Join Pastor Josh Massaro as he previews the Sunday morning service on January 12, 2024, at Middletown Baptist Church, focusing on the second part of the series titled "The Goals of a Growing Church." This week, the discussion revolves around the importance of the church as a unified body of believers, emphasizing how a healthy church should reflect the purpose of the gospel. Pastor Josh highlights key insights from Ephesians 4:1-6, exploring what it means to be a healthy group that points towards Christ. As the congregation comes together, they will have the opportunity to worship and learn about their collective role in embodying the gospel. Whether you can attend in person or join through online platforms, Pastor Josh encourages everyone to engage in this vital aspect of church life.
Pastor Josh shares an engaging preview of the upcoming Sunday service at Middletown Baptist Church, focusing on the second part of a three-part series exploring the goals of a Growing Church. The episode emphasizes two essential components that contribute to a thriving church community: the gospel and the church as a unified group. Pastor Josh reflects on the first goal discussed previously, which revolves around the gospel's centrality—believing, living, and proclaiming it. He stresses the importance of embracing the gospel as the foundation for the church's identity and mission.
Moving on to the second goal, Pastor Josh introduces the concept of 'group,' highlighting the significance of unity within the church body. Drawing from Ephesians 4:1-6, he elaborates on what a healthy church looks like, emphasizing that unity in purpose and direction is crucial for a church's growth. The discussion encourages listeners to reflect on their roles within the church community and the collective mission toward Christ. This thought-provoking session invites attendees to come together in worship and to consider how they can contribute to a unified group that embodies the gospel's teachings.
Takeaways:
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00:00 - None
00:08 - The Goals of a Growing Church
00:35 - Embracing the Gospel and Community
00:51 - Understanding the Church as a Body
01:39 - Community Engagement and Support
Pastor Josh
Pastor Josh here.
Pastor Josh
I want to give you a preview of our Sunday morning service on January 12th here at Middletown Baptist Church.
Pastor Josh
We're in the second part of our three part series, the goals of a Growing Church.
Pastor Josh
Last week we looked at the first goal of the growing church, and that is the goal of the gospel.
Pastor Josh
We are called to proclaim the gospel.
Pastor Josh
We're called to live the gospel.
Pastor Josh
We're called to first and foremost believe the gospel.
Pastor Josh
And so the first step of the growing church is to embrace the gospel, to live the gospel, to proclaim the gospel.
Pastor Josh
But the second part is another word that starts with a G, and that is group or the church.
Pastor Josh
What's the point of this group that we had together in the building?
Pastor Josh
Well, the point of the group is to be unified.
Pastor Josh
The point of the group is to be pointing towards Christ.
Pastor Josh
And so we're going to look at the book of Ephesians And Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 1 through 6, talks about how the church is a body, that what does a healthy body look like?
Pastor Josh
What does a healthy group look like?
Pastor Josh
What does a healthy church look like?
Pastor Josh
And so we're going to talk about how we can be unified as a church in our purpose of the gospel.
Pastor Josh
And then we will come back next week with the third and final aspect of the goals of a growing church.
Pastor Josh
And so this week we're going to be studying the group, the corporate group that is the church, the assembly of believers coming together here.
Pastor Josh
And so hope that it'll be an opportunity for you to come and worship the Lord together with us as we learn about what we are called to do as a growing church.
Pastor Josh
Well, we hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Pastor Josh
We look forward to hearing from you soon and seeing you soon.
Pastor Josh
If you're not able to visit us in person here in Middletown, we do ask that you follow along on Facebook or YouTube or you can follow on this podcast.
Pastor Josh
On Monday mornings we replay the sermon and that will be a wonderful opportunity for you to grow in the Lord.
Pastor Josh
So we thank you for your support and we ask that you share this message with someone that you know.
Pastor Josh
Take care.
Pastor Josh
We'll talk to you soon.
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