Spirituality is not declining in America,
but church affiliation is.
Even those whose
spirituality is grounded in the tenets of Christianity may question the value
of the church. We hear things like, “I love Jesus, so why do I need the
church?” Such thinking overlooks the great truth of the purpose of the church.
Through faith in Christ, God gives us a new identity through Jesus and a new
family in His church. Commitment to the church is a non-negotiable part of
Christian discipleship; by neglecting the church we will miss the great
benefits and opportunities that come from being affiliated with and committed
to God’s people.
In our
study, we will explore Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We’re going to see how
God’s encouragement to these first-century Christians still instructs our
twenty-first century lives today.
During
our time together, we'll discuss the following more deeply:
- We are
joined together.
- We
pray for one another.
- We
support one another.
- We
encourage one another.
- We
strengthen one another.
- We
stand together in spiritual battle.
Let’s
dive in and see why we need the church – and why the church needs us.
A few years ago, I visited Muir Woods National Monument—known for its beautiful California redwoods. Dwarfing other tree species, redwoods can grow to over 350 feet high and can be as wide as 24 feet in diameter.
Yet, as massive as these trees are, redwoods possess remarkably shallow root systems. But the roots overcome their lack of depth by extending outward more than 100 feet from the tree’s base. Each tree’s roots then intertwine with the roots of other redwoods. By joining together, the individual root systems create a forest of trees with staggering strength.
The simple reality is that redwood trees were not created to exist in isolation—and neither were we. Just as a redwood tree requires a forest of other redwood trees in order to stand, so also the Christian requires a spiritual family in order to grow. The church—the body of Christ—is that family. Being a part of Christ’s church is not an option. Through Jesus, God designed us to live and serve together as His body.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Ephesians 1:19b-23
19b That power is the same as the mighty
strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority,
power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age
but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The New Testament writers used various metaphors
to describe God’s church, such as flock, temple, household, gathering, and so forth.
But the most frequently used metaphor is “the body.” Through this picture, we
learn that each Christ-follower is a member (or part) of the body while Jesus Christ is the head. Bodies can have multiple hands, feet, fingers, toes, ears, eyes, hairs, and even kidneys. But a body possesses only one head. So, if the church is considered a body and that body can have just one head, then it only makes sense that Jesus would be the head.
Question 2:
How is being a part of a church different
from being a part of any other organization?
As its head, Jesus holds ultimate authority over
the church. His authority is not dictatorial, oppressive, arrogant, or
abusive—but it is absolute. Someone might ask, “How is it that Jesus gets
absolute authority over the church (and everything else for that matter)?”
Jesus’ authority was neither received by democratic vote nor granted by a
council’s affirmation; His authority has no root in human decision at all.
Jesus received His authority as a demonstration of God’s power. In other words,
Jesus’ authority is all about who He is as the Son of God. Consider what this
passage tells us about God’s demonstration of His power through His Son, Jesus:
- God raised
Jesus from the dead.
- God seated
Jesus at His right hand in a place of authority over every other ruler.
- God put
everything under Jesus’ authority.
- God gave Jesus
an eternal rule—not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
- God appointed
Jesus as head over everything for the church.
- God appointed
Jesus to fill all things in every way; in other words, everything finds its
purpose in Jesus.
Through His power, God pronounced Jesus as
the infinitely superior Ruler of all things—including His role as head of the
church. This means no human leader stands as the ultimate authority in your
local church. Although God has ordained offices to exist in the local church,
no pastor or board serves as head. Only Jesus sits at the right hand of God in
the seat of ultimate authority as head of His church. All human leaders are to
look to Jesus, follow His example, teach His Word, and submit to His
leadership.
The word everything also teaches us that believers
cannot compartmentalize life so that Jesus is head over some things and not over
others. We can’t allow Jesus to be Lord over a “Sunday” side of us but also
have an “every other day” side of us where He’s not Lord. Whether we’re obeying
Jesus all alone in our workplaces or serving Jesus together through our church,
we need the life-giving sustenance that only He can give.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
In most organizations, you sign up to become a
member. You pay the dues. You attend the meetings. Then, you go to work on the
club’s agenda. We’re often tempted to approach the church with a similar
mindset. The Bible teaches us a different method for membership in His body.
Membership in the body of Christ is not about what we do to get in. Instead,
it’s about what Jesus has done to bring us in. Few passages of Scripture sum up
Jesus’ work on our behalf like Ephesians 2:8-9:
- We are
saved. The need to be saved
implies peril. We normally don’t cry out for rescue from a party or game night.
We cry for help when our lives are in danger.
- We are
saved by grace! Grace
describes God’s undeserved favor toward sinful humanity. The One we’ve sinned
against initiates the salvation we need.
- We are
saved by grace through faith. Some people think faith is simply a shot in the dark, an intellectual
leap, or just believing without seeing. That’s not how the Bible describes
faith. Faith is accepting the truth about who Jesus is and what He has done to
reconcile us to God.
- Every aspect of our salvation is God’s gift to us—not work done by us. Twice in this passage, Paul reminded us that no work on our part can earn salvation. Rather, the entire process is a gift of God’s grace. We don’t enter Christ’s church by paying dues, signing a roster, or performing good works. God’s sovereign, merciful, and gracious work on our behalf enable us to be saved and to come into His church.
Question 3:
What’s the relationship between grace, faith,
and works?
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners
and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his
household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined
together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too
are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
God has always had a people. The Old Testament
records God calling Israel to Himself. They were God’s chosen among the nations.
God commanded the Jews to obey Him, tell of His greatness, and believe His promises—the
greatest of which was the one of salvation for both Jew and Gentile alike.
God set His people apart from the nations to be
a witness to the nations. But rather than obeying and believing, Israel
continually disobeyed. Rather than allowing their status to be a blessing to
the nations, many used it as a tool of derision against the nations.
But because of their faith in Christ, the
Gentile believers were brought near and were “no longer foreigners and
strangers.” Although foreigners and strangers possessed some legal rights, they
lacked the full rights of citizenship. Spiritually, the Jews felt superior while
the Gentiles felt inferior. But Paul shattered both of these feelings by
pointing to the uniting work of the gospel.
Great diversity exists in the family of God, but
we hold a mutual responsibility of togetherness. God built us together to be His
dwelling. Each follower of Christ in your church is a brick in the temple of
God. He takes those individual bricks and forges us together by the mortar of
His gospel.
Question 4:
What are the responsibilities and blessings
of being a member of God’s household?
Our culture is becoming increasingly individualistic. It’s hard not to allow that reality to affect the way we view the church. But Scripture presents a radically different approach. The church is not simply about me or my needs.
The church is God’s household—His family. It’s the Body for whom Christ died.
And when we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.
Question 5:
How has the church played a significant role
in your life?
WHERE DO I FIT IN?
Today’s text portrays the church as the body
of Christ and the house of God.
Considering these metaphors, describe how you
might fit into each portrait:
As part of Christ’s body, I would be the
________ . I fit in by doing this:
As part of God’s house, I would be the
________ . I fit in this way:
Offer a prayer thanking God for making it
possible to fit into His purpose.
“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple
as a
transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick
man.”
DWIGHT L. MOODY
LIVE IT OUT
How will you embrace your role as a member of
Christ’s church? Choose one of the following applications:
- Confess. In order to adopt a right mindset of your part in Christ’s church,
confess any wrong mindsets or attitudes you hold (or have previously held)
about individuals in your local church.
- Submit. Re-read Ephesians 1:20-23 and reflect upon the power and authority of
Jesus Christ. Submit your life to His authority and control.
- Commit. If you’re not a member of a local church, pursue membership to begin
experiencing the beauty of living “together” in the household of God. This
might mean going through a membership class or talking to a pastor. If you’re
already a member, commit yourself anew to the covenant and mission of your church.
Just as the California redwoods grow by the
united togetherness of their roots, so also Christians grow by the united
togetherness of our souls. Our experiences with church in the past can affect
our approach to church today.
God’s grace can help us embrace a healthy
view of our role in Christ’s church.
Let's dig in to this new series and answer for ourselves why we need the church!
Hope to see everyone this Sunday on Zoom - 11:00 AM.
God Bless!
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
WHY DO I NEED THE CHURCH?
Spirituality is not declining, but church affiliation is.
Why do
you need the church?
Greg Laurie's devotional this week:
Before I heard the
gospel message, the love that Christians had for each other is what won me
over. I watched them when I was in high school and thought, “Is this for real,
or are they making this up? Is this an act? Do these people really love each
other?”
Greg said, I was used to hanging around with people that I
liked. Certain kids hung around certain kids you know. But as I watched these
Christians, I began to notice that they come from every kind of background
imaginable, and yet they have something in common. When Christians are unified
and when they love one another, it’s a powerful witness to the lost – for you
see that’s who I was.
And then he quotes John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be
one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And
may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” A church unified
in the two greatest commandment – they love God and they love others!
Greg then says that sometimes Christians divide over the most ridiculous
things. They’ll get upset over some minor thing, so they decide to leave
fellowship altogether.
And he tells the story about a man who had
been stranded on a desert island. When rescuers finally found him, they
noticed he had built three huts on the island. And they asked him…
“What is this hut here in the middle?”
“That’s my house.”
“How about this one?”
“That’s my church.”
“That’s Cool… How about the third hut?”
“Well, that’s the church I used to go to.”
AS CHRISTIANS, we should seek to live in unity
and love one another.
Let me ask you a question:
Have you ever
wondered what the most
important thing in life is to God?
“If you are a follower of Christ Jesus … all
that matters is your faith that makes you love others.”
Galatians 5:6 (CEV)
Accomplishments … Achievements … Fame … Wealth
What matters in life is one thing – the faith
that makes you love other people. If you miss that, then you’ve missed the most
important thing in life.
Now
Paul teaches us that we do this in the church – our practice field of life. And
in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul shows us that as a church:
· We are
joined together. (we are connected)
· We
pray for one another.
· We
support one another.
· We
encourage one another.
· We
strengthen one another.
· We
stand together in spiritual battle.
WE ARE JOINED TOGETHER
Our lesson talked about the California redwoods. These redwoods can grow to over 350 feet high and can be as wide as 24 feet in diameter. Yet, as massive as these trees are, redwoods have a shallow root system. But the roots extend out more than 100 feet from the tree’s base. Each tree’s roots intertwine with the roots of other redwoods. By joining together, the individual root systems create a forest of trees with staggering strength.
The point being - redwood trees were not created to exist in isolation—and neither were we. Just as a redwood tree requires a forest of other redwood trees in order to stand, Christians requires a spiritual family in order to grow.
The church—the body of Christ—is that family.
Ephesians 1:19b-23
That power is the same as the mighty strength
he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one
to come. And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in
every way.
How do these verses
explain how we are joined together?
- The NT used
various metaphors to describe God’s church - flock, temple, household,
gathering, and so forth. But the most frequently used metaphor is “the body.” We
learn that each Christ-follower is a member (or part) of the body while Jesus
Christ is the head.
- The church is
described as a body – with Christ as the head.
- Where do I fit
in? What part am I – an eye, a nose, an ear, a hand, a foot, a shoulder…
How do these verses influence your
understanding of what it means to be part of the church?
1.
Christ is the
head of His body, the church.
- God gives all believers
His wonder-working power, the same power at work in the resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
- Christ is head
of the church.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can
boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What do we learn here about how we are joined
together?
- Everything is
by the grace of God.
- We’re all
saved by grace – why?
What do these verses teach us about God’s
grace?
- Why does God save sinners like you and me?
- We might think it’s simply because He loves us. God most certainly loves us, but He saves us for a bigger reason than just to display His love. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (v. 10). God doesn’t save us by our good works; He saves us for His good works. God saves us to show His divine handiwork. Through our redeemed lives, He displays for the world His character, love, and glory. And the local church is the place where He does that best.
- For a purpose – to do good works
How are we all connected? (Wayne's Sermon)
We were dead in sin (1-3) – all of us – But
God made us alive (4-6) Prodigal Son – my son was dead but God…
Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole
building is joined together and rises
to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are
being built together to become a
dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
How do these verses explain how we are joined
together?
- No longer
foreigners and strangers – fellow citizens, members of His household – His
family.
- In Christ the
whole building is joined together.
- In Christ we
are being built together to be a dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Why does Paul emphasize the idea that we are
in the process of being built together?
Close with…Just as the California redwoods grow by the united togetherness of
their roots, so also Christians grow by the united togetherness of our faith. The
church is not perfect because we are not yet perfect. But it is being
perfected.
Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church
