Embracing the Church: God's Community of Purpose
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, Adventure Kids and everyone joining us online! Today, we delve into the essence of the church, exploring why it is so vital to our faith and community. While online gatherings are wonderful, I encourage you to visit one of our physical locations in Auckland if you can. The church is not just a place we go to; it is the bride of Christ, a living, breathing community where we encounter God and each other in profound ways.
We are in the midst of our "Why Series," and today we focus on "Why the Church?" We turn to Acts 2, which paints a vivid picture of the early church—a community devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer. This thriving community was marked by generosity, unity, and miraculous signs, embodying the essence of what the church should be.
The church is not a human invention but a divine institution established by Jesus Himself. Ephesians 5:25-30 describes the church as the bride of Christ, loved and cherished by Him. To follow Jesus means to love His church, warts and all. The church is not just a Sunday meeting but a community that should be holy and without blemish, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Christ.
We often look for a perfect church, but what we should seek is a "presenced" church—one filled with the presence of God. Perfection is not the goal; being in a place where God's presence resides is. Many of us attend church out of convenience rather than conviction. However, God calls us to be active participants, using our spiritual gifts to serve and build His house.
The church is also a place where we trade the comfort of lies for the cost of truth. The enemy often distracts us with half-truths, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We were created for community and purpose, and the church is where we find both. When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we flourish, bear fruit, and stay fresh.
In conclusion, the church is God's chosen expression on earth, a place where we are restored, renewed, and released to make a difference. It is the answer to a broken and dying world. Let us commit to not just attending church but being the church, living out our faith with conviction and purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Church as the Bride of Christ: The church is not a human idea but the bride of Christ, loved and cherished by Him. To follow Jesus means to love His church, warts and all. This love compels us to see the church not just as a Sunday meeting but as a holy, blemish-free community reflecting Christ's love and sacrifice. [55:03]
2. Presence Over Perfection: We often look for a perfect church, but what we should seek is a "presenced" church—one filled with the presence of God. Perfection is not the goal; being in a place where God's presence resides is. This shift in focus helps us appreciate the church as a divine institution rather than a human one. [49:42]
3. Living from Conviction, Not Convenience: God calls us to be active participants in His church, using our spiritual gifts to serve and build His house. Living out our faith should be driven by conviction rather than convenience. This commitment helps us grow spiritually and contribute to the flourishing of the church community. [01:14:44]
4. The Cost of Truth: The enemy often distracts us with half-truths, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Embracing this truth requires us to live interdependently within the church community, rather than independently. This interdependence helps us fulfill our purpose and find authentic, life-giving relationships. [01:20:20]
5. Flourishing in God's House: When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we flourish, bear fruit, and stay fresh. The church is not just a place we go to on Sundays but a community where we are restored, renewed, and released to make a difference. Being planted in the church helps us withstand life's challenges and grow spiritually. [01:06:55]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[47:53] - Introduction and Series Overview
[48:28] - Honoring Volunteers
[49:03] - Personal Testimony and Acts 2
[49:42] - The Early Church and Pentecost
[50:24] - Acts 2:42-47 Scripture Reading
[51:18] - Why the Church?
[52:29] - Personal Anecdote: Sharing a Toothbrush
[53:17] - The Loving, Thriving Community
[54:09] - Ephesians 5:25-30: The Church as the Bride of Christ
[55:43] - The Church as God's Chosen Expression
[56:34] - Loving the Church, Warts and All
[57:53] - The Church as Ecclesia
[59:20] - The Global and Local Church
[01:00:53] - The Radical Growth of the Early Church
[01:03:15] - The Church as the Body of Christ
[01:06:55] - Flourishing in God's House
[01:14:44] - Living from Conviction, Not Convenience
[01:20:20] - The Cost of Truth
[01:23:44] - The Importance of Grouping
[01:25:11] - The Church as God's Chosen Expression
[01:26:54] - Invitation to Believe in Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:42-47: "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
2. Ephesians 5:25-30: "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body."
3. Psalms 92:13-14: "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing."
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the key activities that the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42-47?
2. How does Ephesians 5:25-30 describe the relationship between Christ and the church?
3. What promise is given to those who are "planted in the house of the Lord" in Psalms 92:13-14?
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between a "perfect church" and a "presenced church"? [49:42]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the early church's devotion to teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer was so impactful in their community? [50:24]
2. How does understanding the church as the "bride of Christ" influence the way we should view and treat the church? [55:03]
3. What does it mean to live from conviction rather than convenience in the context of being part of the church? [01:14:44]
4. How can the concept of being "planted in the house of the Lord" help us withstand life's challenges and grow spiritually? [01:06:55]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in the church. Are you more of a spectator or an active participant? What steps can you take to become more involved? [01:14:44]
2. Think about a time when you were looking for a "perfect church." How can you shift your focus to seeking a "presenced church" instead? [49:42]
3. In what ways can you use your spiritual gifts to serve and build the church community? Identify one specific area where you can start serving. [01:14:44]
4. Have you ever traded the cost of truth for the comfort of a lie in your spiritual journey? How can you embrace the truth and live interdependently within the church community? [01:20:20]
5. How can you ensure that your faith and church involvement are driven by conviction rather than convenience? What changes might you need to make in your schedule or priorities? [01:14:44]
6. Reflect on the idea that the church is the bride of Christ. How does this perspective change the way you view and interact with your church community? [55:03]
7. Identify one person in your church community who might need encouragement or support. What specific action can you take this week to reach out to them and show them the love of Christ? [01:23:44]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as the Bride of Christ
The church is not merely a human institution but is described in the Bible as the bride of Christ, loved and cherished by Him. This profound relationship means that to follow Jesus is to love His church, despite its imperfections. The church is called to be a holy and blemish-free community that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. This understanding shifts our perspective from seeing the church as just a Sunday meeting to recognizing it as a divine institution that plays a crucial role in our spiritual lives. [55:03]
Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV): "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
Reflection: How can you actively show love and commitment to your local church community, recognizing it as the bride of Christ?
Day 2: Presence Over Perfection
Many people search for a perfect church, but what we should truly seek is a "presenced" church—one filled with the presence of God. Perfection is not the goal; rather, being in a place where God's presence resides is what matters. This shift in focus helps us appreciate the church as a divine institution rather than a human one. When we prioritize God's presence, we experience a deeper connection with Him and with each other. [49:42]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek and cultivate the presence of God in your church community, rather than focusing on its imperfections?
Day 3: Living from Conviction, Not Convenience
God calls us to be active participants in His church, using our spiritual gifts to serve and build His house. Living out our faith should be driven by conviction rather than convenience. This commitment helps us grow spiritually and contribute to the flourishing of the church community. When we live from conviction, we are more likely to engage deeply and meaningfully with our faith and with others in the church. [01:14:44]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What spiritual gifts has God given you, and how can you use them to serve and build up your church community?
Day 4: The Cost of Truth
The enemy often distracts us with half-truths, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Embracing this truth requires us to live interdependently within the church community, rather than independently. This interdependence helps us fulfill our purpose and find authentic, life-giving relationships. The church is a place where we trade the comfort of lies for the cost of truth, leading to genuine transformation and growth. [01:20:20]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: Are there any half-truths or lies you have been holding onto? How can you embrace the truth of Jesus and live interdependently within your church community?
Day 5: Flourishing in God's House
When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we flourish, bear fruit, and stay fresh. The church is not just a place we go to on Sundays but a community where we are restored, renewed, and released to make a difference. Being planted in the church helps us withstand life's challenges and grow spiritually. It is in this community that we find the support and encouragement needed to thrive in our faith journey. [01:06:55]
Psalm 92:12-14 (ESV): "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green."
Reflection: How can you deepen your roots in your church community to ensure you flourish and bear fruit in your spiritual life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Life is a place where everyone belongs. I did want to just take a moment however as the senior pastor to encourage you and invite you to one of our physical locations in the Auckland area if you live close by. I wholeheartedly believe in the gathering together of God's people in his house and that is totally where the connection fellowship and encounter take place and I believe that's what God has and wants for each one of us." [47:53] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I know God wants to do something significant on this Sunday. I know that the enemy does not want this message to be the bedrock for every single one of us as followers of Jesus. In fact, it was at about 12 a.m. And one of my children came in very sick through the night. And just as we got through that hour and a half or so, and I fell back asleep, it was now 2 a.m. when another child came in suffering from night terrors." [49:03] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The church is the hope of the world. The church is you and I. And if we look for perfection, we will not find it outside of Jesus himself. But we can trust the bride of Christ when we look for presence over perfection. I pray that his house, no one in his life here, that you and I are a part of, will always carry the presence of God. But it carries the presence of God when the people of God bring the presence of God." [01:13:22] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Life, the church, should not just be where we go on a Sunday, but it should be the house of God that we are building. See, the mission of life is that we would capture the heartbeat. Everyone will belong. Everyone will believe. And everyone would build. Because we've discovered how Psalms 92 puts it, that you will flourish when you do it God's way. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age. They shall be fresh and flourishing." [01:06:55] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The church is the answer, his answer to a broken and dying world. The church, I would put it this way, is the people of God, chosen by God and graciously brought into the world. The church is the answer, his answer to a broken and dying world. And now empowered by Holy Spirit to live life with one another. The church is the adopted family of God, once slaves to sin, but now brought into a loving relationship with God as father and each other as brothers and sisters in Christ." [01:25:11] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I love that the loving, thriving community looks like they've discovered the wonder of life not just with God, but with each other. Now maybe not to the point of sharing toothbrushes, but as we're gonna discover, pretty close to it. And I wonder for every follower of Jesus here today at every campus, whether we take a moment to look at our 21st century Christianity and we limit our understanding of God to this thought what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine and he's a God that just wants to take from us." [53:17] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It's the picture of the church. It's both God doing all he can for you and I and it's both us doing all we can for God. In fact, there's a scripture in Ephesians that's talking about marriage, but I love the words in it because it gives us a glimpse into how Jesus himself sees his bride, his church. Verse 25 of chapter five says this, for husbands, this means love your wives just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word." [55:03] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The church is not a human idea. The church is not just, just a physical gathering that we're in right now, but the church is the bride of Christ. And to follow Jesus, you and I must realize it now means we follow the choices of Jesus. And if Jesus has chosen the church as his bride, his expression here on earth, then as followers of Jesus, the church is it for you and for me. In fact, I would put it this way. If I love Jesus, if you love Jesus, we now need to be compelled to love his church, warts and all." [56:34] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reality is building the house of God, activating your faith will cost you something. But in turn, you get to be a part, as Romans 12 puts it, of the body, that is functioning, that is growing, that is moving forward. And I'll never, ever, ever see the reality of someone else's faith journey until I get to heaven. But what I do know is when I do my bit here on earth and activate the gifts God's so generously already given to me, someone else's eternity is on the line. And that is why conviction must overpower convenience." [01:18:20] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The church is the gathered community, regularly coming together for worship, communion, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and mission. And the church is God's chosen expression here on earth, where we can come to be restored, renewed, and released to make a difference. If you love God's church, can we take a moment to lift a shout of praise? I know it's been a little bit teachy this morning, but I hope you capture the heart. Why the church? Because the church matters to you and I. And it matters to the world that's in need of Jesus." [01:26:54] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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