Jesus is building His church (A)
Today we’ll focus on two aspects of the church: worldwide and locally.
Question 1
Is the church a building or an assembly of Christian people?
If we talk about the building, where the church meets, we should say “church building”.…………………
First focus: telescope view of the church worldwide
In Matthew 16:13-19 we read 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he (Jesus) asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? 14 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 But what about you? he asked.Who do you say I am 16 Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and, on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will loosed in heaven.
Question 2
What was revealed to Peter, and how (vs 16)?
Question 3
Hades is the temporary place for the departed unbelievers. Who is the owner and head of the church? Who is the foundation of the church? How is the church protected? (vs 18)
In verse 19 Jesus speaks about keys. Different keys were entrusted by Jesus to Peter:
1. For Jews (John 3:3)
2. For Samaritans (Acts 8:4-8, 12)
3. For Gentiles (Acts 10)Question 4
Discuss the “binding” & “loosing”; has it to do with un(repentant) hearts? (verse 19) What do you think?
These days we hear a lot about inclusivity and diversity in the secular world. Mostly these terms are used in debates about skin color and sexual orientation.
Pastor John Groves, however, said in the video that the church is both inclusive and exclusive, and that church members should belong.
Question 5
What did John Groves address? And had it to do with the church’s confession internally and externally? What should the church echo? (Matthew 16:16)
…………………..
Second focus: the microscope view, the local family of God
When things are not going well in the church (if sin remains in the church), Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-20 15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
Question 6
What does Jesus communicate in verse 15? What are His goals?
Question 7
What is Jesus’ command in case a conflict isn’t solved? Is there church discipline? (vss. 16-17)
Question 8
What about the size of a church? What is the only condition? And what are Jesus’ promises for loving, gentle, and obedient church members? (vss. 19-20)
……………
Priorities for the church
Priority for the church is to produce fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). This means: no spiritual babies, but real disciples.
As soon as we see movements coming into the church (heresies and non-essentials) that are different from the purpose of the church and the Bible, we must be alarmed. Then we need to learn again what the New Testament teaches us as essential. Three points.
(1) Glorify God
Ephesians 3:20-21 says 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Question 9
How do we glorify God in the church?
(2) Edify the saints
Ephesians 4:11-16 says 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Verses 11-13 speak about maturity and verse 14 speaks about infancy. Then verses 15-16 describe how to grow from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.
Question 10
Discuss these facts and the growth process. Write your thought below.
(3) Fulfill the Great Commission
This is not redeeming society but redeeming individual sinners, wherever they live.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Question 11
Jesus gives all believers a command at the end of His ministry on earth. Why can Jesus do that? (verse 18)
Question 12
List exactly which actions are commanded. (verses 19 and 20a)
Question 13
If we do what He commands, what’s Jesus’ promise? (verse 20b)
Save this worksheet by pushing the EMAIL-button
Close in prayer.
Today we’ll focus on two aspects of the church: worldwide and locally.
Question 1
Is the church a building or an assembly of Christian people?
If we talk about the building, where the church meets, we should say “church building”.…………………
First focus: telescope view of the church worldwide
In Matthew 16:13-19 we read 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he (Jesus) asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? 14 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 But what about you? he asked.Who do you say I am 16 Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and, on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will loosed in heaven.
Question 2
What was revealed to Peter, and how (vs 16)?
Question 3
Hades is the temporary place for the departed unbelievers. Who is the owner and head of the church? Who is the foundation of the church? How is the church protected? (vs 18)
In verse 19 Jesus speaks about keys. Different keys were entrusted by Jesus to Peter:
1. For Jews (John 3:3)
2. For Samaritans (Acts 8:4-8, 12)
3. For Gentiles (Acts 10)Question 4
Discuss the “binding” & “loosing”; has it to do with un(repentant) hearts? (verse 19) What do you think?
These days we hear a lot about inclusivity and diversity in the secular world. Mostly these terms are used in debates about skin color and sexual orientation.
Pastor John Groves, however, said in the video that the church is both inclusive and exclusive, and that church members should belong.
Question 5
What did John Groves address? And had it to do with the church’s confession internally and externally? What should the church echo? (Matthew 16:16)
…………………..
Second focus: the microscope view, the local family of God
When things are not going well in the church (if sin remains in the church), Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-20 15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
Question 6
What does Jesus communicate in verse 15? What are His goals?
Question 7
What is Jesus’ command in case a conflict isn’t solved? Is there church discipline? (vss. 16-17)
Question 8
What about the size of a church? What is the only condition? And what are Jesus’ promises for loving, gentle, and obedient church members? (vss. 19-20)
……………
Priorities for the church
Priority for the church is to produce fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). This means: no spiritual babies, but real disciples.
As soon as we see movements coming into the church (heresies and non-essentials) that are different from the purpose of the church and the Bible, we must be alarmed. Then we need to learn again what the New Testament teaches us as essential. Three points.
(1) Glorify God
Ephesians 3:20-21 says 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Question 9
How do we glorify God in the church?
(2) Edify the saints
Ephesians 4:11-16 says 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Verses 11-13 speak about maturity and verse 14 speaks about infancy. Then verses 15-16 describe how to grow from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.
Question 10
Discuss these facts and the growth process. Write your thought below.
(3) Fulfill the Great Commission
This is not redeeming society but redeeming individual sinners, wherever they live.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Question 11
Jesus gives all believers a command at the end of His ministry on earth. Why can Jesus do that? (verse 18)
Question 12
List exactly which actions are commanded. (verses 19 and 20a)
Question 13
If we do what He commands, what’s Jesus’ promise? (verse 20b)
Save this worksheet by pushing the EMAIL-button
Close in prayer.