On the Way to the Church

Acts 3:1–9 KJV 1900

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Title: On the Way to Church

When you say the word church, it means different things to each person.

Some think of their grandmother or grandmother who was faithful for many years to a church service.

Other of pipe organs and stained-glass.

Rushing around on a Sunday morning trying to get everyone out the door and to Sunday School on time.

The idea of going to church is a very old one. When you study church, the basic concepts have not changed for hundreds of years.

When you study church, the basic concepts have not changed for hundreds of years.

Let’s gather together on a specific day and time and worship

together.

Yet the idea has failed us for the first time!

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Peter and John was going about their buisness in our text.

It was the Sabbath. They were on the way to the temple.

And on their way to the temple they met a crippled man…

And the God given intent of what the church was supposed to be comes to life!

On their way to the House of God, they had church!

Jesus would deal with this idea of simply going to church on several occations...

It is clear in the gospels that he though that the House of God should be something more that a weekly habit!

He had already introduced something he would call the church to the disciples.

mat16.

Matthew 16:17–18 KJV 1900

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This concept of church was something new… fresh and challenging.

When we study the early church, not just who they were but what they were, we find something completely different than our definitions today.

The simplest way to understand it would be like this: church was not a place you went but a life you lived!

It could not be defined by location

It could not be governed my man’s philosophy

It could not be contained by law

You study church or ekklesia in the NT and it was something that had a life of it’s own and could not be stopped by

Persecution

Governments

Organized religeon

Personal agendas

It was as though it had a life of its own!

Church was something that was done, lived, experienced - verb

Not a place you went a couple times a week - noun

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Now all these years later

Church has become what the temple was in Jesus’ day!

A place to go...

But over the past week there is a shift taking place!

The church is not just something to do or a place to go

But a life to live.

I come today with a challenge to us all - time to be the church!

For generations now, church has been done for us.

We just show up on Sunday and someone sings and one of the pastors preach...

Thoughts of God are reserved for Sunday.

Now for the first time, we are realizing that the church is not a building but rather we are the church!

Here’s the church and here’s the steeple, open the door and see all the people...

Here’s the church and here’s the steeple, open the door where is all the people?

The people are in their living rooms with a bible across their knees, tears in their eyes because the House of God is being established in our homes!

Peter and John were on their way to church when church happened!

They were going about their business, routines AND CHURCH HAPPENED!

In this unprecedented time, realize that you are the church! I am the church!

I pray soon that we are able to physically gather together...

But until then know that the church is not just surviving but coming into its own!

Japanese Admiral Yamamoto is said to have mused after the bombing of Pearl Harbor; “I fear that we have awoke a sleeping giant”.

Covid-19 has awoke a slumbering giant called the church!

Covid-19 has awoke a slumbering giant called the church!

Today all across America, families are realizing that church can happen in our living rooms and basements!

Church can happen on way to the church building!

The House of God is being established in our Homes!

Conclusion:

Taylor meme

2/3’s of the NT was written by the Apostle Paul.

Much of what he wrote was written from prison...

So while quarantined by cell walls, he would write words that we would live by 2000 years later!

Why?

Nothing can stop the church!

Not quarantine. Prison. Sickness.

The gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

Here is what we do as the church:

Pray

Fast

Study

Reach out to those around us