Humanity of Church

None of us can do that perfectly but Christ did it perfectly so as he lives in and through us, we can bear the image of God better and better through allowing his spirit to work through us and by surrendering our lives to him

Not living for ourselves but instead by allowing him to live through us

The Church is humans worshipping a divine God.

This is important to remember, the church is made up of humans not gods.

We are human and we worship a divine God.

The church should bear the image of God but it isn’t God in and of itself

We get disappointed in the church when we think it is God

If we think the church should be perfect because God is perfect, then we will always be disappointed in the church but if we see it as humans working towards bearing the image of God, we will hold it to a human standard and not a divine standard.

The old saying is that if you ever find the perfect church, don’t join it because you will ruin it.

Jesus said he would build his church and he called us to be a church, a family of people united in spirit, and worshipping God together in one voice and one accord.

Does this always happen without fail?

We can look at the first churches and see that they weren’t perfect.

Paul would write to the churches he started and he would commend them on some things and rebuke them on some things but he didn’t throw up his hands and say never mind, this wasn’t a good idea.

1 Corinthians 11:17 (ESV)

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

1 Corinthians 11:18 (ESV)

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,

1 Corinthians 11:19 (ESV)

for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

It’s possible he is saying something here about factions among the church so they will know who is a real believer and who isn’t since he says so the genuine among you will be recognized

The problem is that he goes on to talk about the Lord’s Supper and rebuke them for the way they are receiving it by saying some go hungry and others get drunk.

In other words he is saying there are factions among you based on the rich and the poor and he is rebuking these factions.

NT Wright says that there is no way to know for sure but since the whole passage is to rebuke these factions, his statement here is sarcastic. Why are separating yourselves into factions and so when he says they are necessary to know who is genuine he is sarcastically saying that we tend to place people in categories and when we are assembled here we are equals in the Lord’s sight.

This is the beauty of church that when the world categorizes everyone and places us into classes and structures, the church is the place where everyone is offered the opportunity to sit at his table and receive his meal of his body and his blood.

The church is human but we worship a divine God that when he sees us, because we have eaten of His flesh and His blood, we are seen as the body of Christ and we are equals in his eyes.

There has become a consumerism about church that is prevalent today.

We sometimes choose churches because we like the music or the pastor or this program or that program.

This sets us up for disappointment and movement from church to church.

As soon as that program is not there any more, we lost the thing that drew us and because it doesn’t serve me that way I want I to then I must go somewhere else.

The most important and only question we must ask when choosing a church is where is God calling me.

It is a difficult time for church plants because they often can’t have the youth programs or dedicated buildings that other churches have and as the spirit of consumerism takes shape, it leads us to make a decision about our church based on if we feel that the church serves all of our needs.

When Gateway started we didn’t have all of the things that we have now, but there were so many who faithfully saw a need and stepped in and offered their gifts and talents and they helped create what this church is today.

I love the church. I grew up in church and I mean literally. A large part of my childhood was spent in church, playing in the rooms and hallways and sitting in the services.

I have seen the ugly side of church and I have seen the moral failures of leaders but I have also seen countless lives changed and people having an encounter with a living God on a weekly basis.

When we place the leader or the pastor of the church into a divine position, he or she cannot bear the weight of being God because no human can and they let us down.

I have a heart for the people who have been hurt by the church and want to see them be able to love the bride again.

When we put a divine standard on a human or a group of humans we will always be disappointed.

The reason the church is not perfect is so that you would have to learn to love it anyways. The reason the members aren’t perfect is so the church would have to love them anyway. The reason the pastor is not perfect is so you would have to learn to love him anyways.

Last week we spoke about marriage and how it teaches us about the inexhaustible love of God. This is also why we should be in church.

This isn’t the place where we separate those based on class or belief or what sins they have committed, this is the place where we bear the image of God and we show others that his grace abounds and his love is inexhaustible.

Romans 12:3 (ESV)

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:4 (ESV)

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

Romans 12:5 (ESV)

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

With the advent of media there has come more temptation and more accountability and because of that we have seen pastors, leaders, authors, and business titans come crashing down when they sin and those sins are found out.

My generation is marked by their distrust for institutions and the church has suffered because of it.

I feel so much compassion for those that have been hurt by the church and there is a righteous reckoning happening within the church.

Leaders are called to a higher standard and that’s why I believe in ministries like 10TEN and the Gateway Church Network and others who are pouring into pastors to help them be healthy and walk out their ministry in purity and health.

Obviously in the case of abuse or heretical teaching it is right to leave that church

However, there are many people who have been hurt by leaders or people in the church and they have given up on church altogether.

Where are the reformers? Where are the ones who say we can do better and offer themselves up to committing to the family of God and restoring faith in the community of the church?

You need the Church.

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The writer in Hebrews wants us to stir up in each other something. Not division and strife but instead to stir up in each other love and good works. And how does the passage suggest we do that? By going to church!

It says when we don’t neglect to come together, we encourage each other and stir up in each other love and good works.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to be sporadically encouraged to love and do good works. I need it weekly and I could probably use it a little more often than that!

Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Some people use this to say that they are the church so they don’t need the weekly gathering of the church. It is fine for them to worship God on their own and not need anyone else.

However, the you in this passage is not singular.

WE make up the body of Christ and WE must work together to do his ministry.

Corinthians 6:16 (ESV)

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

We are the temple of God and when we are joined together, he makes his dwelling among us.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV)

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV)

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:29 (ESV)

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

1 Corinthians 12:30 (ESV)

Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Individually you bring a gift to the church and we will talk more about that in a moment but you are a member of the body of Christ and some have the gift of being an apostle and some prophets and some teachers and some have the gift of healing.

If you are alone at home thinking that you don’t need the church you only get your own gifts to contribute when we come together you experience all of the gifts of the body of Christ.

You need the church because you by yourself don’t hold all of the gifts. If you are a part of the church and need to watch online because you are sick or susceptible or away on vacation or assignment then I love that you are able to watch online.

But this is part of the reason that we have created gatherings. If you are watching online and this is your only expression of church, start asking others to join you because you need the gifts they bring to body of Christ.

How intimate will your relationship be with the body of Christ if you aren’t present?

The Church needs you.

Only in a day and age where church has become so consumeristic would we say well I have my own relationship with Christ so I don’t need church.

When evaluated it is a selfish statement, it says I get everything I need. Yes but have you given everything you need to give?

We need your gifts and your presence because you bring your own unique calling and giftings to this body.

1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV)

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

1 Corinthians 12:15 (ESV)

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:16 (ESV)

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:17 (ESV)

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV)

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

1 Corinthians 12:19 (ESV)

If all were a single member, where would the body be?

1 Corinthians 12:20 (ESV)

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

1 Corinthians 12:21 (ESV)

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Ephesians 4:16 (ESV)

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Jesus Loved the church

He went to church

When he snuck away from his parents, it was to be in church

He called it his fathers house

He loved the church so much he gave his life

Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

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