WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.280 The scripture for today comes from Ephesians chapter 2. 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:06.900 Starting in verse 11, we read, 00:00:08.099 --> 00:00:20.039 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:35.340 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:44.560 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:58.640 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances. 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:04.140 That he might create in himself one new man in place of the two. 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:13.400 So making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:20.500 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:25.520 For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:01:26.800 --> 00:01:35.460 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. 00:01:35.459 --> 00:01:48.879 Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:55.959 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit. 00:01:56.379 --> 00:01:57.639 This is the word of God. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:05.359 Hey, can I pray for us before we start? 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:07.819 God, we come before you this morning. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:13.819 And what an incredible joy to come together as your people to hear you speak, Lord. 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:18.020 Father, we pray that your Holy Spirit would be among us right now. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:22.439 That your words would edify your church, would draw your people to you, God. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:28.180 Father, we pray for your Holy Spirit to come and open our hearts to receive you, Lord. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:32.919 So that as we leave, we can leave with a bigger picture of who you are, God. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:39.300 And also a deeper appreciation of the greatest gift that you have given us in the church. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:44.719 So, Father, we pray, come, be glorified, be lifted up this time. 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.039 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:47.159 Amen. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:47.319 Amen. 00:02:49.099 --> 00:02:52.840 As most of you know, I studied in a boys' boarding school. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:55.519 It was all boys, all boarding school. 00:02:55.939 --> 00:03:06.319 And like any other school, your status, your popularity, and even your identity is very closely related to which group you belong to. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:13.000 You know, maybe you belong to the sporty group, the popular group, the chess freaks, the gym freaks. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:15.319 I don't know which group you guys belong to. 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:17.659 And you can guess which group I belong to. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:19.539 But here's the thing, right? 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:31.859 There's something very peculiar about humans that we draw our identity, our value status, the way we think, and a lot of our values from the group that we belong to. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:36.799 There's a saying that goes, show me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.980 And we all have groups in our lives, right? 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:46.460 Maybe in our colleges, universities, our daily life, our friend circles. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.760 And all of these groups, in many ways, shapes who we are. 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:54.460 Or we shape the group that we belong to. 00:03:54.460 --> 00:04:02.420 Now, in the midst of all these groups that we have in our lives, where does church belong? 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:08.360 How much church shapes our lives and our values? 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:12.380 And in among all this group, where does the church fit in? 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.620 Is it one of those groups that is just one of the many groups in our lives? 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:24.340 Or is church one of that group that shapes every other groups, that shapes all of our lives and our thinking, our value, and our identity? 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:31.259 For a few weeks now, we've been going through this series called The Wonderful Work of God. 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:38.500 And basically what we've been doing is we've been tracing this one storyline of God through the whole Bible. 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.620 And it's an incredible thing that we hold, right? 00:04:41.719 --> 00:04:46.620 There's like about 40 authors written over a gap of thousands of years. 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:52.639 And yet, there's one storyline that flows from Genesis all the way to the end to Revelation. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:59.740 And that's what we're trying to follow along to see this thread, this story that is being weaved throughout the whole Bible. 00:05:00.039 --> 00:05:02.379 And there are many ways to approach this thought. 00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:07.219 And one of the ways we've been approaching it is with this idea of the kingdom. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.000 Now, what is a kingdom? 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:16.139 It's basically God's people living in God's place under God's rule and blessing. 00:05:16.979 --> 00:05:18.360 There's three things, right? 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.339 God's people in God's place living under God's rule and blessing. 00:05:21.339 --> 00:05:24.879 Now, for a kingdom, we need all of these three things, right? 00:05:24.919 --> 00:05:29.019 When you're a part of a kingdom, you're automatically, you're part of God's people. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:34.399 If you're, we need a place for us to enjoy this kingdom, for the blessings to be enjoyed. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.759 And obviously in a kingdom, there is a king whose authority is respected. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:43.779 Because there is no kingdom if the kingship is rejected, if the authority is rejected. 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:50.319 And naturally, as you live in a kingdom, you enjoy the blessings that flow from the king. 00:05:50.539 --> 00:05:57.959 In the same way, when a nation lives under a very good government, the people enjoy the blessing, enjoy prosperity and peace. 00:05:59.159 --> 00:06:00.279 So what is a kingdom? 00:06:00.619 --> 00:06:05.539 God's people living in God's place under God's rule and blessing. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:07.339 And this is a storyline. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.159 This is a theme that you'll find all the way through the Bible. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.320 Think about the beginning, the Genesis, who are God's people? 00:06:13.460 --> 00:06:18.200 God creates Adam and Eve, places them in the garden of Eden, God's place and where they live. 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:23.040 An incredible blessing with one rule, do not eat from the fruit. 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:26.640 And as they enjoy the blessing, what does sin do? 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:29.340 Sin breaks all of those three things, right? 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:34.180 As they reject God's authority, as they reject who God is saying, I will be God, not you. 00:06:34.580 --> 00:06:36.460 They are cast out of God's place. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:39.299 They are banished from the garden of Eden. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:40.399 The God's place is gone. 00:06:40.620 --> 00:06:41.799 They're no longer God's people. 00:06:42.299 --> 00:06:47.599 And throughout the Bible, what you see is God restoring this kingdom through his covenantal promise. 00:06:47.739 --> 00:06:53.519 He's telling the people, I am going to bring you guys back to this kingdom that was originally created. 00:06:54.099 --> 00:07:02.079 Where God is going to bring them to be his people again in his place, the promised land, to live under his law, his rule, to enjoy his blessing. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:08.000 And the pinnacle of that and the highest point of that we see under King David and King Solomon. 00:07:08.539 --> 00:07:11.899 It was the biggest time in the time of Israel. 00:07:12.719 --> 00:07:20.399 But naturally what happens is people continuously reject God as king over and over again. 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:24.579 And in many ways that is what sin is, isn't it? 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:28.779 Sin is not just lying and murdering and gossiping. 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:33.699 Sin is at the core of it, the rejection of God as king. 00:07:34.219 --> 00:07:39.979 It's a heart that rejects God saying, God, I don't want you to be God, but I will be God. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:48.439 And soon because of that throughout history, what we find is eventually they lose the promised land. 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:53.559 They're again exiled into enemy's hand and everything seems hopeless. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:57.280 But you see, God keeps his promise. 00:07:57.639 --> 00:07:59.319 God is faithful throughout history. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.180 God's faithful over and over again. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.620 And he brings this people back from exile. 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:06.079 But now the covenantal promise is opening up. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:12.639 It's saying, it's pointing towards the future to a king, a savior that's going to come and bring this incredible kingdom. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:18.519 And eventually, after about 400 years, Christ Jesus enters in, in Matthew. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:26.439 And he starts his ministry in Matthew saying, repent, turn back, for the kingdom of God is in hand. 00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:31.879 And you can see this storyline of the kingdom throughout the Bible. 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:41.259 And as Jesus comes through his death and resurrection, he deals with the cause that was tearing us away from God. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:45.639 The cause, the heart that was rejecting God, he deals with that, that heart. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:54.700 He deals, and basically he fulfills this promise in Ezekiel 36, where he's where God promises to give a new heart to pour out his spirit in us. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:09:02.720 And as we were looking last week, as Jesus returns to heaven, he comes, he dies, he resurrects, and he returns to heaven. 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:04.360 He gives us this mission, right? 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:08.879 Do you guys remember the mission to bring this incredible good news to the world? 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:15.660 And in his incredible grace, he's drawing people from all nations, different backgrounds, cultures to himself. 00:09:15.800 --> 00:09:23.080 As he gives his people this mission to share the gospel, to share the good news of salvation in Christ alone. 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:33.100 And so here we find ourselves between the first coming of Christ and leaving to heaven and between Jesus coming. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:34.200 So we're in this gap. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:39.080 And in other words, we're actually in the last days, aren't we? 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:45.000 We are in those days where we are closer to Jesus coming than we were yesterday. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.720 We are living in the last days. 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:50.300 And we have a mission, the gospel. 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:54.919 But then at the same time, Jesus does something before he leaves. 00:09:55.699 --> 00:09:57.879 Well, what he has always been doing. 00:09:58.179 --> 00:10:02.399 What Jesus does is he establishes something with himself being the cornerstone. 00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:05.959 And one thing he leaves behind is the church. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:11.199 So here we are in today's idea, our big idea. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:15.479 So in this big picture of the kingdom of God, so in this big storyline, 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.779 what is this church? 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.340 What role does the church play? 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:25.220 Is church just another group for us to attend, to be a part of? 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:30.259 Or is church has a bigger purpose than we ever think of? 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.420 Has a bigger value than all the other groups in our lives? 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:41.779 And prayerfully, by the end of today, we will see that the church is God's incredible gift in this last days. 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:45.339 So let us begin with the first question. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:46.519 What is the church? 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.480 Now, I mean, it's not a very hard question, right? 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:52.000 You walk onto the street, you ask anyone, what is the church? 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:53.159 And they'll give you an answer. 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:55.980 Okay, it's a place where Christians gather, pray, sing songs. 00:10:56.279 --> 00:11:00.600 Or is a building that Christians go in every Sunday and attend church and, you know, 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:02.360 spend about two and a half hours. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:05.600 Or if you're from a traditional church, six hours. 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:06.860 That's where I used to go. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:08.879 And that's the church. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:13.360 But here, let me raise a thought for us this morning. 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:17.120 Maybe the question is not exactly what is the church. 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:21.139 Maybe the question we should be asking is, who is the church? 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:24.240 Now, what do I mean by that? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.779 Let's look, open up God's word and see. 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:31.860 So follow with me along today's scripture, Ephesians 2. 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:33.259 Let's open up Ephesians 2 again. 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:41.740 So Paul here is writing to this place called Ephesus, which is a mixed people of former Jews and Gentiles. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:42.819 What I mean by Gentiles? 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:44.480 People basically that were not Jewish. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.080 So in a sense, all of us who are not Jewish. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.399 So let's look at verse 11 and 12. 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.659 He says in verse 11 and 12, 00:11:51.659 --> 00:12:18.579 What is Paul saying here? 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:23.860 He's speaking to us Gentiles and he's telling us, hey, remember at one time you were separated from God. 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:25.340 You had no hope. 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:27.300 You were not a part of God's people. 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:32.060 You were away from the promise without God in this world. 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:35.580 Away from the kingdom, not God's people. 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.920 Away from his rule and blessing. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.399 And basically, that is what sin does, isn't it? 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.199 It separates us from God. 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.019 It separates us from the one who created us. 00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:50.139 It separates us from the source of life, peace, hope. 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:52.419 And that is what sin does. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:56.839 It makes us stand in opposition of God, in rebellion of God. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.339 It takes us away from who we were meant to be. 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.620 So that's who we were. 00:13:01.719 --> 00:13:03.480 Away from God, not God's people. 00:13:03.839 --> 00:13:05.000 So what does Jesus do? 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.980 Let's read on in verse 13. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:08.620 So verse 13 says, he continues, 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:17.980 But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were far off, once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:21.240 Verse 14, for himself is our peace. 00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:23.539 In other words, he brings this reconciliation. 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:25.519 He brings one wholeness. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:31.120 You who have been both one and has been broken down in his flesh, the dividing wall of hostility. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.940 Jesus, in Christ Jesus, this hostility is broken down. 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.760 Verse 16, why? 00:13:36.880 --> 00:13:43.400 So that we might be reconciled back to God in one body through the cross, again, killing the hostility. 00:13:43.880 --> 00:13:49.380 Verse 17, he came and preached peace, wholeness to you who were far off. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.760 In some words, all of us. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.160 And peace to those who were near. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:58.400 And verse 19, so that you are no longer strangers and aliens. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:03.639 But now you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.459 Do you see what Paul is saying here? 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:24.660 What Paul is saying here is, in Christ Jesus, that's the key word, in Christ Jesus only, people who are far off, people who are in rebellion, separated from God, are being brought in, are being drawn in. 00:14:25.400 --> 00:14:32.759 In Christ Jesus, peace is being made, hostility is being killed, reconciliation is being made between God and man. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:39.179 And he's bringing this individual people into himself, into a group, to be his people. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:45.080 Remember, kingdom, God is bringing this people to be his people. 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:51.399 I mean, think about 1 Peter 2, 9 and 10, where Peter tells them, you are a chosen race. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:53.480 He's talking to people who are coming to Christ. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.559 You are a chosen race, a holy nation. 00:14:55.559 --> 00:15:01.939 And verse 10, he says, hey, once you were not a people, but now you're a people of God. 00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:05.599 Do you see this incredible theme? 00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:14.979 Even after Jesus leaves, he's drawing his people, this people, individual people that are being saved, to be God's people. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:28.820 The word church is just a Greek word that's translated from, that's Ecclesia, a Greek word, which basically means an assembly or a called out assembly. 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:35.039 So whenever we talk about church, we're not really talking about a building or a service. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:44.980 What we are talking about is an assembly of people that were once strangers and aliens in rebellion, far away from God. 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:56.399 People that are away from source of life and are dead in sin are being brought back to life to be God's people in Christ Jesus. 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:59.059 It's an assembly of this kind of people. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:01.740 That is what a church is. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:08.560 By the same time, if you remember in the Old Testament, we had a major problem, right? 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:10.659 What was the major problem in the Old Testament? 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:16.120 It was the people were continuously rejecting God over and over and over again. 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:22.820 Because the problem was the heart, a heart that continuously rejected God, a heart that was broken by sin. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:26.740 In other words, they were just dead. 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:35.919 And in many ways, that's how the Bible describes people in sin, that they were dead in transgressions and sin. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.159 And here's a question. 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:40.899 What can a dead person do to save himself? 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.639 Nothing much, right? 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.659 He's pretty much dead. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.820 There's nothing he can do. 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.879 And that's how sin or sinner is described, as dead. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:54.179 So, that was one of the biggest problems in the Old Testament. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:57.899 The rejection of God continuously over and over again. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:05.000 But you see, in Christ Jesus, what he does is, as he draws his people in, as he draws God's people into himself, 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:10.920 he's not only making them his people, but at the same time, he's changing their hearts, the problem, 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:14.480 to come to be under God's rule. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.000 Now, how does he do that? 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.920 How does God change people's heart? 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.700 Think about Ezekiel 36 again. 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:24.759 What is the promise in Ezekiel in the Old Testament that comes alive in Christ Jesus? 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.759 He says, I will give you a new heart. 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:29.440 And I will put a new spirit in you. 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:34.440 And I will remove your stubborn heart and give you an obedient heart. 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.720 I will put my spirit in you. 00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:38.900 I will enable you to live by my laws. 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:40.980 And you will obey my rules. 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:43.600 I mean, think of the promise in Joel 2. 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:47.160 In the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.039 So what does Jesus do? 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.480 He does what he does. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:57.580 He pours out his spirit, his Holy Spirit on this people that enables them to come under God's rule, 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:04.039 to surrender their lives, all of their lives, not just on one day, but continuously daily. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:07.799 So going back to our question, who is the church? 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:15.259 Well, it's those that have been saved through Christ, in Christ, that are being brought to be God's people, 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:23.200 on whom the God's spirit is being poured out, that enables them to surrender their life daily and every day, 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.000 in their every walk of their lives. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.839 And that is who the church is. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:34.119 A group of people surrendering their life to the true king of all creation. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.859 Now, I want us to notice one thing. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:45.500 What the church is, or who the church is, is not those people that come to Sunday over and over again. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:52.420 Who the church is, not those people that give their 100% attendance throughout the year. 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:59.299 You see, this is not like some club where you get membership by showing up almost 10 times, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:02.980 where you get membership by showing up continuously and consistently. 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:08.900 Which is why when a kid or a youth is born into a Christian family, he does not automatically become a Christian. 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:15.540 Church is not just another club where you become a member by yourself. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:21.180 And that's something for all of us to consider this morning. 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:30.340 Is what makes us a Christian our attendance, or is it the truth that in Christ Jesus, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:37.660 we are saved to be his people with his Holy Spirit that enables us to surrender every day, all of our lives. 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:45.740 But on the other side of that, what that also means is that regardless of who you are, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:50.660 what jobs you do, where you are in the social or economic or whatever, 00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:54.860 whether you are rich or poor or medium, wherever you are, 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:59.140 when Christ, in Christ Jesus, when he makes you a people, 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:04.060 you come with the same status as anyone else in the church. 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:05.700 That's something Jeremy was talking about. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.460 Hey, if you come to Christ, you're all the same. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:11.299 In part of the same family of God. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:16.180 Think of Galatians chapter 3, where Paul says, 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:20.600 There's no more Jews or Gentiles, neither slave nor free men, 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.960 but everyone is one in Christ Jesus. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.880 Whether you have become Christian recently, 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:30.000 or whether you've been Christian your whole life, 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:34.840 in Christ Jesus, you're part of the same family of God. 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:40.659 There is no one who is bigger than anyone in this church, apart from your height. 00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:42.159 That's it. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:48.820 So that means you can come to church, look around you, 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:56.240 and see people, and see and know that you all, we all have been saved by faith, 00:20:56.900 --> 00:21:00.300 through grace alone, through God's grace alone, 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:02.180 not by anything any one of us did, 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:04.100 not by being an incredible person, 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:07.439 but now we stand before God as his sons and daughters, 00:21:07.439 --> 00:21:09.679 being his people. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:13.740 Is that something that you see when you look around? 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:16.959 A fellow brother and a fellow sister in Christ Jesus. 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:20.079 A family that's joined, not by blood, 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:22.619 but by the blood of Christ Jesus, 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.639 in Christ Jesus. 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:26.780 And that's something we miss a lot, right? 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:30.040 Because our culture has become so individualistic. 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.500 Everything is so individual. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.580 Everything is so personal. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.200 It's about how you feel, or what your opinion is. 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.700 And sometimes Christianity can be that too. 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:41.320 How you get saved, or how you grow. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:45.140 And it is true, there is an individual side to Christianity. 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:49.160 By the same time, you see, you don't just get saved. 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:52.720 What happens is, when you get saved, 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.740 you get saved into a family. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:58.840 I mean, look at verse 19 in today's passage. 00:21:59.020 --> 00:21:59.320 It says, 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.120 So then you are no longer strangers, aliens, 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:03.460 but you are fellow citizens with the saints, 00:22:03.540 --> 00:22:06.320 and members of the household of God. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.680 I mean, think of Ephesians. 00:22:07.820 --> 00:22:09.360 You were predestined to be adopted, 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.640 to be sons and daughters in Christ. 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.220 So in other words, 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:15.539 one of the ways that God's people are described 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:18.319 is those people that are being adopted 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.480 to be sons and daughters in the family of God. 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:24.200 So if you are being adopted, 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:26.500 if you are being adopted into a family, 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:29.600 then you better expect to find some brothers and sisters 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:31.180 in the dining table. 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.880 Because if you are a part of a family, 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:37.100 there will be brothers and sisters around you. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:40.039 So in many sense, when you get saved, 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:43.180 you get saved into a family. 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.620 into a church. 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.740 Which is why community 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:51.600 is not just a great idea for a church. 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:55.299 Which is why community is not just a good strategy. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:58.759 A community is what a church is. 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.900 It's a community of fellow believers, 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.600 fellow brothers and sisters, 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.620 a family brought together in Christ Jesus. 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:09.259 So that's who the church is. 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:12.479 An assembly of people 00:23:12.479 --> 00:23:14.739 that are saved by God 00:23:14.739 --> 00:23:15.739 in Christ Jesus, 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:17.079 brought back to be his, 00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:17.879 God's people, 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:20.139 that have been given the Holy Spirit 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:22.979 that enables them to surrender their life daily, 00:23:23.739 --> 00:23:24.739 every part of their lives. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:26.839 People that are brought and saved into a family 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:28.019 to be sons and daughters 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.659 of the God, 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:32.099 of the true King of all creation. 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:34.099 So that's who the church is. 00:23:35.159 --> 00:23:36.059 Which is great. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.799 Now here's another question for us. 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:41.240 So what's so special about our, 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:43.039 so what's so special about this people? 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:45.719 What's so special about this group of people 00:23:45.719 --> 00:23:46.500 coming together 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.899 and worshiping God 00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.719 and being a family? 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:53.120 And actually I think that takes us back 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:55.200 to the first question we were thinking about. 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.220 So then what is the church? 00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.720 What is the church doing in this last days? 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.059 What is the purpose of the church? 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:05.279 What is the function of the church? 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.700 What is in this last days, 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:08.400 what is the church doing 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:10.120 or supposed to be doing 00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:11.460 in this last days? 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:14.440 Which leads us to our final thought for today. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.360 Which is, 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.380 what is the church? 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:19.400 Now here's a question for us to think about. 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.120 After Jesus died, 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.020 went back to heaven 00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:26.440 and in this last days, 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.820 in what way has the world changed? 00:24:36.260 --> 00:24:38.000 In this last days, 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.700 where do we see God working 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:42.920 as you look around? 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:49.000 Well, the answer is, 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.720 it's definitely in the life of a Christian, right? 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:53.220 It's how an individual, 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.820 through the Holy Spirit, 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.340 through an incredible miracle, 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.100 through the free gift of God and grace, 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.880 is being saved and transformed. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.519 That is one place where you see God 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.720 working actively in the world 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.720 as individuals, 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:07.180 as Christians are being saved. 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:09.320 By the same time, 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:12.180 when the church gathers, 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.240 that is the place 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.539 where this work of God 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.700 is being amplified, 00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:19.680 is being just pushed 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.299 into a bigger picture. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.460 Now what do I mean by that? 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:25.000 So let's go back to our passage today again. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:27.519 Look at verse 19 to 22. 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:29.440 Ephesians 2 again, 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.000 19 to 20. 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.160 So what does Paul say? 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:33.039 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.400 okay? 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:35.840 But you are fellow citizens with the saints 00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:38.120 and the members of the household of God, 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:40.280 built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.680 Christ himself is the cornerstone of the church, 00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:43.000 okay? 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:46.600 In whom the whole structure, 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.660 being joined together, 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:52.540 grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:55.580 Now what does Paul mean by temple? 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.240 In simple words, 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:59.360 temple is where the presence of God is. 00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:02.080 Temple is where God dwells. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.679 Isn't that incredible? 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.759 As the church gathers, 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:09.379 that's where God's dwelling place is being built. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.939 Now look at verse 22 also. 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.059 Paul continues, 00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:15.319 In him you also are being built together 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:18.980 into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.379 Now in other parts of the Bible, 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:23.460 we do know that God's presence 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.139 is given to every individual. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.279 By the same time, 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:30.559 when the people of God gathers in a church, 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.039 when people of God gathers, 00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:34.399 that presence is amplified. 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.599 That's what Paul is saying. 00:26:35.659 --> 00:26:36.819 As you're being built together, 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.659 as you're gathering, 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:41.159 it's turning into a dwelling place of God 00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:42.339 by the Spirit. 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.500 Now think about it. 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.200 As we gather, 00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:47.460 this is becoming a dwelling place of God. 00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:49.119 This is becoming a dwelling place 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.480 of the true king of all universe. 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:54.240 Now what is an essence of a kingdom? 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:56.920 What is something that a kingdom needs 00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:58.620 for it to be a kingdom? 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.359 We need the king, right? 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:04.500 Without a king, there is no kingdom. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.839 Wherever the king dwells, 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.079 that's where the kingdom is. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.420 Now think about it. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.420 See, in other words, 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.640 when the church gathers, 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:14.359 and as it's becoming a dwelling place for the king, 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.759 slowly, 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:18.240 the church is becoming a place 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:21.059 where we start to experience God's kingdom, 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.200 God's rule, 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.279 God's blessing. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.900 I mean, think about 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:28.080 how does a person come to Christ? 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:29.580 It's, 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:32.160 except in a very rare case, 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.279 extreme rare case, 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:35.420 a person comes to Christ in a community 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:37.400 through the sharing of a gospel 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:39.900 or through being impacted by another person. 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.380 That's how any person comes to Christ. 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.039 I mean, think about this. 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:46.080 Where does a Christian grow into maturity? 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:48.580 Where does a supernatural work happens 00:27:48.580 --> 00:27:49.819 in a Christian's life 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.559 as they grow and surrender their life? 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.340 It's in a community. 00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:58.019 It's a place where God's word is being taught 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.059 and preached, 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.559 where disciple is happening, 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.220 when one-on-one Bible reading is happening, 00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:04.140 where everyone's praying for each other, 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.360 where everyone's loving 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:07.259 and giving sacrificially to each other 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.360 and people maturing 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:10.420 to be more like Christ. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.980 I mean, of course, 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:13.559 there is an individual side to it 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:15.819 like devotions and quiet time, 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:18.339 but even those things are encouraged 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.639 in a community. 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:24.899 Where do you see and witness a person 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:27.519 being transformed to be more like Christ? 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.559 It's in a church. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.919 Or where do you see God working 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:33.240 in another person's life 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.980 in incredible miracle, 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.179 miraculous way? 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:37.980 It's in a community. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:40.960 which is why testimonies 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.759 are so beautiful. 00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:44.420 It tells us of each of us 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.500 how good God is, 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.480 of how incredibly powerful 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:49.120 he's working in each other's life. 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.599 Testimonies are powerful, 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.700 which could be one conversation 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:55.299 for all of us to have after church 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.720 to ask each other, 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.599 hey, what's your testimony? 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.079 How did you come to Christ? 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.960 Or what is God doing 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.960 in your life right now? 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.400 It's an incredible question 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.200 to ask each other. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.380 So you see, 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.700 church is a place 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:11.120 where you get to start experiencing 00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:12.460 the kingdom of God. 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.980 But it's not just that, right? 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.100 It's not just the place 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:17.779 where you experience God's kingdom, 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.819 but from the outside, 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.559 from the world, 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.860 from the point of view of the world, 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:23.400 it is also the place 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.620 where the kingdom of God 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.940 is being seen. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.819 Think about this. 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.640 In the Old Testament, 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.500 the church, 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.440 sorry, 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:32.100 the nation of Israel, 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.600 they were meant to be a light 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.700 to the Gentiles, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.440 to other nations. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.799 They were meant to be a nation 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.960 for other nations to look at 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.420 so that they can see 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.779 what it meant to be God's people 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.820 and for other nations 00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:45.759 to be drawn into God. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.559 And in the same way, 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.840 the church is still the same. 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.900 For the world to see the church 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.660 and see what it means 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:54.279 to be part of God's kingdom. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.620 For the world to look at the church 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:58.059 and see what it means to be 00:29:58.059 --> 00:30:00.259 under God's rule and blessing. 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:02.539 I mean, 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.039 think of John 17 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.539 where Jesus prays for 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.799 the future believers. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.400 In other words, 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.320 Jesus prays for us 00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:08.840 where he says, 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.360 I in them, 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.880 you in me, 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.900 that they may become perfectly one 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:14.160 so that the world may know 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.059 that you send me 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.840 and love them 00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:17.080 even as you love me. 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.680 Jesus is saying, 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.100 I pray that these people 00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:19.860 would come together 00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:21.340 as one in perfect unity. 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:21.920 Why? 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.220 So that the world can see 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.920 that Jesus is a true God 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:26.779 and that Jesus has loved his people. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.519 So that the world can see 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.460 the love of Christ 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.579 in the church 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.819 and they can be drawn 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:33.160 into the church, 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.019 into Christ, 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.960 in the gospel. 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:38.879 Isn't that an incredible thing 00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:41.079 to be part of this church? 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.539 For the world to see 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.539 the kingdom, 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.759 for the world to see 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.940 the gospel being lived out 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.240 in a community 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.240 as God's people. 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:53.000 But you might say, 00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:54.839 and people might say, 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:55.819 hey, Alan, 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.460 in history 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:59.279 and even in present times, 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:01.440 we have actually seen church 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.680 doing terrible, 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.660 terrible things. 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:06.079 We have heard of abuses, 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.519 failures on leaders 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.160 and people. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.740 The church is not exactly 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.779 done really well. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.819 And we have seen 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.859 few churches do that. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.940 Or maybe you'll say, 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.640 when I look around, 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.420 I don't really see 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.660 the kingdom happening anywhere. 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.100 Well, 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.740 let's look at God's word again. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.860 Look at verse 22. 00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.440 What does Paul say? 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.400 He says, 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.960 in him, 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.980 you are also 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.279 being built 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.080 together 00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:37.400 into a dwelling place 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.000 of God 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.700 by the Spirit. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:39.980 You see, 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.220 we are being built together. 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.900 We're not done 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.100 and finished. 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.539 We're being built. 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.220 In other words, 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.019 in many ways, 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.139 the church does not 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:50.579 fully display 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.920 the kingdom of God. 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.879 There is brokenness 00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:55.240 and there is still 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.779 the effect of sin. 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.339 If you remember, 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:57.779 last week, 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.400 we were talking about 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.400 how Jesus deals 00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.379 with the cause of sin, 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.319 a heart that is broken, 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.839 but the effects of sin 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.539 still remains. 00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:04.599 There's still brokenness. 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.660 And what we see 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:07.160 in a church, 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:07.900 what the world sees 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.440 in a church, 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.859 is almost like a shadow 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.740 or a glimpse 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:12.400 of what the kingdom 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.460 of God looks like. 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.840 And when I say that, 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:15.900 I don't mean what they see 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.960 is a fake. 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:19.059 What I am saying is that 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.920 what they see 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:21.160 is almost like a trailer 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:22.340 or a demo. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.200 It is the real thing. 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.519 But at the same time, 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:27.000 it's still a glimpse 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.259 of what the kingdom 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.319 of God is like. 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.819 It's the here 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.160 and not yet idea. 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.140 You see, 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.279 people are being healed. 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.980 People are being transformed 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.579 in the church. 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.440 People are finding hope 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.059 and rest. 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.319 And at the same time, 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.679 people are being transformed 00:32:42.679 --> 00:32:43.859 and surrendering their lives 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.659 through the Holy Spirit 00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:45.919 in a miraculous way. 00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.799 But at the same time, 00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:49.759 we are still being built together. 00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.859 We're still being built. 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.159 It's like those 00:32:52.159 --> 00:32:53.480 construction signs, right? 00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.679 I think we should have 00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.240 one of those signs 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.960 outside our church 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.379 which says, 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.139 work in progress. 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:57.939 Boom. 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.799 Hey, we're still working, guys. 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:01.019 We're still working 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.599 on each other 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:02.259 and ourselves. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.559 And it's one of the reasons 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.500 why we do confession 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.139 and assurance 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:08.039 a few minutes ago. 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:11.059 It's why we do repentance. 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.960 It's not just something 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.859 we do once in a Sunday 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.639 like Jeremy was saying. 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.539 It is our lifestyle 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.539 because we are broken. 00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:16.879 It is a lifestyle 00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.500 of a Christian 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.259 to repent, 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.539 continuously to come back 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.200 to God and say 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.740 we need Him. 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.599 And through repentance 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.279 and confession 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.259 as we become more 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.180 and more like Christ, 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.119 it is our lifestyle. 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.819 And this is actually 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.599 really precious. 00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.299 You see, 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.000 this repentance, 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:34.960 this brokenness, 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.980 it's actually really precious. 00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:36.740 Do you know why? 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.059 It's precious 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:41.440 because it does not only 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.180 show the world 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.240 what the kingdom of God 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.759 is like, 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:45.980 but at the same time, 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.420 it also points people 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:49.359 to this future kingdom 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.720 that is coming 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.799 in Christ Jesus. 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.839 You see, 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.220 it just, 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.440 the church does not only 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.180 give a glimpse 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:57.119 of what it means 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.019 to be God's people 00:33:58.019 --> 00:34:00.039 living under His rule 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.599 and blessing, 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:02.200 but it also shows the world, 00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.599 actually points the world 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.220 to the future, 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.720 to the perfect kingdom 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:08.659 that Jesus is bringing 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.500 with Him 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.820 in His second coming. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.980 The church points the world 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.019 to the coming of Christ 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:15.340 where the presence of sin 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:15.940 is no more, 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.720 where the effects of sin 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.320 is no more, 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.940 where there is no more pain, 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:21.079 no more suffering, 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.780 when there is perfect unity 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.579 with our King 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.320 and our God, 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.860 when there is a community, 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:28.039 when heaven comes down 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:29.039 and there is joy 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.599 and peace 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.260 and final, 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.619 the true rest. 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:34.099 the church points the world 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:35.400 to that kingdom 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.619 at the same time. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.239 You see, 00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:37.960 the church is almost 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.619 like a billboard, 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.380 a signboard 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.579 telling the world, 00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:41.299 hey, 00:34:41.359 --> 00:34:41.920 there is a kingdom 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.400 that is coming. 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:42.679 Yes, 00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:43.319 we are broken. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.139 Yes, 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:45.039 we are repenting, 00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.599 but our hope lies 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.519 not in this world, 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.679 but our hope lies 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.440 in that kingdom 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.000 when Jesus returns 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.679 and bring this perfect kingdom, 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.920 when this sin 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.679 and brokenness 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.380 is no more, 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.480 when sin and suffering 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.380 is no more. 00:34:58.380 --> 00:35:01.760 And we do that 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.680 not just by preaching 00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:03.440 and teaching, 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.200 we do that 00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:06.780 by living in such a way 00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:09.059 that shows the world 00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:09.760 our hope 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.920 and our security 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:12.300 and our trust 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:14.280 is in the eternal life 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.840 that comes with Jesus. 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:18.200 How do we live our lives? 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.059 Do we live our lives 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.300 invested in this world 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.940 or do we live our lives 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:24.700 invested in the one 00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:26.059 that is coming later? 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:28.579 a life that is more real, 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.940 a life that is so much more real 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.480 than what you see around right now, 00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:34.179 a kingdom that is more real, 00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:37.199 a peace that is so much more permanent, 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.860 a healing of bodies 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.799 and our hearts 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:41.619 that is more real 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:43.320 than anything this world can provide. 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.840 Think of Matthew 5, 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.059 verse 14, 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:50.119 where Jesus tells his people, 00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:51.799 you are the light of the world, 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.360 you are the city 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.980 set on the hill, 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.980 that cannot be hidden. 00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:58.920 You see, 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.920 the church is not something 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.320 that's hidden. 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:03.000 We are set up on a hill 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.940 to be a light for the world, 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.980 to see Christ, 00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:07.280 to see this kingdom 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:07.860 that's coming. 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.960 So what is a church? 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.420 It's a place 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.699 where the kingdom of God 00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:15.019 is experienced 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:16.840 by the same time 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.139 seen by the world, 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.460 pointing the world 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.719 to the ultimate kingdom 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:23.579 that comes with Christ Jesus. 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:27.699 So brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:29.840 what is the church to you? 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:32.539 What is the church to you this morning? 00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:34.440 Is it just another group 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.679 that you attend 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.659 or just another group 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.679 that's part of your life? 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.519 Or is it that one group, 00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.739 a community that shapes 00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:42.579 all of your life? 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.380 Do we approach church 00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:44.940 as a place 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.519 where we just come to consume 00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:48.420 and give our attendance? 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.619 Or is it a place 00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:50.960 where we come to experience 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.940 the kingdom of God 00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:53.380 by growing together, 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.760 loving sacrificially, 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.860 pouring our lives 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.860 to one another, 00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.460 considering each other 00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.420 better than ourselves? 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.539 That's Philippians 2, right? 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.659 Do we look at a church 00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.260 as a place 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.880 where the world 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.880 is looking into 00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:06.300 to see the kingdom of God? 00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.740 Do we see the church 00:37:07.740 --> 00:37:08.340 as a place 00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:08.880 where the world 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.360 is looking 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.980 to see the gospel 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:12.019 being lived out, 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.500 to seeing the gospel 00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.280 being, 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.340 to come alive 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:17.039 within a community? 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.779 You see, 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:19.579 one of the best, 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.500 well, 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:21.440 I would not say the best, 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:21.920 arguably, 00:37:22.279 --> 00:37:23.239 but it is one of the best 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:24.340 evangelistic thing 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:24.880 we can do 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.019 is to come together 00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.900 as a church 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.840 for the world 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.739 to see the gospel 00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:29.579 come alive 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.840 in the group of people, 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.800 in God's people. 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.699 And if you are here 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.460 for the first time 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:38.099 or if you are exploring faith, 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.320 here's an invitation to you 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:42.599 to be one of God's people, 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:44.500 to come be part 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.079 of God's people, 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.759 to come back 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.980 to whom you belong to, 00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.980 where you will find life, 00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:50.360 where you find hope, 00:37:51.080 --> 00:37:52.100 where you find rest, 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.640 especially in a place 00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:54.400 like Hong Kong 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:57.600 where it's so busy. 00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.680 It's not just work, 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:01.100 it's not just life, 00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:04.940 rest from just thousands 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:05.980 of problems in life, 00:38:06.080 --> 00:38:07.100 relational problems, 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.180 family problems, 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.060 all sorts of problems. 00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:12.140 Jesus promises rest, 00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:14.260 come and find rest in Him. 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:16.240 Here's an invitation 00:38:16.240 --> 00:38:17.000 for you to come 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:17.860 and find joy 00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:18.720 and peace 00:38:18.720 --> 00:38:19.860 like nowhere else 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:21.000 you can find on this earth, 00:38:21.180 --> 00:38:22.420 to find eternal life, 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.240 to find purpose. 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:24.700 In Christ Jesus, 00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:26.000 you are called 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.760 to be part 00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:27.940 of His family, 00:38:28.120 --> 00:38:29.100 to be called sons 00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:29.860 and daughters 00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.840 of the true King. 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:32.980 And for all of us 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.440 to come 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:35.220 and love the church, 00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:37.520 to come and see the church 00:38:37.520 --> 00:38:39.400 as what it truly is, 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:41.220 to come with gratitude 00:38:41.219 --> 00:38:43.319 that this is an assembly 00:38:43.319 --> 00:38:44.959 of people being saved, 00:38:45.219 --> 00:38:46.199 being built together, 00:38:46.759 --> 00:38:48.199 experiencing God's kingdom, 00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.859 showing the God's kingdom 00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:50.519 to the world. 00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:51.439 You know, 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.219 a few weeks back 00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.099 we had a meeting 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.019 where we were talking about, 00:38:54.359 --> 00:38:55.799 hey, how do you come to church 00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:56.579 on a Sunday morning? 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:57.639 Do we just rush in 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:59.199 or do we actually 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.199 come with prayers? 00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.980 Praying to God, 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:02.879 praying to Holy Spirit, 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.259 saying, 00:39:03.959 --> 00:39:04.980 God, who can I encourage 00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.559 this morning? 00:39:05.959 --> 00:39:07.419 Who can I pray for this morning? 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.399 Whom can I pour out 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:09.559 in my life this morning too? 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:11.680 How do we come to church? 00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:12.760 How do we look at church? 00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:16.139 And the big idea is this, 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.579 come, 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:18.420 love the church, 00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.579 come with gratefulness 00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:20.119 for the church, 00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:21.619 come and be part 00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:22.200 of the church 00:39:22.200 --> 00:39:23.940 because this is where 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.880 the kingdom of God 00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:25.740 is experienced 00:39:25.740 --> 00:39:27.619 and at the same time 00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:28.720 seen by the world, 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:30.440 pointing the world 00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:31.440 to the true 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:32.599 and real kingdom 00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:33.519 that's coming 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.460 in Christ Jesus. 00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:35.900 Hey, can I pray 00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:36.639 for us right now? 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:38.579 As the band comes up, 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.759 let me just lead us 00:39:39.759 --> 00:39:40.159 in prayer. 00:39:40.359 --> 00:39:41.139 Father, we come 00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:42.079 before you 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:45.279 and what an incredible gift 00:39:45.279 --> 00:39:46.559 that you have given us 00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.839 in church, Lord. 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.920 And Father, we realize 00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:52.359 that we become part 00:39:52.359 --> 00:39:53.039 of the church 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:55.139 not by being good people, 00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:57.599 not by doing good works, 00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:59.199 but completely by, 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.739 through you, Jesus Christ, 00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:02.400 through your grace, 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.039 free gift, 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:04.019 you call us into 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:05.099 your family 00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:07.039 to be sons and daughters 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:08.079 of the God most high. 00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:11.059 Father, thank you 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:12.840 that we get to experience 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:13.440 your grace 00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:14.099 and your kingdom 00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:15.280 as we gather 00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:16.059 as your people. 00:40:17.340 --> 00:40:17.679 And Father, 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.539 we pray this morning, 00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:18.800 God, 00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:19.820 that you would build 00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.480 this church 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.820 to be a church 00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:22.639 that displays 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:23.280 your kingdom, 00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:25.699 that whenever people 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:26.159 come in, 00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:27.079 that they would experience 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:27.579 your goodness 00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.360 and your kingdom. 00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:29.420 And as the world 00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:31.099 looks into this church, 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.259 that they would see 00:40:32.260 --> 00:40:33.220 the goodness of God, 00:40:33.520 --> 00:40:34.680 that they would see 00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.720 your gospel 00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:36.660 being come alive. 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:40.140 God, we thank you 00:40:40.140 --> 00:40:41.560 that you call us 00:40:41.560 --> 00:40:42.380 to be your people.