Being the Church
Understanding Our Mission • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsThe Lord established the church as an action-oriented, missional organism. It is not a building to gather in, but a people called out by God to be Christ's body in a lost world.
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Series: Understanding Our Mission
Being the Church
Matthew 16:13-20
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
INTRODUCTION:
When I say the word, “Church,” what comes to mind? For many people, church is a place (a building) you go to to worship God. If this is the first thing that comes to mind when the word church is mentioned, you are not alone. The source of this connotation is the Anglo-Saxon word, “Kiricka, ” and later the Old English cirice, circe "a place of assemblage set aside for Christian worship. It can also refer to those assembled to worship. The term literally means “the Lord’s house.” While this word is not unChristian, it does not reflect the true meaning of the word used by Jesus in our text.
If we are going to truly understand what Jesus is talking about in our text, we must jettison this concept of the church. I believe that the late preacher, Dr. Vance Havner, was clear in his admonition to the fellowship of believers that he served as pastor, when he said, “It is about time that we quit playing church in these services that start at eleven o’clock sharp and end at twelve o’clock dull.”
If we are to ever get a grip on understanding our mission as Christ-followers, we must understand what it means to “be the church.”
Let’s nail-down a couple of critical principles from our text.
I- THE CHURCH IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN (Matthew 16:13-17).
I- THE CHURCH IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN (Matthew 16:13-17).
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
A- The church is called-out through God’s activity.
A- The church is called-out through God’s activity.
1- God is the one who opens the heart and mind of people to the truth of the Gospel.
1- God is the one who opens the heart and mind of people to the truth of the Gospel.
(Matthew 16:17)
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
2- The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of the truth and draws them to salvation.
2- The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of the truth and draws them to salvation.
(John 16:5-11)
5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.
6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you.
7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.
10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
(John 6:44)
44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.
B- The church is built by God's own Son. (Matthew 16:18)
B- The church is built by God's own Son. (Matthew 16:18)
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
1- The church was not built by men, but by Jesus Christ.
1- The church was not built by men, but by Jesus Christ.
a. Jesus is God, the creator. (John 1:10-14)
b. Jesus said that He will build His church.
c. Jesus said that He would sustain His church.
II- THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN ACTIVE ORGANISM (Matthew 16:18-19).
II- THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN ACTIVE ORGANISM (Matthew 16:18-19).
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
A- The church is made up of people who have accepted the call of God to receive the Good News of Christ. (Matthew 16:13-16)
A- The church is made up of people who have accepted the call of God to receive the Good News of Christ. (Matthew 16:13-16)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
1- Each person must make a choice.
1- Each person must make a choice.
a. Will we get caught-up in what the world thinks about Jesus? (Matthew 16:13)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
b. Ultimately, we must answer for ourselves. (Matthew 16:15)
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
2- The choice you make needs to be made based upon the facts:
2- The choice you make needs to be made based upon the facts:
a. The eyewitness testimony of people who saw Jesus do :
(1) In the time prior to this confession by Peter, the disciples had seen Jesus:
· Heal a man with Leprosy (Matthew 8:1-4)
· Heal Peter’s Mother-in-law and other people in Peter’s hometown. (Matthew 8:14-17)
· Calm the storm on the Lake (Matthew 8:23-27)
· Heal two demon-possessed men. (Matthew 8:28-34; 12:22-37)
· Heal a paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1-13)
· Heal the blind (Matthew 9:27-38)
· Feed 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21)
· Walk on water (Matthew 14:22-34)
b. In addition to this you and I can add:
(1) Jesus was crucified and resurrected as He (Jesus) predicted. (Matthew 12:38-40; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:17-19)
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.
23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.
18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.
19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
(2) Both Jewish and Gentile historical records Christ’s death by crucifixion.
(3) Ancient historical records admit that His tomb was empty on the third day.
(4) The testimonies of so many whose lives have been changed by Christ.
· Especially skeptical people who have been converted.
· James, ½ brother of Jesus
· Saul of Tarsus
· Lee Strobel
· Josh McDowell
3- The choice must be made while the Spirit of God Calls.
3- The choice must be made while the Spirit of God Calls.
B- The church is made up of people with a missional purpose. (Matthew 16:17-20)
B- The church is made up of people with a missional purpose. (Matthew 16:17-20)
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
1- Live-out the foundational principles taught in scripture.
1- Live-out the foundational principles taught in scripture.
(Matthew 16:18)
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
(Ephesians 2:19-22)
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
2- Proclaim the Gospel that can loose men from their sin.
2- Proclaim the Gospel that can loose men from their sin.
(Matthew 16:19)
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
(Matthew 28:19-20)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Mark 16:15)
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
(Acts 1:8)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
C- The church is assured of Christ’s continued protection. (Matthew 16:18 b)
C- The church is assured of Christ’s continued protection. (Matthew 16:18 b)
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
1- The powers of Hell cannot prevail against God’s work through His people (the church).
1- The powers of Hell cannot prevail against God’s work through His people (the church).
2- Jesus has promised that He will never leave us as orphans
2- Jesus has promised that He will never leave us as orphans
(John 14:18)
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
(Hebrews 13:5)
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
CONCLUSION: