Rows and Circles
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What is the Church?
What is the Church?
Introduction
Introduction
I have lived long enough t have come across so many people’s personal beliefs and views on what the church is and what it means to be a part of it. In this series, we are looking at what it means to be a part of the Church of Jesus.
maybe play
https://youtu.be/_5qP7gKiGOg
So lets get into this!!
The word we translate as church in the new testament is ekklesia
Although it originally had a political meaning Jesus reframed it to describe ‘The people of God’ Apostles Today pp109
It is made up of two parts and basically has at its core the concept of the ‘called out one’s.
When you read through the new testament you find that this term is used in two ways.
Universal gathering
Universal gathering
Matt 16:18 ““I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
1 Cor 12:23 “and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,”
Local Gathering
Local Gathering
Matt 18:17 ““If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
1 Corinthians 11:18 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.”
Thus Universal gathering (or Church) is seen as all believers across all time situated in heaven.
The local gathering (or Church) is the expression of Christ to the world seen in a local community. It has structure, purpose and can be located here on earth.
John helps us to see how the church works in the world.
1 John 5:19 nlt
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
You are either under the rule of God or the Evil one.
NB note 1 John 2:2 nlt
2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
This leads to the concept of the Church
In John's time, it was very clear to him that the world and Church were two very separate realities. Today we have the Church in the World and the World in the Church so its sometimes a little harder to see.
Now we understand the two aspects of the Church Universal and Local lets consider our text.
Text: Matthew 16:13-21 NLT
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
“Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.””
“Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.”
Jesus’ mission was to turn the lights on for humanity. This achieved through a Revelation of Who he is which changes who YOU are then who WE are out working in what WE do both individually and corporately.
This is the nature and flow of the Church. It is to express the nature and character of Jesus on the Earth.
We are to be the light to the world, the voice of God, the hands of Jesus.
Thus we become ambassadors of Jesus so that people may:
You discover who He is
Then you discover who they are
Then you discover who we are together
This involves identity, mission (purpose) and values. this is why everything changes as a Christian.
1. To understand who we are as a Church requires first a revelation of Who Jesus is.
Notice the question Who do people say that Jesus is?
It’s clear that many people had opinions on who Jesus was and His mission. Matthew here is contrasting the difference between hearing opinions and discovering truth.
Jesus has a goal in this question. He is not feeling insecure about Himself. There is a pattern
1. Discover who He is
2. Then you discover who you are
3. Then you find you belong to a community.
NB whenever Christians get lost it is often because they have forgotten who He is and therefore who they are. Next time you are talking to someone who is losing their faith ask them who is Jesus and the reality of his Birth, Death and resurrection.
Let’s return to the pattern. Jesus is actually in this context asking Peter to speak for the group. Jesus is not asking him alone but the disciples in general. This is an important reality. God is ultimately relational beyond just you and him. He asks us to consider What do those outside the group say vrs what do all of you say?
Also Notice there is structure and relational leadership to this group.
He is showing the disciples that we need to hang with the right people and get our revelation or instruction in a personal relationship with the father through Jesus. Agin notice there is thinking of ‘Men’ contrasted with thinking of God.
When it comes to Jesus and His Church where is your source?
A) Does it come from the Bible?
Right now its trendy to jettison or revile anything from the past. Years of inquiry and study is rejected because its old and we re more enlightened today.
B) Does it align with who He is and His mission?
Notice that revelation doesn’t come from isolated individualistic moments but in the context of community (the Church)
Knowing who Jesus is Leeds us to the next step in the process
2. Once we discover who He is then we discover what the mission of the Church is:
His mission is to build His Church. The community of believers. Those who were followers of Jesus.
One way He phrased it later on was:
Matthew 28:19 (NASB)
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.
What does it mean to be a disciple?
We could literally spend hours discussing this and I would encourage you to get some time and meditate on this concept in His Word.
Here’s the basic idea that may help.
A disciple is one that is a follower. We are all disciples of someone or some ideology. Ask yourself:
Who or what is the greatest influence in my life? To answer that question you need to examine where you spend your time, money and thinking? How does His word shape you? How does His Spirit move you?
Together as the Church we seek to be followers of Jesus. That means we come together with structure and order and mission. We see this evolving in the New Testament from a development in the Old Testament.
3. Lastly we discover this community, this Church is His.
“…Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
What does it mean to be apart of this community? We
A) Are patient
“You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
James 5:8 NLT
B) Pray for each other
“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.”
James 5:13 NLT
C) Love and forgive one another
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
D) Speak well of each other
“ Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.”
James 4:11 NLT
E) Assemble as the Church
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
F) Encourage each other
G) Do acts of Love and good works
Conclusion
We could go on for days with what it means to b a part off this amazing community called the Church and I encourage you to take a fresh look in scripture at this concept.
However and lastly never lose your love for His Church.
Too many people say I love Jesus but hate His Church. that’s just like saying I love you but your wife is ugly and I want nothing to do with her.
Friends we are the Church. Together this community can be amazing but you and I have to steward, value and love this community. We can be a club or a church. A powerful body of people that brings Heaven to Earth.
It’s up to you and me. It’s our choice. We can stand together and fight for each other or we can just fight each other.
Imagine a group that are one s He an the father are one. That pray for each other, encourage each other, call out each other, forgive each other and work together so that when we assemble people can find hope, life and Joy.
What’s it going to be friends?