Pastor Jack Peters
April 23, 2023 at 10:30 AM
Matthew 16:13-20
The Concept of the Church
MATTHEW 16:13-20 – THE CONCEPT OF THE CHURCH
TOGETHER WE ARE HIS CHURCH #1
Read Acts 1:6-9 – When Jesus left earth after atoning for our sins and rising again, He had only one plan for getting the Word of salvation out to a lost and dying world. That plan, simply put, is the Church. His assembly, His called-out ones were to spread the word, make disciples, baptize them, teach them, and encourage them to reproduce. The church on a universal level around the world, and on a local level is His plan.
Together, we here who attend regularly are His church. Because we are His church, we need to follow His plan! Because we love Jesus and want to please Jesus, we need to discover what being His church means for us together. Over the next several weeks, we will open the Word together and try to understand together who we are and how we should act as His church!
We begin with the first mention of the church in the New Testament. Here, Jesus gives us an idea of what the church is. We are seeing His concept of the Church.
CONFRONTATION OF THE APOSTLES – Vss. 13-15
Vs. 13 – They were in the Northeast corner of Israel, an area that was under much pagan influence. Jesus asked “Who do people say that I am?”
Vss. 14-15 – After hearing what the “word on the street” was, Jesus asked the most import question – “Who do you say that I am?”
CONFESSION OF PETER – Vs. 16, Romans 10:9-13
COMMENDATION BY JESUS – Vs. 17
John 6:44 - No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Peter was blessed because God turned the light on in his heart through the work of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-10
CONSTRUCTION OF CHRIST’S CHURCH – Vs. 18
- Most important to note – Jesus says, “This is my church and I will build it.”
- The Church is a ‘called-out assembly’. Most references refer to the local church, but universal church here.
- The church is Christ’s body, with Christ as the head. Ephesians 1:23, 4:15
- The church is also viewed as a building.
- Is Christ the only true foundation. Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Acts 4:10-12 – It’s all built on Christ!
- In a lesser sense, Peter and the Apostles are also the foundation of the church. Christ started with them! Ephesians 2:19-22, Revelation 21:14
CONFERMENT OF AUTHORITY – Vs. 19
- Keys open doors and lock doors. Peter took the “keys” and opened the doors on Pentecost, to the Samaritans and to the Gentiles.
- These same “keys” are available to us today by sharing the same message of salvation. Telling folks “If you believe on Christ, you are saved. If you do not believe on Him, you are condemned.” John 3:16-18, John 3:36
- In another sense, Peter and the Apostles were given “keys” to lead the church. Matthew 18:15-20
CONFRONTATION OF THE APOSTLES – Vss. 13-15
CONFESSION OF PETER – Vs. 16
COMMENDATION BY JESUS – Vs. 17
CONSTRUCTION OF CHRIST’S CHURCH – Vs. 18
CONFERMENT OF AUTHORITY – Vs. 19
