Ecclesia

Represent

Very WealthyVery Wealthy

Chosen to RepresentChosen to Represent

Walking in Downtown Roanoke…Walking in Downtown Roanoke…

Your friend is rude to the ServerYour friend is rude to the Server

Your friend is rude to the ServerYour friend is rude to the Server

Or is wearing a shirt you cringe at… Or is wearing a shirt you cringe at…

You did some thingsYou did some thingsAt the Party…At the Party…

Why do parents care so much?Why do parents care so much?

BMW DealershipBMW Dealershipand Facebook…and Facebook…

Why did it matter?Why did it matter?

Representation is important…Representation is important…

Brokenness and scarsBrokenness and scars

Jesus died Jesus died because of because of our brokennessour brokenness

Jesus died Jesus died for for our brokennessour brokenness

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Engage…to heal, restore, make wholeEngage…to heal, restore, make whole

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Represent…Jesus to a watching worldRepresent…Jesus to a watching world

2 Errors:2 Errors:

- "Plastic Dashboard Jesus" Lives- "Plastic Dashboard Jesus" Lives

- "It doesn't matter/I don't care…"- "It doesn't matter/I don't care…"

How we handle ourselvesHow we handle ourselvesTells people about the reality of JesusTells people about the reality of Jesus

And his ChurchAnd his Church

What would you say?What would you say?

Westboro Baptist ChurchWestboro Baptist Church

What would you say?What would you say?

Westboro Baptist ChurchWestboro Baptist Church

Why?Why?

Quick Theology Break…Quick Theology Break…

Universal ChurchUniversal Church

Local ChurchLocal Church

Universal Church:Universal Church:

- Invisible (to us)- Invisible (to us)- All Believers, All Time- All Believers, All Time

- Unstoppable and Triumphant- Unstoppable and Triumphant

Local Church:Local Church:

- Visible- Visible- Believers and Unbelievers- Believers and Unbelievers

- Contemporary- Contemporary- Mortal- Mortal

Which are we?Which are we?

"The church is the "The church is the visible representation visible representation of Christ on the earth"of Christ on the earth"

- Keith Green- Keith Green

And he put all things under his feetAnd he put all things under his feetand gave him as head over all things and gave him as head over all things 

to the church, to the church, which is his bodywhich is his body- Ephesians 1:22-23- Ephesians 1:22-23

We are We are his bodyhis body= =

Visible Representation Visible Representation of Christ on the earthof Christ on the earth

Scary<---> PrivilegeScary<---> Privilege

……you you willwill receive power  receive power when the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, has come upon you, 

and you will be my witnessesand you will be my witnesses- Acts 1:8- Acts 1:8

Death for sin, as sinDeath for sin, as sin

Burial of sinBurial of sin

Resurrection over Death, Hell, the GraveResurrection over Death, Hell, the Grave

Ascension to Authority Ascension to Authority with Powerwith Power

The Purpose of the PowerThe Purpose of the Poweris the Point of the Christian life:is the Point of the Christian life:

Glorify God (by making Disciples)Glorify God (by making Disciples)

The Magnitude of the giftThe Magnitude of the giftDetermines the depth Determines the depth

Of our commitmentOf our commitment

- To represent- To represent- To make disciples- To make disciples

……you will receive power you will receive power when the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, has come upon you, 

and you will be my witnessesand you will be my witnesses- Acts 1:8- Acts 1:8

Church is Christ's idea…Church is Christ's idea…He has empowered usHe has empowered us

to BE his Bodyto BE his Body

Church is the visible representationChurch is the visible representation

We gather together We gather together in his powerin his power

by his willby his willas his bodyas his body

…to become a faithful representation…to become a faithful representationof our Godof our God

How we handle ourselvesHow we handle ourselvesTells people about the reality of JesusTells people about the reality of Jesus

And his ChurchAnd his Church

"But I don't believe "But I don't believe in Organized Religion…in Organized Religion…

I can follow Jesus without I can follow Jesus without Being a part of a church"Being a part of a church"

We are the only JesusWe are the only JesusMany people will seeMany people will see

- Individually- Individually- Collectively- Collectively

We're called to RepresentWe're called to Represent

How we Represent mattersHow we Represent matters

We're called to RepresentWe're called to Represent

How we Represent mattersHow we Represent matters

AmbassadorAmbassador

……we we are are ambassadorsambassadors for Christ, God  for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be implore you on behalf of Christ, be 

reconciled to God. reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin For our sake he made him to be sin 

who knew no sin, so that in him who knew no sin, so that in him we might become we might become 

the righteousness of Godthe righteousness of God- 2 Cor. 5:20-21- 2 Cor. 5:20-21

Ambassadors Represent theAmbassadors Represent theInterests of the sending country Interests of the sending country

In a foreign countryIn a foreign country

- Not my home- Not my home- Not my values- Not my values- Not my future- Not my future

Represent my home country's Represent my home country's Best InterestsBest Interests

We represent every day…We represent every day…

SpouseSpouseParents/ChildrenParents/Children

WorkWork

We represent every day…We represent every day…

The reality of our faithThe reality of our faithThe influence of our churchThe influence of our church

The truth of who we really areThe truth of who we really are

"Plastic Jesus is Holier-than-thou""Plastic Jesus is Holier-than-thou"

God forbid!God forbid!

““The name of God is blasphemed The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles among the Gentiles 

because of you”because of you”- Romans 2:23-24- Romans 2:23-24

We don't represent religious morality…We don't represent religious morality…We represent JesusWe represent Jesus

We are not called to We are not called to Represent our perfectionRepresent our perfection

While looking down on othersWhile looking down on others

We are called to We are called to Represent Jesus Represent Jesus

His power changes usHis power changes usHis Spirit creates unityHis Spirit creates unity

His people love one anotherHis people love one another

The problem:The problem:

People talk, gossip, slander…People talk, gossip, slander…

The question is not:The question is not:What are they saying?What are they saying?

The question is:The question is:Is it true?Is it true?

The question is not:The question is not:What are they saying?What are they saying?

(Reputation)(Reputation)

The question is:The question is:Is it true?Is it true?

(Representation)(Representation)

Representation: Representation: How we handle ourselvesHow we handle ourselves

Reputation:Reputation:What people say about usWhat people say about us

Representation is importantRepresentation is important

It tells people who we areIt tells people who we areAND who our God isAND who our God is

Representation: Representation: How we handle ourselvesHow we handle ourselves

ImportantImportant

Reputation:Reputation:What people say about usWhat people say about us

Unimportant (if we've handled Unimportant (if we've handled Representation well)Representation well)

  Beloved, I urge you Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exilesas sojourners and exiles  

to abstain from the passions to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war of the flesh, which wage war 

against your soulagainst your soul

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that honorable, so that whenwhen they  they speak against you as evildoers speak against you as evildoers 

(Reputation), (Reputation), they may see your good deeds they may see your good deeds 

(Representation) (Representation) and glorify God on the day of visitationand glorify God on the day of visitation

- 1 Peter 2:11-12- 1 Peter 2:11-12

We don't model perfectionWe don't model perfection

We live out our identity in ChristWe live out our identity in Christ

God made him to be sin God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him who knew no sin, so that in him 

we might become we might become the righteousness of Godthe righteousness of God

- 2 Cor. 5:20-21- 2 Cor. 5:20-21

We are not sinners because we sinWe are not sinners because we sinWe sin because we have a sinful nature We sin because we have a sinful nature

It's who we areIt's who we are

We are not Righteous We are not Righteous Because we do deeds of righteousness Because we do deeds of righteousness

We do deeds of righteousness We do deeds of righteousness (obedience to Christ) (obedience to Christ)

Because we were made righteous Because we were made righteous

It's who we are It's who we are in Christin Christ

Representation comes from Representation comes from who we arewho we are

Not what we try to beNot what we try to be

You You willwill receive Power… receive Power…- Acts 1:8- Acts 1:8

If there's no powerIf there's no powerThere's no real, life-changing faithThere's no real, life-changing faith

His divine His divine power power has has given us given us everything we need everything we need 

for life and godliness for life and godliness through our knowledge of him through our knowledge of him 

who called us by his own who called us by his own glory and goodnessglory and goodness

- 2 Peter 1:3 - 2 Peter 1:3 

Reputation: Let them talkReputation: Let them talk

People who detract say more about People who detract say more about themselves than about othersthemselves than about others

Representation: Let it bring honor to Representation: Let it bring honor to God and His churchGod and His church

What people see in meWhat people see in meIs what they know of my JesusIs what they know of my Jesus

One of the reasons we Engage andOne of the reasons we Engage and"Spur one another on"Spur one another on

To love and good deeds"To love and good deeds"

Is because we're a team togetherIs because we're a team together

Representing King Jesus Representing King Jesus To our watching worldTo our watching world

God loves and values youAs you are

God loves and values youToo much to let you stay

Just like you are

God wants more for usThan we want for ourselves

God loves and values youToo much to let you stay

Just like you are

As he changes youHe's changing people's views of Him

God wants more for youGod wants more for youThan you want for yourself…Than you want for yourself…

What would those who know meWhat would those who know meSay about my Jesus?Say about my Jesus?

My church?My church?

What would my FB friends What would my FB friends Say about my Jesus?Say about my Jesus?

My church?My church?

Do I carry the NameDo I carry the NameConsciously awareConsciously aware

That I represent King JesusThat I represent King JesusAnd his local Church?And his local Church?

Have I experienced Christ's powerHave I experienced Christ's powerin my life?in my life?