Aligning the Church with Biblical Standards and Teachings

 

Summary

The sermon emphasizes the importance of aligning the church with biblical standards rather than comparing it to other churches or cultural trends. The speaker highlights the need to understand and follow God's prescribed ways, as seen in the early church's devotion to apostolic teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. The church is presented as the vehicle for revealing God's glory and is warned against deviating from God's intentions, which is considered sin. The speaker references 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, emphasizing the careful building of the church on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the consequences of using inferior materials or destroying God's temple.

The speaker also addresses various types of churches described in the book of Revelation, including the compromising church, the corrupt church, and the church in Sardis, each facing warnings from Jesus to repent or face judgment. The importance of obedience to church leaders and the dangers of redefining the church to fit personal preferences are discussed, along with the critique of the "Harper Grace" teaching that distorts the concept of grace.

The speaker criticizes the practice of building churches based on what people want to hear, such as the Prosperity Gospel, and emphasizes the need to focus on Christ's teachings. They share their personal background in leading a church and establishing a network of churches, all with the goal of aligning with God's ways.

The dangers of incorporating worldly traditions and bad teachings into the church are highlighted, with a call to return to biblical values. The speaker warns against churches that have a form of godliness but lack the power of God, stressing the centrality of Jesus in the church. Concerns about the church in Corinth's unhealthy practices, such as improper breaking of bread, are discussed, with Paul's letters serving as a warning.

The speaker expresses the need for corrective measures in churches, the importance of learning from the early church, and the urgency of repentance and devotion to God. The end times are mentioned, with a focus on the limited time for Gentiles to come to Christ and the characteristics of an end times church that is self-centered. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of following God's pattern, as exemplified by Noah and Moses, and the consequences of deviating from it, as seen in David's attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.

Key Takeaways:

- The church must be built according to God's design, as deviations from His prescribed way can lead to judgment. The early church's commitment to apostolic teaching, fellowship, and prayer serves as a model for a healthy church community. [05:52]

- Obedience to the Gospel and the Holy Spirit is crucial for a church's spiritual health. A self-centered approach that prioritizes personal rights over love and care for others is a sign of false Christianity. [36:49]

- The church's foundation must be Jesus Christ, and the materials used to build upon it should be of lasting quality. God will test every church, and those whose work does not endure will suffer loss. [41:45]

- Jesus' messages to the churches in Revelation serve as a sobering reminder that tolerance of sin, corruption, and incomplete devotion can lead to severe consequences unless there is repentance. [21:40]

- The church should not be conformed to the desires of people or cultural trends but should remain steadfast in biblical teachings. The Prosperity Gospel and other distortions of biblical riches must be avoided in favor of a focus on the blessings God provides. [32:03]

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple."

2. Revelation 2:4-5
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

3. Acts 2:42-47
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

### Observation Questions

1. What are the key elements that the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42-47?
2. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, what materials are mentioned for building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and what will happen to each material?
3. According to Revelation 2:4-5, what does Jesus hold against the church in Ephesus, and what are the consequences if they do not repent?
4. How does the sermon describe the consequences of deviating from God's prescribed ways for the church? ([51:50])

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it important for the church to be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and what does it mean to use "gold, silver, costly stones" versus "wood, hay, or straw"? ([42:47])
2. How can the early church's devotion to apostolic teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer serve as a model for modern churches? ([07:00])
3. What does it mean for a church to have "forsaken the love you had at first," and how can a church today recognize if it has done so? ([19:20])
4. How does the sermon critique the practice of building churches based on what people want to hear, such as the Prosperity Gospel? ([32:03])

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own church experience. How devoted are you to the teachings, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer? What steps can you take to increase your devotion in these areas? ([07:00])
2. Consider the materials you are using to build your spiritual life. Are they of lasting quality (gold, silver, costly stones) or temporary (wood, hay, straw)? What changes can you make to ensure you are building with lasting materials? ([42:47])
3. Have you ever felt that your church or you personally have "forsaken the love you had at first"? What practical steps can you take to rekindle that love and devotion? ([19:20])
4. How can you ensure that your church remains aligned with biblical teachings rather than cultural trends or personal preferences? What role can you play in this alignment? ([32:03])
5. The sermon warns against churches that have a form of godliness but lack the power of God. How can you personally contribute to ensuring that your church is filled with the power of God? ([39:04])
6. Reflect on the concept of obedience to church leaders. How can you balance obedience with ensuring that the church remains true to biblical teachings? ([34:42])
7. The sermon mentions the urgency of repentance and devotion to God. What areas of your life require repentance, and how can you increase your devotion to God this week? ([55:04])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Blueprint for the Church
God's design for the church is non-negotiable and serves as the ultimate standard for church life and community. The early church's dedication to apostolic teachings, fellowship, and prayer is the pattern to emulate, ensuring that the church remains a true reflection of God's intentions. Deviations from this blueprint are not just errors but sins that can lead to judgment. [05:52]

Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Reflection: How does your church align with the early church's commitment to teaching, fellowship, and prayer?

Day 2: Obedience Over Self-Centeredness
True Christianity is marked by obedience to the Gospel and the Holy Spirit, not by a self-centered approach that prioritizes personal rights. The church must embody love and care for others, reflecting the character of Christ rather than the desires of the self. [36:49]

James 1:22-24 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Reflection: In what ways might you be prioritizing your own preferences over the teachings of the Gospel?

Day 3: Building with Eternal Materials
The church's foundation is Jesus Christ, and the quality of the materials used in building upon this foundation is of utmost importance. Every church will be tested by fire, and only those built with lasting materials will endure. This metaphor speaks to the spiritual integrity and doctrinal soundness required in church leadership and personal faith. [41:45]

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 - "If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work."
Reflection: What kind of materials are you using to build your spiritual life and contribute to your church community?

Day 4: Repentance and Revival
The messages to the churches in Revelation are stark reminders that Jesus does not tolerate sin, corruption, or lukewarm devotion. These warnings are calls to repentance and a return to wholehearted commitment to God. The church must always be vigilant and ready to correct its course to avoid the severe consequences of spiritual complacency. [21:40]

Revelation 2:5 - "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
Reflection: Are there areas in your spiritual life where complacency has set in? How can you reignite your first love for Christ?

Day 5: Resisting Cultural Conformity
The church must stand firm on biblical teachings and not conform to the shifting desires of people or cultural trends. The Prosperity Gospel and other distortions of biblical truth must be rejected in favor of the true blessings that come from a life devoted to God. The church's mission is to be a beacon of God's truth, not a mirror of the world's values. [32:03]

Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: How can you guard against the influence of cultural trends that conflict with biblical teachings in your own life and in your church?

Quotes

"The church for me is to be built for one person, his name is Jesus. He's the head, he's the leader, he's the groom; we're the bride. And so we have to find what does the Lord want." [47:04] (Download)

"When we come to Him, actually what He likes and what we like is often different, but He's the head, and so we've got to learn what He likes and give ourselves to Him." [47:32] (Download)

"One of the most dangerous teachings in our generation is what I call the 'hyper grace' or 'deficient grace,' which is a license to sin, suggesting that nothing we do will affect our relationship with God." [35:11] (Download)

"We must grapple with the Bible, grapple with the ways of God, and make sure that we build the vehicle that God's chosen to change the world—the church—in the prescribed way." [54:30] (Download)

"It's through the church God's chosen to reveal His glory to the rulers, the authorities in the heavenly places. There is no plan B; we're it, and we must get it right." [55:04] (Download)

"Sin is whenever God says I want it done like this and we don't quite hit it—that's sin. So when we do Church, we've got to be careful to come back to how God wants Church to look; otherwise, even the way we do church can miss the mark." [41:45] (Download)

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Every Church must be very careful how you build on that, for the day of judgment will bring it to light, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work within the church." [42:47] (Download)

"God's Temple is sacred, and you are that temple. If anyone destroys God's Temple, God will destroy him. This is serious stuff; this thing that brings such hope, God is as zealous and passionate that we don't mess it up because if we mess it up, what hope does the world have?" [43:59] (Download)

"If God is against you, who can be for you? You've got Jesus fighting against his own church and the call is repent. I don't want to do this; I'm warning you so that you escape my judgment, but you must change." [21:40] (Download)

"We would build a church in such a way that it'd be bringing the church back to the Bible, back to God's ways, back to Jesus, and that we would become a church that would become a movement that ultimately churches all over the world would learn from." [02:05] (Download)

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Transcript
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