I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH Text: Matthew 16:13-20

INTRODUCTION: Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21;

INTRODUCTION (Contd.): Who do the people think I am? Who do you think I am?

INTRODUCTION (Contd.): Matthew 16:18; Zechariah 6:13

Lets Look at this Statement of Jesus in a Closer Way.

I. "I" WILL BUILD MY CHURCH II Corinthians 5:18-20 Ambassadors represent another country but do not take up citizenship in the country they are serving in.

II. I "WILL" BUILD MY CHURCH Mark 14:58; Acts 2:17 "To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest achievement."

III. I WILL "BUILD" MY CHURCH Jesus will continue to build His Church in: 1. Righteousness and Holiness 2. Doctrine - Ephesians 2:20 "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 3. Unity - Ephesians 4:3 "make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace"

III. I WILL "BUILD" MY CHURCH (Contd.) 4. Faith and Knowledge - Ephesians 4:13 - "until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of Man.“ 5. Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Love - Ephesians 4:2 6. Power - Acts 1:8 7. Victory - Romans 8:37 - “We are more than conquerors through him who love us."

III. I WILL "BUILD" MY CHURCH (Contd.) "From time to time we get the erroneous impression that God wants us to be builders of the Church rather than custodians of what God builds." "What's Right with the Church” William Willimon

IV. I WILL BUILD "MY" CHURCH We are . . . 1. His Offspring - Acts 17:29 2. His Flock - I Peter 5:2 3. His Family - Ephesians 3:15

IV. I WILL BUILD "MY" CHURCH (Contd.) 4. His Body - Ephesians 1:22,23 5. His Temple - I Corinthians 6:19 6. His Bride - Revelation 19:7

IV. I WILL BUILD "MY" CHURCH (Contd.) "The work of the Church is to produce Christian fruit - not religious nuts.“ "When liberation is defined as freedom from others, it becomes slavery to oneself." "What's Right with the Church” William Willimon (p.18)

V. I WILL BUILD MY "CHURCH" The true Church consists of every believer who has made a choice to separate themselves from the world. We have been called out of this world not to become identical with it.