A People for Himself

Text: Ephesians 5:25-33 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: In the midst of Paul's exhortations to families (wives, husbands, children, parents) to be filled with the Spirit and walk in love, he tells us something even more important about Christ and His church. This passage shows us who we are as the Church, the Bride of Christ, where we are ultimatley going, and how we will get there.

Text: Acts 6:1-7 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: The church in Jerusalem was experiencing exponential growth, with many disciples being added to their number day by day. But with this growth brought problems: some of the widows in the church were being neglected in the distribution. Rather that becoming a reason for anger and division, through the guidance of the Spirit, God raised up another office in the church, the Deacon. These first seven men were called and ordained with the laying on of hands to serve and care for the needs of the people. With their help, the church continued to grow.

Text: 1 Peter 5:1-5 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: In the same passage from last week, we also learn more about the office of Elder, regarding the authority and power that is given to it. Specifically, we see that there is a Chief Shepherd, and He alone is the source of the church's power and has given the church his Word. Therefore, the Elders cannot add to Scripture or take away from it, but must only, faithfully, declare what Scripture teaches, and minister Jesus' gifts to His people. When done properly, that is the God-honoring exercise of the authority in the church.

Text: 1 Peter 5:1-5 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: Peter, as a fellow elder, exhorts the other elders in the church to do the work of shepherding and oversight among their flock. They are to do this noble work with a proper, God-honoring attitude, knowing that they ultimate work for the Chief Shepherd who is coming again. In this passage, Peter masterfully lays out for us the Office and Minstry of the Elder, the Qualifications for the Elder, and the Authority and Power of the Elder. In every respect, with Christ as the central focus.

Text: Ephesians 3:15-23 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: In this passage, Paul prays that the Church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened in order to comprehend these three spiritual realities: That they would know the hope that comes from God's calling on them, the riches of their inheritance in Christ, and the greatness of God's power working in them. What do these things have to do with church government? Much in every way, because it is within the church that these spiritual realities are realized, and Christ as King and Head works through the means He gives His church to accomplish these things.

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: The author of Hebrews reminds us of some of the most important truths of the faith: we have access to God through the blood of Christ, He has made the way through his sacrificial death, He is our priest over the house of God. But that is not all. Because these things are true, we are called to draw near to God and one another, to hold fast to the confession of our faith, and never to neglect meeting together. God has saved us to Himself and to one another. We are the household of God.

Text: Romans 9:1-8 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: At the beginning of Romans 9, Paul grieves the fact that many of his fellow Israelites have not believed in Jesus, the Messiah. But this does not amount to a failure on God's part, however, because it is not the physical descendants of Abraham to whom to promise is given, but his descendants by faith, Jew and Gentile. We learn from this passage the incredible truth that God has always had one people, and one plan to redeem them, so that they would be His people, and He would be their God, forever.

Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 | Speaker: Levi Bakerink | Description: This sermon begins a new series on the Church. But, why dedicate a whole series to the doctrine of the Church? We can ask that question another way: Is the Church important? The resounding answer throughout all the pages of Scripture is, yes. Peter makes this point by reminding us (the Church) that we are Christ's possession, his very own people. Christ is our head, we are his people, and there is no other institution on earth that can compare to the Church.