up from 67% in 2019.” - WSJ/UChicago 1 Thessalonians 4:13 // Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 3. Party Throwers Luke 15:7 // I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:10 // In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:22-24 // “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. We are High Honor, Hope Dealing, Party Throwers!
ἐκκλησία - assembly or gathering How do we follow Jesus? Matthew 4:18-22 // As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Fan: Enthusiastic Admirer Luke 6:46 // “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Matthew 7:21 // “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Luke 9:23 // Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must… Whoever means Anyone. Anyone means Everyone. Luke 9:23 (ESV) // Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Deny themselves means total surrender. Jesus: Come & Die 1 John 2:17 // The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Epithumia - Hyper Desire Why Are We Here? 1. Are We All In? 2. Have We Made It Our Own?
You are the dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:22). You are Zion. However, many of us live our lives attempting to control the weather around us instead of being who we really are and simply observing the weather for the providential beauty that it is. We must become Zion again. To support the ministry of Dream Church, please visit www.dreamcolumbia.com/give
The members of Dream Church and The Ville congregate at Pastor Jay's home for a sermon from Pastor Ced Lauchner.
In this episode, we sit down with Cedric Lauchner who is the Pastor of Dream Church in Jacksonville, FL. In this conversation, we talk about bivocational ministry, raising funds, and planting slow. Join our Facebook Community!
Dream Church's Lead Paster, Ced Lauchner, brings The Word to The Ville.
Dream Church is a very unique expression of the church in a post-modern era. In this message, Pastor Joshua Brown teaches on why we are a church rebuilding the temple of Zion (metaphorically) rather than a duplicate of Babylon. What you allow in will ultimately rule over you.
If anyone knows what the Church could look like at its best, it's the apostle Paul. He spent his life planting churches, watering them with care, and watching God bring growth. So when he heard about a new church plant in Colossae, he sent a letter to encourage and teach them. The letter opens with a powerful prayer - a picture of what the dream church could look like. A place where our theology is grace and our ethic is gratitude. Join us at GraceLife this Sunday to see that the dream might be closer to reality than we think.
Canadian culture is a culture of comfort. It's being sold to us everywhere we look. We're encouraged to do what we want, when we want, with whomever we want. If something is uncomfortable, we want to avoid it at all costs. The Christian faith, though, is just that: uncomfortable. This week we begin a four-part series called Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community. We were built for community, but our desire for comfort often leads us to distance ourselves from one another. Could it be that your dream of church is the very thing that is keeping you from experiencing the joy and blessings of church?
In this message, Josiah wraps up the dream church series by discussing how the church is meant to be a battleship, not a cruise ship. The church is designed for a mission, not for entertainment. We hope that this message inspires you to be more involved in your church and to wage the spiritual battle against darkness everyday.
In this message, Josiah wraps up the dream church series by discussing how the church is meant to be a battleship, not a cruise ship. The church is designed for a mission, not for entertainment. We hope that this message inspires you to be more involved in your church and to wage the spiritual battle against darkness everyday.
In this message, Josiah seeks to answer the question, what are the quality characteristics of the family of God? Each of us has a different family background, but we all need to base our idea of family, not from our experiences, but from the Bible.
In this message, Josiah seeks to answer the question, what are the quality characteristics of the family of God? Each of us has a different family background, but we all need to base our idea of family, not from our experiences, but from the Bible.
What we expect from the future greatly affects how we live in the present. In this message, Josiah preaches out of Hebrews 11 and the great people of faith mentioned in this chapter looked towards their future promise.
What we expect from the future greatly affects how we live in the present. In this message, Josiah preaches out of Hebrews 11 and the great people of faith mentioned in this chapter looked towards their future promise.
What does ideal leadership structure look like in the church? In this message, Josiah lays out how each of us our leaders in our own right and how the church was designed to function. We hope that this message blesses you as your pursue leadership in your faith.
What does ideal leadership structure look like in the church? In this message, Josiah lays out how each of us our leaders in our own right and how the church was designed to function. We hope that this message blesses you as your pursue leadership in your faith.
Message from Phil Wayman on January 9, 2022
In a dream church, fear does not stop us from pursuing God's path for our lives. In this message, Josiah shares how we can have victory over fear in our lives.
In a dream church, fear does not stop us from pursuing God's path for our lives. In this message, Josiah shares how we can have victory over fear in our lives.
Message from Phil Wayman on January 2, 2022
An essential aspect to our faith is to give God praise with thanksgiving and gratitude. In this message, Joy Gruits shows how Scripture commands again and again the need to declare our gratefulness to the Lord.
An essential aspect to our faith is to give God praise with thanksgiving and gratitude. In this message, Joy Gruits shows how Scripture commands again and again the need to declare our gratefulness to the Lord.
A church cannot be passionate about Jesus without also being passionate about helping the needy. In this message we focus on the missions efforts we are conducting around the world.
A church cannot be passionate about Jesus without also being passionate about helping the needy. In this message we focus on the missions efforts we are conducting around the world.
God's grace is the foundation of the kind of church we are dreaming of. In this message, Pastor Tony reminds us that it is only by God's power that we will see revival and fulfillment of his promises. There is a new day approaching, and we need to trust and lean on Him.
God's grace is the foundation of the kind of church we are dreaming of. In this message, Pastor Tony reminds us that it is only by God's power that we will see revival and fulfillment of his promises. There is a new day approaching, and we need to trust and lean on Him.
Faith Secrets Service Preached at The Makarios Church, East Legon Ogbojo
Faith Secrets Service With Rev. Selasy Preached from The Makarios Church, East Legon Ogbojo
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 Guest Speaker, Pastor John Dickson, discusses the first church. Through this conversation, we see some ideals that served as the foundation of the earliest Jesus-community. We are challenged to be awestruck by God’s love and power which should lead us to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus. Acts 2:42-47
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 Guest Speaker, Pastor John Dickson, discusses the first church. Through this conversation, we see some ideals that served as the foundation of the earliest Jesus-community. We are challenged to be awestruck by God’s love and power which should lead us to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus. Acts 2:42-47
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 Guest Speaker, Pastor John Dickson, discusses the first church. Through this conversation, we see some ideals that served as the foundation of the earliest Jesus-community. We are challenged to be awestruck by God's love and power which should lead us to reach out to those who don't know Jesus. Acts 2:42-47
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:40-47 Acts 2:40-47
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:40-47 Guest Speaker, Pastor John Dickson, discusses the first church. Through this conversation, we see some ideals that served as the foundation of the earliest Jesus-community. We are challenged to be students of the gospel and recognize that we are now family with other Jesus-followers. Acts 2:40-47
Speaker: John Dickson Scripture: Acts 2:40-47 Acts 2:40-47
Luke's Dream Church Pt2by Rev'd Dr. John DicksonRidley College Chapel Sermon (Semester 1/Week 11/Thursday 2021)
Luke's Dream Churchby Rev'd Dr. John DicksonRidley College Chapel Sermon (Semester 1/Week 10/Thursday 2021)
Join us for a special service celebrating the opening of the new Darley Smith building! Guest speaker Dr. John Dickson brings a stirring message with a vision of the ideal church in Acts 2:37-42.
Welcome to the weekly podcast of Pastor Tim Woody and City Life Church in Fort Worth, Texas. City Life Church exists to influence culture by making Jesus known. For more information visit us online at www.citylifefw.org
Welcome to the weekly podcast of Pastor Tim Woody and City Life Church in Fort Worth, Texas. City Life Church exists to influence culture by making Jesus known. For more information visit us online at www.citylifefw.org
When Your Dream Church Dies I. Introduction Well hello, church. It’s a privilege for me to open God’s word with you this evening as we take a break from the Gospel of Luke and start a series on our life together as a church. And thank you for praying for me just now. I have been excited to preach this word tonight, but I also feel my need for God’s help. So if you feel inclined to pray for me at any point as we get going, I’d welcome it. Just about six years ago, I moved to a new city to attend seminary. And there was a church in this city that I had known about for a long time. I had listened to sermons from the pastor of this church and even read books that he had written. So I carried some anticipation with me as I walked into the church building for the first time and as I started to settle in to this new community. And it did not take me long to realize that this church was exceedingly, incredibly . . . normal. As far as churches go anyway. More than that, I started noticing things about the church that rubbed against my preferences. It was a big church, so I felt sort of invisible at times. I struggled to find deep community. The first time I went to a small group, a man there prayed for me as “Kevin.” And I didn’t realize until some weeks into my time there that I had brought this idea of a dream community with me that was now slowly dying. If you’re anything like me, you’ve realized that you don’t need to be invested in Christian community long to struggle with Christian community. Some of the struggles are no more than small annoyances, like when someone near you sings loudly out of tune. Other struggles are bigger, like when someone in your small group gives you “counsel” that is totally insensitive. And then some struggles are just huge, like when someone you trust slanders you behind your back. The passage we’re going to look at today is all about moments like these. It’s about how we handle annoyances, frustrations, friction, conflicts, insults, and disappointments in a church community. It’s about shaping our expectations so that we enter a community with the right dream of what it should be like. We’re going to see that interpersonal struggles both small and large are normal in the church. And we’re going to see that they’re not only normal, but the very contexts where God calls us to make much of Christ together. II. Exposition We’re going to be in Ephesians 4:1–3. Here’s how we’re going to approach this passage. We’ll first look briefly at the context. Then we’ll consider Paul’s command. And then we’ll spend most of the time focusing on the path we take to obey this command. A. Context So first, the context. If you’re familiar with the book of Ephesians, then you may remember that the letter can be divided pretty neatly between chapters 1–3 and chapters 4–6. In chapters 1–3, Paul takes us on a grand tour of redemption. He tells us how God chose us, forgave us, and sealed us for eternity through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He tells us how God raised us up from spiritual death and seated us with Christ in the heavens. He tells us how God has filled us with his Spirit and made us his very own dwelling place. Then, in chapters 4–6, Paul tells us how we should live in light of all that. Given who God is for us and all that he has done for us in Christ, how should we respond? What would it look like to love and follow Christ in our churches and friendships and marriages and families and jobs and neighborhoods? So our passage falls at the very beginning of this second section. It is the hinge passage in the book of Ephesians, where Paul turns from all that God has done to explain how we should respond to him in all of life. B. The Command And that brings us to Paul’s command. Look with me at verse 1: “I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Therefore, Paul says, in light of our Father’s love for us, in light of Christ’s death for us, in light of the Spirit’s presence in us, how should we, the church, respond? Here’s his command: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” We don’t talk this way very much. We don’t often encourage or exhort one another to walk in a manner worthy of God. Maybe we even stumble over that word worthy. We love to sing and talk about how Jesus is worthy, not how we are worthy. But here, and in several other places in Scripture, God calls us to walk in a manner worthy of his calling. So what does that mean? To walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling does not mean we somehow become worthy to receive his calling. It’s not like God is saying, “I’ll call you mine once you show yourself worthy.” No, that’s how people love, but not how God loves. People often say, more or less, “I will love you and call you to myself when you show yourself worthy of my love.” But God says, “I will love you when you are utterly unworthy of my love. And I myself will make you worthy.” To tweak a phrase from the theologian Martin Luther, God’s love doesn’t look for worthiness — God’s love creates worthiness! You can see that in the structure of this command: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Notice the past tense. We’ve already been called by God. So worthiness is not a condition for being called by God, but a result of being called by God. And what is the calling to which we have been called? It’s everything Paul has been talking about in chapters 1–3. Look especially at chapter 1, verse 18: Paul is praying for the Ephesians, and he says, “[I pray that] the eyes of your heart [may be] enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” So the calling already happened. And when did it happen? Not when you were worthy of him, but when you were dead. When you were lost. When you were without hope and without God in the world. Then, at that time, he looked at you and said, “Mine.” He called you into life, he called you into Christ, he called you into a hope that will last for all eternity. So what does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we’ve been called? It doesn’t mean, “Live in a way to earn being called,” but instead, “Live in a way that fits with the glory of God’s calling.” Live so that others might look at you and think, “That person has clearly been shown great mercy.” Live in a way that makes sense in light of the grace that you have received from Christ and that you keep on receiving from Christ. So that’s the command. In the next three chapters of Ephesians, Paul gets specific about how we walk in a manner worthy of our calling. And the first place he turns is not to personal holiness, not to life at home or at work, but to relationships within the church. So let’s consider now the path Paul calls us to walk on in order to obey this command. C. The Path Look with me at verses 2–3: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We’re going to look at each of these five qualities here in a moment, but first let me offer an observation to set the stage. Here it is: the only way we can walk worthily of Christ is to walk in messy community. Because Paul, right after commanding us to walk worthily, talks here about community. And not community at its best, but community that requires humility and gentleness and patience and bearing with and striving to maintain unity — all of which assumes that this community has struggles. Do you ever feel sometimes that you could be so much holier if you didn’t have to be around other people? I feel that. Oh how holy I could be if I were just by myself all day long! But that’s actually not true holiness. You can only be patient if someone is provoking you to impatience. You can only bear with others if others feel like burdens. So if we want to walk worthily of our calling, we have to walk in messy community. With that in mind, let’s consider these five qualities, all of which describe our life together in community. In order to understand them, we’re going to rely on some other times Paul uses these words. We’ll also move through them somewhat quickly so that we can think about them all together at the end. 1. Humility First, we walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling by walking “with all humility.” Humility is a familiar word for most of us, but what does it really mean? The word carries the idea of lowliness. Humble people don’t think highly of themselves. Or maybe even more accurately, humble people are too busy thinking about others to spend much time thinking about themselves. One biblical dictionary I looked at described humility this way: humility means “to live without strutting” or “to walk without wanting to be noticed.” Here’s what Paul says about humility in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” In other words, humble people gladly go low in order to lift others up. When humble people walk into a room, they are on the lookout for people to love and ways to serve. When the humble get into a conflict, they are more interested in hearing the other person out than in defending themselves. When the humble are offended, they are slow to assume motives and quick to cover the offense over with love. Humble people can serve without being noticed, they can give up their rights without complaining, and they are more prone to encouragement than criticism. They gladly go low to lift others up. And because Christ has humbled himself for our sake, he can teach us how to be humble. 2. Gentleness Second, we walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling by walking “with . . . gentleness.” Gentleness and humility are similar. Both of them mean that we are unimpressed with ourselves. But gentleness in particular relates to how we use our strength or power. Some people hear the word gentle and think weak. But gentleness is not weakness; instead, it is the godly and loving exercise of strength. For example, listen to how Paul uses the word in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” If you catch another person in sin, you are in a position of power. It’s like you’re standing over someone who has fallen. And in that moment, you can use your power in one of two ways: you can kick them while they’re down, or you can give them your hand. Gentle people give a hand. Gentle people are approachable people. That’s what Jesus says: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle” (Matthew 11:28–29). If you feel weary, heavy laden, weak, guilty, you don’t want to go to a hard person. You want to go to a gentle person. So humility goes low to lift others up, and gentleness uses strength to bind others up. And because Christ is gentle toward us, we too can be gentle toward each other. 3. Patience Third, we walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling when we walk “with patience.” Biblical patience is more than the ability to sit calmly in traffic or to wait in line at the grocery store without looking at your phone (which is hard enough). Patience has to do with how you respond to offenses, snubs, insensitivity, and insults. The word patient more literally means “long-tempered.” It’s the same word that God uses, for example, when he tells us his name: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6). And Paul tells us that Jesus has “perfect patience” toward sinners (1 Timothy 1:16). In the face of our sins against him, God doesn’t blow up on us or give up on us. He doesn’t say, “Agh! Again?” Instead, he is slow to anger. He meets our sins with patience. And that’s what patient people are like. Patient people can take an offense right in the face, and then look right over it. Patient people are slow to speak, even when they feel misunderstood and slighted. They can feel hurt by someone without finding subtle ways to vent about it to a friend. And not only that: they can move toward the people who hurt them with love. And because Christ is patient with us, we can grow in being patient with each other. 4. Forbearance Fourth, we walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling when we “[bear] with one another in love.” Just like humility and gentleness are similar to each other, so too are patience and forbearance. When we bear with someone, we endure or put up with something difficult, something burdensome. Bearing with one another is not the same thing as forgiving one another. We can see that in a similar passage in Colossians, where Paul writes, “[Bear] with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, [forgive] each other” (Colossians 3:13). There’s bearing with, and there’s forgiving. In any community, we will need to bear with all sorts of hard things that are not sins. We practice forbearance when someone has a personality that we just find hard, or when someone communicates in a way that frustrates us, or when we disagree with someone about politics or racial issues or ministry philosophy. There are some things in a community that you can’t forgive (because they aren’t sins) and you can’t change (for one reason or another), but that you just need to endure. And Paul says we’re to bear with one another “in love.” Don’t just tolerate your brother or sister. Don’t just smile nicely while you inwardly roll your eyes. Instead, love them like you would love a biological brother or sister who is totally different from you. Many of us have biological family who could not be more different from us. And yet, because they’re family, we’ve learned to bear with those things we find strange — and even to appreciate those things we find strange. Paul says we’re to do the same thing in the church. Love one another like that. And because Christ bears with us, we can turn to bear with one another. 5. Unity Finally, we walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling when we are “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Our job, church, is not to create unity with each other. Unity has already been created. Jesus has purchased our unity by joining us to one another in himself and by filling each one of us with his Spirit. So our job is not to create unity. Instead, our job is maintain unity by the Spirit’s power. When I was reading this verse some time ago, I was struck by that word eager: “[be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Here’s why it struck me. In the past, when I thought about the kind of person who destroys the unity of a church, I mainly thought about divisive people: people who agitate and complain, people who are always finding fault with how things are done, people who win others over to their side and start a civil war in the church. But then I realized that you don’t have to be divisive to undermine the unity in a church. You just have to not be eager to maintain unity. This hit home to me. Because when someone offends me or hurts me, whether intentionally or not, I don’t feel tempted to blow up at them or cut the relationship off or gossip about it (usually). Instead, I feel tempted to just stop trying so hard with that person. I feel tempted to back away from them and become content with a cold, formal relationship instead of a warm, familial one. If the church is a body, then the first kind of destroyer is like a hand that starts punching other parts of the body. And the second kind of destroyer is like a hand that just refuses to move. Either way, we are not being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Consider other translations of this word eager: “do your best,” “strive,” “make every effort,” “be diligent.” When we are eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, we are not content when tensions are unresolved. We ask for forgiveness first, even when the other person offended most. We patiently work through conflict that feels complex, trusting that God can bring the breakthrough. And because Christ has united us to himself by the Spirit, we can strive to maintain unity with each other. III. Application/Conclusion Now that we’ve considered those qualities, let’s apply this passage to ourselves a little more by asking this question: Why is this what it looks like to walk worthily of our calling? You might think that God would glorify himself in our community by removing all conflict, all friction, all offenses, all sin. But that’s not the way he has chosen to do it — not yet at least. So why this way? Here’s one reason why: because community struggles display more of Christ to us and to the world. Consider how community struggles invite us to become more like Christ. Church, we worship a Christ who humbled himself to the point of death. Who walked among us gentle and lowly. Who has perfect patience toward sinners. Who bears with us every day. Who won our unity with him at the cost of his own blood. Oh how this could change how we receive offenses from one another! When you ask God to make you more Christlike, have you ever considered that he might answer your prayer by sending you an offense? How can we be humble like him unless someone opposes our preferences? How can we be patient like him unless something provokes us? How can we love unity like him unless something threatens to destroy it? All of a sudden, what was once only a disappointment becomes an opportunity to be more like Christ, and we begin to expect that this will be part of our life together. Community struggles also invite us to glorify Christ. The day is coming when we will glorify Christ by never getting on each other’s nerves, by never offending each other, by never having conflict with each other. But for now, conflict among us does not mean our community is a failure. Nor do disappointments and offenses and annoyances and frustrations. No, all of these are opportunities to show that Christ and Christ alone is sufficient to keep us together. The glory of Christian community is not that there is no trouble, but that we handle trouble with humility and grace. It’s not that others no longer annoy us, but that we bear with annoyances out of love for Christ (as others bear with us!). It’s not that others no longer provoke us, but that we see provocation as an opportunity to glorify our Lord before a watching world. Let’s make this our dream of a Christian community. Finally, struggle invites us to commune more closely with Christ. Look back with me to the very beginning of our passage: “I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you . . .” The word therefore reminds us, as always, that our passage relies on what came before it. Therefore links Ephesians 4 with Ephesians 1–3, which, as we saw before, describes the calling to which we have been called. In other words, therefore reminds us that we cannot live out Ephesians 4 unless we live in Ephesians 1–3 — unless our hearts are utterly bathed in the grace that has come to us in Christ. While we were dead, Christ called us, saved us, raised us, and made us his very own. If we grow cold to that, then humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and unity will become impossible. They will just feel too hard. Maybe these things feel too hard right now for you. Are you finding it increasingly difficult to walk humbly, to deal gently, to bear with others patiently? Do you feel more prone to harbor bitterness and to replay offenses? If so, could it be that you have grown cold to the grace of Christ? If so, the remedy is not to strong arm yourself into these qualities. The remedy is to draw near to the Lord who is here with us right now, the one of whom Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” If that glory—and others—is bigger and brighter in our hearts than anything that anyone can do to us, then (and only then) will this path feel like home. So, church, return with me to the beginning. What do you do when it feels like your dream church dies? What do you do when the relationships are harder than you expected, the community isn’t as deep as you hoped, or when someone wounds you? Do you slowly pull away? Do you begin to justify a growing coldness to your brothers and sisters? Do you allow criticism to dominate your thoughts? Or do you see it as an opportunity to shaped into the image of Jesus and to know him more closely than ever? If our dream community becomes more important to us than Christ, then our community will fail. But if our greatest desire in community is to have more of Christ, then we will walk worthily of him, and everything about our community will give us more of him, even the parts that disappoint us.
Q&A #169 - Canada, heaven's location, what God is saying, dream church, and previous pastor coming out1. Since today is Canada Day, what is your favourite and least favourite part of being Canadian?2. Finley has a question for the Q&A tomorrow. He would like to know if heaven is in space3. What is God currently speaking to you about?4. If there were no constraints, what would you want ‘church' to look like when we get back together?5. What are your thoughts on one of our previous pastors coming out as gay? Is that something you knew about? And if he hadn't already been laid off, would the church have let him continue to serve in the role of youth pastor?
Ephesians 4:11-16 Sermon by Ricky Sanderford
Listen in to this conversation with Dr. Hanisah Besant. She is the pastor of prophets at Dream Church under the leadership of Isik Abla whom I interviewed previously here: Raising the Dead with Isik Abla. Hanisha shares how she embraced her calling and identity as a prophet to the nations, how she equips others to hear God, and we lead an activation to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It’s an exciting episode that you should listen to and then share with your friends. Watch the episode on Fireborn Ministries YouTube. Register today for our FREE ecourse on The Baptism with the Holy Spirit and purchase the Fellowship with the Holy Spirit ecourse. Learn more of the Scripture with the Holy Spirit by using the Spirit Empowered Journal. Call and leave a voicemail or text 7577423546 for dream interpretation anytime. Leave your first name, city, best way to contact you and the dream.
Today's episode features an interview with my friend Ashley Steinberg. She and her husband, pastor Dream Church in Canton, GA. Ashley has a unique story and inspires us to blaze our trail and embrace who we are. I would love to connect on social media. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @aprilnicolescip Enjoy this episode! Thank you for listening. It would mean so much for you to rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast. Interested in the Live Love Lead Planner? Head over to the website for more information: www.aprilnicolescipio.com/planner Be sure to check out my book "In Pursuit": www.aprilnicolescipio.com/book If you are looking for a resource to help you create a life you love, check out my online course "Creating a Life you Love": https://love-your-life1.teachable.com/
Congrats on weddings! Last Biblical Question: What is the American Dream? (A grown man cries!) Speak up as Christians for First and Second Amendment! We read from 1 Corinthians 2 by Paul. The wisdom of the world is crazy. Should you respect your elders, or be honest? A woman is seeing that she’s no good. Not likely to start seeing you’re wonderful! Next #BiblicalQuestion: Was Christ created? A mother has a lot to think about now that her son has forgiven her. READ BLOG POST: https://rebuildingtheman.com/what-is-the-american-dream-church-11-10-19/ VIDEO FROM THIS SERVICE: https://youtu.be/p6SmJDvo0MU Join us for Church with Jesse Lee Peterson (an open forum service) Sunday 11am Pacific Time (doors open 10: 30) from Jesse's nonprofit's current location at BOND, 6146 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035. http://rebuildingtheman.com/church Call BOND for counseling (by phone or in-person), books, or more info about our programs 800-411-BOND (800-411-2663) M-F 9am-4pm PT (Los Angeles time) 11am-6pm CT / 12-7pm ET.
Jared Laskey and Thomas Otranto of Dream Church
Jared Laskey and Thomas Otranto of Dream Church
7. The Dream Church
7. The Dream Church
Guest speaker David Forsythe brings his message entitled, "My Dream Church".
Join BUTTERFLY EVOLUTION in welcoming our "Leading Man" Pastor Alfred Milan Pastor Milan will join us Tuesday February 24th at 8 PM CST. Listen/Comment 818-691-7406 FAVOR FOUND HIM! Pastor Milan is the Founder and Senior Pastor of THE DREAM CHURCH in Memphis, TN. A respected spiritual leader, philanthropist, and humanitarian, he is dedicated to creating and providing programs, resources, and services to help the less fortunate. He is resolutely committed to unconditional outreach, and leads the culturally diverse congregation of THE DREAM CHURCH with integrity and excellence. He is dedicated to the down and out and less fortunate to learn how great God is. He is the author of Favor Found Me, which is an autobiography of his life and journey to find the Lord. Pastor Milan has a B.A. degree from Morehouse College and was ordained in December 2012. Listen to the live show by phone 818-691-7406 or on line @ www.blogtalkradio.com/butterflyevolution Let's Dream Together! Dying To Live! What's Holding You Back? Meet The Host: Tammy Gaitor Miller: www.butterflyevolution.org Rodney Jordan: myfavteacher.com
Join BUTTERFLY EVOLUTION in welcoming our "Leading Man" Pastor Alfred Milan Pastor Milan will join us Monday February 23rd at 8 PM CST. Listen/Comment 818-691-7406 FAVOR FOUND HIM! Pastor Milan is the Founder and Senior Pastor of THE DREAM CHURCH in Memphis, TN. A respected spiritual leader, philanthropist, and humanitarian, he is dedicated to creating and providing programs, resources, and services to help the less fortunate. He is resolutely committed to unconditional outreach, and leads the culturally diverse congregation of THE DREAM CHURCH with integrity and excellence. He is dedicated to the down and out and less fortunate to learn how great God is. He is the author of Favor Found Me, which is an autobiography of his life and journey to find the Lord. Pastor Milan has a B.A. degree from Morehouse College and was ordained in December 2012. Listen to the live show by phone 818-691-7406 or on line @ www.blogtalkradio.com/butterflyevolution Let's Dream Together! Dying To Live! What's Holding You Back? Meet The Host: Tammy Gaitor Miller: www.butterflyevolution.org Rodney Jordan: myfavteacher.com
FRIDAY DECEMBER 06, 2013 PASTOR T.B. NEIL
Rev. John Elford, University United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.
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