Big Church - Part One

Big Church - Sending
Click here for the audio messages on PodBean.  Scroll down to the previous post for the notes from the introductory message of this series.

Big church is the corporate gathering which helps to equip disciple makers and sends them into the world. We do this by fostering unity and maintaining focus through worship, teaching and celebration.  This is what happened in the early church. 

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

 [42] They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. (Big Church) They broke bread in their homes (Small Church) and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

We need to gather corporately.  Here is why...

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)

[23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. [25] Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

First thing we do in Big Church Gathering

Worship - communion with God, generous giving, and ministry. This includes such things as pre-service prayer, singing to the Lord, listening to teaching, teaching (Kids Time), generous giving, and sharing testimonies of what God has done in our lives.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

 [12:1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual* act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This means we give our whole selves to God in worship. Nothing is held back. God is not an option in life. He is Life.

Hebrews 12:18-29 (NIV)

[18] You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; [19] to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, [20] because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”* [21] The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”*

 [22] But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, [23] to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, [24] to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 [25] See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? [26] At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”* [27] The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

 [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our “God is a consuming fire.”*

Worship is giving God first place in all of my life and expressing to Him my love, joy, thanksgiving, and awe.  Worship is both personal and corporate.

Listen to David's instruction about worship given to the people of Israel when the ark of the covenant had been brought back into Jerusalem....

1 Chronicles 16:7-12; 23-36 (NIV)

 [7] That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD:

 [8] Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; 

make known among the nations what he has done.

 [9] Sing to him, sing praise to him; 

tell of all his wonderful acts.

 [10] Glory in his holy name; 

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

 [11] Look to the LORD and his strength; 

seek his face always.

 [12] Remember the wonders he has done, 

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced...

[23] Sing to the LORD, all the earth; 

proclaim his salvation day after day.

[24] Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

[25] For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; 

he is to be feared above all gods.

[26] For all the gods of the nations are idols, 

but the LORD made the heavens.

[27] Splendor and majesty are before him; 

strength and joy in his dwelling place.

[28] Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, 

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,

[29] ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. 

Bring an offering and come before him; 

worship the LORD in the splendor of his* holiness.

[30] Tremble before him, all the earth! 

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

[31] Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; 

let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

[32] Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

[33] Then the trees of the forest will sing, 

they will sing for joy before the LORD, 

for he comes to judge the earth.

[34] Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.

[35] Cry out, “Save us, O God our Savior; 

gather us and deliver us from the nations, 

that we may give thanks to your holy name, 

that we may glory in your praise.”

[36] Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, 

from everlasting to everlasting.

 Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”

Worship God with praise and thanksgiving - OT story of war 2 Chron 20

2 Chronicles 20:1-30 (NIV)

 [20:1] After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites* came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

 [2] Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,* from the other side of the Sea.* It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). [3] Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. [4] The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

 [5] Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard [6] and said:

 “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. [7] O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? [8] They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, [9] ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

 [10] “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. [11] See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. [12] O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

 [13] All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.

 [14] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

 [15] He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. [16] Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. [17] You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

 [18] Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. [19] Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.

 [20] Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” [21] After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his* holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 

“Give thanks to the LORD, 

for his love endures forever.”

 [22] As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. [23] The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

 [24] When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. [25] So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing* and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. [26] On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah* to this day.

 [27] Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. [28] They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.

 [29] The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. [30] And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.