Friday, June 23, 2023

The Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Head Of The Church

      Thank you for reading the message this week. I hope that you will take the time to read the chapters of the book on the Minor Prophets that I've posted if you get the chance. 

     This week, we are continuing with our series on the names and titles of Jesus that we find in the Bible. For today, our focus will be that Jesus is called the Head of the Church. One place where we see Jesus called this is in Colossians 1:18 that reads, "He is also head of the body, the church, and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." We also see Jesus referred to as head of the church in Ephesians 1:22 which states, "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church."

     It is recorded in Matthew 16:18 that Jesus established the church based upon Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God. Jesus is also called the foundation of the church. The church is also referred to as the Body of Christ. Jesus established the church in order to teach and encourage those who would come to believe in Him and what He accomplished through His life and ministry. The church has been given the mission by Jesus to take the message of the Gospel into all of the world. The church is to baptize and to make disciples.  The church has been established by Jesus in order to encourage other members of the church and to work in this world for good. 

     Jesus is the Head of the Church, and there are couple of things that I would like to say about this. First of all, Jesus' ministry and teachings are what the church is all about. The church should be propagating the teachings of Jesus to the wider world. Those who are the individual members of the church need to be examples of the message and the ministry of Jesus. The Church is all about Jesus. 

     Jesus is the Head of the Church also means that He is the one who is to be followed not an individual. A lot of times, a person will try to establish some type of church and claim to be the head and the one that people should look to as the chief authority. That is not in keeping with the Scriptures. We should never get our eyes off of Jesus and on to some person. A famous pastor, evangelist or some other church leader is not the head of the church and is not the authority for the church. Look to Jesus. Look at what He did and what He said. If all churches did that, we would have a lot fewer problems in this world. When we get our eyes off of Jesus, it leads to churches and people in the church having a lot of problems, turmoil in the church and false teachings in the church. 

     We need to look to Jesus in all things. The church is about Jesus. The church needs to teach Christ and His message, and it needs to show others how that they can follow Jesus in the midst of this world. As always, we should look forward to that day when Jesus comes for those that are in His church. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I really need prayer right now. I am going through so much that is bad. I am having health problems, and now my car is messed up. Please keep me in your prayers. Thank you. 

     Pray that the fires in Canada can be put out. 

     Let us pray for those affected by natural disasters around the world. Pray that those in need will get the help that is necessary. 

     Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray especially for Ukraine and Sudan this week. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Pakistan and Burkina Faso. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, posting may not be normal depending on what happens with the car. I hope to post the verses on Monday, the Minor Prophets chapter midweek and the sermon on Friday. May God bless you all. 

No comments: