Introduction

Greetings, beloved family of God. It is a joy to gather together, even if only virtually, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here to reflect, to learn, to encourage one another, and to be encouraged by the Word of God. We are here to be reminded of who we are, of whose we are, and of the mission we have been given.

So, what does it mean to be the Church beyond buildings? How do we live out our calling in a world that is often indifferent, if not hostile, to our message? How do we show the love of Christ to those who are considered the least in our society? These are the questions we will be addressing today.

As we ponder these questions, I am reminded of a quote from the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "A church that does not exist to reclaim heathenism, to fight evil, to destroy error, to put down falsehood, a church that does not exist to take the side of the poor, to denounce injustice and to hold up righteousness, is a church that has no right to be."

Let us keep these words in mind as we turn to our Scripture passage for today, Matthew 25:31-46 [read text].

As we begin, let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for the privilege of being Your Church. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds today, so that we might understand Your Word and Your will more fully. Help us to see beyond the walls of our buildings and into the hearts of those who need Your love. Guide us in our efforts to be Your hands and feet in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Becoming the Church Beyond Buildings

We often think of the Church as a physical place. We think of the stained glass windows, the wooden pews, the pulpit, the cross hanging above the altar. These are the images that come to mind when we hear the word "Church". But the Church is not a building. It's not a place we go to, but a people we belong to. It's a community of believers, united by our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Church is the body of Christ. Each one of us, as believers, is a part of that body. We each have a role to play, a purpose to fulfill. We are not just passive spectators, but active participants in the work of the Church. Our faith is not meant to be a private affair, but a communal one. We are called to worship together, to learn together, to serve together.

The church being the body of Christ is a prominent theme in the New Testament. In his letters, the apostle Paul often uses the metaphor of a body to describe the Church. He writes, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Every member is special and needed. Just as each part of our physical body has a specific function, so too does each member of the Church. Some are called to teach, others to preach, others to serve, and others to encourage. No role is more important than another. Each is vital to the health and functioning of the body as a whole.

But being the Church is not just about what happens inside the walls of a building on a Sunday morning. It's about what happens in our daily lives, in our interactions with others, in our service to our communities. It's about living out our faith in tangible, practical ways. Jesus speaks of feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting the prisoner. These are not just acts of charity, but acts of discipleship. They are ways in which we live out our faith, ways in which we embody the love of Christ.

Jesus tells us that when we serve the least of these, we are serving Him. When we show love and compassion to those in need, we are showing love and compassion to Christ Himself. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of our actions. Our faith is not just about what we believe, but about what we do. It's about how we treat others, how we care for those in need.

But this requires us to step outside of our comfort zones. Most of us don’t like to reach out to those who are different from us, to those who may not be easy to love. But that’s what Jesus requires of us to see the face of Christ in every person we meet, to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. This is the challenge of being the Church beyond walls.

We are not alone in this. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to empower us, to equip us for this work. We have the example of Christ to follow, the teachings of Scripture to guide us. And we have each other, to encourage us, to support us, to hold us accountable.

Recap/Transition. So let us strive to be the Church beyond buildings. Let us strive to live out our faith in our daily lives, in our interactions with others, in our service to our communities. Let us strive to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world, showing His love and compassion to all we meet.

Benevolence Towards the Least

It’s incredible to me that Jesus would put such an image before us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO