Category: UCBC DNA and Behavior

Building Upon the Sufficiency of the Gospel

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: Colossians 2:6-7

Introduction: Hindrances of Not Evangelizing:

  • Disobedience
  • Lack of knowledge (clarity and definition)
  • Lack of prayer (faith and discernment)
  • Lack of confidence (fear of failure)
  • Lack of compassion (apathy and indifference)

Main Idea: Setting Up on the Gospel Foundation

  • Biblical Mindset:
    • > Agricultural Images: “Some sow the seed of the gospel, others water the seed others have sown, and even others reap where people have already sown and watered.” ~ Greg LaurieRead 1 Cor 3:5-9*
    • > Building Images: someone lays the foundation, and someone builds upon it. But Who already laid the foundation? Christ himself. Read 1 Cor 3:10-11*

Our Challenge: Many see serving others and obedience to God as a burden instead of joy. Others do it as virtue signalling than a model of faith. // The world’s religion (v. 8) vs the gospel (v 9; 13-15). We just need to point them to Christ. Lead them. And tell them about him.

  • Commit to “each one reach one” (write their names) next week we will give them books, gc, fellowship, more

Our Response:

  • Building Upon the Sufficiency of the Gospel of Christ (Col 2:13-15).

Our Takeaway:

  • Just do the first-step of obedience.
  • Let God show you the next steps after.
  • “Your job is to be faithful. Your job is to do your part and leave the results in the hands of God. // You cannot lead everyone to Christ, but by God’s grace you can lead someone to Him.” – Greg Laurie

Conclusion:

Don Whitney says, “Evangelism is a natural overflow of the Christian life. We should all be able to talk about what the Lord has done for us and what He means to us. But evangelism is also a Discipline in that we must discipline ourselves to get into the context of evangelism, that is, we must not just wait for witnessing opportunities to happen.” Later Whitney says, “Unless we discipline ourselves for evangelism, it is very easy to excuse ourselves from ever sharing the gospel with anyone.” Whitney believes that the point of disciplining ourselves for evangelism is to plan for it—for Christians to actually put it into their schedule.”

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
November 20, 2022

 

UCBC Way: Understanding the Times

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: John 1:37-42

Introduction: 1 Chronicles 12:32” from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.” Dr. Chris Shirley makes an exegesis of this passage on how King David’s group ‘who understood the times’ against their rivalry, King Saul. Understanding the times is a necessary ingredient to succeed.

For many months now, and specifically in recent weeks, we are also trying to determine which is the best way for UCBC to proceed accordingly to achieve our vision. The Vision: we know our identity as a church, given that Christ our all in all, but at the same, we also know our goal and our vision to be global and reach out to the next generation. However, there is a missing link. How can we achieve our vision? We know it, we understand it, but we need the means to go to it. A vehicle to move forward and reach it. (Show car, airplane, boat method). We have an identity, but what are our means to duplicate and pass on ourselves to other places?

UCBC Way: Understand – Connect – Build Up – Commission

Background: as a Bible-believing church, we make sure that our ways, our methods, and our principles are grounded in biblical truths. Let us read and explore briefly John 1:37-51

37-38 – “what do you want?” Understand the Need

39-40 – salvation; “come and see” – Connect

41 – “find his brother” and “tell him” – Build Up

42 – “brought him to Jesus” – Commit

Naming is significant – commission

 43 – “finding” Philip

44 – same context and need (understand)

45 – scriptural foundations (build-up)

46 – “come and see” same in verse 39

47-49 – the answer to our need

50-51 – Commitment and covenantal promise

This is not just a cycle but a spiral-up wherein we know that it started from Christ choosing the twelve apostles, Pentecost, and the whole world. This biblical way is the UCBC way. The things that we do our means to reach our vision for the following years. We will learn and familiarize ourselves more with this UCBC Way for this whole month. For now, our challenge for the entire month is for “each one, reach one.”

The Challenge: “Each One, Reach One”

  • Week 1: Understand (Discern and Pray)
  • Week 2: Connect (Communicate)
  • Week 3: Build-Up (Care)
  • Week 4: Commit (Share) – invite them on our last Sunday, a thanksgiving celebration.

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
November 6, 2022