Called To

February 4, 2009
Text: Matthew 16:13-20
Title: Called To

Thoughts:

I can’t really explain how crucial this new understanding of church is for me. Though I certainly knew God was calling me to Himself and that He wanted to speak in our services, I didn’t always live with that end in mind. My attitude toward church, to which I am deeply committed, was that it was my choice, something that I chose to be of incredible importance.

But I realized through this study that church is not necessarily something we chose, it is what God is doing. He is calling people ‘out of’ their homes, situations, and scenarios and “to Himself”, in order that He might speak His words of life. That’s vastly different than my definition of church as a building, religious institution, or Christian organization.

When Christ referred to the church as ekklesia in Matthew 16:18, His immediate audience would have recognized that Christ was speaking of more than a meeting place, building, or denomination. In the Greek community ekklesia described the church as “God’s assembly, God’s muster, and the convener is God” (Barclay). In the Hebrew community it also described “God’s people called together by God, in order to listen to or to act for God.” (Barclay). Both cultures and contexts “put all the emphasis on the action of God.” (Barclay).

Church is not something you or I choose. Church is something God has called. It is His beckon to come and hear His voice and to corporately and individually respond to it. It is His meeting place where He speaks and gives instruction and insight to His people so that even the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Therefore, church is as much about being ‘called to’ as it is being ‘called out’.  But may we always remember that our destination is not to a building, time, or religious machine. We are called to a living God who contains words of life and offers revelation to His people.

Application:

Describe what it means to be ‘called out’ and ‘called to’. How does this affect our current model of church?

Is church a choice? Why or why not?

Recognizing that God [not your church, pastor, or responsibility] has called you to Himself [not a building, denomination, or organization], how will this week’s worship service be different for you?

Prayer:

Father,

What an incredible invitation You have extended to me. You have beckoned me out of my home, life, and world and invited me into Your chambers where You are preparing to speak to me. This is far beyond my comprehension and so much more than I have made church at times. In preparation for meeting with You this week, may You reveal Your word and purpose for our time together. You set the agenda, I’ll respond to Your call.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What is ‘Church’?

February 2, 2009
Text: Matthew 16:13-20
Title: What is ‘Church’?

Thoughts:

My name is Allen and I have a confession. I have really messed up the definition of what Christ intended ‘church’ to be. As the dictionary defines it, I have made ‘church’ a…building, Christian organization, hierarchy of clergy, and, far too often, institutionalized religion. But today I am seeking to define ‘church’ the way Christ intended it.

The first occurrence of the word ‘church’ in the New Testament is found in Matthew 16:18. Building upon Peter’s revelational confession of His identity, ‘the Son of the living God’, Christ declares that He will build His ‘church’ and Hades itself will not be able to overpower it.

From the power evident in my life and in the ‘church’ I see, we’ve missed it somewhere. Something has gone seriously awry. Perhaps, Christ must have meant something different when He gave the inaugural declaration of His ‘church’.

And, He did. As we discovered in our service yesterday, and will discuss this week, Christ’s definition of ‘church’ had nothing really to do with institutions, organization, or hierarchy, at least in the terms we would think of. William Barclay defines Christ’s word ekklesia, our ‘church’, as…

“…the Church, the ekklesia, is a body of people, not so much assembling because they have chosen to come together but assembling because God has called them to Himself; not so much assembling to share their own thoughts and opinions, but assembling to listen to the voice of God.” (New Testament Words, p.70)

This is far different than most definitions of ‘church’. Perhaps, there’s a great deal of change that must take place in each of our understandings of what Christ intends His church to be.

Application:

If someone were to ask you about your ‘church’, how would you describe it? (denomination, buildings, pastor, etc.) Be honest!

In your opinion, is ‘church’ a necessary component to your faith? Why or why not?

Take a few moments to really process your beliefs about ‘church’. Then compare your thoughts with Barclay’s definition. What are the differences? Similarities?

Prayer:

Father,

I confess that I have made ‘church’ so many things. I have viewed is as such things as a profession, a movement, a building, and even a chronological hour. At times I have been dead on with what You intended it to be. At other times I have failed miserably to understand and grasp what You truly meant when You said You would ‘build Your church’. Today, help me to begin replacing my definition with Your definition. It’s not my opinion that matters. It’s Your Word!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.