The Church: A Movement of Purpose and Unity

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as a Living Movement

The early church was not defined by buildings or hierarchies but by a shared conviction that Jesus was the Son of God, a belief rooted in the resurrection. This movement was characterized by a collective purpose, where people came together to live out their faith in transformative ways. Today, the church is called to return to this dynamic essence, focusing on unity and purpose rather than structures. As members of this movement, we are invited to participate actively, recognizing that our faith is not confined to a location but is expressed through our lives and actions. [03:38]

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 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 actively contribute to the church as a movement in your community today, beyond attending services or events?

Day 2: Staying True to Jesus' Teachings

When the church deviates from the original teachings of Jesus, it risks losing its way and causing harm. The foundation of human dignity and rights is deeply rooted in the belief that everyone is made in the image of God, a central message of Jesus. Throughout history, reformers have emerged to call the church back to these core teachings, emphasizing the importance of staying true to the mission of Jesus. As stewards of the church today, we must ensure that our actions reflect the teachings of Jesus, maintaining the integrity and influence of the church in the world. [06:11]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your actions align with the teachings of Jesus, especially in situations where it might be challenging?

Day 3: Our Responsibility as Stewards

We are entrusted with the responsibility of how Christianity is perceived and practiced in our generation. Our actions and reactions serve as a testament to our faith, and we must strive to embody the teachings of Jesus authentically. This involves being mindful of how we represent the church and ensuring that our faith is impactful and genuine. As stewards, we are called to be active participants in the church's mission, contributing to its growth and influence in the world. [09:22]

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. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What specific gifts or talents do you have that can be used to serve others and glorify God within your community?

Day 4: The Church Beyond Walls

The concept of "church" has evolved, but its original meaning, "ekklesia," refers to a gathering of people with a purpose. The church is not confined to a building but is a movement of individuals united by a common mission. As members of this movement, we are called to be active participants, engaging with our communities and living out our faith in tangible ways. This perspective challenges us to rethink how we view the church and our role within it, emphasizing the importance of community and purpose. [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 foster a sense of community and purpose within your church, even outside of traditional gatherings or services?

Day 5: Living as Temples of God

As followers of Christ, we are walking, talking temples of God, representing His kingdom on earth. Our lives should reflect the tone, approach, and posture of Jesus, bringing joy and good news to others. This involves living out our faith authentically, ensuring that our actions and words align with the teachings of Jesus. By embodying the values of the kingdom, we can have a positive impact on those around us, serving as beacons of hope and love in a world that desperately needs it. [32:47]

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Reflection: In what ways can you be a living temple of God today, bringing His presence and love to those you encounter?

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. We began by reflecting on the vastness of the world and our seemingly small place within it, yet recognizing that when God calls His people, we can achieve remarkable things together. The early church, devoid of the structures and hierarchies we see today, was a pure movement driven by the conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, sent to reconcile the world to God. This belief was anchored not in doctrine but in the verifiable event of Jesus' resurrection, witnessed by many.

As time passed, the expressions of Christian faith evolved, but the core teachings and mission of Jesus must remain unchanged. When the church veers from these original teachings, people get hurt, and the church loses its influence. The foundation of human dignity and rights is deeply rooted in the belief that everyone is made in the image of God, a teaching expanded by Jesus. Despite the church's historical missteps, reformers have always risen to call the church back to the teachings of Jesus.

We are reminded that we are stewards of the church in our generation, responsible for how Christianity is perceived and practiced. Our actions and reactions authenticate our faith, and we must strive to embody the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. The church is not a location but a movement, and we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves. We must participate actively, recognizing that we are walking, talking temples of God, representing His kingdom on earth.

Key Takeaways

1. The Church as a Movement: The early church was a movement, not a building or institution. It was driven by the conviction that Jesus was the Son of God, a belief anchored in the resurrection. This movement was about people coming together with a purpose, not about structures or hierarchies. [03:38]
2. The Danger of Veering: When the church veers from Jesus' original teachings, it loses its way and people get hurt. The foundation of human dignity and rights is rooted in the belief that everyone is made in the image of God, a teaching central to Jesus' message. [06:11]
3. Stewards of Our Generation: We are responsible for the church in our generation. Our actions and reactions determine how Christianity is perceived. We must strive to embody the teachings of Jesus, ensuring that our faith is authentic and impactful. [09:22]
4. The Church is Not a Building: The term "church" has evolved, but the original concept of ekklesia is a gathering of people with a purpose. We are part of a movement, not confined to a location. Our role is to be active participants in this movement. [19:59]
5. Living as Temples of God: We are walking, talking temples of God, representing His kingdom on earth. Our lives should reflect the tone, approach, and posture of Jesus. We must be good news and bring joy to others, living out our faith authentically. [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
[05:23] - Changes Over Time
[06:11] - The Danger of Veering
[08:16] - Reformers and Remnants
[09:22] - Stewards of Our Generation
[13:29] - Learning from the First Church
[14:12] - The Meaning of Ekklesia
[19:59] - The Church is Not a Building
[22:22] - William Tyndale's Legacy
[27:26] - The Impact of Translation
[31:32] - Living as Temples of God
[34:34] - Implications for Today

Sermon Clips

But with all of that change, there are some things and there were some things that should never ever change, even though some things change from generation to generation in terms of expression and style, the original content of Jesus' teaching, the original emphasis, the original tone, and the posture, and the approach of our faith. [00:05:29]

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. [00:06:04]

The foundation for human dignity, the foundation of human rights, the foundation of women's rights are anchored to the belief that everyone is made in the image of God. It's not anchored to the materialistic world we live in. The whole idea that you have dignity and people who don't look like you or live like you have dignity simply because they're human, that is anchored in the teaching of Jesus. [00:07:27]

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. [00:09:00]

We determine what Christianity looks like. We determine what Christianity acts like. Most importantly, we determine what Christianity reacts like. And people outside of our faith tradition, in fact you may be watching or you may be in one of the rooms with us today, and you're not a Christian, somebody said, if you're gonna have lunch with us, you gotta come to church with me today. [00:09:39]

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 and punctuate it with these words to gentile Christians in Corinth. [00:31:09]

Don't you know that your bodies, your physical bodies, are temples? This means nothing to us because we don't really get the whole temple thing. This was extraordinary. He's in Corinth, a city full of temples. He's got some people there that worship in a synagogue, some Jewish people who've been to the temple in Jerusalem that's still standing at that point. [00:31:45]

Every day of our lives, we should be good news of great joy for somebody. Every day of our lives, we should look for opportunities to be good news and to bring joy to someone's life, to pour out, then gather back, fill back up, and go back out. Last implication is this. The tone, approach, and posture of Jesus should characterize the tone, posture, the tone, approach, and posture of his followers. [00:36:26]

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]

I want us to continue to be the ekklesia of Jesus, the congregation, the assembly, the movement that joins hands and joins arms with believers all over the world, who wanna get this right. Remember, you determine, it's a big responsibility, you determine what Christians look like because you're a Christian. You determine what Christians sound like because you claim to be a Christian. [00:39:38]

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