TITLE: EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRIST

CENTERED CHURCH
TEXT : 1 THESSALONIANS 1: 1-5 1:1 Si Pablo, at si Silvano, at
si Timoteo, sa iglesia ng mga taga Tesalonica sa Dios Ama at sa
Panginoong Jesucristo: Sumainyo nawa ang biyaya at kapayapaan.
1:2 Nangagpapasalamat kaming lagi sa Dios dahil sa inyong lahat,
na aming binabanggit kayo sa aming mga panalangin;
1:3 Na aming inaalaalang walang patid sa harapan ng ating Dios at
Ama, ang inyong gawa sa pananampalataya at pagpapagal sa
pagibig at pagtitiis sa pagasa sa ating Panginoong Jesucristo;
1:4 Yamang aming nalalaman, mga kapatid na minamahal ng Dios,
ang pagkahirang sa inyo,
1:5 Kung paanong ang aming evangelio ay hindi dumating sa inyo
sa salita lamang, kundi sa kapangyarihan din naman, at sa Espiritu
Santo, at sa lubos na katiwasayan; na gaya ng inyong nalalaman
kung anong pagkatao namin ang aming ipinakita sa inyo dahil sa
inyo.

INTRODUCTION:
CCCI- IS A CHRIST CENTERED CHURCH
INTERNATIONAL, committed to lead people to sowing faith in
JESUS CHRIST, build them up in their relationship with Him and
others and deploy them in servant ministry both here and
throughout the world.
The Apostle Paul planted on exemplary church in the City of
Thessalononica. It was a church that was initiated and it is a church
that should be initiated.

Here are 8 Characteristics Of a Church- Centered

around the Person and work of JESUS:
1. ESTABLISHED IN GOD ( 1 THESS.1:1a Si Pablo, at si
Silvano, at si Timoteo, sa iglesia ng mga taga Tesalonica sa Dios

Ama at sa Panginoong Jesucristo). A Gospel governed church is

one that is firmly rooted in and absolutely established by GOD.
Paul knows that the church HE is writing to is not only of GOD but
in fact they are in GOD. This is evidenced by people who are
GOD_ Centered both theologically and methodologically.
2. EMPOWERED BY GRACE ( 1 THESS.1:1B Sumainyo nawa
ang biyaya at kapayapaan). It is community of called out people
who are empowered by the unmerited favor which comes from
GOD. This grace is not a mere infrequent occurrence. It is visible in
and experienced by those who attend this community of faith. It is
so real that it becomes tangible. You wont be able to enter this
gathering without feeling gravitas of this Grace.
3.ENSCONCED IN PRAYER ( 1 Thess.1:2 Nangagpapasalamat
kaming lagi sa Dios dahil sa inyong lahat, na aming binabanggit kayo
sa aming mga panalangin;) It is a church in which the leaders, labor
and toil in Prayer in behalf of their people. It is a church in which
when someone says that they will pray for you, they actually do.
This is the culture that Paul cultivated within this exemplary church.
Paul wanted his people to know that their spiritual conditions is so
important to Him, that He is constantly praying on behalf of them.
4. ENDOWED WITH FAITH ( 1 THESS. 1:3a Na aming
inaalaalang walang patid sa harapan ng ating Dios at Ama, ang
inyong gawa sa pananampalataya). It is a church in which an
unwavering faith in Gospel truths is evident in the lives of people,
when asked faith is, people have an unlimited amount of testimonials
to share with the person who asked. When asked what is the one
element that gets them through the week, they answer JESUS IN
WHOM WE BELIEVE. Others who are around them, agree that this is
most definitely is the case. This active faith defines a church in which
the people are gospel governed.
5. ENTHRENCHED IS LOVE ( 1 Thess.1:3b at pagpapagal sa
pagibig at pagtitiis sa pagasa sa ating Panginoong Jesucristo;). It is a
church that is characterized by a relentless love which is evidenced in
and amongst the members. It is a church in which grudges are not
carried and hurt and hang-ups and dealt with using the principles
introduced in Matt.18. It is a church in which people smile at you.

They are genuinely happy to see you. A shaking of a hand is not a

mere formality but a demonstration of loyalty.
6. ENABLED BY HOPE ( 1 Thess.1:3 at pagpapagal sa pagibig
at pagtitiis sa pagasa sa ating Panginoong Jesucristo;) It is a
community of Faith that is enabled and bolstered by a hope for what
is to come. It is a church that is aware at and lives in light of
eternity. It is a church in which the people are inactivated by the
HOPE, in that which is to come. It is a church in which people
approach set backs and failures with resilient hope that endures
amidst application. This Hope enables endurance regardless of
intensity on pressure.
7. ELECT OF GOD ( 1 Thess 1:4 Yamang aming nalalaman,
mga kapatid na minamahal ng Dios, ang pagkahirang sa inyo,). A
gospel governed church is complete of people who were predestined
by GOD. To believe in JESUS THE CHRIST, realizing this
priviledge that we posses from a GOD who knows us so well brings
about perpetual gratitude. Those who are part of the church are
objects of GODs love and the focus of GODs care. They have made
the spirit infused decision to turn away from dead idols and follow
the only true and triune GOD the gospel accomplished that which it
get out to do in the first place, before even the beginning of time.
EPH. 1: 6 Purihin natin siya dahil sa kanyang kahanga-hangang
pagkalinga sa atin sa pamamagitan ng kanyang minamahal na
anak!
8. EXEMPLARY IN THE GOSPEL ( 1 Thess. 1:5 Kung
paanong ang aming evangelio ay hindi dumating sa inyo sa salita
lamang, kundi sa kapangyarihan din naman, at sa Espiritu Santo, at
sa lubos na katiwasayan; na gaya ng inyong nalalaman kung anong
pagkatao namin ang aming ipinakita sa inyo dahil sa inyo.). It is a
community in which the truths of CHRIST are not only preaches
emphatically person, the pulpit but are enthusiastically lived out by
the people in the pews. There is no mist in the pulpit and there is a
favorable lack of a fog in the pews,. A gospel message is practiced,
preached, taught in broad , initiated and completed, all for the fame
of JESUS NAME.