We Are the Church: Empowered Witnesses of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Church is the People, Not the Building

The essence of the church is not found in its physical structure but in the hearts of believers. In the Old Covenant, God's presence dwelt in the tabernacle or temple. However, in the New Covenant, God dwells within us. As 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 states, we are God's temple, and His Spirit resides in us. This shift signifies that the true church is the body of believers, not a building. This understanding shifts our focus from maintaining a building to nurturing our spiritual lives and relationships with one another. [53:18]

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: How can you shift your focus from the physical church building to nurturing your spiritual life and relationships with fellow believers today?

Day 2: Empowerment by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. This empowerment is not a one-time event but a continuous source of strength and guidance. The disciples were able to speak in different tongues and effectively communicate the gospel because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to rely on the Holy Spirit to fulfill our mission. The Holy Spirit's empowerment is essential for us to carry out the work that Jesus has set before us. [47:21]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: In what ways can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and empowerment in your daily life to be a more effective witness for Jesus Christ?

Day 3: The Mission of the Church

The primary mission of the church is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the world. This mission is outlined in Acts 1:8 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. We are called to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. This mission starts locally but extends globally. The church's mission is not limited to a specific location but encompasses the entire world, and it is our responsibility to actively participate in this mission. [56:03]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the mission of the church both locally and globally? What steps can you take today to start making a difference?

Day 4: Active Participation in the Mission

Every believer is called to actively participate in the mission of the church. This involves not just personal evangelism but also supporting ministries and missions that extend the reach of the gospel. We must move beyond passive attendance and engage in the work of the church, both locally and globally. Active participation means being intentional about our involvement and seeking opportunities to serve and share the gospel with others. [57:18]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: What specific gifts or talents do you have that you can use to serve others and support the mission of the church? How can you start using them today?

Day 5: Assurance of Success

Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This assurance gives us confidence that our efforts in fulfilling the Great Commission will not be in vain. The collective effort of believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will accomplish the mission that Jesus set before us. This promise encourages us to persevere and remain steadfast in our mission, knowing that we are on the winning side. [01:01:36]

Matthew 16:18 (ESV): "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Reflection: How does the assurance of Jesus' promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church impact your confidence and commitment to the mission? What steps can you take to persevere in your efforts to fulfill the Great Commission?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Living Faith. Today, we embark on a new series titled "We Are the Church," where we will explore the nature and mission of the universal church that Jesus Christ established. The focus of today's message is to understand that the church is not merely a building but the people of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the world.

We began by examining two passages from the Book of Acts: Acts 1:1-11 and Acts 2:1-4. The Book of Acts, written by Luke, serves as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke and details the early history of the church. In Acts 1, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples and instructs them to stay in Jerusalem until they receive this gift. This promise is fulfilled in Acts 2 during the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in different tongues and effectively witness to a diverse crowd. This event marks the beginning of the church and its mission.

The essence of the church is not found in its physical structure but in the hearts of believers. In the Old Covenant, God's presence dwelt in the tabernacle or temple. However, in the New Covenant, God dwells within us. As 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 states, we are God's temple, and His Spirit resides in us. This shift signifies that the true church is the body of believers, not a building.

The mission of the church is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the world, as outlined in Acts 1:8 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. This mission is to be carried out locally in our "Jerusalem" (Brick, New Jersey), regionally in our "Judea" (New Jersey), and globally to the ends of the earth. This mission can only be accomplished through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus assures us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, promising that we will accomplish this mission. Therefore, we must actively participate in this mission, not just as individuals but as a collective body of believers.

###

Key Takeaways

1. time event but a continuous source of strength and guidance. The disciples were able to speak in different tongues and effectively communicate the gospel because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to rely on the Holy Spirit to fulfill our mission. [47:21]
3. The Mission of the Church: The primary mission of the church is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the world. This mission is outlined in Acts 1:8 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. We are called to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. This mission starts locally but extends globally.

4. Active Participation in the Mission: Every believer is called to actively participate in the mission of the church. This involves not just personal evangelism but also supporting ministries and missions that extend the reach of the gospel. We must move beyond passive attendance and engage in the work of the church, both locally and globally.

5. Assurance of Success: Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This assurance gives us confidence that our efforts in fulfilling the Great Commission will not be in vain. The collective effort of believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will accomplish the mission that Jesus set before us.

### [47:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:51] - Introduction and Series Overview
[34:32] - What is the Church?
[35:35] - The Church is the People
[36:32] - Local and Universal Church
[37:31] - Introduction to Acts
[40:02] - The Great Commission
[41:17] - Acts 1:1-11 Explained
[43:14] - Jesus' Ascension
[46:41] - Acts 2:1-4 Explained
[48:28] - The Day of Pentecost
[49:28] - The Mission of the Church
[53:18] - God's Presence in Us
[56:03] - Being Witnesses to the World
[61:36] - Assurance of Success
[62:31] - Recap and Big Idea
[63:17] - Call to Action
[65:16] - Prayer and Reflection
[67:13] - Communion
[73:57] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What instructions did Jesus give to His disciples before His ascension in Acts 1:1-11?
Describe the events that took place on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4.
According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, where does God's Spirit dwell in the New Covenant?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit? How does this waiting period reflect on their faith and obedience? [42:36]
How does the event of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4 signify the beginning of the church and its mission? [47:21]
What does it mean for believers to be the temple of God as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17? How does this change the way we view the church? [53:18]

Application Questions

Reflect on your understanding of the church. Have you been focusing more on the physical building rather than the community of believers? How can you shift your focus? [35:35]
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. In what ways can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and empowerment in your daily life? [47:21]
The mission of the church is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ locally, regionally, and globally. What are some practical steps you can take to participate in this mission in your local community (Brick, New Jersey)? [56:03]
How can you support regional and global missions, even if you cannot physically go? Are there specific ministries or missionaries you can support through prayer, finances, or other means? [57:18]
Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. How does this assurance impact your confidence and commitment to the church's mission? [01:01:36]
Have you been actively participating in the mission of the church, or have you been a passive attendee? What changes can you make to become more engaged in the work of the church? [01:03:55]
If you are a non-believer, what reservations do you have about joining the church? What steps can you take to explore these reservations and seek answers? [01:04:37]

Sermon Clips

1. "No, any day that we get to open up the word of God and dive into what he says is a good day. Am I right? Amen. So I'll just dive right on in. So I'm Kevin Golly, the associate pastor here. If this is your first time here, I'm so honored that you came. Really, you picked a good day. We're starting a new series where we're talking about the church." [33:51] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Yes, we may call it a church building, but ultimately the church that Jesus Christ started isn't in four walls. It's in the heart of God's people. So today we're starting a new series. I have the honor to start it up for our church. It's called We Are the Church. We're going to be, in the next couple months, we're going to be diving into and exploring the nature and the mission of what the big church, the big C, so if I say big C church, I mean universal church, from the beginning of Jesus Christ." [35:35] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Today's goal is really just to start up the conversation and the understanding that we here as people are the church and that what we're sitting in, no matter how beautiful it is, no matter how sacred it may look, it's just a building, just brick and mortar." [36:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So what's happening here? We see that the disciples are asking a very pointed question. Lord, are you going to restore Israel? That was the whole point of the Messiah, was that he's going to set Israel free from Rome. Are you going to establish as our own nation again? Are you going to take our oppressors away from us? That's basically what they're asking. And Jesus said, hey, guess what? It's not for you to know. That's something for the Father to know. So how about you deal with what I'm going to give you? That's what he's saying." [44:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So what do we see here? We see that the day of Pentecost comes. If you don't know what the day of Pentecost is, basically it's 50 days after Passover. So that's 50 days after Jesus has died. That means it's 47 days since Jesus has resurrected. That means it's, 10 days since Jesus has ascended. And we like to skip past that 10 day period of time that these disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit. From our perspective, they had to wait only 10 days. But from their perspective, they don't know how long they were waiting." [47:21] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "What have we seen in these passages? What does this have to do with the start of the church, Kevin? Well, what have we seen? Let's dive into that real fast. First, we see that Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. So if you have your outline, everything in yellow, I believe, is what you need to fill out. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. Right? That's at the top. The second, the Holy Spirit empowers them to be Jesus' witnesses to the world." [49:28] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God dwells in his people, not in a building. Two, the church is the body of believers, not a building. Three, the church has a mission of being the witnesses of Jesus to this world. And four, Jesus teaches us that we will accomplish this mission by the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Praise be to God. Praise be to God." [01:02:31] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "If you remember one thing today, I want you to remember this. Ask the question, what is the church? The answer is this. You are the church. You are the church. You have a mission. You have a mission to be his witnesses to this world. What is the church? Guys, it's not the seats you're sitting in. It's not the walls that are surrounding us. You are the church. And Jesus, Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the church." [01:03:17] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You need to be in the mission of the church, which is to be his witnesses. Now, if you're a non-believer in this room, do you want to be a part of the church? Why aren't you a part of the church if you aren't already? Do you have any reservations about joining in our mission? If you do, all you have to do is believe that Jesus came from heaven to earth as God through the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the cross for your sins because somebody had to pay for it." [01:04:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We thank you for this simple message, but yet powerful reminder that we are the church, that the building around us, yes, we are so thankful for, we're so honored to be stewards of it, Lord, but we know that it's just a building that we're building. But really, your church and where your presence resides is in us. Lord, we are so thankful for that." [01:05:54] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?