We are a forgetful people in a land of distractions. Our minds are easily captivated by trivial and temporary inducements. New things quickly become old. In our mind’s eye even glory tends to fade and warnings tend to wane. It is no wonder that we who are invisibly united to Christ and visibly in and not of this world live in constant need of renewal. And what is true for the Christian is true for the church. This is a series that seeks to renew the mind of the church. Not so much by reviewing what she is called to do as much as what she is called. As with the Christian so with church, her God-given identity defines her. We who are the church are a people for God and none other.
Before we return to the book of Romans, we will be looking at the what scripture says about the Church, in its nature, how she expresses herself in song, and how the church cares and equips for its members.
The messages from this series can be found here:
Manny Pereira - September 19, 2021
Stewards of Grace to Families
The church—Christ’s bride—is precious to Him, and that should be enough for us to treat her distinctively precious. Long before the church, God created the family. She too is beloved by God, though not in a manner that is to be confused or in competition with the church. The family was created by God as the first human institution. She is the building block of human society. She existed before sin and the fall but has suffered brokenness ever since. The church was created after the fall as a royal priesthood in Christ to minister healing and restoration to the families of the earth through the gospel. This message seeks to bring clarity to the relationship between the church and families within the church. Roles and responsibilities of the church are compared and contrasted to those of families. Biblical direction for both families and the church, as God’s family, is given. By God’s design, His bride is a steward of grace to the families of the earth.
