Sermon Notes

The Dearest Place on Earth

Week 1: What is the Church?

Is the world around us getting better or worse?

“There are fewer friendships and a lack of connection, meaning, and purpose. People feel unseen and this has created a culture of emptiness.” Pew Research Study

The Church

“If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.” -Charles Spurgeon

The church is not a place. The church is a people.

“'But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” -1 Peter 2:9-10

What is the church?

1. The Church is Universal and Local

Universal – All Jesus followers of all time

“‘…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” -Matthew 16:18

Local – A specific group of Jesus followers placed together for worship, community, and mission

Out of 114 times that the word “church” is used in the NT, at least 90 of them refer to specific local gatherings of believers who came together for worship, community, and mission.

Church is not an event you attend, it’s a family to which you belong.

2. The Church is Described with Metaphors

A. Building of Christ

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” -Ephesians 2:19-22

A church with too many babies without some mature folks is dangerous.

A church with too many mature folks without some babies is dying!

B. Bride of Christ

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” -Ephesians 5:32

“I hear people say, ‘I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian,’ and they are absolutely right. Salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone. But you don’t have to go home to be married either but stay away long enough and your relationship with be affected." -Tony Evans

C. Body of Christ

“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” -1 Corinthians 12:18-20

How else can these metaphors be lived out if we don’t gather together?

“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 encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” -Hebrews 10:24-25

“I don’t come to church. I am the church!”

“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 encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” -Hebrews 10:24-25