A Firm Foundation
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. (Matthew 16:18)
We’ve talked the past few days about how a powerful church is built on truth. Additionally, we must understand that a powerful church is built on a firm foundation. What strikes me about this verse is the one given credit for building the church and the one to whom the church belongs. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” Jesus is clear that He is the owner, the chief architect, and the sole builder of the church. He is clear that the ownership of the church is not a joint partnership. He is the head of the church.
That’s important because sometimes pastors and people lose site of the fact that the church is not ours. Even if the local church experiences a modicum of success in terms of growth, outreach, and impact, even if the local church is able to build ornate cathedrals and impressive auditoriums, even if kings and queens, presidents and heads of state come to our churches for patronage or partnership, let us be clear that the church does not belong to us. We don’t build the church. It is not ours.
The successes we enjoy and the favor we have experienced are not because of the charisma of the pastor or the aptitude of the members. It’s all because of this single line in Matthew 16 verse 18, “…I will build my church….” Jesus Christ is the sole, sufficient, singular, and solid foundation upon which the church exists in the world.
The church is not built on excellent preaching, even though the preaching should be excellent. It is not built upon great singing, although the music should be great. It is not built upon the splendor and the grandeur of our campus, the gifts of our ministry team, or accomplishments of well-connected members. The only foundation on which the church is built is Jesus Christ.
If Jesus isn’t doing the building, then it’s not His church. If it is built around the personality of the preacher, or the great production of its services, or the celebrity status of the members, then it’s not His church. The reason churches fall in the aftermath of a scandal or after some controversy or division is because they weren’t founded and built upon Christ. May that be something we remember as we strive to keep Christ at the head of the church, rather than anything or anyone else.
We’ve talked the past few days about how a powerful church is built on truth. Additionally, we must understand that a powerful church is built on a firm foundation. What strikes me about this verse is the one given credit for building the church and the one to whom the church belongs. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” Jesus is clear that He is the owner, the chief architect, and the sole builder of the church. He is clear that the ownership of the church is not a joint partnership. He is the head of the church.
That’s important because sometimes pastors and people lose site of the fact that the church is not ours. Even if the local church experiences a modicum of success in terms of growth, outreach, and impact, even if the local church is able to build ornate cathedrals and impressive auditoriums, even if kings and queens, presidents and heads of state come to our churches for patronage or partnership, let us be clear that the church does not belong to us. We don’t build the church. It is not ours.
The successes we enjoy and the favor we have experienced are not because of the charisma of the pastor or the aptitude of the members. It’s all because of this single line in Matthew 16 verse 18, “…I will build my church….” Jesus Christ is the sole, sufficient, singular, and solid foundation upon which the church exists in the world.
The church is not built on excellent preaching, even though the preaching should be excellent. It is not built upon great singing, although the music should be great. It is not built upon the splendor and the grandeur of our campus, the gifts of our ministry team, or accomplishments of well-connected members. The only foundation on which the church is built is Jesus Christ.
If Jesus isn’t doing the building, then it’s not His church. If it is built around the personality of the preacher, or the great production of its services, or the celebrity status of the members, then it’s not His church. The reason churches fall in the aftermath of a scandal or after some controversy or division is because they weren’t founded and built upon Christ. May that be something we remember as we strive to keep Christ at the head of the church, rather than anything or anyone else.
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