God's Chosen (The Church)

This week we're continuing our series based on the book "Believe", which uses the Bible to help us understand how to think, act, and be more like Jesus. We've previously learned about God's active involvement in our lives, His provision of a relationship through Jesus, and the Bible as our guide, all of which give us a new identity as children of God. Today, on Pentecost, we celebrate the church's empowerment by the Holy Spirit, which indwells us individually and corporately, enabling us to reflect Jesus. We discuss how humanity was created in God's image for community and relationship, but this image was broken by sin, leading to a focus on self. Jesus, as the "second Adam," came to restore that broken image, making the church the place where we are transformed into His likeness through the Holy Spirit's gifts, ultimately allowing us to live out God's truth and reflect Him to the world.

Bible verses: 1 John 3:1; Acts 4:31; Genesis 1-5; Colossians 1:15-19; Romans 8; Romans 6:7-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-16; John 1