Blog Quote of the Week

John Piper on launching new churches:

Jesus never said, "I will build my social service agency."
He never said, "I will build my parachurch ministry."
He never said, "I will build my university or my Christian college or my Christian school."

He said, “I will build my church.”

One institution in all the universe is given this promise. ‘I will build my church.’ So, brothers, be encouraged that you are about something extraordinarily important.

I = A Risen Christ, worthy of eternal worship, is the one who plants the church.

Will build = Christ builds His church through “ripping the gates of hell off of the human heart… so they can see.”

My = The church belongs to Jesus Christ and Jesus is already at work in the city where you are planting. “For I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:10)

Church = Only one institution in the entire universe is given the promise that Jesus will build it.

via EdStetzer.com

Comments

[Mike Zook]

Do you really think Jesus meant "institution" when he refered to his church?

[Jonathan]

Not the way you're inferring!

The Church is not supposed to be an institutional monument to the past, preserving old memories at the expense of moving forward in faith.

Nothing grows in sterile environments. Jesus ushered a Kingdom of messy people that was always growing. The Church is the vessel.

Jesus talked about a movement, on mission, forging the future, creating culture, proclaiming shalom with God, freely forgiving, passionately serving, pouring itself out as Living Eucharists, being Little Menorahs who point everyone to the Carpenter-King. This is the Church.

I'm so thankful that in His divine wisdom, Jesus established the roles of Elders to lead, teach, and protect the Church. I'm also astonished at the heart of God to establish Deacons as bread-carriers.

That is the vision of the Church, literally meaning "called out ones" of the Messiah.

[Idetrorce]

very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce