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THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL DEFINES THE CHURCH

(Matt.  16:15-19)
November 1, 2009

Purpose: To explain how the Gospel defines the church.

    The good news of the Gospel defines the church.  The word church means a called out community of believers.  This church belongs to Jesus.  It welcomes sinners and it serves people.  If the Gospel can define the church this way, it’s truly good news.

    But how does it do that?

    It does that by emphasizing the Gospel of grace.  According to legend, a man was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church.  He took his problem to God, saying, “They won’t let me in, Lord, because I’m a sinner.”

    What are you complaining about?” God replied.  “They won’t let me in either.”

    This joke has a deeper truth.  Some churches are too exclusive and judgmental.  They don’t realize that to reject a person may extinguish their last hope.

    Besides, no disciple lives a perfect spiritual life.  Remember poor Peter, who denied the Lord and lied and cursed, yet, Jesus didn’t hold past sins against him.

    Let’s consider Jesus’ relationship with Peter:  When he asked, “Who do you say I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

    Jesus answered, ‘You are blessed, Simon . . . My father in heaven showed you who I am.  So I tell you, you are Peter.  And I will build my church on this rock . . . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.  16:18-19);

    This was a high moment, but there were also low moments.  Matthew said, “Peter was sitting the courtyard.  A servant girl came to him and said, ‘You were with Jesus’ . . . ‘But Peter said that he was never with Jesus . . . ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’ 

    Then he left the courtyard.  At the gate, another girl saw him and said, . . . ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’  Again Peter said . . . ‘I swear that I don’t know that man Jesus!’

    A short time later, some people . . . said, ‘We know you are one of those men who followed Jesus.  We know this because of the way you talk.’  Then Peter began to curse and said, ‘I don’t know the man’ ”Matt.  26:69-75);

    After the Resurrection, Peter had to face Jesus.  John said, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon . . . do you love me more than these?’  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Take care of my lambs.’

    Again Jesus said, ‘Simon . . . do you love me?’  He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’

    A third time he said, “Simon . . . do you love me?’  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked im the third time, ‘Do you love me?’  Peter said, ‘Lord, you know everything.  You know that I love you!’  He said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep’ ” (John 21:15-17).

    Now what can we learn from these situations?

I.  FIRST, THE CHURCH BELONGS TO JESUS.

    He had said, “I will build my church.”  Later, Paul said, “Christ is the head of the church, which is his body . . .” (Col. 1:18).

    Therefore, no leaders or preachers or moralists or denominational directors should ever set themselves up as rulers and overseers.  It’s not our business to judge or exclude or make demands on others.  We’re all flawed human beings with problems of our own.

    In an airport, each traveler must identify his own baggage after his flight.  The loud speaker warns you not to pick up someone else’s baggage.

    The same is true spiritually.  We need to identify and lay aside our own excess baggage.  Legalism occurs when I attempt to tell you what is excess baggage in your life.  Things that are a hindrance for me may not be a hindrance for you.

    We’re not to boss others!  Jesus said, “Tend to the logs in your own eyes.  Don’t be looking for the specks in others” (see Matt. 7:3). 

    Also, in the church, we’re to be united and in harmony.  Jesus said, “Live in peace with each other” (Mark 9:50b).

    Of course, at times, we will be offended and hurt by people.  But after we have experienced the grace and forgiveness of God, we must then live it by forgiving one another.  In fact, most slights are so insignificant that they should just be overlooked.  For instance, suppose someone cuts in front of you in line, a colleague is late for a meeting, a friend doesn’t notice you, or the preacher doesn’t recognize and appreciate your service.  You don’t have to forgive such people.  You just have to realize that we’re all imperfect and go on.  Avoid conflicts and overlook relationship problems everywhere, but especially in the church.

    Remember, the church belongs to Jesus.  No individual should make the rules or set the agenda, or lay out the requirements for belonging.  Paul said, “God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church.  And the church is his body . . .” (Eph. 1:21-23);

    “The church is under the authority of Christ . . .” (Eph. 5:24, edb).

II.  NEXT, THE CHURCH IS FOR SINNERS.

    Peter denied the Lord.  He lied and cursed, but he wasn’t condemned or excommunicated.  Instead, he was installed as a leader.  Now, rejecting and punishing sinners has always been the rule in religious circles, but Jesus changed that.  When critics asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with . . . sinners’?”  Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick . . . I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt.  9:10-13).

    Isn’t that amazing?  Most people think of the church as a place for saints, for good men and women; for those who don’t drink, smoke pot and play the slots.  So, what on earth did Jesus mean by associating with obvious thieves, liars and other sinners?

    An old minister said, “When I was a young pastor, I decided to see how many people I could find who were real Christians; so I made a list.  Over the years, one by one, each of those did something that I condemned, so my list got shorter and shorter, until it was down to just me and my wife.  Then I had to mark her off!

    At that moment I realized that I had to accept everyone or no one.  I determined that my church would be a hospital for sinners.  My church would let people be themselves.  Individuals wouldn’t have to pretend to be more religious than they were.

    Self-righteous people won’t be happy in my church, because we’ll admit we’re all sinners.  The ‘doctrinal experts’ won’t be happy in my church because we won’t require one belief system for everybody.  Those who want to run around judging people won’t be happy because we’ll not be in that business.”

    Blaise Pascal said, “There are only two kinds of men: the righteous, who believe themselves to be sinners; and the sinners, who believe themselves to be righteous.”  The members of the church Jesus established know they are sinners.  His church will be the home of the “goofed-again” people.  Individuals will come because they know that they need a lot of help and support.

    The members of Jesus’ church will concentrate on encouraging each other to grow, instead of trying to fix all those who disagree with them.

    The Church is for sinners.

III.  FINALLY, THE CHURCH’S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE PEOPLE.

    Peter was used in the ministry.  Even after his great sin, he was given the important job of feeding the sheep.  Some will say, “But isn’t our first obligation ‘to get people saved?’

    Well, that is the ultimate goal, but if the church is full of mature, loving Christians, evangelism will take care of itself.  Jesus didn’t say, “All people will know that you are my disciples if you hold mission rallies in the major cities of the world; or all people will know you are my disciples if you have two-week revivals every summer; or all people will know that you are my disciples if you get great preachers to explain the ‘Plan of Salvation.’ ”  Instead, he said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

    Not only are we to love, but we’re to show that love, and service is the method we use to do that.  Lack of spiritual maturity and human kindness is the greatest deterrent to others accepting Christ.  Our greatest service is to be good examples.  People need mentors who are caring and responsible.  Our lives do more to influence others than anything else.  In order to be positive witnesses we must be honest and open.  We must offer comfort instead of condemnation.  Our service must be helpful, not harmful.

    Once a man underwent a training program with an Ambulance Company.  After becoming qualified, he started looking for people he could help. When he didn’t find any, he would try to convince those who didn’t even have problems that they needed his expert care.  When he did find a small problem, he went at it with more enthusiasm than was necessary—a scratch needed a tourniquet, a wrist sprain was supported by an arm sling!  After a while his misguided zeal became widely known, and people avoided him like the plague.

    So, as Christians, we must be sensible in our service.  Paul described the methods of ministry to be used.  “Don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments . . .  The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people . . .” (2 Tim.  2:23-25a);

    Peter said, “Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly . . .” (1 Peter 5:2).
    The Church must serve people.

CONCLUSION:

    So, the good news of the gospel defines the church.  Peter illustrated the principle that the church belongs to Jesus; the church is for sinners; and the church’s purpose is to serve.

    A poem, entitled, “Do you Just Belong?”  expresses our responsibility to the church:

    Are you an active member, the kind that would be missed—
        Or are you satisfied that your name is on the list?
    Do you attend the meetings and mingle in the flock?
        Or do you stay at home just to criticize and knock?
    So, friend, please think it over, you know what’s right and wrong—
        Are you an active member, or do you “just belong?”
            —C Wyman, adapted by Maralene Wesner

    There’s a story of an old man.  A plain old man, not an educated man, not a rich men.  He was just an average ordinary Christian, although he was anything but ordinary.

    This man was faithful in church attendance.  He did whatever needed to be done.  But, unlike some stern strict moralists who uphold the doctrines with precision, this man always had a gentle smile for the rowdy child.  He always had an encouraging remark for that rebellious teenager.  He didn’t do public speaking, but he shook the preacher’s hand and expressed appreciation.  He didn’t teach a Sunday School class, but he sat there and nodded his head and then whispered, “I enjoyed the lesson.”  He didn’t sing in the choir, but he came every time they sang, to listen and applaud when they finished.  And he left each Sunday to live a quiet life, as a good neighbor and a productive citizen.

    This man was the church as it was meant to be.  The good news of the Gospel defines the church!

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(WC1959)

Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner