SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, WHO WAS THE ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE (MODERN-DAY TURKEY) SAID THIS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH: “HE ESPOUSED HER AS A WIFE, HE LOVES HER AS A DAUGHTER, HE PROVIDES FOR HER AS A HANDMAID, HE GUARDS HER AS A VIRGIN, HE FENCES ROUND HER LIKE A GARDEN AND CHERISHES HER LIKE A MEMBER: AS A HEAD HE PROVIDES FOR HER, AS A ROOT HE CAUSES HER TO GROW, AS A SHEPHERD HE FEEDS HER, AS A BRIDEGROOM HE WEDS HER, AS A PROPITIATION HE PARDONS HER, AS A SHEEP HE IS SACRIFICED…MANY ARE THE MEANINGS IN ORDER THAT WE MAY ENJOY A PART IF IT, BE BUT A SMALL PART OF THE DIVINE ECONOMY OF GRACE.”
THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM AND SHOULD NOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD AS AN ORGANIZATION. THE CHURCH IS LIVING BECAUSE IT IS PEOPLE. IT IS YOU. IT IS ME. IT IS MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD UNITED IN JESUS CHRIST, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. IT IS SACRED. IT IS HOLY.
OUR FREE METHODIST CHURCH SAYS THIS OF THE CHURCH: “THE CHURCH IS THE ORGANIC, CORPORATE INSTRUMENT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REMAKE PEOPLE AND SOCIETY. IT HAS A MISSION OF HOLY LOVE. THE CHURCH EXISTS TO PRODUCE CHRIST-LIKENESS IN ALL PEOPLE AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS.
THUS OUR MISSION MAY BE DESCRIBED AS PARTICIPATION WITH GOD IN BRINGING HOLINESS AND LOVE TO BEAR UPON THE SINS, HURTS, AND NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE. THIS DESCRIPTION OF OUR MISSION IS BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL.”
NOTHING COULD BE MORE CRUCIAL THAN FOR ALL CHRISTIANS TO GRASP THIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH. WE MUST “RETHINK” THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH AND WHAT CHURCH “REALLY IS” IN TERMS OF WHY IT EXISTS.
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS NOT “JUST” TO BE OPEN ON SUNDAY FOR WORSHIP SERVICES. NEITHER IS THE CHURCH “JUST” SUNDAY EVENTS, BIBLE STUDIES AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMS.
REMEMBER, THE CHURCH IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS SOLELY FOR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THESE THINGS. THE CHURCH IS AN ORGANISM, LIVING AND MADE UP OF PEOPLE, WHO ARE “THE CHURCH.” THE CHURCH ISN’T A BUILDING, BUT A PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED AND COMMISSIONED TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD BY PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S GRACE AND BY EXEMPLIFYING JESUS’ COMMAND TO LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR.
WE FAIL AS CHRISTIANS AND WE FAIL AS A CHURCH IF WE ARE NOT OBEYING THESE COMMANDS OR FULFILLING THIS COMMISSION. THIS ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN IF ALL WE DO IS GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. SOMEHOW AND SOMEWHERE IN OUR LIVES AND DAILY SCHEDULES, WE MUST LOOK FOR WAY TO BUILD AND INCORPORATE OUR FAITH INTO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT COMES FROM OUR SCRIPTURE TODAY AS IT CALLS US TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER IN A UNIQUE WAY. 2 TIMOTHY 2:2, PAUL IS TELLING TIMOTHY NOT TO HOARD ALL THAT HE WAS TAUGHT NOR KEEP TO HIMSELF ALL THE THINGS HE LEARNED FROM PAUL.
PAUL IS CHARGING TIMOTHY TO SHARE ALL HE KNOWS WITH OTHERS BY INVESTING THE GOSPEL INTO THEIR LIVES SO THEY, IN TURN, CAN BE EQUIPPED TO HAND DOWN THAT SAME GOSPEL ON TO OTHERS. SHARE. EMPOWER. MULTIPLY.
IT IS A SOBERING REALITY THAT THE GOOD NEWS AND SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WE ACCEPTED WAS SHARED WITH US BY SOMEONE WHO ALSO HAD THE GOSPEL SHARED WITH THEM. SHARE. EMPOWER. MULTIPLY.
WE ARE CALLED TO A “MINISTRY OF MULTIPLICATION.” WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL AND WE MUST BE ENGAGED WITH PASSING IT ALONG TO OTHERS WHO, IN TURN, CAN PASS IT ALONG TO EVEN MORE PEOPLE.
THE WORD “TEACH” THAT PAUL USES IN VERSE 2, MEANS “TO IMPART INSTRUCTION,” “TO EXPLAIN;” “TO EXPOUND;” OR “TO HOLD DISCOURSE WITH OTHERS IN ORDER TO INSTRUCT THEM.” THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO SIMPLY SPEND TIME WITH OTHERS.
OUR MESSAGE TODAY IS ENTITLED “ECCLESIOLAE IN ECCLESIA” WHICH IS LATIN FOR “LITTLE CHURCHES WITHIN THE CHURCH.” THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM OF PEOPLE. WE, COLLECTIVELY, ARE THE CHURCH. SO, WHEN WE SAY “LITTLE CHURCHES WITHIN THE CHURCH” WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR SMALL GROUPS.
JOHN WESLEY CALLED THESE “SMALL GROUPS” THAT MET TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF THE “COLLECTIVE CHURCH” AS “BANDS.” THE BANDS WERE DESIGNED TO GATHER BELIEVERS FOR PRAYER, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, SUPERVISION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO (AS WESLEY'S FAVORITE) TO INQUIRE “HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL?”
WE NEED EACH OTHER TO PRAY TOGETHER AND TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE FOR LEARNING GOD’S WORD, LIVING GOD’S WORD, AND SHARING GOD’S WORD WITH OTHERS.
THE WORD “ENTRUST” USED IN VERSE 2, MEANS “DEPOSIT.” WE MUST EXAMINE OURSELVES AND BE HONEST IF WE ARE TRULY BEING INTENTIONAL WITH MAKING THOSE SPIRITUAL DEPOSITS BY PRAYING AND FELLOWSHIPPING TOGETHER AND BY INVESTING IN GOD’S WORD, OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND PRACTICING OUR FAITH.
WE NEED TO BE “LITTLE CHURCHES” OUTSIDE THE CHURCH BY MEETING TOGETHER ONE-ON-ONE OR IN SMALL GROUPS THAT WILL HELP MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROVIDE STABILITY TO KEEP US: FREE OF SIN, FROM REGRESSING BACK INTO THE WORLD, AND TO HELP BUILD OUR CONFIDENCE WITH SHARING THE GOSPEL.
HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL? HOW ARE YOU CARING FOR YOUR SOUL? HOW ARE YOU ALLOWING OTHERS TO CARE FOR YOUR SOUL? HOW ARE YOU FINDING WAYS TO BE A“LITTLE CHURCH WITHIN THE CHURCH?” WE SHOULD NOT ONLY BE RECEPTIVE TO CARE, BUT CAPABLE OF GIVING SUCH CARE TO OTHERS. FIND YOUR WAY TO BE THAT “LITTLE CHURCH.” SHARE. EMPOWER. MULTIPLY.
