We Are Saved

I know some of you saw the title of this series and immediately thought of the TV show This Is Us. I'll admit—I've never seen it. This sermon series isn't about the show, so I'm not recommending it or plugging it. But from what I know, that show is all about family. And in many ways, that's exactly what this series is about: family—specifically, who we are as the family of God here at Choctaw.

So let me ask you: Who are we?
You might think, We're Christians. We're saved. We're the church. And those are all correct. But for the next several weeks, I want us to be more specific. Who are we as the Choctaw Church of Christ? What are we really all about? If someone walked in our doors, interacted with us in the community, or joined this family—what would they say defines us?

That's what this series, This Is Us, is about. We're exploring who we are and what we're all about as the Lord's church here in Choctaw.

Why There Is an "Us"

Before we answer who we are, we need to take a step back and ask: Why is there an us at all? Why do we gather here? Why did you and I choose to be part of this body? Why is there a church at all? To answer that, we turn to Acts 2—the beginning of the church.

In Acts 1, the resurrected Jesus has ascended into heaven, promising the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, the Spirit comes on the apostles at Pentecost. Peter preaches the first gospel sermon, and a great crowd hears the message in their own languages. And from that moment, the church was born.

What We Learn from Acts 2

1. The Church Was a Diverse People

Acts 2 describes Jews from every nation under heaven gathered in Jerusalem. They came from different places, spoke different languages, and lived different lives. Yet God brought them together for one purpose—to hear the gospel. The church began as a diverse people united by Jesus.

2. They Heard a Life-Changing Truth

Peter's sermon delivered two powerful truths:

• They were guilty of Jesus' death. Peter declared, "You crucified and killed" the Son of God (Acts 2:23).

• They were witnesses of His resurrection. Unlike David, who died and remained in his tomb, Jesus rose and conquered death. "Of that we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32).

That truth cut them to the heart. They realized their guilt, but also the hope of resurrection.

3. They Responded to God's Call

When the crowd asked, "What shall we do?" Peter answered: "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). That day, 3,000 people responded, were baptized, and were added to the Lord's kingdom.

Our Story Too

That story is our story. We too are a diverse people—different ages, backgrounds, occupations, and life experiences. Yet we're united here, not because we'd naturally know or choose one another, but because of Jesus. Without Him, many of us would have nothing in common. But in Him, we are family.

Like those in Acts 2, we've learned the same life-changing truth:

• Our sin made us guilty of Jesus' death.

• But we are also witnesses to His resurrection, believing the testimony that He conquered death.

And like them, we responded to God's call through faith, repentance, and baptism—becoming part of His family, forgiven and filled with His Spirit.

What the Church Really Is

So what does this mean for us?

• We are a kingdom, not a social club. We're not here just for friendships or routine, but for God's mission.

• We are a movement, not a monument. The church is alive, active, and serving—not a relic of the past.

• We are a people, not a place. Church isn't something you go to—it's who we are.

• We are people who serve, not just people who are served. We're here to work for God and bless others, not to consume.

There is an "us" because Jesus saved us, changed us, and called us together for His purposes.

Moving Forward

This series will help us rediscover who we are as God's people. Some of what we study will affirm what we already are. Some of it may remind us of things we've forgotten or challenge us to grow. But my hope is that when we're finished, we can all say with confidence: This is us. This is who we are. This is what we're about—for Jesus.

Because when a whole church body knows who they are and lives deeply in love with Jesus, that's a church the world cannot ignore.

So let's begin by remembering: there is an "us" because of Jesus. He is our reason, our motivation, and our purpose.

If you're not yet part of that "us," we invite you. If you need forgiveness, a family to belong to, or prayers for your struggles—we are here. Not because we're perfect, but because Jesus is perfect, and He brought us together.