Turning the Tables

World vs church - influence

Harvard and Yale example - Slide

Read paper description

A Jesus-examination of the church

READ John 2:13-25

1) Purpose of the Temple/Church

Comparing temple in 1 Kings and John 2

1 Kings 8:10-11, 57-58, 61

Explain the temple court, sacrifice purchases

Leaders were making profits equiv. to day’s wage

Money-changing - converting other currencies to shekels/weights

The focus shifted to money

The focus shifted to how the world does life

Success defined in the world

Satan loves this way

Satan loves to see this way in the church - keeps people far from the LORD

Success defined by the LORD

Most people don’t like this way

Evil seems to be winning

Every soul getting saved is a loss for the enemy!

Every believer walking the surrendered life is a prime target for the enemy

Status of the church

We’ve mostly given in to the way of the world

WHAT CHURCH IS NOT

Business - though we need to be wise financially

Social club - though we fellowship, based on spiritual connection

Social agency - though we meet needs when we can, along with sharing Christ

What the church is about - Acts 2:42

Acts 2:42 NASB95

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Yes, we collect an offering, not to make a profit, not to take advantage

And we don’t hold special sales or create business ventures to do something

We pay our bills and manage ministry as offerings allow

We exist on the sacrificial offerings of those who call this church home, and we are good stewards of that

I never touch the money, count the offering, see who gives what, don’t care

2) The Authority in the Church

NOT the one with the most money

NOT the hardest worker

NOT the pastor

JESUS IS THE AUTHORITY

What authority did Jesus have even being in the temple?

IT WAS BUILT FOR HIM!

He made a whip of cords…patiently, righteously angry

He sent a clear message

Example - imagine building a house, and the contractor does it HIS way, not YOURS

We could try to compare the church in its early days - to today

Why a decline in the church today?

(Quotes from book/research - in bulletin)

Same issue as then

They forgot the Authority in church

They forgot the Authority in life

They became their own authority

Today

People did NOT leave the church because of the church (despite what they say)

They forgot the Authority in church

They forgot the Authority in life

They became their own authority in both - self rules!

You worship God or yourself - period

You are here today, for the moment, because life is about something (Someone) bigger than you (an authority above you)

3) True Believers Worship

Jesus did not believe in most believers in this instance- He knew their hearts

Does Jesus believe in your belief?

He knows your heart

You can pretend and fool friends and family

Who are you letting teach your kids? The world or the Word?

John 2, the temple looks like the world

Today, the church looks like the world

Purpose of church

Worship, edifying of believers

Secondary, getting people saved, important though

Inside, deep inside the church, the core is where/who gets church done

The core gets the purpose

The core understands Who the Authority is here

The core are true believers, who come to worship

The core is not about self, worldly success, getting ahead, looking the part

All the things the world promotes and encourages

It’s not about numbers, entertainment, dollars, popularity

All the things the world promotes and encourages

Jesus’ Perspective

The close of this passage - Jesus’s perspective

He didn’t need anyone telling Him what was wrong with people

He knows what is in man

THIS IS WHY HE CAME IN PERSON

He knows your greatest need

When did you acknowledge that and truly place your trust in Him?

Why have you rejected Him?

Why have you pulled away from surrendered following?

Jesus already knows, just be honest with Him

He wanted people to observe Him and believe in Him

Today, no different

People observe Jesus by observing the church

Problem: people hypocritically hold us to a perfect standard

Solution: let them see that we, while not perfect:

We understand the purpose of the church - to worship Him and make disciples

We understand Who is the Authority - and we surrender to Him

We understand worship - “worth-ship” - we are in awe and point the glory to the only One who is worthy of the attention we point to Him

What would you like the church to be like? Does that measure up with the Bible? Do you know the Bible well enough to answer?

I invite Jesus to come and evaluate what we are doing here

How would we measure up?

Where would He be rightly upset?

Where would He be pleased?

Whose kingdom do we represent?

World’s

The LORD’s

Each of us is personally responsible to:

Maintain the purpose of the church

To remember Who is in charge here

Worship. WORSHIP HIM

Jesus wants us to get good with that

Are you?