The Gathering – Part 2

Imagine Campaign Reminders and Instructions

• Your giving toward the building campaign should be over and above your normal tithes and offerings.
• You should not transfer your money from your tithes and offerings to the building fund.
• While this may seem obvious to some of you, let me explain why:
  • • • Number 1: It’s not giving.
      • Number 2: It does not help the church.
      • Number 3: The consequences are multiplied by the other people who think like you.
      • Number 4: Giving for the purpose of being seen as a generous or loyal person is an ungodly motivation for giving.
• Acts 5:1–11 (ESV): ¹But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. ⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Sermon Introduction

Your Presence is Expected

Abandoning the Compulsory Attendance Mindset

Defining Church

• Church is not something you attend. It’s something you are.

Jesus First Use of the Word “Church”

• The church is an institution that was founded by the Lord.
• Matthew 16:13–20 (ESV): ¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
  • • Jesus founded the church
    • And then He gave the church keys

The “Churching” of the Early Church

• How would the culture have responded to the word “church” in the time of Jesus?

The Historical Origins of the Word “Church”

         The word church is a Greek word.

• In the Greek, you would say ecclesia (which is also spelled ekklesia)
• Let’s get some help from Thomas Sullivan, an instructor with the online Study.com, an online education service.
  • “The term ecclesia. . .derives from a Greek word meaning assembly or gathering. It often refers to a formal assembly of people, especially in a political or religious context. In ancient Greek cities, an ecclesia was assembly of citizens who gathered to make decisions about the affairs of the city.”
  • “In the Athenian government, the Ecclesia was a crucial institution that played a central role in the political life of the city. The ecclesia had the power to nominate and elect magistrates, who are responsible for administering the city’s affairs and carrying out the decisions of the assembly. The Ecclesia also had the authority to pass laws, and to decide on issues related to foreign policy, defense, and the administration of justice. The Ecclesia was responsible for establishing the agenda for meetings, and any citizen could propose a matter of discussion. The Athenian assembly would then vote on the proposal, and if it passed, it would be become a law or Policy.”
  • “In addition to its legislative powers, the Ecclesia also participated in the judicial process in Athens. The Ecclesia members would try cases involving serious crimes, such as murder, and they could impose punishments. This made it an important institution for ensuring justice and upholding the rule of law in the city.”
• The origins of the word church are political, not religious.

How the Disciples Understood the Word “Church”

• • Rome conquered Greece, the nation that originated the term ecclesia, which is translated in English as “church.”
  • When Rome conquered Greece, Rome incorporated the Greek language into Roman culture.

Because of the prominence of the Greek language in the Roman world, Jesus’ disciples would have been familiar with the term ecclesia.

The Church a a Branch of Heaven’s Government

When members of the church miss gatherings, it is comparable to members of congress missing congressional meetings.

The Job of Heaven’s Congress

The Judicial Responsibilities of the Church

• Matthew 18:15-16 (ESV): ¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV): ¹⁵ “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
• Matthew 18:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The Congressional Powers of the Church

• Matthew 18:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
• Matthew 18:19 (ESV): ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
• Matthew 6:9–10 (ESV): ⁹ . . . .“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
• Matthew 18:19 (ESV): ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
• Matthew 18:20 (ESV): ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
  • • Quorum = “the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.” (Oxford Languages Dictionary Power by Google)

An Examples of the Church “In Session”

• Acts 4:23–24 (ESV): ²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
• Acts 4:29–31 (ESV): ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.