God’s design for exacting His will upon the earth is the church.  She is to be a redeemed humanity whose members orient their lives after the lead and love of Jesus.  How critical is it for us then, to make sure that we do not allow the “church” to become a sterile institution or a one-hour-a-week service that remains cursory to the multifaceted lives of Christians.  We must know God’s plan for the community of believers. 

Observations:

1. Insight: The church has spiritual access to God’s plan through the apostles and prophets 
2. Invitation: The church has an invitation for everyone
3. Inclusion: What is given to the church is given to give away
4. Impartation: God has a design for the church, as a new, beautiful, redeemed, human society
5. Intention: God’s plan for the display of His wisdom is: in and through the church
6. Inauguration: This eternal plan is being accomplished by Jesus Christ
7. Intermediary: Through Jesus we have confidence and freedom to approach God

Conclusions: 

1. The church is not an afterthought in the mind of God
2. The ordering of the church is a demonstration and declaration of God’s wisdom

Application: 

1. Transform of your understanding of the church 
2. You must follow Jesus’ lead

Colossians 1:24-29

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—  the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”

1 Timothy 2:5

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 4:14-16

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”