SERMON SERIES: THIS IS CHURCH.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth started a movement that turned the world upside down. Beginning with a core of uneducated, unimpressive people, this movement gained steam and quickly became global in its reach and unprecedented in its impact.

The “church,” as Jesus called it, continues to function as God’s chosen vehicle to bring the good news of spiritual rescue to the world. In this series, we will examine how the church began, what the church is (both globally and locally), and what it means for us to be a part of this movement today.

PART 1: HOW IT STARTED

So how did this global movement called “the church” get started? And what did it take to launch it beyond first century Palestine? In this message, we’ll trace God’s long-standing plan to establish the church, we’ll examine the movement’s exciting first moments, and we’ll talk about the incredible price so many have paid to contribute to its success.

8/11/13 Speaker: Justin Gerhardt

PART 2: CHURCH IS HOW WE CONNECT

This is Church, part 2: Church Is How We Connect

One of the primary functions of the church is to connect us to one another--to make a family out of the sons and daughters of God. As humans, we are wired for relationship and community; in the church, we find the deep fulfillment of that basic human need.

8/18/13 Speaker: Justin Gerhardt

PART 3: CHURCH IS HOW WE COLLABORATE

This is Church, Part 3: Church Is How We Collaborate

When we become a part of Christ’s church, we become a part of something greater than ourselves. Using collectively the gifts God has given us individually, we discover that together we can do things we never could have done alone.

8/25/13 Speaker: Justin Gerhardt