A Safe Harbor

A SAFE HARBOR

Ephesians 2:19(NLT) – So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers or foreigners. You are citizens

along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Father God wants Joy Church and every church to be a safe harbor. A place of hope and healing.

Ephesians 2:12 – At that time you were without Christ,...having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the

blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:19 – Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with

the saints and members of the household of God.

We have been born into the family of God!

We are sons and daughters of the Most High God!

I HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVES ME!

I AM ACCEPTED IN JESUS CHRIST!

How can we become a place of greater hope, greater healing, and greater transformation for the Glory of

God?

1. WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 2:22 – In whom you are also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Dwelling Place – A home, a habitation

1 Corinthians 3:16 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells

in you?

We welcome the Holy Spirit. We honor Him. We surrender to Him. We say yes to Him.

2. WELCOME ALL THOSE THE SPIRIT BRINGS

We want to welcome every person who walks through the doors of Joy Church.

Matthew 25:35 – I was a stranger and you took Me in.

Romans15:7(NLT) – Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be

given Glory.

Every person walking through the doors is a person Jesus loves and a person for whom Christ died.

3. BE FITTED TOGETHER FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Ephesians 2:21 – In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the

Lord.

1 Peter 2:5 – You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer

up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

We are all different shapes and sizes: being fitted together can be difficult.

Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another

Ephesians 4:15 – But, speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him

4. BE EMPOWERED TO IMPACT THE WORLD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Ephesians 4:11 – For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of

Christ.

We have a calling to carry His Presence into the world, into the work place, into our schools, and into our

homes.

2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ.

The Holy Spirit is calling us from self-centered to Christ-centered to others-centered.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Can you describe a time in your life when you felt hopeless or alone?

2. How did God bring you through that time in your life?

3. How can Joy Church become a place of greater hope and healing?

4. Do you welcome people into the Body of Christ at Joy? Why or Why not?

5. Is there someone with whom you need to have a difficult conversation?

6. How can you be a better ambassador of Hope in Christ at work or school?