The True Nature and Purpose of the Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Church is God’s Creation and Possession

The church is not a building or a business, but a people created and owned by God, brought into being by the power of the Holy Spirit. The church was birthed at Pentecost when the Spirit descended upon the disciples, marking them as God’s own possession and giving them the privilege of fellowship with Him even now. Just as an earnest money deposit secures a future purchase, the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that we belong to Him and will one day be with Him forever. This truth calls us to remember that the church does not belong to any person or group, but to God alone, and our actions and attitudes toward the church should reflect that reality. [20:41]

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Reflection: In what ways have you treated the church as your own possession or a place to serve your preferences, rather than as God’s holy possession? What would it look like to honor God’s ownership of the church this week?

Day 2: The Church is Established on the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The foundation of the church is not tradition, entertainment, or self-improvement, but the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to God’s eternal plan. The church exists to proclaim this message boldly and unapologetically, not to offer worldly success or comfort. The gospel is not a side note or garnish—it is the very heart of who we are and what we do. When the church stands firm on the gospel, lives are transformed, and the true purpose of the church is fulfilled. [24:08]

Acts 2:22-24, 31-33 (ESV)
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it... he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Reflection: How can you make the gospel—not personal comfort or entertainment—the center of your conversations, prayers, and service in the church this week?

Day 3: The Church is Made Up of Repentant, Baptized Believers

Membership in the church is not about attending services or following rituals, but about responding to the gospel with repentance and faith, and publicly declaring that faith through baptism. Repentance is more than saying sorry; it is a Spirit-empowered turning away from sin and a commitment to follow Jesus. Baptism is the outward sign of this inward change and the initiation into the family of God, linking believers across generations and cultures. The church is a family of those who have been washed by the blood of Jesus and now live as new creations. [36:31]

Acts 2:37-39, 41 (ESV)
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ... So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to truly repent and turn from sin, not just in words but in action? What step of obedience can you take today to walk in repentance?

Day 4: The Church is Devoted to Teaching, Fellowship, Worship, and Generosity

The early church was marked by a passionate devotion to the apostles’ teaching, deep fellowship, shared meals, prayer, and radical generosity. They gathered regularly, encouraged and held each other accountable, and expected God’s presence to be among them. Their love for one another and their joy in worship were evident to all, and their willingness to meet needs set them apart. This kind of community does not happen by accident—it requires intentional commitment, sacrificial love, and a heart that seeks to give rather than receive. [48:17]

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: Who in your church family can you encourage, serve, or show generosity to this week? What specific action can you take to build deeper fellowship?

Day 5: The Church is Called to Sacrificial Commitment, Not Consumerism

The church is not about what we can get, but about what we can give in response to Christ’s sacrifice for us. In a culture that often treats church as a consumer experience, God calls His people to prioritize gathering, serving, welcoming others, and making sacrifices for the sake of the body. The true blessing of church is found not in convenience or comfort, but in the joy of giving ourselves for Christ and His people. When we all do our part, the church becomes a powerful witness to the world and a vessel for God’s glory. [01:03:18]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: What is one sacrifice—of time, comfort, or resources—you can make this week to serve and build up your church family, reflecting Christ’s love?

Sermon Summary

To truly understand what the church is, it’s necessary to strip away our traditions, assumptions, and cultural baggage, and return to what Scripture reveals. The church is not a building, a business, or a social club—it is the people of God, gathered and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The very word “church” means “gathering,” and its birth in Acts 2 was not the result of human ingenuity, but the sovereign act of God, who sent His Spirit to indwell and empower His people. The church is God’s creation, His possession, and it exists to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

The foundation of the church is the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which was God’s plan from the beginning. The church is not about self-actualization, entertainment, or worldly success. Its purpose is to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, calling people to repentance and faith. When the gospel is preached in the power of the Spirit, hearts are pierced, and people are compelled to ask, “What must we do?” The answer remains: repent, believe, and be baptized. Baptism is not a magical act that saves, but a public declaration of faith and an initiation into the family of God—a visible sign that we have been washed by the blood of Christ and joined to His people.

The early church was marked by devotion: to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. They were passionate about the Word of God, committed to one another, and filled with awe at God’s presence among them. Radical generosity, sacrificial love, and joyful worship characterized their life together. They gathered regularly, not out of obligation, but out of a deep hunger for God and for each other. Their unity and sincerity were so compelling that outsiders took notice, and God added to their number daily.

Today, we are challenged to examine our own commitment. Are we consumers, asking “what’s in it for me?” Or are we sacrificial givers, eager to serve, encourage, and build up the body? The call is to prioritize gathering, to come with expectancy, to give rather than receive, and to be the church God intended. When we do, God will do what only He can—change lives, build His church, and display His glory to the world.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Church Is God’s Creation and Possession The church was birthed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, not by human effort or tradition. God owns the church, and our approach to its life and mission must be shaped by His Word, not our preferences or control. Recognizing God’s ownership calls us to humility, surrender, and a willingness to let go of traditions that hinder His purpose. [20:41]
2. The Gospel Is the Foundation and Message The church stands or falls on the proclamation of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is not a message of self-improvement or worldly success, but of redemption through Christ’s sacrifice. Our gatherings and ministries must be unapologetically centered on the gospel, trusting that only the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit, can pierce hearts and bring true transformation. [24:08]
3. Repentance and Baptism Mark True Membership Entry into the church is not about reciting a prayer or joining a roll, but about genuine repentance and faith in Christ, evidenced by baptism. Repentance is more than sorrow—it is a Spirit-enabled turning from sin to God. Baptism is the public sign of this new life and our initiation into the family of believers, linking us to every disciple across time and place. [36:31]
4. Devotion, Generosity, and Expectancy Define the Church’s Life The early church was devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and breaking bread. Their radical generosity and sacrificial love were tangible expressions of God’s presence among them. Gathering was not a mere routine, but a joyful, expectant encounter with God and His people, marked by accountability, encouragement, and awe. [48:17]
5. The Church Grows as God Works Through Our Faithfulness It is God who adds to the church, not our strategies or programs. When we prioritize gathering, serve sacrificially, and live out the gospel together, God draws people to Himself. Our role is to be faithful—to show up, to encourage, to serve, and to welcome—trusting that God will do what only He can: save and transform lives. [60:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:51] - Stripping Away Tradition: What Is the Church?
[01:45] - The Church Is a People, Not a Place
[03:03] - Reading Acts 2:42-47
[05:19] - The Church Is Not a Business or Social Club
[06:06] - The Church’s Purpose: Set by Scripture
[10:18] - Pentecost: The Birth of the Church
[14:05] - The Church’s Mission in the Last Days
[15:54] - Peter’s Bold Proclamation and the Power of the Spirit
[20:41] - God’s Ownership and the Spirit’s Mark
[24:08] - The Gospel: Foundation of the Church
[31:00] - Repentance, Baptism, and True Membership
[41:12] - Devotion to Teaching, Fellowship, and Prayer
[48:17] - Expectancy, Generosity, and the Presence of God
[53:54] - The Call to Faithful Gathering
[56:37] - The Privilege of Gathering: A Global Perspective
[60:09] - God Adds to the Church
[62:12] - Consumerism vs. Sacrifice in the Church
[63:18] - What Are You Willing to Do?
[66:14] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

According to Acts 2:42-47, what were the main things the early church devoted themselves to?
What actions did the early believers take to care for each other’s needs?
How did the people outside the church respond to what they saw happening among the believers?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the true foundation of the church? [[24:08]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the early church was so devoted to gathering together, even daily? What might have motivated that kind of commitment? [[52:16]]
The sermon says the church is not a building or a business, but a people marked by the Holy Spirit. How does this change the way we think about “going to church”? [[01:45]]
The pastor emphasized that repentance and baptism are the marks of true membership in the church. Why is repentance more than just feeling sorry, and why is baptism important as a public declaration? [[36:31]]
The early church was known for radical generosity and sacrificial love. What does this say about the kind of relationships God wants us to have with each other? [[48:17]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to examine whether we approach church as consumers (“what’s in it for me?”) or as sacrificial givers. In what ways have you found yourself thinking like a consumer at church? What would it look like to shift toward serving and giving? [[01:02:12]]
The early church gathered regularly out of hunger for God and each other, not just obligation. What is your attitude toward gathering with the church? Are there habits or excuses that keep you from prioritizing it? What could you change this month to make gathering a true priority? [[53:54]]
The pastor said that when the gospel is preached in the power of the Spirit, hearts are pierced and people are compelled to ask, “What must we do?” Has there been a time when God’s Word pierced your heart? How did you respond? [[31:00]]
Baptism is described as a public sign that we have been washed by Christ and joined to His people. If you have been baptized, how does remembering your baptism encourage you to live as part of God’s family? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have? [[33:52]]
Radical generosity marked the early church. Is there a need in our church family or community that you feel God is prompting you to meet? What practical step could you take this week to show generosity or sacrificial love? [[48:17]]
The pastor mentioned that God adds to the church as we are faithful. What does faithfulness look like for you right now—in showing up, encouraging others, serving, or welcoming new people? Is there one area you want to grow in? [[01:00:09]]
The sermon ended with a challenge: “What are you willing to do?” What is one specific sacrifice or step of obedience you sense God calling you to make in response to this message? [[01:03:18]]

Sermon Clips

What changed? What took a group of cowering, afraid people hiding behind closed doors and now they're compelled to go out into the street and preach the message of Christ boldly, declaratively, and not taking any prisoners? What changed? The Holy Spirit came upon them. [00:15:32] (22 seconds) #HolySpiritEmpowersBoldness

``Jesus Christ did not die on a cross so you and I could become rich he did not die on a cross so that we could self -actualize our life here on earth and become the best version of ourselves that we could possibly be no Jesus Christ died so that we could die with him and be raised up to new life a new creation a possessor of the spirit of God who has been bought and paid for by the gospel of Jesus Christ who awaits our consummation to stand before the king and spend eternity with him what God has for us is better than anything that we could have on this earth so the church must be unapologetic in its proclamation instead of giving you five ways to a better life here or six ways to financial security on earth with scripture as garnish we need to stand declaratively in pulpits across this land and proclaim the death burial and resurrection of Jesus and let the spirit of God change lives. [00:28:09] (77 seconds) #PiercedHeartsLeadToRepentance

A person becomes a part of Jesus's church by repenting of their sin after the Holy Spirit convicts them and enables faith in Jesus's finished work on the cross. Notice the people after hearing the preached word their hearts were pierced. The word of God pierced their hearts and immediately having their heart pierced they cried out what should we do? Friends if we're not clearly declaring the gospel and the word of God people's hearts won't be pierced. [00:31:08] (46 seconds) #BaptismUnitesTheFamily

Friends the goal of preaching the goal of the proclamation of the church should not be to make people happy. The goal should be to make people holy. Make people holy. That means as we preach the word a natural response to the word should hearts should be pierced. When we preach the word of God under the anointing of the spirit of God hearts should be pierced. That means hearts should be laid bare and people should begin to see the sin that is infected themselves and they're they just cry out much like the crowd did. Brothers what should we do? And that's when we get to tell them repent. Believe the gospel that Jesus has already paid the debt for that sin. He's freed you from that. You no longer have to walk in that sin. You no longer have to drag that the penalty of that sin around with you anymore because Jesus Christ put it to death on the cross. You're free. Believe the gospel. Believe the gospel. Believe the gospel and then be baptized and become a part of the family of God. [00:32:32] (80 seconds) #RepentanceIsEssential

We should be a people of repentance a people that are have soft hearts because the spirit has softened our heart so that we are are intimately aware of our sin and we're quick to call sin sin there's something novel isn't it you know what our world wants to call by a lot of different names god calls sin he calls it sin and when god calls it sin guess what is sin we can justify it we can qualify it we can go through all sorts of mental gymnastics to explain it but friends sin is sin is sin amen when the heart is pierced by the proclamation of the word of god we repent and are baptized. [00:38:31] (66 seconds) #EncourageAndSpurEachOther

We find the church also demonstrated radical generosity I mean you know God's in the house when folks start selling stuff and giving the proceeds to other people who were in need that's the kind of radical generosity that filled the church they wanted everybody to have what they needed they didn't want to see anybody in their church going hungry they didn't want to see anybody in their church not having clothes or proper clothing they didn't want to see anybody in their church living on the street so they took responsibility they didn't say well somebody needs to help them y 'all often somebody ain't at church on Sunday it's us and you see when we're filled with the awe of the Lord then we begin to see our brothers and sisters as true brothers and sisters and we have that radical generosity and compassion and so we begin to care for one another. [00:50:12] (61 seconds) #ValueChurchUnity

Because you see, the church in America has become so consumerist in its focus. What's in it for me? What do I get? What do I receive? And friends, that's foreign to what we read about in Scripture. That's foreign. In fact, go to some of the other areas of our world where those Christians can't even gather together because they've been told they'll be killed if they do and start talking to them about what they get. They'll look at you like you grew another head. Because you see, for them, it's not about what I get. It's what I give. It's the sacrifice. Because the sacrifice is worth it. Because Jesus Christ died for me. He was raised for me. He's seated in heaven for me. Therefore, it's worth it. Whatever I have to give, it's worth it. Because Jesus has already given to me. [01:02:23] (73 seconds) #HungryForTrueChurch

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