Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Introduction:
Have you ever noticed how often Jesus and others in the NT use something in the physical world as an illustration of truth in the spiritual world?
“Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.”  Mark 1:17
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain descended and the floods came and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand.  And the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew, and burst against that house and it fell and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27
Since entering this new facility here is what has been said:
1.    Like Abraham and the believers of history we are to be
“looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God”
“we desire a country of our own…a better country that is a heavenly one”
2.    Everything in our lives as Christians is to flow out of worship!
OFC - entering a new phase
Everything starts with a heart of worship.
3.    Since you’ve come to Christ, the living stone, rejected by many but choice and precious to God, you too have become living stones and are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:1-10
So, how is God’s construction project going in your life?
Where are we?
1.    We have one task to finish in the furnace room and subcontractors have a few items.  We will have occupancy by the end of the week
2.    Be patient with leadership and each other.
3..    We need congregation wide help with:
a.    Custodial care - Shawn Mains / sign up on greeting table.
b.    Soon - help us lay the exterior stone.
If I said, “How’s God’s spiritual construction project in your life going?” what would you say?
Exploring - Nicodemus
Growing - eager learner
Small Groups
Following Christ’s example of selecting 12 to be “with” Him we believe small groups provide the best setting for care, spiritual growth, service, assimilation of newcomers, and multiplication and training of leaders. Small group ministry at Oakbrook is not a “program”.  It is an approach to ministry that permeates every level of ministry from nursery and Sunday school to ministry teams and leadership boards.
Close - everyday time with Christ
Memorial Reflection Garden -
Centered - focused, committed disciple
Stalled - for one reason or another, not investing time in your relationship with Christ.  Maybe in the church.  Maybe have dropped out but not close to Christ presently.
Sin?
Busyness?
Wrong focus!
Competing loves!
Stages
Cycles
Setbacks
John 21
~ Have to get right with him before you have something to offer!
~ At times pushed deeper through failure.
Not the end!
Deep failure.  Hurt Christ deeply.  But Christ takes the initiative.
John 14
John 14:17-18 “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” NIV
John 14:21-23 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” “Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” NIV
14:17 - the birthright of every NT believer.
14:21 spiritual movement in our lives is meant to progress toward full devotion to Christ in our lives.

Discipleship
Making disciples is the mission of the church.  We aim at being intentional in the process of helping people become devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  Oakbrook’s leaders are personally committed to being disciples and to making disciples.
I will disclose Myself to him. - A special relationship with Christ.
We will come to him and make our dwelling place with him.
Do you see it?  He is talking about temple dwelling!
John 21:15-22
the centrality of personal relationship
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 12:1-8
1 Peter 4:7-11
Volunteerism vs service!
Doing things for Christ.
Doing things with Christ.
Personality, gifts, time of life
All of this has to be taken into account!
Gift-based Ministry
Every Christian is called into ministry. When people serve in the areas of their interest and giftedness they serve enthusiastically, competently and feel free to be themselves.  Our aim is to help believers discover their unique passion, gift and temperament mix and to serve Christ accordingly.
Teamwork
From Christ’s inner circle of 3, to the 12, and the 70 who were sent out 2 to 2, teamwork was Christ’s standard operating procedure.  At Oakbrook we plan to accomplish our mission working together in teams.  We are confident that God will use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary results.
OFC Family -
don’t forget what it is all about.
Pray for your leaders
Thinking and praying through - mission, vision, values, POM
Talking through policies - for instance:
We want your suggestions / experimenting for a while
We need your help to “get it done”!
Kitchen coordinator
Kitchen shower planner
Custodial Coordinator
Groundskeeper
Events Scheduling
My job is changing!
And if you are exploring - want to help answer questions you may have.
If you are shopping - do so in prayer and perseverance.
Find the place where God wants you to be.
But for all of us - there is no time to waste!