“Who Owns the Church”
January 11, 2008
Matthew 16:13-20
Have you ever noticed that the most profound things come from the mouth of babes? My grandson Nate and I went to the Church New Year’s day to clean up after our wonderful New Year’s Eve party. On the way there he asked, “Granpa, do you own the church?” I said, “No. I just manage it.” He says, “Well, who owns it?” I tried to tell him that the Sacramento District Church of the Nazarene owned it – or held title to the property. Apparently that wasn’t good enough. An hour or so later, while we were busy at church, he asked again, “Granpa, who owns the church.”
I thought about telling him again who possesses the title, but he’s only five. That wasn’t working. So I said, “God owns the church, and I work for him. I’m kind of like his manager of this church.” That seemed to satisfy him.
But Nate’s question got me to thinking. And this morning I would like us to consider that question, “Who owns the church.” Is it the Sacramento District Church of the Nazarene? Is it the local people here who have given tithes and offerings and worked so hard to keep the doors open? Is it the pastor? Is it the people? “Who owns the church? Before I answer that, we ought to define what the church is. In the articles of faith of the Church of the Nazarene manual, it says about the church:
XI. The Church
15. We believe in the Church, the community that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, the covenant people of God made new in Christ, the Body of Christ called together by the Holy Spirit through the Word.
God calls the Church to express its life in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit; in worship through the preaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments, and ministry in His name; by obedience to Christ and mutual accountability.
The mission of the Church in the world is to continue the redemptive work of Christ in the power of the Spirit through holy living, evangelism, discipleship, and service.
The Church is a historical reality, which organizes itself in culturally conditioned forms; exists both as local congregations and as a universal body; sets apart persons called of God for specific ministries. God calls the Church to live under His rule in anticipation of the consummation at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus said,
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18
So let’s review the facts so far. The Church is Jesus’. It was His idea. He says, “I will build MY church. He clearly establishes ownership. We must never lose sight of that fact. The church DOES belong to God.
But what IS the church? Our manual says it is a bunch of people who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord (to paraphrase). I think that’s pretty accurate. The church is a bunch of people who have been called out of the world to follow Jesus Christ. The manual says the church is made up of everyone who has made Jesus their Lord. That’s the universal church. Some churches and cults think they are the only ‘true’ church. That’s not biblical and it’s a mark of a cult. The universal church is divided into different bodies; different denominations; different local churches. We are one of those local bodies who belong to the Lord. This Church, on 954 North Old Stage Road, belongs to Jesus Christ, Himself – ultimately.
Jesus, the creator and owner of the church, was about to ascend to heaven. The Scripture says,
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
John 20:19-20
Do you understand what is going on here? Jesus, the Creator and Owner of the Church, is about to leave planet earth. He is going to ascend to heaven and take His rightful place on the throne of God. But before He does that, He gives the stewardship for the Church to the people. He says to us, “As the Father has sent me – I am sending you.” He then goes on to empower them for service.
I think every Christian needs to realize that God owns the church and if God owns them; if they have been purchased with the blood of Christ – they are a part of the church. Some people have resisted that teaching through the ages. In the sixties, we had the anti-establishment movement where “Jesus freaks” in their immaturity and rebelliousness, rejected the established churches and started their own little groups. They didn’t know it – but they were still a part of the establishment – if they were Christians. And many grew up and matured and accomplished much for the mission of the Church.
Sometimes people, who aren’t very familiar with God, talk about why we can’t all just get along and become one. Why do we have the Baptist down the street and the Assembly of God and the Evangelical Free and the Methodist (Free and United)? Why can’t people get some Light and all become a part of the Nazarenes?
You could ask the same of Weed Building Supply, Inc., where I work. Why do they have four stores? Couldn’t people just come to one? They could. But we want to make it easier for them. And some, for whatever reason, like Mount Shasta Building Supply better. Maybe it’s closer to their home or they like the staff better. People are different. People have different likes and dislikes. Some like those emotional services you get in a charismatic church. Some like the emphasis on grace in a Baptist church. Some like the formality you get in a more liturgical church – like the Episcopals or the Catholics. Some like the emphasis on holy living and striving for Christlikeness, like us.
It doesn’t mean any of them are wrong. For some people their church is just right. For others it is wrong – simply because they don’t quite fit in those congregations. But if a person is truly a born again believer and a child of the King, he is a part of the church and needs to become a part of a local body of believers who believe and are similar to himself. The King will lead the true believer into Christlikeness wherever he may go or whatever local church he belongs to.
I will say, though, that in some churches spiritual growth may actually be hindered by their emphasis or lack of emphasis. It is very important to find a church who focuses on the Bible and encourages holy living and helps with the spiritual maturing process.
So let me say, I am so glad that God led you here – to this body of believers. Our primary mission is to help you grow into Christlikeness. But I want you to know that YOU are the owner of this church. God has passed on His mission to you. The bible tells us that you have been given special talents and abilities to help accomplish the mission. Listen:
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:4-8
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1
You need to understand that, as a child of the King, you have a call; an obligation; to carry out His mission in this world – through THIS local church. God has given you certain talents that are necessary for the good of this local body. I don’t know where you fit in – but God says as a part of your spiritual worship – you are to sacrificially offer your bodies in service to Him.
Jesus came to earth in fleshly form, for a few years. But now He is in spiritual form. He is still here, but in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit… we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Twice the Scriptures here tells us the Lord is the Spirit. But we life in a physical world. If the Lord is to touch someone – it has to be through you. If He is to minister to someone –it has to be through you. If He is to love someone – it has to be expressed through you. You are an important part of God’s plan in reaching the world. You need to know that God’s personal goal for you is to become Christlike – but your mission is to share Christ with others so that they may have an opportunity to come to Christ – and become Christlike. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven He said,
“ go and make disciples…” Mathew 28:19
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:8
If I could impress upon you those two things – and get you to do them – I would consider myself as having done my job as your pastor. Strive for Christlikeness and share Him with others.
I know that is so hard to do. The enemy of our soul and the enemy of our Lord fights so hard for you not to do that. He doesn’t want you to become like Jesus. He doesn’t want you to share Christ with others.
Not only that, but we fight our own flesh. We have our needs and our desires. We have our priorities. How can we teach or give our time and talent in service? We have our own personal trials and tribulations and temptations. There just isn’t enough for God.
Do you think those excuse will wash when we stand before the Lord on the Great Judgment Day? I don’t think so. I want to encourage you to take the bull by the horns – see a need and fill it. From cleaning the church to repairs in the church to teaching Bible Classes and serving on boards – the needs are limitless. But no one is going to force you to serve. No one will probably even ask you to serve. You need to become a ‘willing sacrifice’; a willing servant. Will you do that this year?
Let me add – you can’t do it on your own. To be witnesses, Jesus said you needed the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit needs to come upon us before we can be effective witnesses. Remember when I shared the Scripture where Jesus sent us – as the Father had sent Him? It continues:
“Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22
We need the Holy Spirit to become the people God wants us to be. We need the Holy Spirit to become the servants God wants us to be. So how do we do that? Well, first our wills need to be broken. Our wills must not be in rebellion in any area. The Scripture says.
“…he (Jesus) became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Hebrews 5:9
“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:32
Life without the Spirit is very hard and difficult. He is our Guide. He is our Strength. He is our Comforter. To receive Him, we must lay our will down and have the attitude Jesus had in the Garden – “not MY will, but YOURS be done.”
As we begin to live to do God’s will – the Spirit will come and fill us and help us to do it. Jesus said all we have to do is ask. Listen:
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Matthew 11:11-13
Just ask. If you believe – you will receive. I want us to be highly effective in serving the Lord here in this church. But it will only happen if we surrender our wills to the Lord and receive the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let’s ask Him to come.
Dear Jesus,
We believe Your promise. We believe Your Word. You said if we asked for the Holy Spirit – we would receive Him. We ask with broken wills. We ask willing to be completely obedient to You. Send you Holy Spirit. Descend on us, we pray. Use us to accomplish Your will.
In Jesus Name.
“Let the River’s Flow”
