What is the Church? 4 - The Temple of God

Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

I.   We’re In God’s House

     A.  Because of what Jesus did

           1.  “Consequently:” The reason (the only reason) we can be the Church is because of Jesus death & resurrection.

           2.  Jesus destroyed all that stands between all people (2:14).

                 a.  The definition of the “People of God” has been expanded.

                 b.  We no longer need to convert to Jewish culture to become God’s people.

                 c.  A basic principle of missions is that people don’t need to convert to a different culture to convert to Jesus.

           3.  We are all reconciled to God through Jesus by the Spirit.

                 a.  The triune God is completely involved in our reconciliation to each other.

     B.  No longer Estranged

           1.  Jesus turns us from strangers into family.

                 a.  If we were once at each other’s throats, we’re not on each other’s side.

           2.  Because we are all reconciled to one God, we are by definition reconciled to each other.

                 a.  Even when our daily experience doesn’t measure up to that.

           3.  And where we find it hard to reconcile, God helps us.

                 a.  Reconciliation is easy when you only hang out with people who are almost as good as you are.

                 b.  Normally we hurt and are hurt in unintentional and intentional ways all the time to the point where we sometimes forget what reconciliation is even supposed to look like!

     C.  Members of God’s Household

           1.  We are now all part of one happy home.

                 a.  We’re family - we all have the same Dad.

                 b.  (Family!? I thought you said we were supposed to get along!)

           2.  That’s why it’s appropriate for us to call each other brother and sister.

           3.  You are in your church home.

II.  On this Rock

     A.  A foundation of Truth

           1.  “The apostles and prophets” means those authorized to speak the very words of God.

                 a.  Peter’s confession of Jesus: (Matt.16:15-19)

           2.  They are not self-appointed spokesmen, but God appointed.

                 a.  They don’t speak their own message, they speak God’s message.

           3.  They give us the Bible as a foundation on which to build this church and everything it stands for.

     B.  Jesus is the cornerstone

           1.  Cornerstone/capstone — either way it’s the stone that holds the whole thing together.

           2.  It is not ideas but a person, not a theology but a relationship, not a teaching, but a teacher.

           3.  As we relate to Jesus together, we learn to be Church.

                 a.  We can only be the new Temple if we are all joined to Jesus.

III. We are the Temple

     A.  Being built Up

           1.  In Babel people tried to build a structure to heaven. And that is the story of humanity that is being written over and over again.

                 a.  We continuously try to reach our own heaven in our own strength.

                 b.  We always, always fail.

           2.  Through Jesus we are being built together into something for God.

                 a.  Jesus joins the whole building together so that we rise up to God.

                 b.  We rise up to bring Him honor and draw attention to Him.

           3.  We become a temple. Not a building, but a place where people can come and find God — among us!

                 a.  The word temple in Hebrew is the same as the word we translate “palace.”

                 b.  It is a place not only for worship, but also the place where God’s throne is.

     B.  Being built Together

           1.  We are being joined together, fit together, cemented together.

 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

           2.  God is joining us together and making us into something great, like a mason takes a pile of bricks and turns it into a beautiful building.

           3.  What do you think about that idea?

     C.  Where God lives

           1.  Jesus said, “The kingdom isn’t over there or thataway. The kingdom is among you.”

           2.  God lives among us — wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his name.

           3.  The creator of everything that ever was, the Savior of the world, the King of kings and Lord of lords, hangs out with the folks at the little white church on the hill!

                 a.  This is no less true because we don’t see it, or ignore the fact.

                 b.  May we live up to that honor!

The Bottom Line:

Red #185 - Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken