Our Place In God's House The Church

How does serving God become a part of our salvation story?

Before you accuse me of being a heretic, I believe that salvation has all been completed once for all upon the Cross

And there is nothing for us to do other than we receive Jesus’ gift of salvation.

It is a once for all gift we receive from Jesus

However once we are saved, Jesus through the Holy Spirit begins a process of sanctification

And to understand this process the Scripture describes two types of house that Jesus wants to sanctify in us

1. Our own private house – that is our personal life

Story: Maddy and I together with two friends Dan and Catrin Backlund founded a refugee Church in Basle, Switzerland in 1988 when I was still a full time patent attorney.

One Sunday when I was preaching on the parable of the two houses - one built on a rock and the other on sand, from Matthew 27

I used some slides to preach from - because we had many of the refugees coming who didn’t speak English.

Though many spoke Spanish or French I didn’t!

We were blessed to find a number of simultaneous translators.

It was the reverse of the Tower of Babel (cf Genesis 11. 1-9)

And one of the refugees as he saw the slide go up showing a house and before I had said anything said to the translator that I was going to talk about his life

Jesus uses the concept of a house how our lives will be changed if we allow Jesus to change us

One of the most meaningful verses in Scripture for me on this subject is Revelation 3:20 where Jesus says

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with Me.

Story: Holman Hunt the pre-Raphaelite artist painted the famous painting known as “Light of the World”, which was inspired by on Rev 3.20.

When Hunt exhibited the picture someone is reputed to have asked him why he didn’t draw in a door handle on the door at which Jesus was standing.

Holman Hunt replied: “Because the handle is on the inside.”

Good theology

We see the human responsibility, as William Barclay puts it so nicely.

Christ knocks and a man can answer or refuse to answer. Christ does not break in.

2. The second house Jesus speaks of in the Gospels is the Church of which we are a member

And it is that type of house that our Gospel reading speaks about today.

In that house the master of the house (God of course) had left running it in the hands of the chief steward (ie the Church leadership) who the Master of the House thought he could trust

For me in our Gospel reading it is this type of house that Jesus challenges us about today.

How do we interact with each other within the church family

God has given us all roles within the church – and we need trustworthy in our calling in God’s church

Some are leaders but we cannot all be leaders

Peter explains why we should pray for our church leaders in particular when he says in 1 Peter 5

5 1-3 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory.

Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd.

Not because you have to, but because you want to please God.

Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously.

Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

4-5 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly.

And you who are younger must follow your leaders.

But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,

But takes delight in just plain people.

6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time.

Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. (1 Peter 5: 1-7 The Message)

It is quite a challenge.

I have served in 43 different general rural churches and I have been amazed how often there has been infighting worse than when I have had in business.

And some of the things I have seen from church leaders I wouldn’t have even expected to see when I was in secular business