What If The Church Isn’t What We Think It Is?
The following blog post is an edited transcript of the Sunday Teaching on September 1, 2024, by Kyle Davies on Acts 1.
In our modern world, the concept of “church” often conjures up various images and emotions. For some, it’s a small white building with a steeple. For others, it’s a megachurch with thousands of attendees. Unfortunately, for many, the word “church” brings up memories of pain or disillusionment.
But what if our understanding of the church has been shaped more by cultural norms and personal experiences than by its true purpose? What if the church isn’t primarily a building, an organization, or a set of programs but something much more dynamic and transformative?
Redefining Church
The Book of Acts, written by Luke as a continuation of his Gospel, provides a compelling narrative of the early church. It begins with a pivotal moment: Jesus has been crucified, resurrected, and is about to ascend to heaven. His disciples, still grappling with these world-changing events, ask him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
This question reveals their expectation of an immediate political revolution. They hoped for a dramatic overthrow of Roman rule and the restoration of Israel’s independence. But Jesus redirects their focus:
“It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
With these words, Jesus reframes their understanding of the kingdom of God and their role in it. He shifts their attention from political power to spiritual power, from national restoration to global transformation.
The Church as Witnesses
Jesus uses a specific word to describe the disciples’ role: witnesses. This term is crucial for understanding the nature and purpose of the church. To be a witness is not merely to speak about Jesus, but to embody His character and priorities in every aspect of life.
Being a witness involves four key elements:
1. Speaking and living the truth about Jesus’ identity, words, and deeds.
2. Acknowledging our ongoing need for Jesus.
3. Being honest about our relationship with Jesus at all times.
4. Demonstrating how Jesus is changing our character and priorities.
This understanding of witness goes far beyond attending a Sunday service or participating in church programs. It’s about a lifestyle of following Jesus, lived out in real-time, in real places, among real people.
The Kingdom Advances, The Church Emerges
Many of us have been conditioned to think of the church as an organization that initiates work in the world, disciples people, and thereby brings about the kingdom of God. But what if we’ve got it backwards?
What if, instead, the kingdom of God is already advancing in the world? What if disciples are made as people recognize God’s work and join Him in it? And what if the church emerges as a result of this process rather than driving it?
This perspective aligns more closely with Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of God. He often described it as something already present, growing like a mustard seed or working like leaven in dough. The church is not the initiator of God’s mission but a participant in it. We might say that God’s mission has a church rather than the church having a mission.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised His disciples they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This wasn’t just a one-time event for the early church but an ongoing reality for all believers.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be effective witnesses. He helps us discern where God is already at work and how we can join in. He gives us the courage to speak about Jesus and the wisdom to live out His teachings in our daily lives.
As we read through the Book of Acts, we see the early believers constantly relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. They didn’t have a detailed roadmap for spreading the gospel; instead, they learned to listen and respond to the Spirit’s prompting in each new situation.
Witnessing in Everyday Life
If the church is primarily a community of witnesses rather than a set of programs or a weekly event, how does this change our approach to everyday life?
First, it means that our primary arena for witnessing is not within the four walls of a church building, but in the places where we live, work, and play. It’s in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and social circles that we have the greatest opportunity to be witnesses for Jesus.
Second, it means that witnessing is not just about verbally sharing the gospel (though that’s certainly part of it), but about living in a way that reflects Jesus’ character and priorities. It’s about treating our coworkers with kindness and integrity, loving our families sacrificially, and seeking justice and mercy in our communities.
Third, it means being attentive to where God is already at work in the lives of those around us. Instead of trying to force conversations about Jesus, we can look for signs of God’s activity and join in with what He’s already doing.
The Gathering of Believers
Given this understanding of church, what’s the purpose of gathering together on Sundays or in small groups? These gatherings serve several important functions:
1. They provide encouragement and support for believers as they seek to follow Jesus in their daily lives.
2. They offer opportunities for teaching and equipping, helping believers grow in their understanding of Scripture and their ability to apply it.
3. They create space for corporate worship, reminding us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
4. They facilitate community and relationships among believers, allowing us to bear one another’s burdens and spur each other on to love and good deeds.
However, these gatherings are not the end goal. They’re meant to refresh, equip, and encourage us for the work of witnessing that happens throughout the week.
Challenges and Opportunities
Living as witnesses in our everyday lives isn’t always easy. We may face fear, uncertainty, or opposition. We may struggle with how to bring up our faith in natural ways. We may worry about damaging relationships or facing ridicule.
But these challenges also present opportunities. They push us to rely more fully on the Holy Spirit’s power. They create occasions for us to demonstrate the love and grace of Jesus in tangible ways. And they often lead to deeper, more authentic relationships as we share our lives and our faith with others.
As we reimagine church as a community of witnesses rather than a set of programs or a weekly event, we open ourselves up to a more dynamic, Spirit-led way of living out our faith. We move from seeing church as something we attend to something we are.
This shift doesn’t diminish the importance of gathering together as believers. Rather, it puts those gatherings in their proper context: as times of refreshment, encouragement, and equipping for the ongoing work of witnessing in our everyday lives.
As we journey through the Book of Acts in the coming weeks, let’s pay attention to how the early believers lived as witnesses. Let’s notice how they relied on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance. And let’s consider how we, too, can be faithful witnesses for Jesus in our own Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Key Takeaways:
1. **The Church as Witnesses**: The church’s primary purpose is not to run programs or hold events, but to be a community of witnesses who embody Jesus’ character and priorities in their daily lives. This witnessing happens primarily where we live, work, and play, not just within church gatherings.
2. **Spirit-Led Mission**: Effective witnessing comes from being empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. Rather than trying to control or perfectly plan our witness, we should focus on being responsive to the Spirit’s leading, trusting that God is already at work in the lives of those around us.