God's Holy Temple

Bottom line

Cleanse yourself of everything that doesn’t belong, and grow in the things that do.

Opening Line

Have you ever walked into a church and found something that didn’t belong?

Introduction

I’m not talking about a person who you didn’t think belonged because everyone belongs at church. I’m not talking about the wild and crazy things pastor use for sermon illustrations, because I’ve seen some crazy stuff.

I’m talking about something you saw and it didn’t sit right with your person. Something that felt like a blatant crossing of the line of appropriateness.

I think I’m far enough removed from this story at this point that I can publicly say it. This won’t be a new story for some of you. When Michelle and I arrived at Medicine Hat, we were serving as the youth pastors. The first six months are essentially spent trying to figure out what you have to work with to get the ministry going. Well in our exploring, we discovered a demonic clown mask. Now I could stop right there, but there is more to the story. Like you, I wondered why a church would possess such a thing. A couple years passed, and I never thought of it again. Then one day one of my new leaders was rummaging through the youth room kitchen and stumbled upon the mask. In horror, she picked it up, looked at us and asked why we still had it. Oh good, someone who can shine light on the situation.

She informed us that the church used to put on a haunted house in the basement. See, I told you, things that don’t belong. The church basement had no windows, so when the lights were off, the only light left was the red exit lights. One year, the youth team covered the stairs so that the teens slid into the basement, and all they could see was a long corridor, with a desk at the end. At the desk was what looked like a manequin wearing this mask. What the participants didn’t know was that it wasn’t a manequin. Some trauma had been created when the individual would suddenly stand up and lunge at the group.

Things that don’t belong at a church. Here’s another question. Have you ever seen a pastor doing something that you didn’t think a pastor should be doing? When I graduated from Bible College, I was hanging out with an old roommate the weekend of grad. We had just finished having supper and were driving home. On the way, we had to pass the liquor store. As we were driving by, my roommate started pointing at the parking lot. We looked, and there was the minister from one of the local churches, walking out with a case of beer in each hand and one under each arm. Needless to say, this didn’t sit well with me.

Main Point

Now here is why I bring this up. It can be easy to hold a building like the church, or a person, like the pastor, to a higher standard then you are willing to hold yourself to. Yet, you are all equal parts of the body of Christ and should be, in most situations, held to the same standard.

Why it matters

I want to lay this out because I believe it is easy to take a chapter like 2 Corinthians 6 and assume that everything Paul is talking about those in leadership, or just himself, when he starts talking about holiness. But I want to remind you, church, that when you are reading scripture, most of the time when the author writes, “we,” it includes me.

I want you to store that in the back of your mind as we go through the chapter this morning. What some things you would consider inappropriate for the pastor or the church to participate in? Do you engage in such things?

Scripture

We are in 2 Corinthians 6 and we will be starting in v.3. You can follow along in your Bible, on the app, or on the screen.

2 Corinthians 6:3–10 NLT

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

blank

There’s a lot going on in these verses, so let’s unpack each thing slowly. Paul starts by saying that we live in such a way that no one will stumble, no one will find fault in our ministry, and we do everything to show that we are true ministers. Before you tune out because you don’t conisder yourself in ministry, I want to remind you of 2 other verses.

Ephesians 4:11–12 NLT

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Equip God’s people to do his work. Other translations read, “to do the work of ministry.” It is my job to equip you to do ministry.

The other passage is 1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:5 NLT

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

I want you to remember that first part because we are going to touch on it later. You are living stones in God’s holy temple.

1 Peter 2:9 NLT

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

blank

Are you God’s ministers? Yes, yes you are, and thus everything Paul writes in this chapter applies to you just as much as it applies to anyone who is paid to serve in this capacity. It also means that any standard you may want to hold me to, you better be willing to hold to yourself.

So since we are all in this together, what does Paul say? That you should live in such a way that no one will stumble because of you, and no one will find fault in your ministry. In everything you do, show yourself a ministry of God. Patiently endure anything life tries to throw at you.

Prove yourself as a follower, as a minister of God by what? By your purity. Is there anything in life that may undermine the purity you have in Christ? By your understanding. Do you try to listen to the perspectives of others and try to understand where they are coming from, or do you just force your own agenda? By your patience. Are you easily angered, or do you have the patience of God to let things play out? By your kindness. Are you kind to others, or are you known for other traits? I believe that the church is going to make the biggest impact in the world simply by being kind to others, especially in a day where kindness seems to be at a premium. By your sincere love. Jesus said that the world would know you are his disciples by the way you love one another. Are you known for being loving?

You speak the truth, not half truths and full lies. You serve God whether people honor you for it or despise you for it? We’ve talked about this, making sure those around you know you believe Jesus is the only way to heaven, regardless of how it is received by them.

Many of these qualities overlap with what Paul calls the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

blank

I want to share with you and interesting point I recently heard. In 1 Corinthians 12, we talked about the gifts of the Spirit, and the emphasis was that a gift is given not earned. I honestly believe that. But fruit on the other hand, fruit has to be developed. You have to prune a fruit tree to get more fruit. It requires a level of intentionality. So as you look at the list of qualities that Paul gives in v. 4-8, remember that those things don’t just happen. You have to intentionally grow in each of those qualities. Praise God you don’t have to do it on your own. Twice in this passage, Paul writes that it is the Holy Spirit, the power of God in us that helps us. You have everything you need to grow in these ways if you are willing to put in the work to see it happen.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 NLT

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

blank

What did 1 Peter say earlier? You are living stones in God’s temples. So not only are you individually temples of the Holy Spirit lving within you, but you are also collectively the temple of the living God.

As such, Paul warns you about entering into partnerships with unbelievers. To the unmarried crowd in the church, I want to say this. Your spouse, whoever he or she may be, is a gift from God. You don’t have to rush the process, you don’t have to flirt to convert. If you want to enter into marriage with confidence, draw close to God, let Him do a good work in you, and allow him to bring the right person at just the right time.

How close are you supposed to be to Jesus?

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

blank

Yoked together, side by side, keeping step with one another. What happens when you yoke yourself to Jesus? You begin to see and meet other people who have done the same.

But it isn’t just marriage or dating. Paul is saying that you shouldn’t enter into partnerships of any kind with unbelievers. Why? Because you can’t agree on the most important thing in life, how are you going to agree on the other things? How can you put God first in you business if you partner doesn’t even believe in God?

This passage that Paul is quoting isn’t just a suggestion. I believe that this quote from Isaiah is a command from God. Come out from among the believers, separate yourself from them, don’t touch their filfthy things, and then you will experience what it means to be sons and daughters of God. So Jesus saying that we need to cau ourselves off from the unbelievers in our life? No, because then you wouldn’t be able to make disciples like you should. You can’t invite someone to church if you don’t talk to them. What Isaiah is saying, and what Paul is trying to encourage, is that we should find ourselves in the company of believers more often than we are with unbelievers. We talked about it a couple weeks ago, that if you are around people who don’t share your faith, make sure you are having more of an impact on them then they are on you. Separate yourself from the unbelievers, don’t touch their filthy things, and experience what it means that God is your father, and you are sons and daughters of the most high.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

blank

What promises is Paul referring to? The promise that if you will grow in the qualities of purity, kindness, love, and honesty; if you separate yourself from the things that defile both body and spirit, that you will experience the blessing of being a son and daughter of God. Holiness is simply being set apart for a greater purpose. Set yourself apart for the great purpose and task Jesus has saved you for. Like we talked about last, let the fear of the Lord motivate you as you work towards these things.

Transition to Application

The question is how? How do we effectively grow in these qualities? How do we grow in holiness and separate ourselves from unbelievers?

Main To Do

Make church the priority. What better way to grow in purity and kindness then to be around other people who are also trying to grow in these areas? What better way to avoid entering into partnerships with unbelievers then to be around believers who you could enter into partnerships with? What better way to experience the power the Holy Spirit in your life to help you grow then to be around other people filled with the Holy Spirit?

Why it matters

Here’s another way to look at it. If you’re not willing to make church the priority, why would any of the people in your life want to make a change? What does it say your friends and family when you leave church early or miss church all together in order to do something else? I’ll tell you what it says. It tells people that church isn’t all that important, and it can be missed if something more important comes along. What could possibly be more important than gethering with the family of God to hear the word preached and worship his holy name?!?!

We, as the leadership of OneChurch, believe so adamantly that church should be the priority in your life that we are going to make a big shift in the new year. The plan is move almost everything we do as a church to Sunday. Small groups will continue to meet when they meet, but any family events we put on will be kept to Sunday. We recognize that life is busy and it hard to commit to multiple different days, so we just ask for one day a week. The rest of the time, be with family, have suppers with people from the church, make those meaningful connection, but plan to be with us on Sundays.

Closing Line

If the goal is growth and holiness, then let’s make church a priority so we can make it happen.

Communion

This morning we are going to share communion before we dive into potluck. Today is the first Sunday of advent, and the theme of today is hope. The hope that each of us have is that Jesus is coming back soon. The hope that we have is the hope of new bodies and a new heaven and earth.

But our hope isn’t just in the things to come. Our hope is also in this life, that we will experience freedom from sin and corruption today. That if we work on our holiness, we will experience the closeness and blessing of being a son and daughter of God. That is a hope worth sharing with the world.

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

How can you better reflect the qualities of purity, kindness, and love in your daily interactions?

What are some specific actions you can take to cleanse yourself of things that don’t belong in your life?

In what ways do you think making church a priority could impact your relationship with God?

How does the promise of being a child of God motivate you to pursue holiness?

How can you practically show kindness to others in your school or community?

How do you plan to engage with your friends about the importance of faith and church in your life?