I LOVE MY CHURCH! (2)

The term “church” has come under assault in the last couple of years. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc around the world in a variety of increasingly-awful ways. However, it affected more than physical health: COVID impacted spiritual life in permanent ways.

Within weeks of “15 days to slow the spread,” the gospel of “loving thy neighbor as thyself” began to be pontificated from sea to shining sea. Many churches closed their doors: some for as long as two years. Some discontinued meetings and went exclusively online.

And although this may have been prudent, sensible, and at other times excessive, the decision to meet online redefined a New Testament term— a word particularly used by Jesus. It is the word ekklesia. It means a “called-out assembly.”

This term matters. It matters because doctrine matters. It matters because the church matters.

THE TERM “CHURCH” MATTERS BECAUSE

being called out matters

being called together matters

encouraging one another with our gathering matters (Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”)

Jesus loved the church. Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. I Timothy 3:15: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

if you give up the term, you lose the game.

justice

equity

church

ILLUSTRATION: tell the story of Peter’s release from prison in Acts 12

Acts 12 KJV 1900

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Herod kills James the brother of John

Arrests Peter to appease the Jews

Peter is delivered from prison

Peter goes to the house church and identifies himself

The Church rejoices at his escape

The Church was Gathering (12:12)

Acts 12:12: “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”

This was a famous house and a well-known family. Mary was John Mark’s mother. It is believed that she lived close to the Garden of Gethsemane. This house is featured in Mark’s gospel record. Mark 14:51: “And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:”

It is also believed that Jesus had a home in the Garden of Gethsemane that He often resorted to for prayer. Not to say that this was THAT place but it was nearby.

In this place, the church was gathered together. In a season of persecution, the church was meeting together. In a time when the gathering may have been considered the most dangerous, the church was gathering together. In good times and bad, the church gathered. When despots were on the throne, the church gathered. When Christians ruled, the church gathered. During times of war, the church gathered. In times of pandemic, the church gathered.

By virtue of its own definition, the church gathers. If it does not gather, it is not a church.

I Peter 5:13: “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.”

Romans 16:1: “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”

Acts 13:1: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

I Corinthians 1:2: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

If it doesn’t gather, it’s not a church. If you don’t gather, you’re not Part of the church. That’s really was membership is— gathering, worshipping, giving, participating...

The Church was Praying (12:12)

The gathering was also purposeful. When they gathered together, their design was to pray.

Acts 2:42–44

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

At other times, the gathering is for teaching. At others, the church gathers for food and fellowship. On this occasion, they prayed.

This is not to say that they cannot do all of these simultaneously, but the express purpose of this gathering was to pray!

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH:

Acts 1:24: “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,”

Acts 4:31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 6:6: “Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

Acts 13:3: “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

The Church was Rejoicing (12:13-17)

If you gather enough and pray enough, you will eventually see something miraculous take place. A church is a place for miracles!

Rhoda, Rose, came to the gates and heard Peter’s voice, and upon hearing Peter’s voice, she believed! However, the church believed when they saw his face. And when they saw him, they were stirred up by what God had done.

Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Jesus makes the difference! When people gather in His name, the “impossible” takes place. He saves souls. He changes lives. He conforms minds. He affects eternity. The church, then, becomes a place of healing, hope, and salvation.

I Love my church!