A UNIQUE KINGDOM
Text: II Corinthians 6:16-18
INTRODUCTION
1. In times past much meaning was placed on the word church
a. In the dark ages "the church" ran everything
b. All governments considered themselves theocracies, overseen by the pope in Rome
c. This was not to last long as political leaders would revolt from the tyranny of the Catholic church
d. And men got tired of the repression of the church and some of the false teachings
2. Before that the church was something special
a. In fact, before 325 AD you could die if influential people found out you were a member of the church
b. But that did not stop people from belonging to the church, they still wanted to be part of what Paul calls "the way"
3. The actual word church in the bible really has no theological significance
a. It literally means a group of people assembled for a reason or "the called out ones" (ecclesia)
b. It refers to the Lord’s church, Matthew 16:18 is the first time it is called that
c. It refers to large gatherings of those who are persecuting "the way" in Acts 19:33 it even refers to an illegal gathering of such people
4. So how does "the way", the Lord’s church, distinguish itself from other assemblies of people?
5. How do we become "the church" and not just some crowd that is gathered together?
6. We will need to notice the uniqueness of the Kingdom of Christ
7. Read text
8. It is unique in four ways that we can notice tonight. It has a:
a. Unique Emperor
b. Unique Edifice
c. Unique Exercises
d. Unique Entry
9. This will be part one of a two part series of lessons on the unique kingdom of God, what it is and how we become part of it
10. Today we will discuss our unique emperor and His unique edifice
TRANSITION: The Lord’s church is his kingdom. We have a:
I. Unique Emperor
A. In John 18:33 during the mockery of a trial Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king
1. Jesus answers that his kingdom is not of this world but in a higher realm than this world
2. Pilate understands correctly that Jesus is making the definite claim that he is a king
3. He says that this is the very reason he was born into the world
a. He tells Pilate that everyone who hears his voice hears the truth
b. Pilate asks, "What is truth?"
c. Jesus has already answered the question, his voice is truth
4. But he clearly and unmistakably makes the claim that he is king, but king of a kingdom that is in another realm
5. That realm is spiritual, and that makes it unique in and of itself
6. And the fact that the ruler of that kingdom speaks the truth is unique also is it not?
B. Jesus is king of a unique spiritual kingdom, but he is a unique emperor also
1. Look at what he did for us
a. Ephesians 2:5-8, "Have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
b. He was in the form that each of us aspire to be in one day, he was in heaven
c. But he did not think that he should hold on to that place in heaven so he gave it up
d. Not because he did anything wrong, but because you were going to
e. So he gave up his spot in heaven on your behalf
f. Then offered you the space beside him in heaven sharing it with you
g. How many kings would do that?
2. Look at the example he set for us
a. John 13:1-20 shows an interesting scene
b. Luke says that about this time the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom when it was established
c. Then the teacher, the king, takes off his outer garment and dons the towel of a slave
d. Only slaves would attire themselves in this fashion
e. Only slaves would wash the feet of the guests
f. This was a lowly job that these disciples were not about to do for one another
g. But the king of the spiritual world placed the towel of servitude around his waist and bowed down at his disciples’ feet to wash them
h. He set the example of love and service to one another
i. That is not a kingly posture, being bowed at your subjects’ feet, unless you are the King of kings and Lord of lords
3. And he made a way for us to go to heaven
a. John 14:1-6, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father but by me."
b. The king is the way to the kingdom
i. He is the river and the boat
ii. The road and the car
iii. He is also the map that leads you on the way
c. Jesus, the king of the spiritual kingdom, gave up his spot in heaven for a time so that he could come and show you the way to get to him in heaven
d. And he went back and got your room ready
e. There is plenty of room for all who will answer
TRANSITION: But first you must be in his kingdom and it is an:
II. Unusual edifice
A. First off we understand it as belonging to Christ
1. Matthew 16:18 he tells Peter that on the rock of his confession of Messiahship of Christ he will build HIS church
a. Not Adam’s church
b. Not the elders’ church
c. Not the church that belongs to the member with the most time here in Parkersburg
d. The Lord’s church
2. Its builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10)
a. No construction company can weld it together
b. No brick layer can put its mortar together
3. It is not made with hands (Acts 17:24)
4. Only the blood of Jesus Christ and the love of the father could construct this building
B. It has some unique features to it
1. Its construction is different
2. First of all Christ is the head
i. Being king he reserves the right to be head
ii. Colossians 1:18, "He is also head of the body, the church; and he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that he himself might come to have first place in everything"
iii. He has no one on earth that stands in his place and rules for him, he is the head of his own body
3. He does have offices in his body
a. I Timothy 3:1, "If anyone desires the office of elder he seeks a good work"
i. Elders are always listed in the plural in the New Testament
ii. No one man shepherding the flock of God
iii. Elders have certain qualifications that they must meet if they are to oversee the house of God
iv. Each congregation has elders and no central body somewhere telling them what to practice and believe
v. After all, II Timothy 3:16 shows us that God’s word teaches us all that we are to believe and not believe, to practice and not to practice
vi. Elders are here to make sure we use our resources and teaching to the best of our ability to do just what the bible teaches
b. Deacons are also offices of the Lord’s church he uses as tools
i. Established in Acts 6 by the choosing of seven men to serve the distribution to the Grecian widows who had been neglected
ii. Deacons are also give criteria that their lives must meet if they are to serve given in I Timothy 3:8-10
iii. The term literally means servant, which is what they are to do
iv. They are tools of the elders in the carrying out of Jesus will for the congregation
c. Preachers are also given place in the Lord’s body
i. Romans 10:14-15, "How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ’How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!’"
ii. The Samaritan asked Philip, "How can I understand unless someone teaches me?"
iii. Preachers are nothing more than Christians who study and deliver God’s word in its fullest
iv. It is our job to help the elders teach the church what God’s word says and how it operates
v. We are to make the pages in God’s bible mean something to each member
d. And definitely not least are the members
i. Each member makes up the body
ii. Elders, deacons, and preachers are here to serve the body and be used as tools for its growth
iii. Not everyone has the same talents, but everyone is just as important (I Cor. 12:12-32)
iv. We are each here for each other, to help one another grow, to encourage one another, to love each other as Christ loved us and gave up heaven for us so that he might die to save us from ourselves
C. The edifice of the Lord’s church is unique
1. It is not physical, so man cannot build it
2. It is organized in such a way that the weakest is the most important and the strongest is there to bring others up to that level
3. It has one head, Christ, but each member is just as important as the next
4. It is a unique building, but that uniqueness is exactly its draw
CONCLUSION
1. The church of our Christ is unique in many aspects
2. The primary unique characteristic is its emperor who does not rule for His own sake but for the sake of His subjects
3. It is a unique edifice that man cannot build but on which construction man must continually work
4. The kingdom of God is unique and wonderful and inviting to all who would dwell therein
