How do outsiders feel when they visit? Imagine if Starbucks did things like today’s church…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

You're the God of this City You're the King of these people You're the Lord of this nation You are

[Verse 2]You're the Light in this darkness You're the Hope to the hopeless You're the Peace to the restless You are

There is no one like our God There is no one like our God

You’re the God of this City

[Chorus]For greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City Greater thing have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City

You're the God of this City You're the King of these people You're the Lord of this nation You are

[Verse 2]You're the Light in this darkness You're the Hope to the hopeless You're the Peace to the restless You are

There is no one like our God There is no one like our God

[Chorus]For greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City Greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done here

There is no one like our God There is no one like our God

You said, “Ask and you will receiveWhatever you need.”You said, “Pray and I'll hear from heavenAnd I'll heal your land.”

You said, “Your glory will fill the earthOh, like water the seas.”You said, “Lift up your eyesThe harvest is here, the kingdom is near.”

You said, “Ask and I'll give the nations to you.”O Lord, that's the cry of my heartDistant shores and the islands will seeYour light, as it rises on us

O Lord, we ask for the nations O Lord, we ask for the nationsO Lord, we are asking for the nations

Blessed Be Your NameIn the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flowBlessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your nameWhen I'm found in the desert placeThough I walk through the wildernessBlessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your nameWhen the sun's shining down on meWhen the world's 'all as it should be'Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your nameOn the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

You give and take awayYou give and take awayMy heart will choose to sayLord, blessed be Your name

No matter what model we talk about, there are three essential legs for building a healthy church. 1. Faith Fundamentals2. Ecclesiology 3. Great Commission

Implications

I. TONIGHT: The Faith Fundamentals Leg

"In the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity." - Augustine

What are the essentials, the non-negotiables that are true of every legitimate church?

Niagra Bible Conference (1878–1897) and, in 1910, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church which distilled these into what became known as the "five fundamentals.”

Church Fundamentalist Jesus Preacher Ecclesiology

1.2.3.4.5.

1. Inerrancy of the Scriptures

The literal inerrancy of the autographs of scripture. Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20).

2. The Virgin Birth and deity of Jesus

- Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27 - John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9

3. Substitutionary atonement* through God's grace and human faith

The substitutionary view of the atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).

* Jesus took our place & paid our debt

4. Jesus rose from the dead

Luke 24:36-461 Corinthians 15:1-41 Corinthians 15:14-15

5. The return of Jesus to claim His church

Matthew 24:26-28Mark 13:32-37Acts 1:10-112 Th. 2:1-8

“Faith Fundamentals Axis Church will teach:”

1. Inerrancy of the Scriptures 2. The virgin birth and the deity of Jesus 3. The doctrine of substitutionary

atonement through God's grace and human faith

4. The bodily resurrection of Jesus 5. The return of Christ

First leg of the tripod of healthy churches

Isn’t this stuff churchy mumbo-jumbo? Why is it important? What are the dangers of dumping any of the fundamentals?

Like one leg of a tripod, take any one of the faith fundamentals away and all of them are weakened. Whacky churches with weird doctrine result when leadership backs away from the faith fundamentals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68

This 2 minute illustration summarizes the approach of a missional church. The mission of Axis Church is to pursue others with the hope of the Gospel. Our focus will be outward and not inward.

It is was scripture commands.

Ekklesia It sounds like something

you need to take antibiotics for.

* 3 Pillars presentation adapted from LBTS Evan. 610 seminar