What about the church?
Matthew 16:13-20
Introduction-
I want to talk about the church this morning. I want to talk about this church, Rosedale Church of the Nazarene. RNC for short, and I want to talk about the church universal (all churches). I started this on Wednesday during Bible study and I almost called every one of you this week because I felt like I was going to explode. I am praying that we will grab unto this principal this morning like never before. We need to see the church as Jesus saw the church. We need to stop playing church and be the church. People half in the door of the church, half heartedly serving God need to know that God is desiring for you to climb over what ever keeps you on the outside and enjoy the benefits of being a child of God.
Matthew 16:13-20
Who do others say that I am?
Who do you say that I am?
(The truth that I am the Son of the living God) I will build my church and the gates of hades will not overcome it. He says that I will give you a binding ministry. Whatever you bind on Earth, will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven. I will give you the keys of the kingdom to do that And the gates of Hades will not stop it.
The most important question being asked: what is the world saying about Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? Until they know who Jesus is, they will continue to search but not find Him. Until you know who Jesus is, you will not be able to help someone on their journey. Until you yourself know where you are going and what you are to do. These are the foundations of the Church that Peter grasped unto in this verse.
Jesus builds the Church- “I will build my church”
That takes a lot of pressure off us. Off me (explain)
Jesus owns the church- “I will build my church. Everything we have belongs to Jesus, even the building that we are worshiping in.
The church is meant to grow - “I will build my church.”
In spite of the economy. In spite of weather people give what they are suppose to. In spite of the enemies of the church. In spite of denominational differences. I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
No outside force can stop Jesus from building the church.
The church Jesus builds is un-stoppable.
The church lives like we do not know how this will come out. People will be drawn into the church by the Spirit of God. Not by a dead dried up religion. By an active relationship with Christ the Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being religious. He spent time with sinners because they knew they needed help, and He wanted to help them.
The church is un-stoppable when:
He builds it.
He owns it.
He plants it.
He is the commander -in chief.
He runs it. These are exciting days There are some that have turned their backs on God, but there is a awful lot that are diligently searching and desiring to have more than religion, more than a building to come to, they are looking for and hungry for a relationship with God. The church of Christ needs to raise up and be what God intended it to be. The people of God need to raise up and be what is intended by their calling of being a Christian. Step back and look a minute- most people don’t hate God- they don’t like the institution of church just being a place of rules. They don’t like some of God’s people. God is abstract, it is hard to trust someone you cannot see. The only Jesus they see is you and I. If we don’t get it right, they walk away from God. Jesus looked at Peter and said “Who do you say I am?” What would your answer be? What does your life say that Jesus is to you? He said you are the Son of the living God. Jesus acknowledges that was revealed to him by heaven. He didn’t get that revelation by man. It was directly sent from the Father. Jesus is the great shepherd, we are suppose to be his sheep. I want you to know as shepherd of this flock. Sheep Bite Some of the worse bites I’ve received have been from the sheep . The followers of Christ. And you have too.
Let me give you a working definition of the church from God’s word, and what it is not Start with what it is not- The church is not a building We worship here, it’s beautiful, it keeps us out of the elements, but it is not the church. The church is believers filled with the Spirit of God. That is why we can worship at the park, quietly by ourselves, or in a crowded stadium. We are the temple where the Spirit of God resides. We don’t come here for the Spirit of God to find us. We bring the Spirit of God in with us and together we worship God in the Spirit of worship.
The church is not a program. The church is not a performance. These are tools we use to help us as a body of believers to join together in worship.
Now a working definition of church. The church is people. A body of believers coming together in one accord to worship and praise Jesus Christ. Today many are gathering in different places and corporately all of us are one body worshiping in different places.
Definition- write this down.
Church is the people of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, doing the work of God. You need all three pieces to be a church. People of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, doing the work of God. The church if it is truly God’s church is people on fire for God doing what God called each and every one of us to do- evangelize and fire up other people for God. Not once did I say the church building, the board members, or the pastor. It is everyone of us.
Listen to the DNA of God’s kingdom:
D- Divine truth- Jesus Christ, standing on the foundations we just talked about. The living presence of Christ and His Word. (Seed) That is the seed I am planting right now, and it is the seed you should be taking and planting when you leave here.
N.- Nurturing Relationships. Healthy relationships that make up the family of God. I love you- sometimes you need a boot, and sometimes you need a hug. I am willing and able to give you both.
Each one of us should be caring and building relationships with people inside the church. You have to be a friend to have a friend. You cannot sit back and wait for someone to be friend you and get mad that not enough went the extra mile- you make the first move and you will be surprised how many will respond. In church family and outside in the world .
A- Apostolic Mission- Go Big word meaning apostle sent on a mission. This building is not about the gathering of good people.(Though that is what most outside of the church think) It is not even about bad people becoming good. It is about Jesus taking dead people and bringing them back to life.
Luke 10:2-3
He told them, the harvest is plentiful. But the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field, Go I am sending you
India
4000 new churches, 300,000 new believers.
China
30,000 believers everyday. 920 house churches in 8 years.
Africa
1200 new churches started every month. 2000 new Nazarenes and 90,000 believers in last 2 years.
Why don’t we see that in America? Because in America, we have not figures out what the church is supposed to be doing. Because we have not figures out what we will do with Jesus. The church was designed to reproduce. Each person should be Johnny Appleseed planting the seeds of the Word of God. Like a movie You tell someone. Like a restaurant? You tell them to check it out. God doing something in your church, you keep it to yourself like you are ashamed of God. The harvest is in the field, not in the barn. Law of reproduction: “Then God said, let the land produce vegetation; seed bearing plant and trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it, according to their various kinds. Corn produces corn. I don’t care if you plant a picture of tomatoes on the end of the row. If you plant corn, you will get corn You reap what you sow
Winding down:
This is simple and straight forward. You start with good seed (Word of God) and you plant it in the field (out there in Middletown area) you till the ground until you get a crop. (It is not hard) harvest is out there It begins with the basics here, the harvest is out there. The churches in America are not seeing the results like other countries because the churches of America are shallow, short lived, not much depth, not in good soil, no commitment to the field and the weeds are choking and infesting the crop. Choking the word right out of the God’s people.
1 Timothy 1:4
“Teach men...not to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work.”
Titus 3:9
“But avoid foolish conversation and genealogies and argument and quarrel about the law. Because these are unprofitable and useless.” I have decided that I am not having stupid conversations with people anymore! I am not debating weather God really exists, or weather you can worship God at home in your living room! It is casting pearls to the swines. People trying to get you into a catch 22. They know they need God! They know that the life they live outside of God is not pleasing God. The church is not perfect, because people are not perfect. It is God ordained, it is a place where the saved come to worship God, and a place where someone can find a relationship with God. I make no apologies! I invite all those that want to find and build a relationship with God to embrace the church like never before. Dream the un-stoppable dream. Be the unstoppable church God intended us to be. Instead of meet my pastor, he can help you. God wants you to say- meet my Jesus, He will transform you I’m praying that you will pray some dangerous prayers. The ones that only God can answer. And without God, it won’t happen. Every believer is called to be a missionary and everyone of you are now called up to active duty. There are now 6 Billion people on this planet , that is with a B. It will take the church universal going out and reaching as many as are willing to be reached. There will not be 6 Billion in heaven, because all will not accept Jesus as Lord! No matter what people want to think about a loving God! God gives us a choice! Healthy churches are growing. The church is a body, not a business. It is a organism, not an organization. It is not the religious VFW. It is alive, the Spirit of God dwells here and invites people to be a part of the tremendous opportunity the church has ever encountered since the day of Pentecost
What about it church? Are you on board to evangelize this community for Christ? What part do you play?
Who do you say Jesus is? And does your life and checkbook reflect it?
You’re here and you don’t know this Jesus I am talking about, I invite you this morning to allow Him this morning to change your life forever!
Everyone of you has been given marching orders according to the Word of God- what are you going to do with it?
Altar Call
