Our goal with the show is not to offend or make light of God. Instead, we want to point to the truth of Scripture, and hope that the truth can provoke people to examine their ways, and respond how they see fit. When we fail to reach truth, then we are settling for something else. … Continue reading "026.2 Church Function, pt 2 – Foundations"

Our goal with the show is not to offend or make light of God. Instead, we want to point to the truth of Scripture, and hope that the truth can provoke people to examine their ways, and respond how they see fit. When we fail to reach truth, then we are settling for something else.

Church Membership
Modern definitions of church membership are invented by man. The concept of membership is distorted because the concept of the church is distorted. The church is not the legal organization existing in a building with set public meetings. Only Jesus can add you to the church So the question is, how does Jesus add you to the church? Many churches state that baptism is how you are added to the church. Scripture does not reflect this. Apostles and others in scripture were looking for the Holy Spirit in others, which is the Gift that Jesus promised us. Receiving the Holy Spirit is what includes us into God’s church, the mystical Body of Christ.

So with this concept of church, what are the implications of becoming a member of God’s church?

• The Bible says if we love God we will obey His commands.
• We should use our spiritual gifts. “Time, talents, and treasures” are not spiritual gifts, and things that should already be surrendered to Christ. Spiritual gifts are gifts from God that supernaturally empower us to minister.

Church membership in most churches does something very harmful that most people never think about. It creates a social class system. There are first time visitors, random attendees, regular attendees, members, tithing members, lay leaders, paid clergy. These different classes are treated differently and have different expectations placed on them.

God didn’t design the church to be a class system. Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:22-25) states that God utilizes spiritual gifts to give everyone equal value in the Body. Each member should have abundant honor in the eyes of every other member.

Leadership and Structure
There is God’s design and man’s design. God has an order to things. The church is the Body of Christ, a mystical, supernatural being made up of all believers throughout all time, someone the Bride and the Body of Christ at the same time, filled with the Holy Spirit of God. This is not something God would not give guidance in. He is not negligent.

The primary function of leadership in God’s design is equipping. In man’s design, it is control. The leader’s of God’s church should be nurturing and empowering people for ministry, not trying to control who can speak, serve, etc. The only “control” that God’s leaders have is to stand against false doctrine, exclude unrepentant believers from the assembly, affirm God’s call by the laying on of hands and sending out, appointing elders and deacons, and resolving disputes. Man’s design of leadership resembles pharisees. They add requirements of education and submission. God gifts people supernaturally with leadership and forms them to lead. Man’s design also includes non-competes in employment contracts. Man’s leadership structure prevents certain people from teaching, speaking, singing, leading, serving, etc. Man doesn’t have to control the gift of God; we have to affirm and nurture the gift, and set it loose.

The early church was accused by the Roman Empire of turning the whole world upside down. Where do we see that today? We do not accomplish this through political revolutions, through winning elections and passing policy; through oppressively establishing the morality of others. We do it the same way the early church did. We BE. We manifest the body of Christ here on the earth and declare the glory of God through how we love God, love our enemies, value life differently, transcend societal hierarchies and castes.

Some of the aspects of man’s design are subtle, or appear altruistic, logical, and good. Among these is the practice of congregations electing elders. This seems like a minor preference of practice, and makes sense. The congregations would know the people best. America loves democracy. Democracy is good. Voting is good. However, it’s not found in scripture. The elders were appointed by apostles or those they sent. This was important because the apostles were gifted to start these new spiritual works, these faith communities. This is not to say that the leaders are to lord their power over congregations. It doesn’t mean they rule with an iron fist. As we outlined earlier, the leadership responsibilities have a lot to do with equipping, protecting, confronting heresy, etc. If a leader is elected by the congregation and then subjected to them through a paycheck and job description, then they are not free to lead.

Authority is an important topic to God. He establishes and empowers proper authority. He was heavy handed in how He shepherded Paul into his leadership position. Man’s design does not make space for God’s leadership development. Many American churches have a structure similar to a corporation. Many of them are legal corporations, in the form of a non-profit organization. Usually, this is so it can own property. Once it becomes a corporation, it needs to add officers, which are not found in Scripture but are required by law. Then then add offices, in the form of paid positions, to operate the church. These are jobs, with job descriptions, requirements, and paychecks. These also are not scriptural. This methodology is not found in Scripture, is subject to current laws, brings money and transaction into something which should function more like a family (could you imagine paying your father to be your father, complete with a list of job responsibilities and requirements to qualify?), and yet it has become the standard for how churches are formed. So much so that it is rarely questioned. If you dispute paid positions, people counter by saying you’re against people supporting their spiritual leaders. If you dispute job requirements, people say you’re opposed to ensuring righteous leadership. If you dispute having a legal corporation, people say you are opposed to accountability. And yet the early church accomplished all these ideals without subjecting themselves to extra-biblical, secular demands.

So why do we do this? Why does the church in America continue in this way, and why is it seldom questioned, and why is the questioning opposed? A lot of it is due to what we inherit. None of us invented these systems. We inherited them. We were told this was the way, it was good and true. We retrofit things into Scripture by cherry-picking verses to defend present practice, instead of diving deep and headlong into Scripture and the Holy Spirit and obeying diligently.

God has a structure for His church, and it is built on Jesus, on the proclamation of who He is, on the Good News of the Kingdom. The Church’s manifest power comes from the declaration of God’s glory through His people. The local church gains its uniqueness as the Holy Spirit transforms and empowers people to give up everything and separate themselves from the world, and as they use their spiritual gifts in power. As this entity grows, those with leadership gifts rise up and are recognized by the church, and they appoint deacons and elders to minister to the needs of the church. The leadership teaches and disciples people for the works of service.

Man’s design starts with a bad foundation of an incomplete gospel. It builds on that an unbiblical structure of business and leadership. It defines its ministry by the walls of its buildings and hierarchy of leadership. We will continue to examine how these bad foundations distort and divide through things that should unite us, like communion, baptism, and spiritual gifts.

Songs
Sean Carter – The Passover  https://noisetrade.com/seancartercarolinecobb/
Young Oceans – We Sing as One  https://noisetrade.com/youngoceans

This episode originally broadcast live on September 25, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.sunministries.org

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

We’ll be looking at a biblical view of church function by starting with examining the false gospels at large in America today. But before that, let’s look at some idea’s for structures and functions of the local church: the gospel – what gospel is preached? How is it lived? Membership – what are the requirments, … Continue reading "026.1 Church Function, pt 1 – False Gospels"

We'll be looking at a biblical view of church function by starting with examining the false gospels at large in America today.

But before that, let's look at some idea's for structures and functions of the local church:

1. the gospel – what gospel is preached? How is it lived?

2. Membership – what are the requirements, markers, training, etc?

3. spiritual and physical nature – How does the church embrace its dual nature?

4. leadership and structure – What does leadership look like?

5. Communion – what does it mean and how is it performed?

6. Baptism – What does it mean and how is it performed?

7. worship gatherings/evangelistic gatherings – How does the church gather? Why?

8. spiritual warfare and spiritual gifts – Is the church battling with weapons in both hands?

9. the church functioning in the world – How does the church engage and minister to the world?

False Gospels in America
The Ticket to Heaven Gospel – Popularized by Dwight Moody and Charles Finney focusing on a personal savior and the Sinner's Prayer. Repent of your sins and confess with your mouth and you will be saved, and end up in Heaven when you die. This puts the focus on getting to heaven and bypasses your life here on earth. Sort of a distortion of the gospel of John the Baptist, which was, “Repent!” But repentance is the start, not the fulfillment. The Gospel of Jesus was about the Spirit of God being returned to us, to have fellowship with God. Adam and Eve “died” at the fall, but they did not drop dead in the dirt. They lost something. So what did they lose? How do we get it back? Anxiety about our “final destination” doesn't lead us to the Lord; it doesn't lead us to our Ephesians 2:10 works.

Genie in the Lamp Gospel – If you turn to God, He'll fix your problems. This enslaves people to a new law. It shrinks God down to a manageable size. It puts the focus on God doing something to make your life easier. It puts your will at the center, instead of God's will. And it puts the relationship into the context of a transaction that is earned or unearned. You're not healed because you lack faith, you're poor because you don't give, you're not blessed because you're too sinful. This logic breaks down when you look at rich or healthy people who hate God. It breaks down when you look at righteous people in the Bible who suffered in poverty. This gospel encourages pretending, to pretend that things are better than they are so people won't think you are sinful, doubtful, selfish, etc.

The Acceptance Gospel – Everyone and everything is ok because God is love. This bypasses the eternal attributes of God – it denies His justice, judgment, and holiness, and redefines love. This desires a God that doesn't judge or harm in any way. Usually, this is tied to pride on the part of the person accepting this Gospel. It gives them a pass for all their flaws, and demonizes those who would speak out against sin.

The Gospel of the Kingdom
The Gospel of the Kingdom is sell all your possessions, be separate from the world, be separate from the world, follow Jesus, live in the power and dominion of the Holy Spirit. Through this Gospel, we see and understand what others do not see and understand. What is the proper response to this gospel? Live for others and not your self. This is a difference from the false gospels present in America today. This contrasts with the hypocrites of Isaiah 58 trying to impress God and earn His response with their religious actions. Jesus' Gospel completely changes us, not just our behavior, or our political beliefs, or our traditions. Jesus' Gospel does not call us to ignore the evil around us, but to overcome it through the Spirit. Jesus' Gospel calls us to walk in His ways – giving up of our status, position, and privilege to serve those who have not. Our lives are exchanged for His. It is a Gospel of rest – of resting in Grace, in the work of the Spirit, in humility. Jesus' Gospel is one of transformation. Jesus is the only way to have eternal life – which is to know Him and the One who sent Him.

Songs
Derek Webb – A New Law
Madison Greene – The Turning

This episode originally broadcast live on September 18, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.sunministries.org

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

We will continue our discussion of function and purpose by looking at some analogies of the Church and Christ that we find in Scripture. These pictures display the relationship between Christ and the Church. Colossians 1:18 – Christ is the head, the church is the body Ephesians 2:20-21 – Christ is the cornerstone and the … Continue reading "025.2 Purpose and Function, pt 4"

We will continue our discussion of function and purpose by looking at some analogies of the Church and Christ that we find in Scripture. These pictures display the relationship between Christ and the Church.

• Colossians 1:18 – Christ is the head, the church is the body
• Ephesians 2:20-21 – Christ is the cornerstone and the church is the temple
• 2 Corinthians 11:2 – Christ is the beloved and the church is the virgin
• 1 Peter 5 – Jesus is the shepherd, the church is the flock
• Ephesians 2 – Christ is the firstborn, the Church is the household
• Revelation 19 – Christ is the bridegroom, the Church is the Bride
• Ephesians 2 – Christ is the creator, and the Church is one new man built from two, and built for peace
• Matthew 16:18 – Christ is the builder and the Church is His church

The Church is obviously central to God's heart, to His creation of the universe. And yet he communicates about it more frequently in pictures than in blatant instruction for procedure and positions. As the church, we should take this to heart. We should not neglect the things that are clearly instructed, nor should be divide over the things that are not clearly defined in Scripture. If God wanted the “pastor” to be the focal point of church function, He probably should have mentioned it more than once, and should have given some explanation. We see way more discussion of the “apostle” in scripture, and yet few people could point to one today. Same goes for prophets.

Every local church will be a unique expression of the Lord Jesus Christ in their community. This doesn't mean “anything goes,” but it does mean that we should focus on our Lord and allow freedom in how He leads.

So let's re-examine our churches in the light of God's clear priorities, and His pictures that speak of relationship more than defined systems. If the Church is made up of those who have been born of the Spirit of God and been baptized into the one body of Christ by the one Spirit, then the question is, does that describe your church? Or is your church more accurately described by its meetings, events, buildings, as a group of people (believers and unbelievers) present in the same room at the same time? There is only one church, and only God can add people to it.

So then, what about membership?

Today, we have varying church membership requirements. Some “churches” have no membership recognition, some require that members be baptized in that church building in a certain manner, some require letters from past churches, some require tithing, some people have to sign covenants, some require classes. Where do all these varying requirements come from? The Bible? Or have we invented them along the way?

The most significant sign of of “membership” in scripture is having received the Holy Spirit. So then, can you receive the Holy Spirit and NOT be a member of God's church?

Membership in the church, which was entrance into the community of the Church, was based on the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. There is no other church membership requirement listed. The church is a community of Spirit-transformed people. There are many people in Scripture who are not baptized, or have no baptism recorded. Baptism isn't a requirement, but a response. It is displayed as a response to the reception of the Gospel in Scripture. It should be a shared, celebratory event, not a legalistic requirement.

The danger here is not necessarily in what you do or don't do. It is how you view what you do, and how you view membership. Do your laws apply to Jesus, to Scripture, to the heart of God displayed in the works of the Spirit we see in Acts and elsewhere? Or can we agree on God and the things He makes clear, and give freedom and grace to those who vary on things God never bothered to nail down?

Why do theology and ecclesiology matter? Because they affect our definitions, our language, our thinking, and our expectations. The Church we find in Scripture is communicated by God most often by relational pictures, and expressed as a people transformed by the Spirit, living life together in a fallen world, to steward the mysteries of God and care for the entire creation. Do our physical tools help us be the church, or do they consume our time and treasures on an unbiblical organization? How can we discern this? Discover what the Church is supposed to do to see of the tools fit the job. Let's see if our tasks, function, and purpose all line up.

The Church is primarily spiritual and eternal. Physical tools are not eternal. We must identify the world so that we can be separate from it but minister to it, without falling prey to its ways. We can't have a vague, amorphous definition, because we can abuse that as liberty to do anything. If there is confusion here, it can lead people into fruitless endeavors. With the prevalence of event-based ministry and friendship evangelism, it is easy to assume that your current passions are always a valid pathway for ministry. The problem is that this is self-focused. God's works for you might have nothing to do with your present passions and interests. Or your present passions and interests could be informed by sinful desires and false ideas. It is better to lay down your will at the foot of Jesus and ask Him to transform your mind. To identify the enemy and get to know the heart and ways of your Master. When we commit corporately to identify the ways of the world and separate ourselves from them, to serve God by serving others, then we establish a filter to view our ministry efforts. We have committed to sacrifice, consecration, seeking the will of God.

For those seeking revival, take note. We will never find revival if we participate in low-cost ways of ministry. The power in the early church was that the commitment cost your life. It required a severe re-prioritization. It required commitment and sacrifice. It desired a thirst for God's truth and love that pushed past our flesh and the world's demands. When we commit as a church to the sacrificial way of Christ, then we will deter people set on fulfilling their own desires. God's will and character will be declared in the presence of costly love, instead of in the presence of an event-filled organization that requires little sacrifice.

Have you added faith to your life? Or have you “lost your life” in order to receive the hope of Jesus?

The Gospel is an exchange of life – your life for Jesus' life. You've been bought with a price. You cannot add Jesus to your life. You cannot hold on to something else. Jesus is not here to take care of your problems so you can pursue what you want. Jesus wants you to pursue Him with all of your mind, soul, and strength.

So how can the church get fixed? This is a trick question. The assumption is that there is a broken thing that needs fixed. In fact, there is a false thing that needs abandoned. If it were a matter of “fixing”, here is what that to-do list would look like

• leave its denomination

• dissolve its corporation

• remove all unbiblical staff positions, programs, and events

• stop its open sunday services

For many churches, these very things define its nature. So in effect, it would have to cease to exist. We must come outside the camp to minister how Jesus did (Hebrews 13).

“Here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” This picture is carried in Galatians 4 (two covenants/two women/two mountains/two cities). One is about doing and one is about being. We should be a place where the Holy Spirit dwells. The New Jerusalem comes down out of Heaven.

When we go to the Bible to find the description of how to structure the church, we do not find what you would expect. There is not a lack of information, but a lack of information concerning a system. Most of the information describes a group of people sharing life. The instruction is about empowerment, sharing, loving, sacrificing, fellowship, teaching.

In this tension of being and doing, we must make sure our doing is birthed from our being. Do not simply switch your activities and assume that it is better. You are still focusing on your activity. Do not become prideful in your actions, regardless of how righteous they may be. Rest in being the church, and do what flows out of that. The Holy Spirit should be our central motivator. He can motivate some to do something, and not others. Or He may motivate all to do something, but participate in their unique way.

So what then do we do? We must remove the leaven of the pharisees. First, know your gospel! What did Jesus preach? What do you preach? Are you preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, as Jesus did? Jesus' Gospel focused on death to self. It was not centered around sin, but on denying your self. Repentance is vital, and sin should not be taken lightly. But repentance is the start, not the center. His Gospel leads us to be separate from the world. It is central to the church; there is no church outside the Gospel. The Gospel of the Kingdom involves obedience to God's commands. It requires sacrifice and suffering on behalf of those who hate you. The church is formed from Jesus' Gospel. If we structure a church around our design, it distorts the gospel, and removes our source of power.

Do not miss the Gospel of Jesus by accepting and preaching a gospel of man. You will miss out on the fullness of Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 11 and beware.

Songs
Jars of Clay – They will know we are Christians by our Love http://www.jarsofclay.com/
Liz Vice – Entrance http://www.lizvice.com/

This episode originally broadcast live on September 18, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.sunministries.org

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

We will continue discovering the purpose and function of the Church by looking at God’s images and patterns found in Scripture. To recap, the modern American church is at its fastest rate of decline, and largely measures its success in physical terms (buildings, budgets, and butts). However, God’s church is spiritual and eternal, universal and local. Critically … Continue reading "025.1 Purpose and Function, pt 3"

Critically examine your faith and church experience. Are the things you agree to in scripture evident in your life? Are you experiencing your theology, or are you disconnected from it?

Jesus Christ is building His church and it is not the result of human effort

1. the only true foundation of the Church is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

2. All revelation is a work of the Spirit of God and not of man (1 corinthians 2)

   1. Robot evangelism is bad http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/augustweb-only/8-26-31.0.html

3. The Church of Jesus Christ is no the work of man but of God, therefore, the nature of the church should reflect this truth

We must check our goals and motivations. If the plan is to “plant a church”, what does that mean? Does it mean assembling a team, finding a building, etc? Or do you desire to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, preach the Gospel, and make disciples? The hard work required to “build the church” is of a spiritual nature, so it requires spiritual eyes and ears. It is costly work that requires love and sacrifice, and it is harder and more fruitful than crafting an event where you can invite people, believers and unbelievers alike, in the hopes they will like you. These physical approaches bypass the reality that there is a real spiritual war going on, that people are enslaved by satan in strongholds.

“Friendship evangelism” and related methods have all come into existence after the events and penning of Scripture. So we often find ourselves trying to implant that concept back into Scripture. When we assume our modern ways are good, best, or not modern at all, then we miss out on what we actually find in Scripture. We miss the disconnect between the ways of Jesus and the ways of modern man. We know three things for sure about what Jesus did

1. He did all things out of love (1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 John 4:16)

2. He did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19)

3. He was obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8)

Knowing these three things about Jesus' actions should contextualize all He did. When He defended the woman caught in adultery and when He called people white-washed tombs, it was out of love, obedient, and reflected what the Father was doing. We should approach our own actions the same way. We should not find a methodology and try to fit Jesus into it.

The mystery of the Church
The mystery has to be revealed
Colossians 1:24-29 Christ in you, the hope of Glory
Church is fellowship of the mystery
The church is not a building or organization, but people with Christ in them.

When Israel discovered they had “polluted the assembly” by marrying foreign wives, they mourned, they gathered, they took it seriously and made a plan, and they repented. What is your response to signs of polluting the assembly?

If you want to see your church the way God sees it, you have to first see His Church and the way He sees it. You must understand the real thing to recognize something that is off course. Let's look at some of God's patterns

1. Creation and Marriage of Adam and Eve

   1. Intimate fellowship

      1. People opposed to God (unbelievers) destroy the intimate fellowship

   2. Directive to be fruitful, multiply, subdue, rule

      1. focus on church structure keeps of inward focused, instead of outward focused to rule creation

   3. Tabernacle of Moses

      1. God's work in the sacrifice of Christ

         1. When we are focused on self-preservation, then we are not a sacrificial presence on the earth

   4. Tabernacle of David

      1. Grace is extended to everyone

         1. This is distorted into inviting believers and unbelievers into the worship gathering, and not extending grace to people outside the church building

         2. This sometimes turns into misguided and self-centered political activism, looking for that route to be the solution to our problems

   5. Ezekiel's Temple

      1. spiritual priesthood – who are you ministering to?

   6. New Testament pictures – Spiritual and organic nature of the Church, not referring to buildings, structures, events, programming, etc.

      1. Body of Christ

      2. Temple of God

      3. Spiritual House

      4. Mt. Zion

      5. General assembly

      6. Church of the Firstborn

      7. Bride of Christ

      8. Holy City

      9. New Jerusalem

 

Spiritual context of the Church

1. Universal Church – 1 Chronicles 12, the Kingdom

   1. Historical Church – Hebrews 11 – the foundation laid

   2. The church throughout the world – The Gospel to all the earth

Kingdom of God

1. Genesis 1:26-28 – God's purpose

2. Genesis 12 – reproducing the seed

3. Genesis 24 – Doing God's pleasure

4. Genesis 48 – The seed is scattered and reproduced

The Great Commission

1. Disciples

2. Reaching the Nations with the Gospel

God's redemptive purpose – The church coming against the enemy to set captives free. We have to get back to opposing satan and his strongholds on a spiritual level in our community on a regular basis instead of through politics or on social media.

Songs:
Great Forest – Step into my Arms
The Foresters – This is the Kingdom

This episode originally broadcast live on September 18, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.sunministries.org

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

 

Matthew 16:15-18 Who do you say that I am? The church is not built by human effort. God builds His church, and He does it His way. He uses pictures to reveal the church to men. These pictures reveal something about God – this shows that He is our God and we are His people; … Continue reading "024.2 Purpose and Function, pt 2"

Matthew 16:15-18 Who do you say that I am?

The church is not built by human effort. God builds His church, and He does it His way. He uses pictures to reveal the church to men. These pictures reveal something about God – this shows that He is our God and we are His people; that His church declares His glory. “You are the Christ” - this declaration is where the church is built. Doing things, being places, attending meetings, having habits do not add you to the church.

When God interacts with people, the interactions often involve the Land: Garden, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos. The pattern is God heals the people, and THEN He heals the land. A healed people are designed to steward a healed land. This is purpose. With wounded people in the presence of a wounded land, we are trying to fabricate stewardship. The PEOPLE are bigger than the individual. The LAND is bigger than the people. Church life is not any kind of meeting, no matter how elaborate or simple. But ecclesia is a life lived in a land with others and God.

Current church structure is focused on the Sunday morning meeting. All the energy is ramped up for the Big Show. But most people are not satisfied with that, so we add sunday school, specified small groups, events, ministries, etc. We organize things to focus on the meeting at a set time, inside a set building, and then bemoan the fact that people are not out in the community, so we try to manufacture programs to get them “outside the walls.” We craft a system that focuses on a once-a-week meeting, and when that proves lacking, we try to add events and concerns to people's already full lives. This is not what they signed on for. This was not the original deal. The Good News of the Kingdom is a transformational reality for your whole life. It is by its nature self-sacrificial and all-encompassing. We should be encouraging a community of people who are sharing life together, working and ministering together, who then gather to celebrate this life, praise our God, testify to His deeds, share our joys and concerns.

We should not use physical things to birth spiritual things, but use them as a tool, and use them properly, and use them alongside spiritual weapons. The church, God's people, should have compassion, as Jesus did.

Jesus is building His church also on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and not simply the biblical ones, but those living today. The Bible is immensely important, but we cannot simply stare at it, study it, and miss the bigness of God, the vastness of the Kingdom, the immensity of our call. If we merely dissect the word, we will be like those of whom Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” We should be motivated and moved by the Bible to LIVE, and to walk with the Holy Spirit in the world.

Do you hate the church? Do we hate the church? What is the church? God's church is the collection of saved sinners living life in a fallen world, with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The religious systems of man are not the church, but merely a counterfeit. That doesn't mean spirit-filled believers can't be involved with them, or lead them, or that the traditional church system can't do good things in the world. But they are two different things.

The foundation of the church is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This is in 1 Corinthians 3:11 – for no man can lay a foundation, other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. The only way a person can be added to the church is through the Holy Spirit revealing them the truth of who Jesus Christ is. This is the only way to get fruit that lasts.

What is the most effective way to communicate the Gospel? Is it to gather people for an activity? Is it by making them your friend? Is it a game night, movie night, car show, hunting trip, bike ride, concert, bounce house? Or is it by obeying Christ? To prove that we believe who He says He is, that we have been pierced by His grace, that we live in a Kingdom that forgives sin and gives you what you could never earn by your performance? Is it to love because we first were loved? Why should anyone be motivated to come to Jesus if your thoughts, words, and actions communicate that you never did? This is not a matter of being perfect or the most righteous; it's a matter of changing what you treasure and acting like Christ is your King. If you don't live what you preach, you negate what you preach.

What do you preach? What is the loudest part of your gospel? Is it your political beliefs? Is it your work ethic? Is it your purity codes? Is it your religious festivals? Is it your concerts? Or is it your love borne out of the immensity of grace? What is it we're supposed to be proclaiming? The mystery of the Church – Christ in us. The church is the fellowship of the mystery. God in man. The Kingdom in our midst.

The transformation the Holy Spirit brings is not a cessation of sin. It is a total heart transplant. It is forsaking the world. It is humility. It is serving others. It is submitting to God. It is laying down our rights, dreams, defenses, and taking up our cross. It is following the Master. To become Christ-like, you must lay down your life for people who hate you.

The Gospel changes how we interact with people. It changes how we view the world. It changes where our hope is placed. It should change your interactions with the rest of creation.

Let's Recap

1. The decline of the church – its health as an institution and its status in our culture

2. The way we see our church – using physical tools to try to get spiritual results

3. Trying to get purpose out of function instead of allowing purpose to define function

4. The Church is primarily spiritual in nature

5. Physical things should only be midwives; tools to loosen satan's grip. Not using things of the world to attract people to the Gospel.

6. What you draw them with is what you draw them to.

Do you see your church the way Jesus sees your church? How does Jesus see your church? Jesus' church has a design defined by Him. Here are some of His patterns from scripture:

1. Creation and marriage of Adam and Eve – God's purpose came before people's function; intimate fellowship; grace-covered state; stewarding over creation in obedience to God; this brings glory to God.

2. Tabernacle of Moses – demonstrates God's work in the sacrifice of Christ. The tabernacle was symbolic of God's presence with the people, and of the impending appearance and sacrifice of Christ. The church today should also be representing God's presence and the sacrificial nature of Christ.

3. The Tabernacle of David – God's grace manifested in salvation to the Gentiles

4. Temple of Solomon – God's glory revealed through His presence amongst His people

5. Temple of Ezekiel – pattern of priesthood in service and ministry.

We must examine our purpose and our function, and discern which is leading. If we adopt an incorrect purpose, it will lead us to bad functioning. If we try to create purpose by functioning, we are performing a transaction. We don't do nice things for our spouses so that they will love us. We love them, and so do nice things for them. When we have a false purpose, or attract with functioning, and let our tasks and activities lead, we will attract people to those things. They will never find real purpose. They will not find intimate fellowship found in unity in the Spirit.

Songs:
David Crowder Band – A Beautiful Collision
Audio Adrenaline – Jesus Movement

This episode originally broadcast live on September 11, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)