10-22-06 Sunday message on the topic of the Cross and the Church

10-22-06 Sunday message on the topic of the Cross and the Church

verses: Matt 16, Colos 1:13

the focus of the message in on Christ's words, in Matt 16

first part on Matt 16: 16, from the revelation to Peter, our Lord said He is going to build His church on this rock - the intepretation of the rock here we can think of the context, where Peter just received this great revelation about Christ's identity. - this is a very great and important revelation, not just merely mental, but is a revelation of Jesus's identy. - which we much need to pray and receive. - another thought on this matter is the act of proclaiming at the same time of receiving this revelation - thus this revelation becomes reality on this earth, in our personal life.

second part pays close attention to the word His Church - where Christ referred to as "my Church". this reminds us the intimacy of the Church's relationship with Christ, as well as reminds us the simple meaning about the word "Church" - the called out ones. where the people are called out to Christ, assembled for the simple reason to be with Him - where He actually imparts His very life to all of His body(also ref Colos 1:13).- which are more developed in the next part.

The last part of the mssages emphasized on the Cross - take up his cross and follow me. The act of taking up the cross, in historical context means already sentenced to death, already died - think about the meaning of our baptism; through this death of His, we are freed from self, and entering into freedom of obeying God. Another thoughts occurs to me is that this is not of works, but of grace through faith in Him. Praise Him for caring to the deepest of our being, and reached to the deepest of our sinful beining to bring us to life in Him.