I Am the Church

Intro

The last couple of weeks we have talked about how God made you who you are and placed you here for this moment, and last week we talked about how we are all servants of God.

This week we are going to talk about how we are the church.

One phrase that I have said multiple times that I hate is that the youth are the church of the future, however I believe that there is no where in the Bible that backs this up, but it speaks to the complete opposite.

Jesus Called the Children

Matthew 19:13–15 (NIV)

The Little Children and Jesus

19:13–15pp—Mk 10:13–16; Lk 18:15–17

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

This passage is where we see that the children and youth were extremely important to Jesus. Even to the point where he stopped His teaching so to allow the children to come to him.

There is and interesting thing going on in this passage, we see in Luke that he describes the children coming as babies, however when Jesus replies, He does not say let the babies come to me, but uses instead a word that means offspring, or young people.

What is the church?

Acts 2:41–47 (NIV)

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This passage comes right after Pentecost.

Can anyone tell me what Pentecost is and what happened there?

Pentecost was approx 50 days after the death of Jesus, and when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers of Jesus and His disciples.

This passage shows us that the first church was very similar to our small groups that we have here. There was no full time pastor. No building the met around town, and in each others homes, ate together and worshipped God together.

Ephesians 2:19–22 (NIV)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

We also see in Ephesians that the church brings people of all types together, it doesnt matter what their social, religious, or racial background was. If they were now a believer in Jesus they were part of the church.

So now we know that if you are a believer in Jesus you are the church what does that mean?

Responsibilities of the Church

If you are a part of the church, and if you are a believer if Jesus you are, then we all have responsibilities.

Going back to

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

They devoted themselves to teaching

Learning more about God

They devoted themselves to fellowship

This could be in youth group, but I also think this go farther to also joining in church services on Sunday, with people of different generations all worshiping God together.

In Awe of God working

God things

Took care of each other

selling the possessions. That means looking out for each other at school, helping older generations with things they cannot do. Serving within the main church, there are so many opportunities to be able to serve we just have to take advantage of them.

Worshipped God

Singing

Talked about Jesus

sharing their faith with their friends, and colleagues.

John Wesley once said this about sharing his faith.

“Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.”

Conclusion

None of this matters however if you dont know Jesus. If you dont know Jesus thats where it starts. If you do know Jesus where are we falling short.