The Fountain of Life Church: THE CHURCH Part 3

"If it’s not about Jesus,

it’s not about anything”

(Motto of the Fountain of Life Church)

Sermon Series Given at New Life in Christ Church Cambridge, Ohio beginning 6/4/16

SPS: The Sermon Purpose Statement is to address the five following questions:

1. What is the Church? 2. Why do we need it? 3. What is its purpose? 4. What does it look like? 5. Where is the Church?

THEME: Guiding this study will be two scriptures which shall be linked together.

Matthew 16:18: “Jesus said, ‘I will build my Church.’”

Ephesians 5:25: “…as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.”

Brethren, this means that Jesus is building His church. And He loved it so much that He died for it. His love infuses everything.

4. WHAT DOES THE CHURCH LOOK LIKE?

The Christian Church has three basic organizational structures and a fourfold division.

STRUCTURES: Hierarchy – Democracy - Representative

1. Hierarchy is usually represented in an episcopal structure where a denominational officer has the power to set policy and ordain pastors.

2. Democracy is usually represented in a congregational structure where church members choose their policies and their pastors.

3. Representative is usually found in a Presbyterian structure where power is divided between the denomination and the congregation. Elders are elected and given the power to govern.

The original Jerusalem Church was led by a group of elders. I get the sense that the Ephesian Church was directed by John as a Bishop. We do not find biblical examples of members choosing their own leaders. Nevertheless, throughout the New Testament, certain people were designated as leaders.

The local church had some organization, but titles did not seem to mean much, although members were directed to respect their leaders. But what is that leadership? The leaders “direct the affairs of the Church (1 Timothy 5:17). They shepherd the flock. They lead by example and by teaching. They are to “prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12).

The New Testament does not require any particular church structure or hierarchy. Nevertheless, all human societies exist with structure. Just because a structure is not spiritual it is not necessarily bad. It is not unreasonable for early Churches to create structures. For example: How to collect offerings for the Jerusalem Church, how to organize weddings, where and when to meet, how to organize a communion service; how to structure a worship service?

None of these items are covered in scripture. The first Christians were Jews who took their idea of formal worship from their synagogues and from their culture. The Gentiles had no history of a synagogue. And they had decidedly different cultures. They ate pork, for example. They associated with other Gentiles and did not require offerings at the Temple to make themselves clean. They did not wash up to the elbows before eating. They did not have synagogue building in which to meet. By necessity they had to meet elsewhere and accommodate their worship services to the buildings at hand.

Different structures would be created for the public and/or private worship of God, based upon the resources available. And few of them would resemble the synagogue model.

In Acts the Apostles directed the members to choose deacons, who were then ordained to the office, to help to distribute food to the needy. In this instance a need arose and deacons were appointed to address this need. This was a leadership role in the congregation which never existed before. And this act of overseeing food distribution created a structure in the Jerusalem church which never existed before. These leaders, the deacons, freed the apostles from the responsibility of the physical care of the congregation and allowed them to concentrate on spiritual matters.

We also see a distinction between physical and spiritual leadership in 1 Peter 4:11. “If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.”

Jesus said that whoever wants to be a (spiritual) leader will be a servant (Matthew 20:27 & 23:11). Peter is also describing spiritual leaders. In this instance, Peter did not say that any of these leaders were ordained and anointed by apostles, or chosen by elders, or appointed by the members, rather, we find that these were recognized as servants because of what they did. Please notice that point again. They were leaders because of what they did. What they did was to serve.

They were not made leaders through a title or through an appointment. They were leaders because they were already serving the congregation in some capacity. In other words, they were not first ordained and then started serving. No, they were serving first, and later ordained to the office. They were what they were because of what they did.

Is a small way, being what we do reflects God in us. Consider that God is what He does. God is love. It is interesting that in the Love Chapter of the Bible, 1^st Corinthians 13, the words for love are not nouns describing what love is, they are verbs describing what love does. Love is not described as an act which requires anointing, appointing, authorization consensus or election. Love is described as action.

The above examples found in 1 Peter are colored by the Holy Spirit. These leaders have the mind of Christ. Therefore, they are leaders by what they do. They are leaders in fact by action, if not in title.

Therefore, I believe that the Church structure and the method of choosing leaders, which is dependent upon resources, language, culture, etc., is secondary to the execution of love, joy and peace initiated by the working of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in us individually.

FOURFOLD DIVISION:

These divisions are of course very general, and we are using a very broad brush here. But the examples well serve the purpose of illustration and as a starting point in this discussion.

1. The Universal Church or Orthodox Church

2. The denominations which are separate parts of the one Universal Church.

3. Local Churches/Congregations

4. The individuals within the Body

1. The Universal Church: This includes everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the Orthodox truth which binds us all.

2. Denominations: Individually these work somewhat closely internally because they have a shared history and shared doctrines. Denominations differ from each other over points of history and doctrine which are not shared with other denominations. They contain individual congregations, which identify themselves with a certain denomination, over a geographic area.

3. The Local Congregations: These include people who meet regularly together for worship, whether in a fixed building or a rented room or in a private home. They may identify with a specific denomination or they may claim non-denominational status.

4. Us: We are the individual members comprising the Body of Christ. We are publicly joined into the Church, the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at Baptism. More precisely, we are placed into the Body when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Consider the good thief on the Cross (Luke 23:43). Jesus said that he would be in Paradise, yet he was not baptized in the traditional sense, due to extraordinary circumstances.

5. WHERE IS THE CHURCH?

Spirit and Truth and Christ Crucified.

Sir, she said to Jesus, “where do we get this living water?” The gospel of John chapter 4 relates the story of the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. She may have been the first to ever ask that question: Where is the church? She realized that Jesus was that living water. Jesus also told her (John 4:22) “You Samaritans do not know what you worship; we Jews know. Jesus gave her more information. In verse 23 He says, “But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Truth in worship is critically important.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23: “But we preach Christ crucified.” Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 that if we have all faith and give our bodies to be burned, yet have not love, we are as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Spirit in worship is critically important.

What are the signs of Spirit and Truth?

Spirit: Galatians 5:22; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law.

Truth: It may be summed up in the Apostle’s Creed, which reads as follows:

I believe in in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, out Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

Why are they both needed?

In 2012 a large snow storm led Rev. Todd Crouch to cancel our Sunday worship services in Washington, Pennsylvania. In my hometown, the Masontown Presbyterian Church decided to hold services that day. The Masontown Presbyterian is on only ½ mile from my home therefore I worshiped with them. I was with people who had faith and trust in Jesus, with people who reach out in love to others. The sermon was about Jesus. The church is not a location. The church is a state of mind, more precisely the Church is a state of the heart. It is found in the spirit of love and service. It is found in the truth of the gospel.

In Part 2 of 3, in the section “The Importance of Love,” the topic of seeking perfect doctrine or seeking extraordinary signs was broached. The conclusion was that peace, unity and respect in a congregation is the product of love. And the love shown in and by congregations is a more compelling sign of Jesus dwelling there than perfect doctrine or wondrous signs would be. In this section “Where is the Church?” it is well to speak here in more detail about those issues. Keep in mind that we shall paint those issues with a broad brush to illustrate some points.

Many people ask where is the church? Many begin by identifying a biblically true doctrine and then seeking a church which preaches that doctrine. Others seek spiritual manifestations to validate any Church.

If there is perfect understanding, or truth of the Bible but there is no love, no spirit in the congregation, then they are as nothing. The Holy Spirit is not there. Thomas a’ Kempis said it this way: “For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers, if we live without grace and the love of God?”

If there are spiritual manifestations but there is no love for one another, but rather coldness and indifference, they become as sounding brass or tinkling symbols. If there are great works but no love, no spirit, they are as nothing. The Spirit is not living in that Church. Perhaps the Spirit may occasionally descend and touch individual members for a moment, for a time before departing. King Saul prophesied in the Spirit. The Prophet Balaam spoke to God. Yes, we may prophesy like Saul or talk to God like Balaam and yet have a hollow and empty soul. Rather, we desire the Spirit to be continually in us as Paul teaches, not just temporarily upon us as with Saul and Balaam.

If there is great spirit power but no sound doctrine, they are as the foolish Galatians easily bewitched that they should not obey the truth (Galatians 3:1). They are as infants described in Ephesians 4:14, “That we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” Without sound truth, they are powerless against the tricksters. Hebrews 13:9 warns, “not to be carried away with various and strange doctrines.”

A good litmus test is to avoid any preaching which sounds strange when compared to the Apostles’ Creed.

It important that visitors to a congregation sense that Jesus is there; that they sense care and forgiveness there; that they sense the Holy Spirit living in and through the members. Peace, unity and respect among congregation members are important identifying signs of love. It is important that visitors to a congregation hear sound doctrine. The first indication of sound doctrine is that the Spirit led congregations focus upon Jesus as the Captain of their salvation. A congregation does that when the preaching does that. The Church is where Jesus is; where He is preached and where His love is manifest among the members.

SUMMARY:

1. What is the Church? “The church, the body of Christ, consists of all who trust in Jesus Christ. The church is commissioned to make disciples of Jesus by reaching out in love to all people, nurturing and baptizing those who believe, and teaching believers to obey all that Christ commanded. In fulfilling this mission, the church is directed by the Holy Scriptures, led by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and looks continually to Jesus Christ, it living Head.”

2. Why we need the Church: Dr. Morrison says, “A local congregation can give us a sense of belonging, of being involved with other believers. It can give us some spiritual safety, so that we are not blown around by strange ideas.” Brethren, the local church provides friendship, encouragement, fellowship and relationship with Jesus and with each other. Yes, it can provide a stage for us to display works of mercy, to put our gifts to use.

3. What is the purpose of the Church? Worship, teaching and ministry.

4. What does the church look line? There are three basic organizational structures: Hierarchy – Democracy – Representative. There is a fourfold division. The Universal Church or Orthodox Church; The denominations which are separate parts of the one Universal Church; Local Churches/Congregations; The individuals within the Body

5.Where is the Church? Wherever the truth of Christ and Him crucified is preached; wherever we find the fruit of the Spirit manifested in love, peace, unity and respect in a congregation we have evidence of the real total presence of Jesus.

CLOSING: We, beloved in Christ, are the called out ones. We are called alone, individually by the Holy Spirt. But we are not called to remain alone. Through grace we are joined to Christ, through Christ we are joined to each other. United together with each other and with Christ, we form the Church. In this three-part series we have found that the Church is not a location, nor a building, nor a particular doctrine, nor a feeling, nor gifts, nor a moral code, nor good works. The Church may include all those things, but the Church is not those things. A very concise response to the entire topic is the motto of the Fountain of Life: “If it is not about Jesus, it is not about anything.”

Benediction: May God our Father and Jesus, His Son and Our Lord and Savior, bless you all with grace, joy, peace, and love.Amen