"How the Church Works"
November 7, 2010
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While I went to seminary I taught a couple of courses at Gordon College. One was called “Discovery.” It was a way to ease students into college life and help them discover some things about college life in general, and the school in particular; to discover somethings about community, themselves, and about God. One of the things we made the students do was go on a camping trip to Mt. Washington. It was a way to hold them captive and try to force them into some self-discovery.
I had two helpers, upper class students, who were into the whole experiential education and outdoors thing. The girl who helped was smart, fun, competent, and passionate about God and the outdoors. As we were driving up to Mt. Washington we got to talking. At one point she basically said, “George, you have a great thing going on here at Gordon, why do you want to mess this up and become a pastor?” That is a really great question I thought. Then I did the old switchero, because this was about students discovery, not mine. “Sounds like maybe you’ve had a tough time with the church.” I said.
And as it turned out, she had had a very bad experience with the church. She told about a time when things were great in her church, and how involved her family was. Their lives really revolved around the church. Then a conflict came up, and people started taking sides, and people got all dug in on their issues, and people started getting really mean to each other. And in the end, a lot of people got hurt, and a lot of people left, including her family. After that things were not the same. Their relationship with the church, not just that church, never really recovered. And really, out of self preservation and protection, they really didn’t invest in or believe in the local church. She still loved God she said, still loved Jesus. She was at a Christian College. But she just didn’t really believe in the church.
It’s a story that would break your heart. It’s a story a lot of you could tell. It’s a story that some could trump, because they’ve been hurt even more by a church, or a leader in the church. For a lot of folks it’s really this simple: the church is broken, and the church doesn’t work.
So she asked me again why I was going to become a pastor. Basically, I said that the church really is messed up in so many ways. The church has messed up a lot of people in many ways. The church has a lot to be sorry for, a lot to confess. But, in the same way that you don’t judge Handel’s Messiah by the way a grade school choir performs it, you can’t really judge the whole church for the way some immature and sinful Christians play it.
Then I told her that college is great, and I’m all about it. But you know, Jesus didn’t say he loved the 4 year liberal arts Christian college, and gave his life for her.
He didn’t say that the school will prevail against the gates of hell.
He didn’t say that education is his bride in the new creation.
He didn’t say that the university was the hope of the world.
He didn’t say that college was the one enduring institution/ organism in all of creation.
He said it was his church.
He said that he would be with his church and his church would be his people, and he would work through his people to spread his gospel and gather all nations and send out all peoples and transform the world from the inside out through people who have been transformed inside out by a God who would send his Spirit to transform people from the inside out. He said he would do this through his church.
And when we read the book of Revelation, it’s not the schools, or the governments, or the economics systems, or the businesses, or any other institution or organism in the world that stand before God to give an account of what they’ve done and receive a reward for what they’ve done. It’s the church. And while those are all institutions that Christians call be called to, they are not the church, they do not replace the church, and they do not replace the role of the church in every single Christians life.
Christians need to go in to every square inch of God’s creation, but they need to do so as a part of, and with a profound understanding, that they are going as the church. For it’s only when the church goes and brings the gospel to every square inch of creation that all of creation will hear the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.
Folks, I am passionate about the church. I believe in the church because God believes in the church, and I am excited to talk to you about how the church works today! I believe that the church is the people of God, the people of God are means for the mission of God. I believe that everyone who calls upon Jesus as savior and Lord are a part of the church and have a role in the church and that our purpose for being alive and in the world flows out of our awareness, understanding and embrace of our role in the church. And I believe that there nothing else like the church in the world, and when the church works, it really really works. It works life change, transformation and eternal salvation.
Let’s start by answering the question, What is the church? First- What it isn’t. To many people think of the church as a building. We love it that Connections started without an building. We started as people on a mission, and we will always be a people on a mission. We’re getting a ministry center in a week, but all that building does is aid our mission as a people. The church isn’t a building, nor is it one hour Sunday morning. I’m guilty of this, and I hate it even when I say it, “It’s time to go to church.” No, we don’t go to church, we go to worship at the church. Church isn’t a building and it isn’t one hour Sunday morning. This isn’t just a matter of semantics. It’s a matter of understanding and embracing our being the church!
So let’s look to the bible. We don’t see the word church appear until late in the game of Jesus’ ministry. In fact, the only two recorded references happen in Matthew. First when he affirms his disciple Peter and says he will use him to build his church, and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Then later he gives instructions for how to resolve conflict within the church. But then we get into the book of Acts, and there we read the story of Pentecost and the birth of the church. Peter preaches the gospel. Thousands of people beleive. The Holy SPirit moves. ANd 3000 are baptized and the church is launched. And from there forward it’s all about the church. In fact, the letters of the NT are primarily addressed to churches- in Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, etc. It’s all about the church because the church is all about the mission of God!
The word church comes from the word “Ecclesia.” In it’s strictest definition it means those called out and gathered. So at the heart of the church are people called out from the world, called to Jesus Christ as savior and Lord, filled by the Holy Spirit, giving their lives to God, who gather together.
The church is referred to in organic, living terms more than in-organic or institutional terms, though both are necessary to have a fuller understanding of the church. Simply put, the church is the people of God, more, the family of God. They are the Elect in Christ, they bride of Christ, the body of Christ. She is called the gathering of the redeemed, the communion of saints, the New Israel and the People of the New Covenant, among others.
Let’s look at a passage the brings most of the major concepts of the church into light. Ephesians 2:18-22 “18For through him (JESUS) we both have(AS) access in(AT) one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer(AU) strangers and aliens,[c] but you are(AV) fellow citizens with the saints and(AW) members of the household of God, 20(AX) built on the foundation of the(AY) apostles and prophets,(AZ) Christ Jesus himself being(BA) the cornerstone, 21(BB) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into(BC) a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him(BD) you also are being built together(BE) into a dwelling place for God by[d] the Spirit.”
Using this passage, and pulling in a few others to flesh it out, here’s your working definition of the church for this message: The church is the people called by God the Father; who gather together as one, holy, catholic and apostolic body under the Lordship of Jesus Christ to be built up and equipped; so they may be sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), to fulfill the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-39).
It’s a bit heavy. But it can be remembered in this way. The church works by Calling, Gathering, and Sending.
Calling: The big idea here is that the church as a very passive thing on our part, but very active on God’s. This means that we first accept that salvation is a gift from God by the GRACE of God. Being the church is something that happens to you. You get called by God to be a part of his church. It’s the work of God.
Some of you totally get that. You were not looking for God or to be a part of the church. You had other ideas and plans for your life, and this was not going to be a part of it. But God did something in your life. Things happens, God smacked you upside the head, the Spirit began to move in your life, and pretty soon you wanted to worship God. You wanted to read the bible. You wanted to give money to the mission of the church, how weird is that! You wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
If that’s your story, it totally matches with the bible. Saul, the guy who wrote most of the NT letter to the churches, who planted nearly all those churches, was a guy who started his career hating and persecuting the church! But he got called, and when God called, he answered, and he gave his life to starting and serving the church.
All of this highlights for all of us, being the church starts with being called. The starting point of being the church, working as the church, is to be a called community. And because we are have been called, we are unashamed, and unafraid, to call to everyone in the world, Jesus is LORD! Through him you can know God for he is God. Through Him you have access to the Spirit and God is in you! Through him we are together to body of Christ! This is great news! This is the Gospel! And this get’s us to the next movement...
Gathering: The church works when it gathers together. In the Ephesians passage we have the wonderful imagery and promise that we are no longer strangers and aliens to God, but now that we have been called and gathered, we are strangers and aliens to the world. We are now gathered as the citizens and saints, members of the household of God.
A few things about gathering. Our definition states that the church are those who gather together as one, holy, catholic and apostolic body under the Lordship of Jesus Christ to be built up and equipped.
That needs a little unpacking. There exists what is called the visible and the invisible church, the local and the universal church. The visible church is what we see, and what we see is actually a mixed bag. There are some that claim to be churches that are not churches, some who claim to be Christians who are not Christians. Within the visible church is the invisible church, the church as God sees and knows it. There is also the local and the universal church. We are a local church. But we are part of a church that spans space and time. At Christ’s return the invisible church will become the visible church; the local church will be gathered with the universal church. The weeds will be sorted out from the wheat, and we will be made holy in Christ.
The true church that will become visible when Jesus returns is one. Though fragmented by denominations and divisions over just about anything and everything under the sun, there is but one church with One Lord Jesus Christ, One father, One Spirit, held together in one faith. The true church is holy because is has been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ and sanctified but the filling of the holy spirit, and one day we will not just be free from the power of sin, which we are free from now, but free from even the presence or any effects of sin. The true church is catholic, meaning universal- it transcends borders and boundaries and all barriers. It is all believers from all ages over all the earth. It is apostolic. That means it passes on the teachings of the apostles, which is defined for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, or in the apostles creed as written by the church, I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his son our Lord, who was conceived by the holy spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. he descended into hell. On the third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life ever lasting.
When most people think of the church, if they don’t about the building, what goes through their mind is what happens here. And that’s not a bad start, because what happens here in the gathering of worship gets us ready, and gets us equipped, to be the church the rest of the week. There are a couple of things that universally accepted as essential to gathering worship as they are essential to being the church.
First, we gather in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the head of the church and when we get here we say guess who’s senior pastor and in control? Not the guy up front. The guy who sits at the right hand of the Father, glorified in heaven, Jesus Christ.
Second, we confess our sins. When we recognize Jesus for who he is, we fall on our faces and ask for forgiveness.
Third, we receive forgiveness! We are assured of our forgiveness for Jesus died, rose and reigns and promises that everyone who calls to him and confesses to him is saved!
Forth, we offer prayers. We connect with God through Jesus and the Spirit in prayer. We praise him, we ask of him, we listen for his voice.
Fifth, we sing songs. Not all churches do this, but it is hugely characteristic of the churches in all of the bible.
Sixth, we read the bible. We listen to Gods word and affirm that it is the authority for the church.
Seventh, we preach the word, Jesus Christ. The scriptures are explained and applied.
Eighth, we respond by giving our offerings to God. Yes, money, and more, our very lives. The opportunity for response is essential, for the word is living and active.
Ninth, we administrate the sacraments. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Tenth, finally, we are sent. And let’s talk about that sending.
Sending: The church is a sent and sending communion of Christians. Jesus’ finally command to his people- go. Go, you are sent! The disciples became apostles. Disciples are students who follow. Apostles are saints who are sent! You who are fully equipped by the filling of the holy spirit are sent to the world, to teach all that Jesus commanded, which implies you know what Jesus commanded. And you get this whole cycle started again. Just as we who are the church were once called, we go out to call others. Maybe you were called right from the time you were a child. Your parents brought you to church so you would be raised in the faith. Maybe it was much later in life, but someone went and told you the story of Jesus.
The Church WORKS when it is this calling, gathering and sending communion. If you take one of these away: the calling, the gathering, the sending, the church doesn’t work. In fact, the church collapses on itself. The church stops working. The church, if it were possible, would stop being the church.
Let’s apply this very in very personal terms: If the church is the people, those people must called, gathered and sent. So before anything else, to be the church means to be called. And so we have to ask ourselves, or simply acknowledge, has God called me? This is not meant to be harsh, but the biblical truth of how the church works, is that you are not a part of it until you have been called to it. Let me quickly add this, everyone is welcome here. We want you to be a apart of our church. So we want yo to be welcome in worship. Welcome in groups. Welcomed to serve. Because we want you to hear and be assured of the call of God on your life. We want at some point, if it hasn’t already happened, for you to say, yes, I want to accept the gift of God. I want to put my faith in Jesus, I want the Spirit to be in my life, I want to call God my heavenly Father, I want to be in the church. Then we want to gather together as the church. And then we want to go our to the world, send, to share what has been shared and given to us.
When the church works, there’s nothing like the church. The church works when people hear the call of God. The call that God loves them, God send is son for them, God offers forgiveness and life to them. The church works when the called people become the gathered people. We gather to hear this story of our calling over and over and over again. We gather for the sacraments- to baptize new believers and welcome them into the body, to feast at the table of our LORD. We gather to grow as disciples. Finally, the church works when it’s send back out to the world God loves to share the good news and invite them to gather with us.
Read Acts 2:42-47... Ultimately the church works when people are getting saved. You are working as a part of the body of Christ when you take part in the saving.
That is our prayer and our standard of a working church: when God is adding to our numbers those who are being saved.
