Thirty Minute Theology: What is the Church?

What is the church and what is our role in it?

Church

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word church?

Friends

Family

The people in the building

The people then the building

Getting closer to God

Pews and steeples

Fellowship in God’s house

Place I don’t go… place I go to sleep… place I meet my friends… Place I get recharged… place I connect with God… place I was rejected…

I don’t know what you would say, but normally we think of a building, or an event when we think of a church.

But it hasn’t always been that way. In fact originally, the church wasn’t at all about a building.

The word in the NT that is translated as church in Greek is Ekklesia

Ekklesia – gathering of people for a purpose secular or religious

The first time the word appears is in our text today

Matthew 16:18 NIV

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

This passage has been the source of much conflict between the catholic and protestant churches; but both agree that in this case, Jesus was referring to building an ekklesia… a gathering of people for a purpose. Originally it didn’t have to be a religious thing… it could be any gathering of people to get something done… but soon it became clear that the true ekklesia was for Jesus.

Any one here know when the church began? Resurrection

This same word EKKLESSIA is used in Acts to describe how the church began.

Acts 2:41–47 NIV

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

because of Jesus, for Jesus.

People gathered together… for a purpose-ministry, learning, fellowship, worship, disciple making, serving. The church you see began as a movement, not a place… a force, not just a group.

Then around the year 300, when Constantine made the church legal, something tragic happened.

The telephone game… how words can change and that effects meaning of the message. One word was changed and history was changed.

Kirche – Kyrakios - the Lord’s - Lords house – gathering place

Instead of gathering… ekklesia was translated kirche.... gathering place...church. Ekklesia was replaced with Kyrakios.

See what happened, it went from gathering to a gathering place. And just like we were set on a course to have my church… my denomination…

It stayed this way until William Tyndale, one of the reformers from the 16th century decided to compile a bible that people could read and share, and he reinterpreted the word kirche… church back to congregation.

He brought the true interpretation back to the word, but sadly it was too late for many of us, many of us have been ruined with the word kirche… thinking that the church is a building… a place.

Andy Stanley wrote a book years ago titled Deep and Wide and discussed this idea. In it he concluded a section with some questions I think would be good for the church today to consider:

Are we moving or simply meeting?

Are we making a measurable difference in our local community or simply serving ourselves?

Are we organized around a current mission or an antiquated ministry model?

Are we ecclesia or kirche?

Place - People - Movement

As a pastor I meet a bunch of people who love God… in fact when most people meet me and the conversation turns to church…

Don’t need the church. I can believe in God even though I don’t go to church.

They are right… I guess, but I don’t know how you can love God and not love his people… but I don’t want to make it too simple.

Because people who don’t come to church understand that church is about people… they’ve been hurt and it wasn’t by the building. They’ve been let down, and it wasn’t by a building. They are waiting for an invitation, and it’s not coming from a building.

So church is a people… not a place. Do you see that? But Church is a people with a purpose a movement

Now, how do you fit?

Member or Partner

Membership = the state of being a member, as of a society or club, the STATUS of a member.

Partnership = the state or condition of being a partner; participation; association; JOINT interest.

Membership is something you earn, buy, or are given… partnership is something you live into, it’s ongoing.

Partnership allows you to belong to something larger than YOURSELF!

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ... Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many... As it is, there are many parts, but one body... If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12

Thinking of my role in the church as a partner rather than a member means that i have a responsibility to the whole and to God, but not like I have to take out the trash and check the box and wait for my allowance… but this thing God is doing is big… it’s the best thing to be a part of. No, I AM a part of something big. I don’t have anything to prove… but I do have stuff to do. There are things that wont be done unless I do them.

One of my favorite images is of my daughter in our back yard with her wheel barrow. Her favorite job was scooping poop. I don’t know why, but she loved it. Granted this didn’t last long, but while it did, it was one of the greatest moments in my life as a pastor and father. My daughter, loved doing her part,, a part that many wouldn’t do… in it she found joy.

And when the church, the partners, are focused on Jesus, something special happens... it becomes a powerful force for good in people’s lives and in the world.

Why is that?

First, healthy relationships make a difference.

HEALTHY relationships make a difference.

WE were created for relationships. We see it in Genesis that we need companions. Solomon write it this way:

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NIV

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Help - Encouragement - friendship -

One of the most powerful apologetics for  the truth of who Christ claimed to be is the degree to which Christians demonstrate strong, healthy and loving relationships.  Christ prayed, “May they be one as we are one, to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:23).”   Based on the clear teaching of Scripture, the ultimate evidence that demands a verdict is our ability to love others as Christ loves us.  According to John 13:34-35, this is how they know that we’re one of His disciples.

We believe that to “lift Christ up” (John 12:32) is to live and love like He lived and loved. When people see the practical day-in and day-out difference that Christ can make in our marriages, families and friendships, they are much more likely to want to know the one who transformed our lives.

Many people today are desperate for healthy relationships. Will they find them in the church? God’s desire is that they will. Its our responsibility to be the healthy place people seek…

Second, when we partner with God in the church we discover the purpose for our gifts

We are GIFTED for a purpose.

Each one of us is gifted with a unique SHAPE, spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, experiences. Those things aren’t who we are, but they are gifts in our lives that give us a platform for ministry.

Do you know your spiritual gifts? How many of you know something you care deeply about? How many of you know something you are good at? How many remember transformative experiences in your past? Thats what your SHAPE is all about… we have a small group called FOLLOWERS MADE that can help you find yours if you don’t know.

Paul reminded Timothy and us...

1 Timothy 4:14 NIV

14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

We all like to receive gifts right? It’s one of my love languages. When michelle thinks of me and brings me somethign I’d really like, it’s special.

God gifves us gifts, but Your gifted ness isn’t for you. God gives us gifts so that we can bless others through the church.

Paul told the church in Rome this way:

Romans 12:4–5 NIV

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

You see your gifts are for others to enjoy.

The church should be less like a CRUISE ship and more like a BATTLESHIP.

On a cruise ship everyone is in deck chairs enjoying the sun, the view, the food. Waiting for someone to bring them another drink or something. But a battleship, there isn’t time for enjoying the scenery… their purpose is more important...Everyone has a role to play…

Leadership role… prayer team…

when we partner with God in the church, we grow and we grow together.

We GROW - together.

Acts 2:42 NLT

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Hebrews 10:25 NIV

25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We GROW together.

As much as I want you to have that on Sunday morning gathering… it doesn't’ happen here… look how you are seated. Does this help you to connect? no… connections need to happen, but they won’t happen here, so

Are you a part of a small group?

But...

There are many reasons for not joining...

At least I attend...

When we attend without committing we do a disservice to what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in us.

This brings me to those of you who

Haven’t yet made the commitment to belong to the body

Lack of commitment… sin

Are you committed to the mission?

The church is a movement… making disciples… transforming the world…