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.
Alloys are Superior than Pure Metals:
“Alloy, substance composed of two or more metals.......
“The properties of alloys are frequently far different from those of their constituent elements, and such properties as strength and corrosion resistance may be considerably greater for an alloy than for any of the separate metals. For this reason, alloys are more generally used than pure metals. Steel is stronger and harder than wrought iron, which is approximately pure iron, and is used in far greater quantities. The alloy steels, mixtures of steel with such metals as chromium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, and vanadium, are stronger and harder than steel itself, and many of them are also more corrosion-resistant than iron or steel.” Encarta Encyclopedia
(Thomas L. Ehrich) in Journey. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 3.
We would all find more serenity in life if we could ... be done with comparisons and envy. God made us diverse, and, in God’s eyes at least, our diversity lacks hierarchy. As a friend says in her song "Weave," God makes of us a symphony: different instruments playing in harmony. Each part matters, but only if it’s played according to its calling and isn’t fighting another part for control. We in the church make better music when we treasure our diversity, rather than stifle it.
B. Unified in Her Core Faith
“...upon this rock...”
Confession of Peter that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God”
(Eph 4:3 6) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Illustration: Max Lucado “The Battleship”
Max Lucado— The Battleship ”In the Grip of Grace”God has enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose-to carry us safely to the other shore.This is no cruise ship; it is a battleship. We aren’t called to a life of leisure, we are called to a life of service. Each of us has a different task. Some, concerned with those who are drowning, are snatching people from the water. Others are occupied with the enemy, so they man the cannons of prayer and worship. Still others devote themselves to the crew, feeding and training the crew members.Though different, we are the same. Each can tell of a personal encounter with the captain, for each has received a personal call. He found us among the shanties of the seaport and invited us to follow him. Our faith was born at the sight of his fondness, and so we went.We each followed him across the gangplank of his grace onto the same boat. There is one captain and one destination. Though the battle is fierce, the boat is safe, for our captain is God. The ship will not sink. For that, there is no concern.There is concern, however, regarding the disharmony of the crew. When we first boarded we assumed the crew was made up of others like us. But as we’ve wandered these decks, we’ve encountered curious converts with curious appearances. Some wear uniforms we’ve never seen, sporting styles we’ve never witnessed. “Why do you look the way you do?” we ask them.“Funny,” they reply. “we were about the ask the same of you.”The variety of dress is not nearly as disturbing as the plethora of opinions. There is a group, for example, who clusters every morning for serious study. They promote rigid discipline and somber expressions. “Serving the captain is serious business,” they explain. It’s no coincidence that they tend to congregate around the stern.There is another regiment deeply devoted to prayer. Not only do they believe in prayer, they believe in prayer by kneeling. For that reason you always know where to locate them, they are at the bow of the ship.And then there are a few who staunchly believe real wine should be used in the Lord’s Supper. You’ll find them on the port side.Still another group has positioned themselves near the engine. They spend hours examining the nuts and bolts of the boat. They’ve been know to go below deck and not come up for days. They occasionally are criticized by those who linger on the top deck, feeling the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. “It’s not what you learn,” those topside argue. “It’s what you feel that matters.”And, oh, how we tend to cluster.Some think once you’re on the boat, you can’t get off. Others say you’d be foolish to go overboard, but the choice is yours.Some believe you volunteer for service, others believe you were destined for the service before the ship was even built.Some predict a storm of great tribulation will strike before we dock, others say it won’t his until we are safely ashore.There are those who speak to the captain in a personal language. There are those who thing such languages are extinct.There are those who think the officers should wear robes, there are those who think there should be no officers at all, and there are those who think we are all officers and should all wear robes.And oh, how we tend to cluster.And then there is the issue of the weekly meeting at which the captain is thanked and his words are read. All agree on its importance, but few agree on its nature. Some want it loud, others quiet. Some want ritual, others spontaneity. Some want to celebrate so they can meditate, others meditate so they can celebrate. Some want a meeting for those who’ve gone overboard. Others want to reach those overboard but without going over board and neglecting those on board.And, oh, how we tend to cluster.The consequence is a rocky boat. There is trouble on deck. Fights have broken out. Sailors have refused to speak to each other. There have even been times when one group refused to acknowledge the presence of others on the ship. Most tragically, some adrift at sea have chosen not to board the boat because of the quarreling of the sailors.
