Resist the Drift

The Kind of Church God Builds
Resist the Drift

I. Introduction

A. Psalm 46:1 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

B. Psalm 62:8 (NLT) O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

II. The Power of Us!

A. Matthew 16:18b (NIV) “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

1. Ekklésia: A gathering or assembly of citizens called out from their homes, into a public space.

a. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) “…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

2. Why does Jesus gather His followers together?

a. An isolated you, is not a healthy you.

b. We are stronger together.

B. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

C. “Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness.” -Hybels

III. The Drift

A. The natural drift from outsiders to insiders.

1. When a church builds walls to keep people out, instead of bridges to bring people in, the church ceases to fulfill its God-given purpose.

a. “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.…” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2. Acts 15:1a (NIV) Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers.

3. Acts 15:1b (NIV) “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

a. Believe (like us) | Behave (like us) | Belong (with us)

4. Acts 15:2 (NIV) This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

5. Acts 15:5a (NIV) Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said….

B. The natural drift from grace to law (rules)

1. Acts 15:5 (NIV) Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

2. Acts 15:6-8 (NIV) ⁶The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

3. Acts 15:9-10 (NIV) ⁹“He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?”

4. Acts 15:13a (NIV) When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me.”

5. Acts 15:19 (NIV) “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

C. The natural drift from mission to maintenance.

IV. Conclusion