Church

NOT Canceled: God’s sovereignty

• God’s in control, he is for you, and he is with you. 
  • NOT Canceled: The Church, our Sunday Gathering is canceled. I know that because I’m preaching to empty pews, though I can imagine you are here because y’all sit in the same spot every week. 
• Please turn to Matthew 16:15-18
  • Depending how comfortable you are, you are invited to stand for the reading of God’s word. Quick Context, Asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 
• [15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:15–18
  • The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!  PRAY

What is the Church? A called people that gathers to worship Jesus and love one another and scatters to worship Jesus and love others. 

• You’ll notice there’s a lot about Jesus. Why? 
  • What establishes a true Church is who we say Jesus is. 
  • He is the cornerstone of The Church, Eph. 2:20

Exposit vs. 18a- on this rock I will build my church / misinterpretation, It’s Peter.  It was never meant to be built on one person but a people’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. That’s what establishes the church, what you believe and what you confess about Jesus. 

• • If a gathering of people are meeting but it is NOT centered on the biblical Jesus, it is not a true church. 
    • Christ Centered preaching leading to a Christ centered life. Why? Is it just me, because I’m a Jesus freak? It’s not just because it’s my proclivity, it’s because of the Bible. 
  • Because the scriptures are Christ centered, the Bible is our authority otherwise we can just make stuff up. 
  • Cult leader? By God’s grace, I’m not because my authority is the scriptures and in says it the Bible itself, it’s all about Jesus. 
    • How horrible would it be to go to church your whole life only to face eternity with the echoing words, “depart from me, I never knew you.” How can something like that happen? By not believing in the Christ revealed in scripture. 
    • Who do you say Jesus is? Let’s look what Peter says… 
      • a. “You are the Christ, the person spoke of throughout biblical history to come and save us from our sin. The fulfillment of the sacrificial law, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” John the baptist
      • b. The Son of the living God. God in the flesh, the only begotten son, the true Emmanuel, God with us, John 1:1 & 14. 
      • To be Clear -It’s not that you have to holistically understand all there is to know about Jesus to be saved, but there is no diversion of who he is as revealed in scripture. 
    • Many know who I am, but you don’t have to know everything about me to know me. But if you were talking about me with someone, (without gossiping) they might say, “I know that guy” but when they met me I wasn’t the guy they thought… Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen with Jesus. That’s why it’s soooo inportant to know what you believe and who you believe in… 
      • But for those who do believe, Blessed are you! 
• vs. 17, And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you…
  • Blessed means “happy”, why is Jesus saying this to Peter? Because those who confess that Jesus is the Christ, the one who died and rose for our salvation, they become children of the living God too! Adopted into his family! 
• For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15–16
  • Gal. 4:5 & Eph. 1:5 and Eph. 2:19 says we are now apart of his household. 
    • Blessed are you! This is why I can God is for you and with you. Not all people can say that. If you’re not a christian you might say, “that’s not far”. Hey, you’re invited to the party, but your sin needs to be dealt with, removed. 
  • God doesn’t dwell were sin is king, he doesn’t share his throne. Why are Christians blessed? Gospel, that’s why. 
    • It is an incredible thing that the Father so saw it fit to reveal to you that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. 
• Vs. 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

What is the Church? A called people that gathers to worship Jesus and love one another and scatters to worship Jesus and love others. 

• • Blessed are those that have the grace to answer that calling… 
• Vs. 18, I will build my “church” 
  • Ecclesia: a gathering / called people or a set apart people. 
    • Invisible and visible 
    • Saved from our sin into the church, the body of Christ. 
• Local church gathering. 
  • This is a supplement, it’s missing the relational piece.  1 Corinthians 12:25–27
• …that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.1 Corinthians 12:25–27
• Hebrews 10, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
• A called people that gathers to worship Jesus and love one another
•  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24–25
• We are not meeting currently because Romans 13 says we are to abide by the ruling government, and they have asked us to not meet. But even more importantly, As I told one person, “this isn’t a communist regime telling us we can’t have church, this is a pandemic that endangers our people. The best way to love them is to have them stay home.” 
  • For now until this pandemic passes, for the sake of Christ’s and a love for his saints, we will have “online church” but this is a supplement, and as soon as it’s safe, we will gather again… I look forward to it. 
    • Call each other, check on each other, look for ways to love others and remember, you are the church and individually members of it. 

A called people that gathers to worship Jesus and love one another and scatters to worship Jesus and love others. 

• Vs. 18, on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  • Saints, you are apart of the most powerful movement on earth… The church. 
  • With the eternal creator, the King of kings and Lord of Lords at its helm, you have nothing to be afraid of.  He is in control, he is for you, he is with you, and you are apart of his family… The household of God, the church! 
    • If you can, take communion. Body & blood, invite unbelievers / 
      • PRAY