God’s Committed Community: The Nature of The Church
Did you know the word church is not found in the Old Testament? The concept may be there and the foundational ideas for the church are there but the word church is never used in the Old Testament. The Old Testament talks about “a holy people”, a nation set apart for God. But the first person to use the word “church” in the Bible is Jesus himself. He is the one who initiated the church. In fact the Church belongs to Him. Follow along with me as I read our text this morning.
‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’” Matthew 16:15-18(NKJV)
Circle the words – My Church. The church belongs to Jesus Himself. That means that He considers the church to be important – in fact – it is so important that I am willing to risk this saying this statement. “You can not grow to full Christian maturity – with out involvement in God’s church.” You may ask the question, “Pastor Tom, how can you make such a statement? How can you say that unless a Christian is involved in the church that they will not reach full spiritual maturity?”
Let me respond by asking you a question. Can a person reach full spiritual maturity if they ignore the commandments of Jesus? Can a person be a follower of Jesus and ignore His teachings? Do you think a person can become an obedient mature Christian without doing what Christ has asked them to do?” What did Jesus ask us to do? He asked us to follow the teaching found in the Bible. Did you know there are over 35 commandments in the Bible that you can not fulfill with out being involved in God’s church? They are commandments like, “Love one another, encourage one another, serve one another, accept one another, greet one another … and the list goes on and on. Who do you think the “one another” is? When the scripture speaks of “one another” it is speaking of fellow believers – The Church. The point is you can not fulfill the commandments of Christ without being involved with His people – with being involved in The Church.
In the New Testament the word church is used 73 times. It is a New Testament concept. If the New Testament puts that much emphasis on The Church we need to have a clear understanding of The Nature of The Church. This morning we are going to examine The Nature of the Church.
Before we look at what The Church is – let us understand what The Church is not. It is not a social club. It is not a business. It is not a museum. It is not a fraternity. The Church is not even a building even though we often speak of it in tat manner. The Church is not a man made institution.
What then is the Church? It is a creation of God – founded by Jesus Himself.
The Bible gives us several metaphors of what The Church is. This morning we are going to look at four of them. From these metaphors we can gain a greater understanding of The Nature of The Church. The Bible tells us that The Church is:
1. A FELLOWSHIP.
2. A FAMILY.
3. A BODY.
4. A FLOCK.
1. The Bible says The Church is a FELLOWSHIP.
Fellowship is not just something the church is - it’s something we do. In the dictionary the word “fellowship” is both a noun and a verb. In our church fellowship is both a noun and a verb also.
What is fellowship? The best definition is "Two fellows on the same ship." You’re headed in the same direction, so you get to know each other and you associate because you’re going in the same direction. That’s what fellowship is. Fellowship is all of us together heading in the same direction. As Christians, we’re all headed to heaven.
FACT:
A top priority in fellowship is HARMONY.
If we are going in the same direction, if we are going to be together for a long time – we need to live together in harmony. This means that:
IMPLICATION:
We need to GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.
The Bible teaches that anything that causes disunity is sin. There are a lot of verses that say anybody that causes conflict in the church is sinning. When you cause conflict in church – when you get Christians mad at other Christians – what you are doing is disobeying God’s word – what you’re doing is destroying the fellowship – what you are doing is sinning. If you destroy the fellowship, you don’t have a church. Follow along with me as I read from 1 Peter.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (HCSB)
Circle the words “you were called for this” – that is your purpose – that is what you are supposed to be doing – building fellowship with one another.
2. The Bible says The Church is a FAMILY.
When you were born you were born into a family. When we become “born again” we are born into a new family – The Church. Our sins have been forgiven – We are given a purpose for living – and we receive a home in Heaven. Our relationships change. Follow along in Romans 8:
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:16-17 (NASV)
When we put our faith in Christ four relationships change: God becomes our Father. We become His children. Other believers become our brothers and sisters. The church becomes your spiritual family. So because we’re a family, we should operate on the basis of relationships.
FACT:
A top priority in family is RELATIONSHIPS.
IMPLICATION:
We need to TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT.
Look at what 1 Timothy says:
1 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. 2 Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters. 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (MSG)
The Bible says we’re to treat each other like a family because the church is a family. Nobody elected you into your family. You’re not there because some committee asked you to be there. The Bible says we are family because we have been born again – born into God’s family. God has called you and placed in His family.
3. The Bible says The Church is a BODY.
There are many verses in Scripture that says the church is the body of Christ. We’re a body, not a business. We are an organism, not an organization. Therefore whatever your gifts and talents you are needed by the body. You have been placed here to help the whole body. We are a body.
Let me ask you a couple questions. Could you function without one of your hands? Sure you could – but not as well as if I have two healthy hands. Could you function without one of your legs – sure you could – but not as well as if I have two strong legs. The body of Christ is like that – it can function without everyone doing their part – but the truth is it will function much better when all members are involved – using their gifts and talents for the common good. 1 Corinthians says this:
"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body so also is Christ."
1 Corinthians 12:12
FACT:
A top priority in the body is UNITY WITH DIVERSITY.
You can have unity without having uniformity. Have you noticed we’re all different? We have different colored hair. We have different color eyes. We have different finger prints. We have distinctly different DNA. We’re different ages. That’s the way God has made us. God loves that. God loves diversity. Thank God we’re not all alike.
How many of you have been to the grocery store lately. Have you been down the cereal isle? There are dozens of kinds of cereal aren’t there. It would really be a really boring if there was only cream of wheat in the world. Don’t get me wrong I like cream of wheat – but I wouldn’t want to eat it every day. I like variety and so does God. He wants us to be in unity with one another.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (NKJV)
IMPLICATION:
We need EACH OTHER.
The point is, whatever you’re gifted at, that’s your part in the body of Christ. We need you.
4. The Bible says The Church is a FLOCK.
This was Jesus’ favorite description of the church. He called it "My little flock". Therefore the church is cared for and led by shepherds. Shepherds lead, feed and oversee. In a church a pastor is to take care of a flock. My primary job as your pastor is to lead, feed and oversee the flock God has entrusted to me. That is an awesome job. Did you know I am going to be held accountable for leading you? The shepherd is to take care of the flock – look at what 1 Peter says:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4 (NKJV)
I will be held accountable for being the shepherd of the church. But there is a responsibility that is yours – something that you are accountable for as well. Do you know what that is? You are to help make my job as easy as you possibly can. How can make it easier for me? Stay connected to the flock – stay connected within the fold. There is power in connection.
Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? Hebrews 13:17 (MSG)
FACT:
A top priority in the flock is TOGETHERNESS.
Here is an interesting fact that many of you may not know. Most of you know that I raise chickens – but I also raise rabbits. When rabbits are born they are born with no fur. They are completely naked. That’s OK if they are born in the summer – but it’s not so good if they are born in the winter – especially here on a cold Kansas winter day with the wind blowing.
Not too long ago one of my rabbits gave birth to a litter. It was cold and windy. The doe had done all the right things that a mother rabbit is supposed to do. I had put a nest box in with her. She built a nest with the straw I had put in the box. She had pulled all kinds of fur off her body to use as insulation material. She had packed the kits in the nest and covered them with straw and fur to help keep them warm. But do you know what really kept them alive? What really kept them alive is that they all huddled together. They formed kind of a ball. Little bunny bodies touching other little bunny bodies and by doing so they shared the warmth of each other. On real cold nights those bunnies survive by joining together – they share each others body heat. You know there is a scripture that talks about this.
9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. 10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! 11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. 12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (MSG)
IMPLICATION:
We need to CARE FOR EACH OTHER.
Galatians says it this way:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)
Stay connected to one another. Care for one another – for you see:
The Church is a FELLOWSHIP.
The Church is a FAMILY.
The Church is a BODY.
The Church is a FLOCK.
NOTES:
God’s Committed Community: The Nature of The Church
‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’” Matthew 16:15-18(NKJV)
1. The Bible says The Church is a _____________________.
FACT:
A top priority in fellowship is ____________________.
IMPLICATION:
We need to _______________________________.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (HCSB)
2. The Bible says The Church is a ____________________.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:16-17 (NASV)
FACT:
A top priority in family is ____________________.
IMPLICATION:
We need to _______________________________.
1 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. 2 Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters. 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (MSG)
3. The Bible says The Church is a ____________________.
FACT:
A top priority in the body is _____________________________.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (NKJV)
IMPLICATION:
We need ______________________________.
4. The Bible says The Church is a _____________________.
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:2-4 (NKJV)
Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? Hebrews 13:17 (MSG)
FACT:
A top priority in the flock is ______________________.
9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. 10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! 11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. 12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (MSG)
IMPLICATION:
We need to ________________________________.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)
