Two Things the Church Should Be On Sunday
February 24, 2013 AM Service
(Psa 27) Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? {2} When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. {3} Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
{4} One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. {5} For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. {6} Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
{7} Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. {8} My heart says of you,
"Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. {9} Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. {10} Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. {11} Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. {12} Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. {13} I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. {14} Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
The disparaging of the church in recent years
For better or worse, hardly a week goes by without the Church being mentioned in the news. Along with this increased level of visibility comes an increase in the amount of criticism directed toward the Church.
But remember (Mat 16:18-19)

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. {19} I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
The Solution to a bad church is not NO Church but a Better Church!
If Failures — Be Holy!
If Deadness ---- Be Alive!
If Misdirection ---- Be purposeful!
Forsake Not!
(Heb 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Two things the church should be on Sunday Mornings
I. A place where lost people are saved (1 Corinthians 14)

(1 Cor 14:24-25) But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, {25} and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
Pagan in our midst is normal if not preferable.
They come on their own
They comes at an invitation
Saved when they see God among you: How would they know?
A. Love
B. Praise
C. Preaching
D. Seeking (altars/ hands raised/ hearts hungry)

II. A place where God’s people are helped (Ps 27: 1 Cor 5) vv 2-3 Deal with the real threats of this world (ravenous hounds)
(Psa 27:2-3) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. {3} Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
My encounter with such
(1 Cor 5:4) When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
Power — is the ability of God to overwhelm, overtake or overcome anything in this world.
Q: What do you need to get over in your life?
FIVE THINGS WE SHOULD ALWAYS EXPECT ON SUNDAY MORNINGS
When you come to church on Sunday, expect . . .
1) Jesus to be present in power

(1 Cor 5:4) "When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,"
2) Angelic help and assistance
(1 Cor 11:10) "For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head."
3) To hear from God
(Rom 10:17) "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
4) to Be Healed
(James 5:14-15) "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."
(Mat 12:12) "How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the
Sabbath.""

5) To be encouraged
(1 Cor 13:1-8) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. {2} If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} If I give all
I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. {4} Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. {5} It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6} Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. {8} Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
(1 Th 3:2) "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of
Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,"
When we expect great things of God two things happen ----
1) Great things happen
2) The unexpected happens