“What Is A Church?”
Matthew 16:13-20
Sermon Series: “Core”
Introduction: This message is foundational to this series. Jesus shed His bled to purchase the church (Acts 20:28). He loves His bride so His faithful followers must as well. A major part of walking with Jesus is functioning properly in the corporate expression of Christianity, which is the Church. However, there are many false perceptions about the church today. Outside the church many see it as outdated, outmoded, and irrelevant. Attempts to be spiritual without church involvement are on the rise. One person responded to a Gallup poll by saying, “I am my own church.” However, my greater concern is the false perceptions and practices among churches and Christians themselves. What is a church and how does this apply to our lives?
1. The church is people. The word, “church,” means “called-out ones.” It is referring to an assembly of people. An old saying states, “The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.”
A) The people of God (1 Peter 2:9-10) B) The family of God (Ephesians 2:19) C) The body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12)
It has a universal (Hebrews 12:23, 1 Corinthians 12:13) and local expression (1 Corinthians 1:2). This means that:
A. The building does not make a church.
B. We are the church, and the church is what we make it (sum of its parts).
C. The way to truly build a church is by building people. People come before programs, traditions, or buildings.
D. God is calling us to reach out to all kinds of people.
E. God is calling each of us to be the type of church members who build up His church and not tear it down.
2. The Church is people who confess Jesus Christ (v. 13-17).
Jesus Christ is both the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) and head of
the Church (Colossians 1:18). Therefore, the only way to truly be a member of the Church is to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You can be a member of a church, but not be a Christian and not a member of the universal Church. Church membership should be for those who repent of sin, trust Christ, and publicly confess Jesus through baptism (see Acts 2). Apart from this, church is just a religious country club. The false confession of human opinion is not enough. The church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). We are called to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
3. The church belongs to Jesus (v.18-“my church”).
A. Founder and Foundation (Ephesians 2:20) B. Purchaser (Acts 20:28)
C. Owner
D. Designer and Builder
E. Ruler (Ephesians 5:23)
F. Centerpiece (Revelation 2:1): The Church belongs to Jesus-not us. The Church is about Him-not us. It is about pleasing Him-not us.
4. The church is invincible and triumphant (v. 18). Jesus won the victory on the cross. We are more than conquerors now (Romans 8:37). This victory will not be fully applied until the return of Christ, but Jesus is overcoming Satan’s opposition and building His Church until then.
5. The church is empowered by the authority of and commissioned to share the Word of God (v. 19).
This is the where the authority for our ministry comes from. We are to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Here are two specific applications of this truth:
A. Evangelism-Jesus is the door of salvation (John 10), but the Word of God is the key that opens the door (Romans 10:17).
B. Church discipline (see Matthew 18:15-20)
