Turning the Tables
Chris Spenner, Pastor
Gospel of John - John 2: 13-25 - Turning the Tables • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:00
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World vs church - influence
Harvard and Yale example - Slide
Read paper description
A Jesus-examination of the church
READ John 2:13-25
1) Purpose of the Temple/Church
1) Purpose of the Temple/Church
Comparing temple in 1 Kings and John 2
1 Kings 8:10-11, 57-58, 61
Explain the temple court, sacrifice purchases
Leaders were making profits equiv. to day’s wage
Money-changing - converting other currencies to shekels/weights
The focus shifted to money
The focus shifted to how the world does life
Success defined in the world
Satan loves this way
Satan loves to see this way in the church - keeps people far from the LORD
Success defined by the LORD
Most people don’t like this way
Evil seems to be winning
Every soul getting saved is a loss for the enemy!
Every believer walking the surrendered life is a prime target for the enemy
Status of the church
We’ve mostly given in to the way of the world
WHAT CHURCH IS NOT
Business - though we need to be wise financially
Social club - though we fellowship, based on spiritual connection
Social agency - though we meet needs when we can, along with sharing Christ
What the church is about - Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Yes, we collect an offering, not to make a profit, not to take advantage
And we don’t hold special sales or create business ventures to do something
We pay our bills and manage ministry as offerings allow
We exist on the sacrificial offerings of those who call this church home, and we are good stewards of that
I never touch the money, count the offering, see who gives what, don’t care
2) The Authority in the Church
2) The Authority in the Church
NOT the one with the most money
NOT the hardest worker
NOT the pastor
JESUS IS THE AUTHORITY
What authority did Jesus have even being in the temple?
IT WAS BUILT FOR HIM!
He made a whip of cords…patiently, righteously angry
He sent a clear message
Example - imagine building a house, and the contractor does it HIS way, not YOURS
We could try to compare the church in its early days - to today
Why a decline in the church today?
(Quotes from book/research - in bulletin)
Same issue as then
They forgot the Authority in church
They forgot the Authority in life
They became their own authority
Today
People did NOT leave the church because of the church (despite what they say)
They forgot the Authority in church
They forgot the Authority in life
They became their own authority in both - self rules!
You worship God or yourself - period
You are here today, for the moment, because life is about something (Someone) bigger than you (an authority above you)
3) True Believers Worship
3) True Believers Worship
Jesus did not believe in most believers in this instance- He knew their hearts
Does Jesus believe in your belief?
He knows your heart
You can pretend and fool friends and family
Who are you letting teach your kids? The world or the Word?
John 2, the temple looks like the world
Today, the church looks like the world
Purpose of church
Worship, edifying of believers
Secondary, getting people saved, important though
Inside, deep inside the church, the core is where/who gets church done
The core gets the purpose
The core understands Who the Authority is here
The core are true believers, who come to worship
The core is not about self, worldly success, getting ahead, looking the part
All the things the world promotes and encourages
It’s not about numbers, entertainment, dollars, popularity
All the things the world promotes and encourages
Jesus’ Perspective
Jesus’ Perspective
The close of this passage - Jesus’s perspective
He didn’t need anyone telling Him what was wrong with people
He knows what is in man
THIS IS WHY HE CAME IN PERSON
He knows your greatest need
When did you acknowledge that and truly place your trust in Him?
Why have you rejected Him?
Why have you pulled away from surrendered following?
Jesus already knows, just be honest with Him
He wanted people to observe Him and believe in Him
Today, no different
People observe Jesus by observing the church
Problem: people hypocritically hold us to a perfect standard
Solution: let them see that we, while not perfect:
We understand the purpose of the church - to worship Him and make disciples
We understand Who is the Authority - and we surrender to Him
We understand worship - “worth-ship” - we are in awe and point the glory to the only One who is worthy of the attention we point to Him
What would you like the church to be like? Does that measure up with the Bible? Do you know the Bible well enough to answer?
I invite Jesus to come and evaluate what we are doing here
How would we measure up?
Where would He be rightly upset?
Where would He be pleased?
Whose kingdom do we represent?
World’s
The LORD’s
Each of us is personally responsible to:
Maintain the purpose of the church
To remember Who is in charge here
Worship. WORSHIP HIM
Jesus wants us to get good with that
Are you?