Rediscovering the Church as a Dynamic Movement

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as a Living Movement

The early church was not defined by buildings or formalities but by a shared belief in the resurrection of Jesus. This vibrant assembly met in homes and open spaces, driven by the mission to spread the good news. Their gatherings were marked by simplicity and authenticity, reflecting a deep conviction that transcended physical structures. Today, we are called to emulate this dynamic movement, focusing on the essence of our faith rather than the trappings of institutional religion. [03:38]

Acts 2:46-47 (ESV): "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Reflection: How can you simplify your expression of faith to focus more on the core message of Jesus' resurrection in your daily interactions?

Day 2: Healing from Church Hurt

When the church strays from Jesus' original teachings, it can cause harm, known as "church hurt." This occurs when the institution meant to embody love and grace instead inflicts pain. Throughout history, reformers have emerged to call the church back to its roots, emphasizing the teachings and life of Jesus as the guiding principle. As we navigate our faith, we must be mindful of the impact of our actions and strive to align with the true essence of Jesus' message. [06:51]

Matthew 23:23 (ESV): "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."

Reflection: Is there someone you know who has experienced "church hurt"? How can you reach out to them with love and understanding this week?

Day 3: Stewards of Our Generation

As stewards of the church in our generation, our actions and reactions shape how Christianity is perceived in the world. We are called to embody the tone, approach, and posture of Jesus, ensuring that our faith remains authentic and true to its origins. This responsibility requires us to actively participate in the movement of the church, recognizing that we are representatives of Jesus in our daily lives. [09:22]

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can demonstrate the love and grace of Jesus in your community this week?

Day 4: Rediscovering Ekklesia

The term "church" has evolved from its original meaning of "ekklesia," a movement or assembly of people united by purpose. This shift has influenced how the world views the church, often as a location rather than a dynamic movement. By rediscovering the true meaning of ekklesia, we can better understand our role as part of a living, breathing community of believers, united by a shared mission to embody the teachings of Jesus. [19:59]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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."

Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering a sense of community and purpose within your church or small group?

Day 5: Walking, Talking Temples

We are walking, talking temples of the Holy Spirit, representing Jesus in our daily lives. Our actions and reactions should reflect the teachings of Jesus, serving as a testament to the authenticity of our faith. This calling challenges us to live intentionally, recognizing that we carry the presence of God wherever we go and in whatever we do. [32:47]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you better reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit this week? What changes can you make to align more closely with Jesus' teachings?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound significance of the church, not as a mere building or institution, but as a dynamic movement of people united by a shared purpose. The early church, devoid of the structures and hierarchies we see today, was a vibrant assembly driven by the conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, sent to reconcile the world to God. This belief was not anchored in systematic theology but in the transformative event of Jesus' resurrection, witnessed by many.

The first-century church was a movement, a gathering of people who met in homes, gardens, and open spaces, driven by the mission to spread the good news of Jesus. They were not bound by the constraints of buildings or formalities but were fueled by the simple yet profound message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This movement was characterized by its simplicity and authenticity, a stark contrast to the institutionalized church that emerged in later centuries.

As time passed, the church's expression evolved, often veering away from the original teachings of Jesus. This deviation led to what we now term "church hurt," where people were harmed by the very institution meant to embody love and grace. However, throughout history, reformers have risen to call the church back to its roots, emphasizing the teachings and life of Jesus as the true north for the faith.

Today, we are reminded that we are stewards of the church in our generation. Our actions and reactions as Christians shape the perception of Christianity in the world. We are called to embody the tone, approach, and posture of Jesus, ensuring that our faith remains authentic and true to its origins. As part of this movement, we are encouraged to participate actively, recognizing that we are walking, talking temples of the Holy Spirit, representing Jesus in our daily lives.

Key Takeaways

1. The early church was a movement, not an institution. It was a gathering of people united by the belief in Jesus' resurrection, meeting in homes and open spaces without the constraints of buildings or formalities. This simplicity and authenticity are what we should strive to emulate today. [03:38]
2. When the church veers from Jesus' original teachings, it leads to "church hurt," where people are harmed by the institution meant to embody love. Reformers throughout history have called the church back to its roots, emphasizing the teachings and life of Jesus as the true north for the faith. [06:51]
3. We are stewards of the church in our generation. Our actions and reactions as Christians shape the perception of Christianity in the world. We must embody the tone, approach, and posture of Jesus, ensuring that our faith remains authentic and true to its origins. [09:22]
4. The term "church" has evolved from its original meaning of "ekklesia," a movement or assembly of people. This shift has influenced how the world views the church, often as a location rather than a dynamic movement of people united by purpose. [19:59]
5. We are walking, talking temples of the Holy Spirit, representing Jesus in our daily lives. Our lives should be characterized by actions and reactions that reflect the teachings of Jesus, serving as a testament to the authenticity of our faith. [32:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Feeling Small in a Big World
[00:35] - More Than What We Do
[00:55] - God's Call to Action
[01:19] - Love for the Church
[02:01] - The First Century Church
[03:38] - A Movement Fueled by Conviction
[04:21] - Anchored to the Resurrection
[05:23] - Changes Over Time
[06:51] - Church Hurt and Reformers
[08:16] - The Role of Reformers
[09:22] - Stewards of Our Generation
[13:29] - Learning from the First Church
[14:12] - The Meaning of Ekklesia
[19:59] - The Church as a Movement
[32:47] - Walking, Talking Temples
[39:12] - Continuing the Ekklesia Movement

Sermon Clips

In the first century church, there were no buildings. There were no buildings, Bibles, or bands, or children's environments that looked like Disneyland. You know, they didn't have any of that stuff. They literally met outside at the edge of the woods. They met in gardens. They met in homes. They were just small gatherings. They met together early on the first day of the week. [00:02:22]

And it was a movement fueled by one simple conviction, one simple idea. They didn't have systematic theology. They didn't have this versus that. They didn't have a bunch of isms. All they had was this one central idea, that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, and that he was sent by God to explain God and to reconcile the world to God. [00:03:39]

When the church veered, things got weird. When the church veered historically away from the teaching of Jesus, things got really weird. When the church or a church loses its way, do you know what happens? People get hurt. In fact, there's a phrase now that, you know, people use, church hurt. Church hurt. [00:06:04]

Fortunately, even though the church oftentimes veer and oftentimes there's church hurt, fortunately, in every generation, there are, we're just gonna use an old term, reformers, or some people would say a remnant. But there are reformers who rise up and say, no, no more, not on our watch. And they call the church back. [00:08:09]

We, we are stewards, that is managers of, responsible for, we are stewards of the church in our generation. And when I say we, I don't simply mean the people gathered with me in this room, or the people gathered with you in that room, or in your living room, or in your car as you listen. I mean anyone who claims to be a Christian. [00:09:59]

Our collective actions and reactions authenticate or de-authenticate the authenticity of our faith. In other words, how we live our lives is a picture of or a message of what is the church really about, not just individual Christian expressions, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ that he launched 2,000 years ago. [00:10:31]

The Greek term is actually ekklesia, this title of this entire series, Ekklesia. Ekklesia, in the first century, in fact ekklesia in every century was not a religious term. It was just a common term that simply meant assembly. You could have an ekklesia of men. You could have an ekklesia of women. You could have an ekklesia of soldiers. [00:14:32]

The ekklesia of Jesus is not a location. The ekklesia of Jesus is not a building. The ekklesia of Jesus is a movement. It is a gathering of people on purpose to accomplish something together that wouldn't be accomplished any other way. But once in the fourth century, there were places that were controlled by the leaders. [00:19:56]

You are sacred. You are a walking, talking representation of your King. You are ambassadors for your King. You are ambassadors for Christ. This isn't about location. This is a movement of people who've come together to do something significant in the world. Years later, not that many years later, the Apostle Paul would come around this idea. [00:31:09]

Everywhere you go, you are a representation of Jesus and the assembly of Jesus that Jesus left here to impact the world. Everywhere you go, everything you say. That's why I said up front, we, including you, are managers, stewards, representatives of the kingdom of Christ on earth. [00:33:47]

The tone, approach, and posture of Jesus should characterize the tone, posture, the tone, approach, and posture of his followers. This is how you know if it's real or not. This is how you know if you had the genuine article or a counterfeit or a perversion. The tone, approach, and the posture of Jesus, just read the gospels. [00:36:45]

The through line, the true north for the assembly of Jesus are the words and the works of our savior. That's what the reformers always bring the church back to, not simply what the Bible teaches, what Jesus taught and how Jesus lived his life. The author and the perfecter of our faith, as the author of Hebrew says. [00:38:11]

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