Francis Chan: We Are Church - Church Together, September 2016

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of knowing God personally, beyond just having knowledge about Him. The speaker encourages believers to focus on building a relationship with God, rather than just attending church or following certain practices. He highlights that it's not enough to simply know facts and figures about God, but to truly experience His presence in one's life.

Key Scripture References

• John 14:12 - Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will do the works that He does, and even greater works than these. This passage emphasizes the potential for believers to experience God's power and presence in their lives.
• Matthew 7:21-23 - Jesus warns that many people will say "Lord, Lord" but He will reject them because they didn't know Him. This passage highlights the importance of knowing God personally, rather than just following certain practices or attending church.
• John 14:13-14 - Jesus says that whoever asks in His name will receive what they ask for. This passage emphasizes the power of prayer and the importance of asking God for things in Jesus' name.
• 1 John 5:14-15 - This passage says that we can have confidence when we ask God for something, because He hears us and will give us what we ask for. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty.
• Psalm 138:8 - The psalmist writes that God will fulfill His plans for us, because we are called according to His purposes. This passage highlights the idea that God has a plan for each believer's life, and that He wants to use them for great things.

Key Points

• Knowing God personally is more important than just attending church or following certain practices.
• The Bible teaches that believers have the potential to do greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12).
• Prayer is a powerful tool for experiencing God's presence and power in one's life (John 14:13-14).
• Believers can have confidence when asking God for things, because He hears us and will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15).
• God has a plan for each believer's life, and wants to use them for great things (Psalm 138:8).

Application

The speaker encourages believers to focus on building a relationship with God, rather than just attending church or following certain practices. He emphasizes the importance of prayer and trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty. The application is for believers to seek to know God personally, to experience His presence and power in their lives, and to trust in Him for great things.