Church By Design
Rediscovering the Identity of the Church
The Tools of War
August 28, 2016 • Pastor Blair Allen • Ephesians 6:10–20
* NOTE: Unfortunately, this sermon was not recorded due to a technical error. Instead, please view the sermon notes for a summary of the message. Sorry for the inconvenience. ————————————————— The reality is that every Christian is a soldier in a war! The Bible is full of this kind of language: You are in the midst of a battle and you are a soldier. There are battles of life, there is suffering, and there is agony, and it can be so very painful. The apostle Paul wants us to know that we are in a spiritual battle. Paul gives us tools called the armour of God. Each of the pieces of spiritual armour is simply a way of applying the Gospel to a different part of our life. As a new school year begins, let's be reminded of the battle and the armour given to us to fight the battle.
Advance the Gospel
August 21, 2016 • Pastor Blair Allen • Matthew 28:18–20
The Compass Church exists to point people to Jesus by making disciples who Know the Gospel, Live the Gospel, and Advance the Gospel. In today's message, we look at the third of these three pillars: Advance the Gospel. We hear about how the Gospel is a call to go – for the everyday Christ-follower to live on mission in the everyday opportunities that we find ourselves in.
Live the Gospel
August 14, 2016 • Pastor Blair Allen • Romans 1:16
The Compass Church exists to point people to Jesus by making disciples who Know the Gospel, Live the Gospel, and Advance the Gospel. In today's message, we look at the second of these three pillars: Live the Gospel. We hear about how the Christian faith is not meant to be lived in isolation. Through Jesus, we have been adopted into God's family, and we are called to live out the Gospel in community with one another.
Know the Gospel
August 7, 2016 • Luke Etelamaki • John 17:3
The Compass Church exists to point people to Jesus by making disciples who Know the Gospel, Live the Gospel, and Advance the Gospel. In today's message, we look at the first of these three pillars: Know the Gospel. We hear about how knowing the Gospel transforms us as disciples to reflect Christ and empowers us for the mission that He has called us to.
The Church Gathered
July 24, 2016 • Luke Etelamaki • Hebrews 10:23–25
Why do we gather every Sunday? Why do we come together as the Church and worship through song, hear a sermon, and take communion? In today's message, we look at these questions and how the answer affects everything we do on a Sunday.
The Church has a Message
July 17, 2016 • Pastor Blair Allen • 2 Corinthians 5:17–21
The church are ambassadors of the Gospel, a message of both power and purpose to be proclaimed. The Gospel changes us individually, but is also entrusted to the people of God to proclaim through words and deeds. We have been entrusted with the treasure of the Gospel, the Good News, for a purpose. Jesus helped clarify how we accomplish the purpose of the Gospel by giving us His mission: “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). As the arts, politics, family, all areas of culture, are being filled with Jesus' disciples bringing about His Gospel restoration, the earth is being filled with His glory. That's the point of the restoration of all things – that God would be glorified. The Gospel is not just about my individual happiness or God’s plan for my life; it is about God’s plan for the world.
Who is the Church?
July 3, 2016 • Pastor Blair Allen • Matthew 16, 1 Peter 2:1–12
There is a great misunderstanding about what the church is and this starts because we are asking the wrong question. The question isn't what is the church, but rather who is the church. When we ask the right question, it begins to shift the way we see the church and live out our faith. When you begin to ask the right question, you begin to see that church isn't just an event you go to, or a building, but the church is those whom Christ has ransomed through the cross and given a mission to. When we see who the church is it changes our heart towards the church. We love Jesus and the church; we live for more than just a Sunday, but for Monday through Saturday. (Worship is not an event; it’s a day-to-day activity in our lives.)