I BELIEVE
Ephesians 4:1-7

Sermon By
Dr. David Trumble

A group of  ladies gathered for lunch at their favorite restaurant.  Sally was the last to arrive.  She was bubbling over with excitement. 

Sally exclaimed, “I am acquiring a brand new Microwave this afternoon.” 

Hazel sat there befuddled.  She thought to herself, Sally didn’t say she was getting or buying or purchasing a microware. She said she was going to have “A choir?” 

Finally, Hazel speaks up, “What are you talking about?  All I can imagine is your kitchen full of microwave ovens with doors opening and closing, lights flashing, and buzzers going off.  Please explain how you are going to have a “Choir” of Microwave Ovens.” 
 
Sometimes, things just don’t make sense to us.  Certainly we are NOT hard of hearing!  But, Sometimes the words just don’t make sense.  It can be very confusing!

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for people to get confused about church things?  Conflict & Arguments are common.

A country church had a leaky roof.  Every time it rained the water would drip down on the piano.  One fellow suggested they move the piano to the other side of the sanctuary to get it out of the rain. 

You never heard such an uproar.  The piano has been in that spot for 20 years.  People left church all upset over the idea of moving the piano or the drip, drip, drip of rain on the piano.

The next week it was raining again.  When the members arrived, the piano was mysteriously on other side of the sanctuary.  Not a word was spoken about the piano.
 
    People in churches have fought over just about everything: Pews, Song Books, Music, Placement of Communion Table, Color of Carpet, Preacher (Jacket, Tie, or None).  People argue over interpretations of the Bible: Who should be allowed to take communion; Proper Role of Women in Church; Baptism; the proper way to say this or that, even the Bible itself. 

I believe it is time for Christians to stop fighting over their preferences, return to the simplicity of God’s Word, and Unite as People of God to Do God’s Work.

I Believe In The Unity of The Church.   Ephesians 4:1-7.

The church is living breathing body of Christ in world today.  The church is: God’s people who love Lord, seek the Lord, worship the Lord, and serve the Lord. We must be united in the simplicity & awesome grace of the Gospel.

Paul calls for the Church to unite!  To unite and live worthy of our alling as God’s people! 

I believe God has a plan of greatness for His Church.  The possibilities are Amazing, if we will unite in the Power of the Holy Spirit, & our Faith in the Living Savior.

I believe in the Mission of the Church.

 Matthew 28:18-20.  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto me, therefore, go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo I am with you even unto the end of the age.”

Our World is Right Here!  Together we can touch the lives of hundreds of people.  We can teach the Bible.  I believe God wants to use each one of us for His Glory. God empowers us with special gifts, to do His Work. God wants everyone to use their gifts to build up the body.

I Believe In the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  John 3:16-17  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save.”

People Need The Lord!  I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto Salvation – for All Who Believe  (Ro. 1:16f)  “There is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.”

I Believe God’s Holy Word.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16
In the Beginning God!  He is the Creator.  He is the central theme of the Bible.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.

I remember my first day at seminary.  Dr. Beauford Bryant stood up infront of the class and stated, “Before you consider theology and interpretation, make sure you know what the Bible says.”

Where the Bible is clear, we need to obey the Bible. 

Where there is much speculation & debate, we need to embrace each other in love.  We must not allow Satan to divide us.

We must speak where the Bible speaks, and remain silent where the Bible is silent.  If we will do this, then we will be able to unite on the Lordship of Christ.

There is a bunch I do not understand.  Even if I spent the next hundred years studying the Bible, history, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, there would still be so much that I do not understand.

However, the real challenge is not all that I donot understand about subtle details.  The challenge is to do what God has clearly revealed.  My challenge is to obey what God has made clear.  Our challenge is to unite of the simple obvious certain truths God has revealed.

I Believe in The Process of Salvation.  The Bible describes it vividly.  We hear.  We believe.  We choose.   We acknowledge.  We embrace baptism.  We receive the Holy Spirit.  We live the Christ life.  We sacrifice.  We serve.  We proclaim.  We become the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

The question is often asked, “How are you saved?”  While there are many good descriptive answers, the Bible makes it very clear.  We are saved by grace of God expressed in the sacrifice of Christ and his resurrection.  We are saved through faith in that grace. When Jesus died, he paid for every sin.  When Jesus arose, he offered to us all the free gift of eternal life.  Will we embrace him as lord and savior by faith?  If so we are certain, we will live forever with him.

Read the simple facts:  John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; I John 5:11-13.

The Bible is clear.  Do you have Jesus?  Then you have life!

I Believe In The Ministry of The Holy Spirit.   Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, Comfort, & Empower us for ministry.  He speaks when we can’t.  He reveals truth and teaches us God’s ways.  He enables us to fight sin, evil, and death.

I believe God is able to use all the spiritual gifts to achieve His purposes if we will open ourselves to the Holy Spirit & Commit ourselves to do the Work God calls us to do.   

The “ Apostles Creed” summarized so much of this for us that it gives us a helpful guide.  But even this “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:  And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:  Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary:  Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead:  He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:  I believe in the Holy Spirit:  I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins:  The resurrection of the body:  And the life everlasting. Amen.”

                 I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of The Living God, who gave his life as  the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sin.      He forgives our sin and gives us Eternal Life.

Do you believe? 

Do you believe in the Church? 

Do you believe in The Gospel of Jesus Christ? 

Do you believe in God’s Holy Word? 

Do you believe in the Ministry of the Holy Spirit?