The Church that Christ Built
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Matthew 16:13-
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Anecdote on Church
What is the true church that Jesus built?
Is it just a gathering of people?
Ekklesia - Image here
Assembly, Congregation?
People focus on this definition of the church, the local body of believers..
Image here of the interpretation of Church - global Universal
The Church is the Universal or Global Body of Christ.
1. The true church that Jesus built is the One built on Himself.
“City of Pagans”
Dwelling of the Greek fertility God Pan.
“The Gates of Hell”
To the Pagan mind - gate to the underworld
Dwelling of fertility Gods who lived during the winter
Spring Water
Fertility Gods lived in the underworld in the winter and returned to earth each spring.
To the pagan mind, then, the cave and spring water at Caesarea Philippi created a gate to the underworld. They believed that their city was literally at the gates of the underworld, the gates of hell. In order to entice the return of their god, Pan, each year, the people of Caesarea Philippi engaged in horrible deeds, including prostitution and sexual interaction between humans and animals.
When Jesus brought his disciples to the area, they must have been shocked. Caesarea Philippi was like a red-light district in their world and devout Jews would have avoided any contact with the despicable acts committed there.
It was a city of people eagerly knocking on the doors of hell.
Jesus chose to give His graduation speech to His disciples in this place.
Jesus used the most evil of venues to inaugurate the church and its mission.
Jesus reinforced Who He is in the Face of idols of the World.
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
answers..
“But who do you say I am?”
As Christians, do we rely on what history says about Jesus?
What is your experience with Christ, is it third hand? (My church is great..)
Is it Second hand? (I see Jesus in my pastor?)
Or is it first hand? (I have a personal encounter with Jesus, he changed me and therefore I will obey Him. I will fulfill the great Commission as an evangelist where I am and as a missionary to the unreached places of the world.
If I have Jesus, I will heed His call for unity in .
Peter’s reply:
Jesus’ reply.
Meaning of rock.
The rock of truth that came from Peter.
The rock of truth that came from Peter.
Jesus is the rock.
Symbolic meaning - Rock of Caesarea Philippi - church will be built on top of pagan rule.
Disciples must have been stunned by Jesus’ challenge.
2. The true church that Jesus built conquers enemy territory.
“gates”
What do we think of the gates of hell? How do we interpret Jesus words?
Put on the full armor of God. Let us ward off the gates of hell, let us stay on the defensive!
Image of gates attacking here.
That is not the right image. Why? Gates don’t attack!
The church of Jesus should be on the offensive.
The church should be marching on. Entering enemy territory and destroying and storming the fortress of hell.
“where satan’s throne is. Pergamum or Pergamos”
This is why Crosswind has embraced a new vision of missions.
We will not go where there are already many established churches. Yes, if we happen to be somewhere we evangelize.
Mission - Is not only going to the unreached places. It is storming the gates of Hell.
The word in the Bible for this is...
Marturia (Here)
Our witness.
We have stayed in our comfort zones.
Distractions, if there is too much drama within
The church is the church:
Jesus built.
That storms the gates of hell.
This is the problem:
Churches around the world have subscribed to the functional church model.
Image of the functional church here.
It became about strengthening or complementing each area.
Oh we are weak here but we are strong in this area..
Comparisons: I like the church but it is weak in its preaching. But it is strong in its worship.. so if I feel
I don’t believe this is Jesus’ model for the church.. you know why?
If a church is strong in all areas but weak in one it fails on its mission! (Image here)
If a church is only strong in its koinonia or fellowship - then it is just a club!
If a church is only strong in its service then it is no different from a charity or a community service.
If a church is only strong in the teaching of the word but weak in its witness then it is a theological school.
The true model of the church is this.
Image of the real model of the triumphant church here.
Without Jesus Christ the church ceases to be the church.
Without Worship and the Word starve.
Without the Witness - Going to the ends of the earth, the church is MIA.
Service becomes natural - testimonies of those who come back from FO.
Fellowship will flow out of the love of God in our hearts.
What kind of church do you envision?
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.