1) We want people to know God so that they will be secure in their faith
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the might man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.”John 4:42
They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the Lord.
2) We want people to love God so that they will be sincere in their faith.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”Deuteronomy 11:13
“…obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul…”
What would be the aim of sincere faith?
1 Timothy 1:5
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”Hebrews 10:22
“…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
3) We want people to glorify God by being steadfast in their faith.
Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”Romans 15:5-6
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Psalm 112:1, 5-7
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments.
“It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous man will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
4) We want people to know and understand the Word…
Psalm 119:11
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”Psalm 119:27
“Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”
…so that we can learn to think with the Word
Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
…so that we can view life through the Word
Psalm 119:14-15
“In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
…so that we live life by the Word
Psalm 119:59, 105
“When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
5) We want people to corporately participate in and experience fellowship.
This is when the body shares in the things of Christ, the work of Christ, the love of Christ, and ministering to one another to build each other up in love.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”
Each person must not only play his part, but must play it together and play it well. As a friend once put it to me, “In God’s symphonic plan, the score is the Word of God, revealing His Son, Jesus Christ. The instruments are our spiritual gifts and natural abilities and talents. And the indispensable means we use to perform is fellowship, our co-participation in accomplishing His revealed purposes.
It is only as we work together in this way that it is possible to accomplish God’s plan, which inherently causes fellowship to be indispensable to the church.
1 John 1:3
“…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
6) We want people to corporately participate in and experience praise and worship.
This is the uninhibited exaltation of God alone, and serves as a witness to the believer and non-believer alike of the splendors of God through Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Rooted+Relevant 