16. The Temple: God’s Kingdom On Earth

Prayer for Mother’s Day

Introduction

Why do we need to go to church?

“The idea of God’s Kingdom is now relegated to the realm of heaven, the afterlife, and we just assume that we won’t get to see God and his beautiful redemptive plan until we pass over. The church therefore becomes something we may not need anymore, something that at best is worth only our recreational enjoyment.” ~ Hugh Halter & Matt Smay, The Tangible Kingdom

According to a Gallup poll released in March, only 21% of Americans attend religious services weekly (that includes not just Christians but Mormons, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and other religions, too).

So, what is church and why does it matter? In an era when the vast majority of Christians don’t attend church services regularly, it’s legitimate to ask: Do I need to go to church? Do I need to attend a Gospel Community? Do I need to go to a Session or Bible study? Do my kids need to be in youth group?

A major milestone: the temple (https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/temple//).

The temple is the place where Heaven and Earth overlap.

The temple is the physical representation of God’s Kingdom on Earth.

The temple is the place where God’s presence is manifested and God’s Word is decreed.

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. And now, there is no temple… Or is there?

Look at 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. We (collectively) are the temple now. Each one of us is a brick (see 1 Peter 2:5).

Let’s turn to Acts 2:42-47 to see four reasons why we still need to gather as God’s people.

Body

We need to gather because our gatherings embody God’s Kingdom. Coming together makes the Kingdom of Heaven real to us.

Exposition (Acts 2:46): Gathering brings the Kingdom of God out of the theology textbook and into our real lives, around a table, with a sandwich, and a pasta salad.

Do you ever notice how often Jesus’s eating habits are mentioned in the Gospels?

Jesus’s first miracle was at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11).

Jesus eats with his disciples (John 12:1-2).

Jesus eats with the “wrong” sort of people (Matt 9:10-11).

Jesus eats with the Pharisees, too (Luke 7:36).

Jesus was constantly criticized for his eating habits (Matt 11:19).

Eating together isn’t a symbol of the Kingdom—it is the Kingdom.

Illustration: Watch this story of the Kingdom embodied (play video).

Application: This is why we have monthly meals together, called “Communities.”

We need to gather because our gatherings manifest God’s presence. Coming together makes the experience of God real to us.

Exposition: To manifest something means to make it known (Acts 2:43).

Illustration: Comment from last week’s service…

Application: This is why we come together every week: to gather in God’s presence to praise him, offer ourselves to him, and hear him speak.

We need to gather because our gatherings lead to God’s joy. Coming together makes the joy of the Lord real to us.

Exposition (Acts 2:46-47).

What is joy? It’s not just feeling happy.

Joy is a “glad-to-be-together” state amplified between two minds that are glad to be together in that moment. ~ Dr. Jim Wilder

Joy is and comes from being together. Mae Cat…

Why does joy matter?

jJoy stimulates the growth of the brain systems involved in character formation, identity, and moral behavior. If your brain is the engine, joy is the gas…

Joy—not knowledge—is the best measure of the capacity to sustain positive change.

Application: We don’t gather just for the content but for the community. If all you’re looking for is good teaching, you don’t need to go to any church for that… Following Jesus together—that’s the point.

We need to gather because our gatherings bring the dead into God’s life. Coming together makes eternal life real to us.

Exposition (Acts 2:47b)

People weren’t getting saved because of the church’s marketing, programming, resources, or services.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good,” Psalm 34 says. How do people do that? Christ in us.

Application

It’s not our greatness but his. It’s not our goodness but his. It’s not what we can accomplish but what he has finished.

It’s only ever always all about Jesus. And when we become a people who together are only ever always all about Jesus, his life comes to life in us, and through us he brings people to life in him.

Conclusion

Jerusalem’s temple was destroyed. But together in Christ, we are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives in our midst. His Kingdom is embodied, his presence is experienced, his joy is overflowing, and his life is our life forever.

The Lord’s Prayer