Sermon Tone Analysis

“I Will Build My Church”

/Christ’s Program for the Church/

/Text: Matthew 16:13-20/

 

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03~/16~/03)

 

Introduction:   

 

As an interesting bit of information this was what the temple of Solomon cost:

The talents of gold, silver, and brass, expended and used in the construction of the temple, amounted to an estimated $34,399, 112,500.

The jewels reckoned to have exceeded that amount, may be estimated as, or at least equal to it.

The vessels of silver consecrated to the uses of the temple were equal to $2,446, 720,000; the vessels of gold, $2,726, 481,015; the silk vestments of the priests, $50,000; the purple vestments of the singers, $1,000,000; trumpets, $1,000,000; other musical instruments, $2,000,000.

Ten thousand men were engaged in hewing timber on Lebanon, 70,000 were bearers of burdens, 20,900 men were overseers, all of whom were employed seven years.

Solomon bestowed on them $33,669,885.

Food and wages, estimated at $1.12½ per day totaled $469,385,440; the cost of the stone and timber in the temple, $12,726, 480,000.

—Selected

*Acts 7:47-48*   But Solomon built him an house.

48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

 

*Matthew 12:42*  ....... /and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here./

Christ is greater than Solomon, and He has built a superior structure......

The Church!!

 

Men have their own ideas of what the church should be.

They design programs, and employ new methods to get the work of the church moving forward.

These may be good and not wrong desires, programs or methods....

But the question we should be asking is “/How does all of this fit into Christ’s program for the church?/”

NOT – “/What is the church on Main St. doing/?”

Or “/What are the latest trends in the church growth movement/?”

But......

 

“/What is His plan?/”

This passage of Scripture reveals some key elements that are part of Christ’s program for the church:

 

! I.

The Church must have a Foundation

 

GROUND

 

“/Upon this Rock/”

 

Differing Views of vs. 18...

 

1.

Peter is the rock (Catholic~/first Pope)

 

2.

Peter’s confession is the rock (Reasons for this?)

A great confession of Christ’s person, but still incomplete (EXPLAIN)

 

3.

Christ is the Rock – Inescapable

 

Well, obviously it was not, because there is a play upon words here.

In the original Greek it is, "Thou art /petros/ [a little piece of rock], and upon this /petra/ [bedrock] I will build my church."

*1 Corinthians 10:44*And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

*1 Corinthians 3:1111*For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

*Colossians 1:1818*And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all /things/ he might have the preeminence.

!! A. Without Christ the Church is Shifting~/Changing

 

*Ephesians 3:21* Unto him /be/ glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

Amen.

He is etrnally the same!!!

 

!! B. Without Christ the Church is Silent

 

He is our Message!!!

 

*Galatians 6:14*  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

!! C. Without Christ the Church is Starving

 

He is the BREAD from Heaven – *John 6*

 

He is the Living WATER – *John 7*

 

*2 Peter 3:18* But grow in grace, and /in/ the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him /be/ glory both now and for ever.

Amen.

! II.

The Church must be Built

 

GROWTH

 

“/I will build my church;/”

 

BUILD - *3618** **ο**ἰ**κοδομέω** **, **ο**ἰ**κοδόμος* *1* to build a house, erect a building.

1a to build (up from the foundation).

1b to restore by building, to rebuild, repair.

*2* metaph.

2a to found, establish.

2b to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness.

2c to grow in wisdom and piety.

!! A.

Not All Growth is Good Growth

 

EXAMPLE (Parables of *Matt.

13*) – Wheat & Tares

 

!! B. God Gives the Increase

 

LOOK UP & READ *I Cor.

3:6-9*

 

!! C. God’s People are to Facilitate Growth

 

HOW?

By planting and watering (I Cor.

3)

 

How does God want us (MIBC) to grow?

Spiritually ~/ Numerically

 

! III.

The Church must be Victorious

 

GAIN

 

“/The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it/”

 

GATES OF HELL - “Gates” represent, in the Bible, authority and power.

The city gate was to a Jew what city hall is to people in the Western world.

Important business was transacted at the city gate ( Deut.

16:18 ; 17:8 ; Ruth 4:11 ).

“The gates of hades” then would symbolize the organized power of death and Satan.

By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ would conquer death, so that death would not be able to hold any of His people.

Christ would “storm the gates” and deliver the captives!

*1 Corinthians 15:55 & 57*  O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

--------

57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

!!

The Church on the Offense

 

The church must be proactive in regard to evangelism not passive.

Soulwinning ~/ Discipling ~/ Building God’s People ~/ Equipping the Saints!!

 

/Some want to live within the sound Of church or chapel bell./

/I want to run a rescue shop Within a yard of hell./

*C.

T Studd*

 

! IV.

The Church must have Authority