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UnBelievable: Church

UnBelievable: Church

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Notes

Jim Putman
May 18th, 2025

REVIEW

The series is walking through questions that cause people to doubt or dismiss God:

  • Believable God

  • Believable Bible

  • Believable Resurrection

This Week: Believable Church

Many People Dismiss God, the Bible, and the Resurrection Because of Unbelievable People – His Church

  • Is this fair to God? No!

  • Will He accept that excuse on Judgment Day? No!

  • Some believe the events didn’t happen and, because of their experience, see the rest as unbelievable

  • Some believe it may be true but it’s a story about how God used to work and He isn’t as involved today

The Truth – Most People Have Never Really Truly Experienced the Lord’s Church (Christianity)

  • They have experienced church (not His)

  • Many didn’t actually leave “the faith” — because they were never really in it

  • Maybe they did for a while, or intermittently, but not consistently

  • Many believe the lie that they are better off without it – “Jesus and I are just fine”

The Lord’s Church is the Lord’s Idea

  • Jesus came to build a new community beyond the Old Testament one

  • The Old (Testament) system paved the way for a better one

  • The New Testament reveals what Jesus meant by His form of the gospel, discipleship, and His church

  • It is not centered in Jerusalem, but spreads throughout the world

  • Acts 2 is the beginning

Matthew 16:15–21 (NIV)

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What Does His Church Look Like?

Acts 2:36–46 (NIV)

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said… “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized… And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children… for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them…
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe…
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together… They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Traits of His Church

  1. Leaders – ordinary, unschooled, devoted

  2. People who follow church leaders who speak from God’s direction

  3. Scripture sets the tone – unity in understanding

  4. Fellowship – the habits of fellowship

  5. Communion

  6. Prayer together

  7. Giving – both individual and shared generosity

  8. Ministering to needs within the church and the community

  9. Raising up leaders who raise up leaders, creating new communities

Final Challenge

I am asking you to commit to the Lord’s version of being the church. What does that mean?

  • Are you committed to the above?

  • Which one are you skipping or lagging in? Why?

  • My concern this summer for believers: Neglecting the habits of being the church.

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