God's Big Church
10/24/2021
How big a number is a million...? It's a large number, right? Did you know that one million seconds adds up to over 11 days? What about a billion? One billion seconds adds up to over 31 years. Imagine how much 'richer' a billionaire is compared to a measly millionaire? What about a trillion? One trillion seconds adds up to almost 32,000 years!
We hear these big numbers and it's hard to comprehend just how big they are unless we compare it to something else. It's true for numbers and it's true about our perception of the Church. When people in the community think about 'Church', they may think of various buildings in the area. When we think about 'Church' we probably think about 'here'. But we know that the Church is more than just a building. 'We' are the Church - the members of the Body of Christ. And to expand this idea even further, God's Church is…
I. Bigger than us
We are the Church – but sometimes we need to be reminded that God’s Church is not limited to simply us. Our perspective may get a bit small at times when it comes to thinking about the Church. And to help point us in a ‘bigger’ direction, I want to start us off by looking at Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)...
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.(2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The writer of Hebrews intended to encourage believers by reminding them they were not alone. God’s Church is much bigger than ‘us’.
'Our Church' is part of what's called ‘the Restoration Movement’ – it was a movement started back in the late 1700’s. Its goal was to move away from denominational titles and man made doctrine and focus solely on The Bible as its authority. Its intended goal was to restore the teaching, the pattern and the God given purpose of the New Testament Church. It started with a few hundred people leaving their denominational ties and calling themselves just ‘Christians’ as the early Church did.
Today, in just the U.S. alone, there are millions of people who call themselves just ‘Christian’ with millions more worldwide in thousands of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. And that’s just in our ‘brotherhood’ alone. Then there are those in denominations who may have some different beliefs than us – but they serve the same God and claim Jesus as Lord – think of all those Christians in the U.S. and worldwide.
Imagine the wave of worship that is taking place right now in the thousands of Churches here and overseas as the day starts at different times in different parts of the globe! God’s Church is so much bigger than just ‘us’. And the thought of just how many fellow believers there are – AND those who have gone before us – that should really encourage us in our faith. The history of God’s Church is full of…
A. Faithful witnesses
That phrase, “we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” – witnesses are those who have seen with their own eyes and can testify to the truth of something. We are surrounded by those who have seen the truth of God’s power and love! And I wanted to point something out– the passage, at which we just looked, started with, “Therefore, since we are surrounded…”. I want us to jump back a chapter to see what that ‘therefore’ was referring to. Let’s jump back to Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV)...
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (2) This is what the ancients were commended for. (3) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
And then the writer continues, for 33 verses, to list off multiple individuals who demonstrated their deep trust in God and their many acts of faith. And then He continues in Hebrews 11:37-40 (NIV)...
They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - (38) the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. (39) These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. (40) God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
All of these people in the past who trusted in God didn’t even live long enough to see their promised Messiah. But they had so much faith that they were willing to endure anything for the promise of Christ! These faithful witnesses are a part of God’s Church – the bride of Christ!
And there are a few things I have to ask when I read about those who have gone before – if they were persecuted and rejected for their faith in the coming Christ – why should I expect any better treatment for following Jesus…? Have we done anything with our faith that would make anyone say ‘the world was not worthy of them’…?
We tend to forget the larger history of witnesses who wrestled to live out their faith just as we are now. They had the same struggles and temptations and trials – and many even more so than we do. But they kept the faith! And as God’s Church has moved though history all over this globe, it has seen societies and rulers rise and fall. God’s Church has seen times of blessing and times of persecution. And to help us with this larger perspective we need to realize that there is…
B. Nothing new
We have a tendency to limit our scope to the here and now and even more specifically to just ‘us’ and our own lifetime. We view things from our own experience and lives – but God’s Church is so much bigger! Every generation looks around and thinks things have never been as corrupt and immoral as it is in their lifetime.
And I get it – things nationally and globally don't look great... This pandemic and global tensions certainly make the 'end times' feel quite a bit closer. And as I'm raising my kids, I am certainly concerned about what sort of world they will live in. Religious views and morality have changed drastically since I was a kid – however - would I prefer to raise them here and now, or in the city and time of, let's say, Sodom or Gomorrah?
I'm not suggesting that things aren’t bad now or that the current cultural slide and moral depravity isn’t serious. It is very serious – and it has always been serious, but it’s not new. The moral decay, the growing opposition to the Church and Godly values, the steady creep of worldly values into God’s Church - what the Church faces today is not new.
Those witnesses in the past dealt with the same garbage, the same challenges that we face. ‘Modern immorality’ may not be as modern as we might like to think. Technology will change and people will use it to think up different ways to sin – but there’s nothing new. Lying, adultery, child abuse, drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, stealing, abortion, violence in the streets, homosexuality, war, divorce, rape - name a sin, evil or tragedy and it’s been done long before we came along.
And again I don’t want to dismiss any sin – but God’s people have always faced temptations and persecutions and rejection in some form or another. But we need to learn from the past – to seek out those witnesses. The Apostle Paul wrote about various trials and hardships the people of God endured in the Old Testament, and then he encouraged his readers with this, in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (NIV)...
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (12) So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (13) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
You are not battling any situation or struggle that God hasn’t led someone else through in the past. Sure, the details, the time and the place may be very different - but you are not isolated in your journey of faith! There are others of faith to help you - there are those in the past and the present to encourage you, to pray with you and for you, to mourn with you, to advise you, to walk with you, to lift you up! God’s Church is bigger than ‘us’! And God established…
II. His Church
God created this world and He lived in this world in the person of Jesus. When Jesus established His Church, it was with a complete understanding of the human condition. And when attitudes towards sin and morality change with each generation - He’s not really surprised. He knew that people change, that cultures ebb and flow in their views on morality - but His Church remains!
Jesus pointed out the unchanging truth of His identity as The Son of God – the foundational truth upon which His Church would stand! I started last week's message with this next passage and we're going to look at it again because it's so important - Jesus questioning His disciples in Matthew 16:15-18 (NIV)...
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (18) 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."
Because of that truth – that Jesus is The Son of God – God in the flesh – He has all authority; He says what is good, what is right, what is true. We don't have the authority to change the core values of His Church even to try and make it more ‘attractive’ to those who disagree with scripture. And as the cornerstone of the Church - Jesus has revealed in His Word, for His Church, its...
A. Higher purpose remains
Times will change – but the purpose of God’s Church, the purpose of God’s people does not.
You've probably heard someone say, about an activity or career or particular passion, something like, "This is what I live for! I was born for this!" - And that may or may not be true... Perhaps it was God's plan to wire that individual for that particular passion - but probably not if it's done solely for that person's own gain, glory or pleasure. If it's just about their plans or dreams - if it's not beneficial to God's Kingdom in some way, shape or form - chances are pretty good you weren't 'born for this'.
Our purpose is much bigger than us and our personal dreams. God's plans for us - for His Church - go far beyond just this life! Let's jump back to Hebrews again, remembering all of the 'ancients' who went before us...
Hebrews 11:39-40 (NIV)
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. (40) God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
God's plans for His Church - those in the past and those to come - His higher purpose continues throughout history and will continue long after we’re gone, unless Jesus returns first. Our purpose, no matter what society is doing around us, is to serve God, to worship God, to please God - not simply to follow your own personal agenda or dreams – …unless, of course, your agenda or dreams line up directly with God’s dreams.
I’ve shared this before that my mother had a plaque when I was growing up that said, “If it pleases you to please God, you can do as you please.” If you understand and accept your purpose of serving God in everything – there’s a lot of freedom in that. Because if you truly put God first, everything you choose to do after that will fall in line with the purpose that God has for you in this life.
Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (12) in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.(13) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.
It was always God’s plan to bring you into His family for His purposes. And those purposes remain regardless of what everyone else is doing around you. The call for God's Church, our call is to…
B. Stand firm
The rest of the world will continue to follow moral trends. Each generation will choose what feels right and acceptable to them - but for us, those in the Church – we are called to stand firm. Again, back one more time to Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)...
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
As Godly values become less popular in our nation - as we see growing conflict in our nation, as we see increasing hostility to Godly values, as we see the tensions rise on a global scale – it certainly seems like the signs are pointing to this world rushing to its end. But the purpose of the Church and those in the Church is and always has been the same. And as we see things swirl around us, we’re not necessarily called to predict the end, but to prepare for the end. We can’t control circumstances, but we can control our response. And we are called to not lose heart and to stand firm.
So What?
Up in Wisconsin at my folks’ cabin, there's a homemade ‘anchor’ sitting down by the dock. My cousin is a welder and he made this solid ‘disc’ of steel tied to a rope. When you drop it over the side of the boat and it hits the bottom of the lake, you aren’t going anywhere! He even painted a warning on it, "If you can't lift this - don't use it!" That anchor is solid and it will hold – but if you don’t tie it off to the end of the boat – it will stay put and you will not.
As we go through this life, God doesn’t move. He’s the same today as He was thousands of years ago. But if we don’t hold firm to Him – He will stay put, but we will drift away. The call is to hold strong to the faith just as so many ‘who have gone before us’ have. God wants to use you for something far bigger than yourself. But that will only happen if you stand firm!