WORKS

Mini-Series—Final ThoughtsPart 18-It takes a church to raise a

ChristianJames 5:19-20

• As James concludes this practical letter on what genuine faith looks like he turns his attention one last time to his brothers and sisters in Christ and reminds them of their need to reach out to those in their midst that had wandered from the truth. He calls for the spiritual among them to get their search and rescue gear on and pursue those whose lives have been entangled and derailed by sin.

• He writes, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

Church as a Training Camp:Preventing the Slow Fade

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself awayPeople never crumble in a dayIt's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Church as a Training Camp:Preventing the Slow Fade

• We need Godly sharpeningProverbs 17:17

• We need Biblical irritationHebrews 10:19-25

• We need Spiritual communityEcclesiastes 4:12

Church as a Special Forces Team:Pursuing the Fallen and the

Broken• The tragedy of the fallen– Romans 5:17-18– 1 Cor. 5:1-7; 13

• The pursuit of the broken and fallen– Matthew 5:21-26; 18:15-17

• The perfect example: Jesus– John 5:3-7; Matthew 18:11

Church as a Rehabilitation Center:Restoring and Healing the

Rescued• We are called to receive and

“re-set” the broken– Galatians 6:1

• We are called to bear with the healing– Romans 15:1-7

• We are called to imitate the Perfect Restorer, Jesus– John 5:15-19

Bottom lineWe live in a time where many have trivialized and marginalized the need for the church and the need for spiritual community. The truth of the matter is we do indeed need the body of Christ to help us live like the person of Jesus Christ. We need you, you need us, and we need each other!