The Master's Plan Series

Series: Being the Body

THE MASTER’S PLAN FOR THE CHURCH

Matthew 16:18

As I look out the glass doors into the foyer I remember that last year as this time there was no foyer or new education building. In less than a year we watched as the foundation was laid out and poured. The metal for the frame and the roof was hauled in and then assembled; the upstairs floor was poured; the studs of the walls were place, the electrical wiring and a/c ducts were installed, the walls were sheet rocked.....

On October 17, the office building Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan was introduced as the world’s tallest building. It reaches some 1483 feet in the air. There are plans for even a taller building in Shanghai, China to be completed in 2007. Can you imagine the planning, designing, testing, materials and work that would go into such a building.

Yet, the greatest building project in the history of man is the building of the church. It began at Pentecost some 2000 years ago and continues until this day.

I. THE MASTER BUILDER OF THE CHURCH

A. Experience

- Carpenter

-knew how to take raw pieces of wood and assemble them

- Creator

-knew how to make something out of nothing

(John 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any

thing made that was made.

(Col 1:16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and

that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

B. Concern

Ps 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

II. THE MASTER PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A. Purpose of Christ

-Save the Lost from the Grip of Hell

(Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

(Luke 5:31 32) And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(John 10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

B. Purpose of the Church

“break down the gates of hell”

Glorify the Father and the Son by obediently fulfilling his work.

(Acts 1:8)

Behind the Gates of hell are ...

- Lost Souls that are in bondage

- Hurting Lives that are in bondage.

Example of the Allied troops who liberated the Nazi Death Camps so are we as the church to liberate those behind the gates of hell.

Six such death camps existed: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, and Treblinka. Large-scale murder by gas and body disposal through cremation were conducted systematically by the Nazis and Adolf Hitler’s

1 Peter 2:4 10 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

III. THE MASTER DESIGN OF THE CHURCH

A. Diverse in her Members

- Diverse in their Background

(Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

- Diverse in their Appearance

- Diverse in their Abilities

- Diverse in their Function

(1 Cor 12:12 14) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.