Fresh Start Wk 3 F.R.O.G

What is the Church? and Why do we go?

Last week we looked at the question…How do I know if I have a relationship with Christ? and Why is it important?

Well we know we have relationship with Christ when we believe in Him as Lord of our lives, which means we follow Him and seek to live like Him, and we have repented of sin.

A relationship with Christ is important because we are made right with God, which means we have victory, we do not have to fear death or what comes after. We are free to live like Him, we no longer are slaved to our sin and wrongdoing, and we have His Spirit, we are not alone and receive wisdom and direction from God’s Spirit.

So as we look at the Church today, turn with me real quick to Matthew 16:13-18

Matthew 16:13–18 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Jesus asks His disciples who do you say I am, and Peter says, you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and as He declared this Jesus responded with, you are Peter (stone) on this rock I will build my church. The word used there in the original language for church was was ekkliesia - which means the called out ones.

From my understanding this was the first time it was used and would be used in different variations all through the rest of the New Testament. In the God’s word you will see phrases or descriptions of the family of God (brothers and sisters), The body of Christ, the people of God, the House of God, the Bride of Chris, the Flock, its all different words or descriptions of the Church.

Jesus wasn’t saying He was going to build a building. He was saying He is building a people.

You see what we talked about last week how do you know you are in a relationship with God is you believe and confess that Jesus is Lord that you believe He is the one that makes us right with God and that is what Peter says in this passage is You are the Christ, the Messiah, The one the scriptures in the OT talk about that would make people right with God, You are the Son of the Living God, you are God in the Flesh.

And Jesus says, Yes, Peter, just as you have proclaimed that today, My church will be built of People who proclaim this very thing. Who hold on to me as their source of Salvation.

What is the Church?

The Church is - the people who have been saved by Jesus and They are now His People, His body that are continuing His mission to go and make disciples.

Peter would later write after this about the church, the people of God, 1 Peter 2:4-6

1 Peter 2:4–6 (CSB)

As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.

Paul said in Eph. 2:20

Ephesians 2:20 NLT

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Jesus is the cornerstone, or the foundation, and all of us who come to faith in Him are like stones, like Peter who is also a stone built into the house of God. The church is not the building by the people of God who have been made into the light of the World, like a city on a Hill that shines and reflects the light of Christ and proclaims the message of the good news to all.

The Church is made up of broken people who have been rescued but are still growing. We are not perfect, but we look to the one who is to grow us like Him.

So why do we go to church? Or maybe better why do we go to a church service or gathering.

Well since those who have be saved are what make up the church, there are many of us, and just like a body, we all make up different parts.

Paul writes to the Corinthians talking of the church and using a body as the analogy of the church To say…

We need each other.

If we are going to be the body of Christ, we have got to be in unity with one another, moving in the same direction, and building one another up. Helping one another grow in their walk with Jesus.

Paul says it like this

Ephesians 4:11–16 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Acts says something similar when the church begins to really grow.

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

The met together to here from the leaders who were explaining scriptures and the teachings of Jesus, they fellowshipped enjoyed being together, serving one another, encouraging one another, meet needs, the enjoy meals together and remember what God has done, and depended on the Lord in prayer together.

The people were the Church and they came together to learn more of Christ, and to help and encourage one another to grow more like Christ.

So why do we go to church?

WE Go to Church Service because...

We learn more about Jesus and how to live like Him. We need each other. We are family. We encourage and serve one another.

They were family.

I love this story and its the reason I have you in the gym tonight. in 1996-97 the building here burned and everything but the gym was destroyed and for two years as the building was being rebuilt the church, the people gathered in here, in the gym.

You if you have a relationship with Christ, You are a part of the body of Christ, you are a part of the Church and you have the amazing opportunity to reflect and be a witness for Jesus and gather with the other parts of the church to be equipped, to grow, to enjoy being together, and depend on God together.

IF you are here and you are not a part of the body of Christ you don’t have a relationship with Him. You can be a part of His family today, but believing in Jesus that He is your Savior that died and rose for you and its as simple as confessing with your Mouth and believing with your heart.