Discussion Starter: We were all fish before becoming a “fisher of men”. Someone shared the message of Jesus Christ with us. Christ has called us to be His voice to a lost world. We have a clear message that must be told. A fishing adventure is always better when you share the journey. This lesson is about partnering with your church in this adventure.
What is a church and what is it built upon?
Matthew 16:13-18.
I want to give you the context here. Jesus is in the middle of His ministry. People are following Him around everywhere. Jesus actually leaves Israel and goes up to Philippi. He took His 12 disciples up there to get away. He wanted to get alone with them and spend some time with these guys. So He says… “Read passage”.
Who do people say that I am? This question implies that people are talking. People had opinions to whom they thought Jesus was, just like people have different opinions today. They answer John the Baptist which is interesting because John the Baptist had just died a few months earlier. Some say Elijah, whom been dead for a hundred years. Some say Jeremiah.
Then Jesus asks the million dollar question, “Who do you say I am?”
Who do you say Jesus is? Who is Jesus to you?
Peter answers and to my amazement he actually got it right. Peter was prone to getting it wrong. He often spoke before he thought. He says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” In other words he says, “You’re the one! You are the one who was prophesized. You are the one we’ve been waiting for.” Jesus responds, “You got it right, but not because of flesh, but because my Father in heaven.
v.18 Jesus refers to Simon as Peter. Read verse. What is Jesus saying? I picture this scene as Simon standing there and saying to Jesus, “That’s not my name Jesus.” Up to this point his name was Simon. In all of Greek literature there is no historical record of anyone having the name of Peter. So why does Jesus call him Peter? Peter here in the original text that Jesus uses was a word “petros” meaning rock or small rock.
1. Peter (petros) is translated as a small rock.(v.18)
“Rock” in v.18 is a totally different word translated in the original text is the word “petra” meaning rock or cliff.
2. The “rock” (petra) is translated as a large rock.(v.18)
Jesus is using a play of words here. So Jesus basically says, “Look, because of what you just said is so important, I am going to change your name and build something upon what you just said. Not because you said it, but because it is the truth. I’m going to build an organization… a group… a separated group, for a certain task and I’m going to call it a church.
A. Jesus says upon this rock He will build His church (ekklçsia), “…and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
B. Jesus is using a play of words again to show us what His church is to be and what it is to be founded on. The word “ekklçsia” translated as “church” in v.18 is the first time in the N.T. the word is used. Jesus is referring to the “church” as the true believers whose testimony is the rock (petra). Jesus is telling His disciples that Peter’s statement is to be the foundation of His church and not Peter himself.
This is the very first time the word “church” is used in the N.T. At the time there was no religious meaning to this word. It was a totally secular word. So than what is Jesus meaning in this context? Today the word “church” comes with a lot of baggage. When we hear the word “church” we think of walls, buildings, and bells. In the context here, the word “church” just meant a group of people that have been called for a purpose. So, I’m going to build a church and I’m going to build it upon who I am and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. What does He mean by build the church if the church is just a separated group of people?
C. In 1Peter 2:4-6 the Apostle Peter makes it clear for us to decipher between the two “rocks” Jesus is referring to. Christ is the chosen precious living Stone (petra; same word used by Jesus when referring the “Rock that the church will be built on”) Believers, possessing His life, are living stones (petros; the same word Jesus calls Simon, translated as Peter or little stone.). So, Christ is the cornerstone of this building made up of living stones (the church).
When the church is being who it is supposed to be, it is a compelling thing.
You are all thinking in your minds, “What does this have to do with fishing?” Just hang on a minute longer at it will all come together.
Come and See.
John 1:45-50
Let’s take a look at the context quickly. This is only a little while after Jesus had been baptized. Now remember that John the Baptist also had a lot of disciples. This is giving us the picture of John walking around, teaching two of his disciples when Jesus passes
by. John says to his disciples, “Look! The Lamb of God.” In other words, “that’s Jesus! The one I’ve been teaching you about.” The disciples basically say, “if that the one, were going to follow Him. You’re a great guy and all, but if that is Jesus, were going to follow Him.
The two disciples here in the context are Andrew and Phillip. The first thing both of these guys did was find their friends and tell them to come and see. The text tells us that Andrew “…first found his brother” to tell him he found Jesus. Phillip went to find Nathaniel. This is the part of the story I want to focus on for a moment. (v.45) When Phillip found Nathaniel he told him, “We have found the One Moses prophesized about…Jesus, the Son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” At the time Nazareth was like a (Chickasaw) hick town for us. So Nathaniel responded, “Nazareth? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Phillip answered, “Come and see.”
People are always going to have questions you might not be able to answer…
3. Phillip found Nathaniel and testified that they’d found Jesus of Nazareth. Nathaniel answered, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Phillip answered, “Come and see.”
To shorten up a little bit due to time…
A. In this story Phillip tells Nathaniel to “come and see” the messiah. Nathaniel comes because he was invited and his life is changed forever. The church should be a place that when people “come and see” they are changed by what they see. What they should “see” is people changed by Jesus and a church body that reflects Christ like characteristics.
B. We need to make sure we are all strategically working as partners with our home church. Don’t just be involved, be strategically involved.
i. If you work in the daycare, have a smile on your face for every parent who drops a child off.
j. If you’re a greeter, look happy to be at church.
k. If you are a connection group leader, be inviting and not cliquish.
l. If you’re a helper in the parking lot, look like you want to be out there.
m. If you’re the normal member in the congregation, don’t look like a toad while everyone is singing praise to God.
4. If the church (meaning us “stones”) is doing what it ought to be doing than people who get invited to “come and see”, will see Christ (the Rock).
What Are We Supposed to be as a Church?
5. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (1Cor. 12:12)
6. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.” (1Cor. 12:27)
If Jesus was alive today wouldn’t you tell people to just “come and see”?
He is alive…isn’t He? He’s alive in us. That’s what we are supposed to be. That is what the church is supposed to be. We are the body of Christ. If the church is being what it ought to be, we should be able to tell people, “just come and see.”
As a group of believers, we need to be functioning as Christ’s body, so this world can come and see. That way, if you have people in your life that need Christ, you can tell them “come and see” and they should see Christ at work in a group of people, not just one. We are to partner together and when we do, we will flourish. Are you part of a church?
Questions to consider:
1. Are you vested in inviting people to “come and see”?
2. Are you serving strategically as a partner?
3. Do you have Christ like characteristics?
