Questions about Church
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Last Week
Last Week
Open in prayer
Hello everyone! Welcome back to the Anchor! I wanted to give you guys a recap about last week/apologize about something.
Recap: Jesus is the anchor -> He wants to be in relationship with you.
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
I want to apologize about a statement I made last week. Last week I was explaining the story of redemption and there was one part out of everything that I mis-taught. One of the important things when it comes to teaching and talking about what Jesus has done is being rooted in God’s word. Remember how I said it’s not just a story book but the word of God! It’s 100% true, because God is the truth.
I made a statement that I didn’t fully research in God’s word and that’s this: I said Jesus went to hell. Now to explain what happened in the three days as well as how I came to that misunderstanding. I’ve heard in conversation people talk about where Jesus went during the three days He was dead, and a few people hold to this position. I took there word for it and didn’t check the Bible on if that position is actually legitimate. However, in looking a bit further into the text Jesus actually makes a statement that shows us what happened after He died.
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The context of this passage, Jesus is on the cross, there are two criminals next to Him, one of them mocks Him, the other defends Him. The one who defends Him says to Jesus this statement in the passage. Jesus responds today you will be with me in paradise.
Now that very same day Jesus dies in verse Luke 23:46
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
This goes to show that Jesus dies that same day, meaning that He enters into paradise that day with the criminal.
So Jesus took on the full wrath of God in His humiliation and sacrifice; experiencing the worst pain ever and then dying.
However we know the wrath of God is completely satisfied because before Jesus dies He also says in John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The important lesson that I learned from this experience and I hope you can learn this to is when we hear people talking about important things, like what happened on the cross. We always need to go back to what the Bible says and read for ourselves, asking the question what is the context. We trust what God tells us and reveals to us in His word rather then what man says in conversation.
So I wanted to apologize and let you guys know what I learned from this situation. Always always feel free to interrupt me when I’m teaching to ask me the question where is that in the Bible especially on important topics, because God’s word is truth and I want to be in line with it 100%, okay?
What is the Church?
What is the Church?
A lot of us here have attended church service before on a Sunday morning. We drive past church buildings all the time with different designs, stain-glass windows, and steeples. When I grew up, I knew that Sunday morning was church time. Imagine you have absolutely no context for what the Bible is and what a church service is like. If you have no idea what those are you might think that there is some weird stuff going on. Like why are we in this giant sanctuary? Why is there a dude on stage talking to us about the Bible? Why do we sing? Am I supposed to give money? What’s going on?!?
The question we are going to be diving into tonight is: “what is the church?”
Last week we read through Colossians 1 where Paul is writing to the church in Colossae about who Jesus is.
He is giving a description of Jesus in Colossians 1:15–23 and in verse 18 makes a shares a really interesting point.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
The body of Christ, this is a metaphor for -> the Church.
Interesting.
What makes up this body though, what is it if this is some metaphor?
Paul writes to the church in Rome what the body is Romans 12:4-5
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Believers are the body of Christ!! Those who believe and have relationship with God!
So right here, the church is more then a building, it’s believers! We are the church! Awesome but what are we supposed to do now?
Well it’s interesting because like we have different body parts that do different things, so the people who make up the church have different gifts and talents and abilities to serve God!
One of the really cool things about what happens at salvation is God gives you the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
When you heard and believed it to be true, you were given the promised Holy Spirit!
That’s so crazy!
The Spirit leads us as we go on this journey now
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
He leads us!
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Jesus says in John that the Holy Spirit will teach us and help us remember what He taught!
He also gives us gifts, which Paul writes about these gifts throughout his letters.
So we come together and serve.
But does this answer why we go to church on Sunday mornings and do everything we do?
Lets see why Col 3:15-17
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
What’s fascinating is we can do this pretty much whenever as the body of Christ. However, throughout Church history, the church chooses one specific morning and day to all meet up to hear from the Word of God (part of the role of the pastor is to teach the body), as well as sing together -> and in this passage it shows we are doing this all for and to God! Throughout all of this we give thanks!
Is this a weekly thing, lets see what the author of Hebrews says, when talking to the church,
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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 us here is talking about believers. The emphasis is that we don’t neglect to meet together. We are meant to walk this new life with others! The disciples had each other in acts, and we have each other now. We are to encourage one another
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
That’s Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians
In Galatians it talks about carrying one another’s burdens.
All of these things show we are supposed to care and serve one another.
What this means for the Anchor
What this means for the Anchor
What’s cool is this: we can be the church on Wednesday nights! We can be the body of Jesus that meets together to sing, hear God’s word, and encourage one another. All pointing back to Jesus who is our Anchor. We have allotted a large amount of time for you guys to be in small groups so you can experience what it means to bear one another burdens and do life together.
So in relationship with God, He invites you to be a part of His church, will you join us?
