Assembled: Church as a Building (Part 2)

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Exploring the biblical images of the Church. What does Church as a Building look like?

Sermon Notes: The Church as a Building (Part 2)

Intro:

• Heartfelt opening about the goodness of God and the hope of future exaltation.
• Prayer for Mark and his teaching.
• Acknowledgment of 2020's disorienting effects on the church's identity.
• The "Assemble" series: exploring metaphors of the church.
• Today's focus: the church as a building (continuation from last week).

The Church as a Building: Metaphor and Reality:

• Acknowledging the "stiff" and "rigid" connotation of the building metaphor compared to other metaphors.
• Emphasizing God's left-brained (strategic, structured) and right-brained (creative) nature.
• Disclaimer: this is a metaphor, not about literal buildings.
• The church as people being built into a spiritual structure.

Key Scriptures and Insights:

• Ephesians 2:19-22:
  • The church as a household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
  • Jesus as the chief cornerstone.
  • The church as a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
  • "Brick by brick, stone by stone" imagery: individual roles in the building.
• 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10:
  • Jesus as the living stone, rejected but chosen.
  • Believers as living stones, being built into a spiritual house.
  • Purpose: to declare God's praises and reflect his glory.
• Old Testament Context:
  • Solomon's temple: ornate and elaborate, but destroyed.
  • Second temple: less impressive, but God promises greater glory.
  • Jesus as the new temple (John 2:19-21).
  • The church as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Key Points:

• Strategic and Systematic:
  • God's deliberate plan for the church.
  • God as the architect and engineer.
• Structured:
  • Foundation: the gospel of grace.
  • Cornerstone: Jesus Christ.
  • Biblical values: mercy, forgiveness, love.
  • Leadership: elders, deacons, pastors.
• Symbiotic Stones:
  • Believers as living stones, fitting together in God's design.
  • Everyone has a place and matters in the building.

Application:

• Surrender Wholeheartedly:
  • To God's leadership in personal lives and the church.
  • To God's ways in all areas of life.
• Live in Cooperation and Submission:
  • To God's structures, including leadership and biblical values.
  • "Stay in step" with fellow believers.
• Fully Engage and Give Ourselves:
  • To God's work in building the church.
  • To be living stones that reflect God's presence and glory.

Closing:

• Reminder: God's presence goes with believers everywhere.
• Invitation to submit to the Spirit and embrace this truth.
• Worship as a response to God's building.
• Call to be living temples, reflecting God's glory in the world.
• Encouragement for parents to bring their children back into the service.

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*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
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