08/27/2023 Midtown Church Sacramento & Online
Series- The Church: Beyond the Building
“Building a Reconciling Community”
Dr. Efrem Smith
Main Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
An Ever-increasing Diverse, Yet Deeply Divided World
Biblical Background: The building is Important for the Church, but it’s not the Identity of the Church. What’s on inside of Christians and who they are collectively is deeply connected to what’s going on inside the church building.
The Church Raises Up Reconcilers By Becoming:
1.) A Place to Discover God’s Love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2.) A Place to Discover Christ and Re-discover Others (2 Corinthians 5:16)
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
3.) A Place For Each of Us to Discover Our Ministry (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Final Thought: A Place to Discover Our Real Life’s Work (2 Corinthians 6:1)
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
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