100 Days to a Healthier ChurchSample

(First BIG Saturday & Introduction to Devotional): Remember Whose Church It Really Is Every church should start their assessment not by debating how to change the church, or what attendance goals you want to hit, but by considering “What does Jesus want His church to be?” That will be the entire focus of the first week, but especially of this first day. Today is not about strategizing new ideas or critiquing old methods. It’s about laying all of that aside to focus on Jesus, His church, and His mission. Today’s passages are organized according to four primary categories of church life and belief: The Church, Worship, Discipleship and Outreach. The Church When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 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.” – Matthew 16:13–19 Other passages: Mark 12:28–34 (The Great Commandment), Acts 2:42–47 (The church in Jerusalem), Galatians 6:10 (Caring for the household of believers), James 5:13–16 (Pray for one another), Romans 12:3–8 (Using your gifts for the body), Hebrews 10:24–25 (Don’t neglect meeting together), 1 Corinthians 12:12–27 (We are the body of Christ). Worship “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” – John 4:23–24 Other passages: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (Pray without ceasing), 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (Your bodies are God’s temple), Romans 12:1–2 (Living sacrifices), Matthew 4:8–10 (Worship God alone), Hebrews 12:28–29 (Reverence and awe), Psalm 100 (Worship with shouts and songs), Revelation 4:8–11 (Worship in heaven). Discipleship Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18–20 Other passages: Ephesians 4:11–16 (The five-fold ministry gifts), Acts 6:1–7 (Appointing the Seven), Luke 6:40 (The purpose of discipleship), 2 Timothy 2:1–2 (Discipling disciple-makers), Timothy 2:15 (Correctly handle the Word of truth), 2 Timothy 3:14–17 (All Scripture is God-breathed), Matthew 16:24–25 (Take up your cross). Outreach But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 Other passages: Matthew 28:18–20 (The Great Commission), Luke 10:10–20 (Jesus sends the seventy-two), Matthew 5:13–16 (Salt and light), Matthew 5:13–16 (Salt and light), Luke 4:14–19 (Good News to the poor), James 2:14–18 (Faith without works is dead), James 1:27 (Pure religion), Matthew 25:34–40 (“You did it to me”). Luke 10:35–37 (The Good Samaritan).