WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present (Matthew 18:20) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on July 5, 2020)

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present (Matthew 18:20) - July 5, 2020

INTRODUCTION‬

When it was built for an international exposition in the last century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it, he took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it. He knew it was destined for greatness. Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. His famous tower was built in in 1889.

In the same way we are struck by Jesus' loyalty to another structure--the church--which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers. But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when he returns. 

John Berstecher

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭NIV‬

Church is used 116 times in the New Testament‬

We are the church where God is present with us.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NIV‬

I. JESUS’ PROMISE

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. “I am with you always”

B. “To the very end of the age”

II. OUR GATHERING

• Lutherans. “A congregation of saints in which the gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered” (Augsburg Confession, art. 7).
• Anglicans. “A congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the sacraments be duly ministered” (Thirty-Nine Articles, art. 19).
• Presbyterians. “Those . . . that profess true religion; and . . . their children” in “particular churches, which are . . . more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 25.2, 4).
• Baptists. “A company of visible saints, called and separated from the world, by the Word and the Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the gospel, being baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the ordinances” (1644 London Baptist Confession, art. 33).

A. The Church

1. Ekklesia - “called out ones”

2. Church from the Germanic Kirk (church or cathedral) which is from Koine Greek Kuriakon doma (Lord’s house)

3. The invisible Kingdom of God on earth

4. All of the saved of God

B. Our church

1. Local gathering

2. Portion of the Body of Christ

III. HIS CHURCH

A. The bride of Christ

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:7-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. We are His beloved

2. We love Him

B. The body of Christ

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.”

William Temple

1. The hands and feet of Christ

2. The visible presence of Jesus in the world

CHALLENGE

As the “bride of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate your love for Christ this week and do it. As the “body of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate the life of Christ in your world this week and do it. Write these actions down and circle the one that feels more natural to you: “bride of Christ” or “body of Christ.”

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.