Otterbein United Methodist Church

March 2, 2008

Scripture: Acts 2:36-47

Sermon: “Now This Is Church”

You’ve gathered today sitting in nice straight pews, facing the front of a beautiful church edifice. We’ve heard some music, done some singing. We’ve had prayers prayed and monies given. Some of us have given much of the very little we have, others have given only a little of what amounts to a great abundance compared to others.

We’ve already weighed and assessed the service. We’re measuring it against a set of personal standards and preferences that we have developed. If you’re a guest, you are weighing this service against others you’ve been in. If you’re a regular, you’re weighing it against last week’s service. If you’re a long-timer, you weigh it against what church was like back in the day when you first attended here. We compare the preacher with other preachers you’ve heard. We’ve also made various comfort assessments… we stood too long, the room is too warm, or cold; the music is too loud. The pews are too hard. “So and so” was forgotten in the prayer concerns.

However at the same time that we here on earth are giving our assessment, heaven is giving an assessment as well. They are asking the same question: “Was that really church? Is that what we had in mind when we put together the idea of a redeemed community coming together and being the Church?”

Read today’s scripture…

Introduction…

Growing crowds of very eager yet curious people had been gathering and following and listening. They hadn’t planned to stay for so long. The messages they listened to from their rabbis didn’t last that long, nor were they this interesting. They realized they were getting hungry, were without food and were a considerable distance from home. They watched utterly astounded as using just one lunch, Jesus blessed and multiplied its bread and fish until they had all eaten.

That evening Jesus and his 12 most trusted followers get on a boat to cross the lake. When he has them alone on the other side, he talks to them quite intimately. (Matthew 16:13) I know people are talking about me. All sorts of things are being said. What are you hearing?

He’s really just setting them up for what really matters to him… Not “What are others saying, but what do you say? Who do you think I am?” Whether it came to him in the spur of the moment or had been something Simon had been mulling over for weeks doesn’t matter, for he responded with a truth for the ages, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

Jesus response to Simon was to tell him, “What you’ve said is a rock solid statement! I’m changing your name from Simon to Peter (which means rock). On this rock, this foundation statement, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you, Peter, the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

Fast forward… It’s the day of Pentecost. Jesus has died, been raised, ascended to heaven, and has sent the Holy Spirit. Peter stands up with the eleven (Acts 2:14)… back then they not only figuratively, but literally “stood together.” Peter told the events of Christ’s life and resurrection, and the people said, “What shall we do?” I can picture Peter turning to the 11 and saying, “What shall they do?” And the disciples are saying, “Peter, Peter, the keys, remember he gave you the keys.” “Oh yeah, the keys… repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit.”

1.) Jesus’ Church has the right people! What is the foundation of the Church? It’s a person… Jesus. Knowing that fact might get you into the membership of a church, but it takes actual faith in that person to really be a part of what Heaven calls church. Peter’s confession about Jesus was that he was “THE Christ.” (not one among many). Being a part of the church is buying in to God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. Anything else is a poor substitute. Just how poor? So poor that the Bible says “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which you must be saved.” Acts 4:12

We call knowing this person, Jesus, being “born again.” Apart from that you can’t even see the kingdom when it’s all around you! (See John 3:3)

2.) Jesus’ Church has the right motivation. The church doesn’t exist for us! Jesus said, “The gates of hell won’t prevail against the church. For many years of my life, I pictured the church as a group of people huddled together holding on against the attacks of the gates of Hell. But truth be told, I’ve never been attacked by a gate! I’ve had difficulty opening gates a few times, but never attacked. Jesus is telling Peter the church will kick the very gates of hell in to rescue those persons who are living in Satan’s grasp and domain. When my church is functioning as I want it to, its message and power will be so compelling as to be irresistible power and influence. That’s why I can so confidently say that the church of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world.

3.) Jesus’ Church lives the right lifestyle (one of sacrifice)… When push comes to shove, most of us are way more about convenience than risk. Ease over sacrifice. When it comes to church, what are we really willing to give up in order to build Christ’s Church? For this band of New Testament followers the cause was so compelling they were willing to give up everything to achieve it.

Whatever price Jesus asked them to pay, they’d pay. When God urged them out on a limb of faith, they went, regardless of where it would take them. When he would say, “Now let go and trust me!” They’d let go and trust God.

· They invested time… they devoted themselves to teaching and fellowship.

· They remained teachable… wanting to learn and grow.

· They shared their resources… no one did without or had need (basin and towel ministry).

· They opened their homes with gladness and sincere hearts.

· They praised God!

4.) Jesus’ Church has the right consistency… (walk matches talk)… Remember the Old Testament book of Amos… the people were regularly gathering and fellowshipping and do all the things they called church, yet they were oppressing the poor and marginalized; they were shady (if not corrupt) in their business dealings, and this is what heaven had to say about their worship… “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.” In essence God is saying, “Get rid of your musicians; fire the choir!” Amos 5:21, 23. “Your hearts are so far from me and so hardened to the plight of others that you’d be better off not even meeting than trying to call this church!

You know the type. The world applies things like “hypocrite” to them. Their walk doesn’t match their talk. They give the appearance of godliness for an hour on Sunday, but outside this hour, stand back. Inconsistency is the nicest thing that comes to mind. If they can use you to get ahead, you’re steam-rolled!

Conclusion… When Jesus Church held church…

· Everyone would participate. Each one came together with a psalm, hymn or spiritual song (Col 3:16)

· There would be lots of needy, wayward, and infirmed people. We would care about their lives and their eternal destinies.

· We would pray bold prayers and expect results. We’d not leave talking about the sermon, but about the wonderful presence of God! We would stand in awe at the hand of God!

· If the liturgy were abandoned, no one would care.

Some of you would love to see such a church in action. For some of you that would be an absolutely scary thing. But some of you are in need of such a church surrounding you in love and prayer right now!

Jesus is still building such a church as that! I want us to be this kind of Church that functions together as family. That is breaking down barriers between race, ethnicity, class and culture. I want to give my life to such a church as the one Jesus is building!

Now THIS is CHURCH!