God's Big Idea for His Church
God’s Big “Idea” for His Church
Introduction
A. One of the saddest things that can happen in a church is when people begin to fight against each other instead of working together. Sadly, history is full of sad stories of Christians fighting with each other. Let me share with you one of those stories.
Tradition claims that Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built over the cave where Christ was buried. In July 2002 the church became the scene of ugly fighting between the monks who run it. It turns out that Ethiopian and Coptic monks have been arguing over the rooftop of the church for centuries. In 1752 the Ottoman Sultan issued an edict declaring which parts of the church belong to each of six different Christian groups.
The rooftop had been controlled by the Ethiopians, but they lost control to the Coptic monks when they were hit by a disease epidemic in the 1800’s. Then in the 1970’s the Ethiopians regained control when the Coptic monks were absent for a short period. The Ethiopians have been squatting there ever since with at least one monk always remaining on the roof to assert their rights. But in response to this, a Coptic monk has also been living on the roof to maintain the Coptic claim to the church’s roof.
Thus, in July 2002, when the Coptic monk on the roof moved his chair into the shade where the Ethiopian monk was sitting, harsh words led to pushing and shoving and then to an all-out brawl. 11 monks were injured, including one who was taken to the hospital unconscious. Amazingly, all this took place in a church that is supposedly built on the same location of Jesus’ tomb.
B. I think this breaks the heart of God…We hear a lot of the “Big Idea” these days. This morning we want talk about God’s BIG IDEA for his church. In the book of Ephesians, more than any other of his letters, Paul calls the church to be unified. He mentions unity 18 times in Ephesians. Paul and Jesus agree on this: unity in the church is not just a good thing; it’s essential. That, I submit is God’s big idea for his church!
Just before Jesus went to the cross Jesus prayed for the church tha he knew would be establ;isehd after his resurrection. He didn’t pray for large buildings, He didn’t pray for ministry programs or admistrative finesse or creative worship. He prayed for unity!.
C. If we are going to be the kind of people God intends, then we need to take this to heart. I want to explore Epehsians 4:1-6 for God’s BIG IDEA FOR HIS CHURCH. <Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)>
I. <What is God’s big idea for his church?>
A. Christ-followers are to live a life worthy of their calling <v. 1 (NIV>.
1. Our conduct should bring honor to God in everything we do.
2. Why this is so important.
· Because the greatest cause of unbelief is not the doctrine of evolution, post-modernism, nor secularism – the great cause of unbelief is a poor testimony by professed followers of Christ.
· Far too often Christ-followers preach love but in reality practice hate…proclaim unity but divide over the most trivial issues…as the world looks on!
· Onlookers are first amazed at what we believe and then, secondly, they are scandalized by the way we act.
Bertrand Russell, the great atheist philosopher, once said that if Christians practiced what they believed they would change the world.
Ghandi said he would love to become a Christian. He was just waiting to meet someone who sincerely lived out what Jesus taught.
B. <What are the qualities that Christ-followers should display?> <v. 2 (NIV>.
1. <Be completely humble.>
· Means to have a balanced view of ourselves: not to high and not to low.
· Means to see our lives as a gift from God – the abilities that we have are seen as having been given to us by God.
Former American TV news commentator Walter Cronkite tells a story about when he was sailing down the Mystic River in Connecticut, going through shallow water, when a boat filled with young people sped past him. The young people were shouting and waving their arms. Cronkite waved back a cheery greeting. His wife asked him, “Do you know what they were shouting?¨ He replied, “Why it was hello Walter.¨ “No,¨ she said. “They were shouting, “Low water. Low water.¨
2. <Be gentle.>
· Also translated as meekess. Meekness means strength under control.
· The same word was used todescribe wild horses that were broken and trained.
· This is the quality of a strong personality who is nevertheless master of himself and the servant of others.
3. <Be patient.>
· Means to have a long fuse with other people – even when they mess up.
Two men were riding a tandem bicycle when they came to a very steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to finally get to the top. When they got there the man in the front turned to the guy in the back and said, “Man, that sure was a hard climb¨ The fellow in the back replied, ‘‘Yes, and if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way up I’m sure we would’ve rolled back down the hill.¨
4. <Bear with one another in love.>
· Literally means to suffer with one another.
The story is told of a little boy sitting on his front steps with his face cradled in his hands, looking upset. His dad had just come home from work and he asked the boy what was wrong. The boy looked up and said, “Well, just between us, dad, I’m having trouble getting along with your wife.¨
· At times life will be tough but by God’s grace we’re to stick together through thick and thin.
· “In love” – not with sarcassion, not begrudgingly.
<“…forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:13-14 (NIV)>
C. Love is the bedrock – the foundation of all we do as Christ-followers.
II. <God calls Christ-followers to apply his big idea in the church.>
A. God calls believers to unity in the church <v. 3 (NIV)>.
1. We are to make every effort.
· This is a strong term
One commentator writes, “It is hardly possible to render exactly the urgency contained in the underlying Greek verb. Not only haste and passion, but a full effort of the whole man is meant, involving his will, sentiment, reason, physical strength, and total attitude.¨
· In other words, we’re to apply a full-court press to the business of keeping the unity of the Spirit.
Referring to the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately.¨ There’s a similar sense of urgency in verse 3. For the church to be all it can be and for each of us to become all that God intends, we need to hang together.
B. <What are the essential ingredients of Christian unity?> <vv. 4-6 (NIV)>
1. <One body.>
· The church is not one organization, but it is one body.
E.g. The human body is made up of thousands of cells. Each of which shares the original life. So it is in the body of Christ…
· We should be careful not to get hung up on secondary issues that divide!
A man was out on walk when he saw another man about to throw himself from a bridge into the river. He ran over to save him. “Why do you want to kill yourself?¨ the man asked. “I’ve nothing to live for.¨
“Don’t you believe in God?¨ “Yes I do.¨
“What a coincidence-so do I! Are you a Jew or a Christian?¨ “A Christian.¨
“What a coincidence-so am I! Protestant or Catholic?¨ “Protestant.¨
“What a coincidence-so am I! Anglican or Baptist?¨ “Baptist.¨
“What a coincidence-so am I! Baptist Union Church or Independent Baptist?¨ “Baptist Union.¨
“What a coincidence-so am I! Premillenial or amillenial?¨ “Premillenial.¨
“What a coincidence-so am I! Pre-tribulation rapture or mid-tribulation rapture?¨ “Mid-tribulation rapture.¨
At this the first man pushed the suicidal man into the river shouting “Die heretic, die¨
E.g. I know churches that have divided over buttons vs. eye hooks on clothing…
2. <One spirit.>
· The HS dwells within every believer. So there’s an interconnectedness among us.
· It’s the HS that produces Christian unity. We don’t create it – it’s a gift from God.
· Our job is to preserve the unity which God gives us out of His grace.
3. <One hope.>
· Our one and only hope rests entirely in Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one come to the Father but by me.”
4. <One Lord.>
· We serve only one Lord Jesus Christ.
· The word here is KURIOS. Jesus is the one and only supreme ruler of the universe.
5. <One faith.>
· We have one common faith which rests squarely on JC.
· There is no middle ground. Either your faith is in JC or it is not. There are no kindas or sortas available.
Jesus said, “If you are not for me, then you’re against me.”
· Faith in JC unites people like nothing else.
A story is told of a Sunday service in an American Baptist Church back in the 1920’s. At the end of the message an invitation was given to come forward. From one side of the building a woman came forward to confess Christ. She was a domestic, uneducated, simple, nobody even knew here name. At the same time, from the other side of the church a man came forward. He was distinguished, tall, well-dressed, and everyone knew his name. He was Charles Evans Hughes, the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. And as these two very different people arrived in front, they each took one of the pastor’s hands. The pastor recognized the significance of that moment and he said, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.¨
6. <One baptism.>
· There is only one true ordinance of baptism – where a believer is baptized into the body of Christ after believing in Jesus for the forgivenerss of their sins.
7. <One God and Father.>
· There’s only one God and Father. Once we are accepted by Christ we become part of His forever family.
III. <Applying God’s big idea in our lives and church.>
A. It begins with our admitting that too often the church does not have the appreance of beoing “one body.”
E.g. When believers sit next to other believers in a prison cell bveing persecuted for their faith. I doubt they ask,
“Do you hold to the theology of Luther, of Calvin, or of Menno?”
“Do you think Christ’s return will be before or after the tribulation?”
“Have you been baptized by sprinkling, by pouring, or by immersion?”
More than likely they will eagerly unite in prayer for each other in a deep solidarity in the Lord – they will act like one body!
B. We all have a responsibility of maintaining the unity of the church, no matter who we are or the position we hold.
1. But unity does not require uniformity. (illus. of the 55+ group ordering at the Livery Barn restaurant…)
2. Unity does not mean ther can be no conflict.
C. <Things you can do to help maintain the unity of the church >(suggested by Dr. Arden Thiessen).
- <Worship together regularly.>
- <Share you offerings.>
- <Help others.>
- <Learn to speak of the church as our church and of the people as us.>
- <Pray for and with the church> (I added this one).
Conclusion
The University of Texas and Texas A&M are arch-rivals. Every year before their big football game, Texas A&M has a pep rally with a huge bonfire. Several years ago, the bon fire collapsed and killed a number of Texas A&M students. As a sign of their support and shared grief at the tragic loss of life, a number of University of Texas students attended the memorial service at Texas A&M. I want to share with you an article that was written by Eric Opiela, University of Texas Student Body Vice-President describing the memorial service.
“I had the great privilege of attending the memorial service at A&M tonight and was deeply moved by the events I experienced. The A&M student body is truly one of the greatest treasures of our State. As part of the UT delegation, we sat on the floor of Reed Arena, and immediately following the end of the service, I heard this rustling sound behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the sight of 20,000 students spontaneously putting their arms around their neighbor’s shoulders, forming a great circle around the arena.
The mass stood there in pin-drop silence for close to five minutes, then, from somewhere, someone began to quietly hum Amazing Grace. Within seconds, the whole arena was singing. I tried, too-I choked, I cried. This event brought me to tears. It was one of the defining moments of my college career.
I learned something tonight. For all us Longhorns who discount A&M in our never-ending rivalry, we need to realize one thing. Aggieland is a special place, with special people. (Why?) It is a family. It is a family that cares for its own, a family that reaches out, a family that is unified in the face of adversity.¨
A. What a picture of what the church should be: a community marked by unity. That’s God’s big picture for his church!
B. O that we would all live lives worthy of our calling; that we would be humble, gentle, and patient; and that we would keep the unity of the Spirit!