Life Through the Open Door

May 28, 1989, Second Sunday after Pentecost: Kingdomtide

John 10:10

Introduction:

The promises in the New Testament are always finally in the context of the community of faith. We are to live and move and have our being in the fellowship of the church.

[As independent-minded as most of us are, we often seek to appropriate the promises of God for our own felt personal needs. We think how "this promise" or "this church" meets me where I am just now— of what "I" need. I suppose that is normal and understandable.]

This favorite verse, John 10:10, about abundant life, a verse to which we come back again and again, is about belonging to the fold, the flock of the Good Shepherd. We will find our life in the context of the true church.

But what do we know for certain about "the true church?"

I. JESUS IS THE CHURCH: THAT IS, JESUS IN YOU AND ME IS THE CHURCH

  1. Jesus is the Head of the church. Jesus is the LIFE of the church. Jesus is the VINE. But also in this present world JESUS IS ONLY PRESENT IN HIS CHURCH! H. Ray Dunning says: "The church is the Body of Christ, hence to be in Him is to be a part of his Body." Alan Richardson says: "The Church is thus the means of Christ's work in the world; it is His hands and feet, his mouth and voice."
  2. The branches are NOT the vine— and yet the Vine is the branches. In a wonderful way— if we are in Christ, we are in the church; and if we are in the church we are IN CHRIST!

    There is no such thing as being "in Christ" and not being in His body, the Church.

II. JESUS IS THE TOTAL PURPOSE OF THE TOTAL CHURCH

  1. The church (we Christians) exist(s) for ONE reason only: to be Christ's BODY in this world. The proclamation of Jesus Christ is the total task of the total church.

    THE PROCLAMATION OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE TOTAL TASK OF THE TOTAL CHURCH!

  2. We tend to identify the proclamation of Jesus Christ with the preaching of the Word of God from the pulpit of the church. And I would certainly hope that the pulpit exalts and lifts up Jesus Christ.
  3. But the pulpit exists primarily to edify, to equip, to prepare the total church to proclaim the majesty and love and grace and salvation of God in Jesus Christ. And that has to happen outside the four walls of the sanctuary.

III. JESUS IS AT HOME IN THE CHURCH GATHERED

  1. We ENTER IN to the place of worship; the sanctuary of His Presence. [ 11 o'clock on Sunday morning is (in most ways) my favorite time of all the week!]
  2. We "ministers" love our calling. We sense its high importance and privilege. We have been made to understand that our role is "key" to kingdom growth.
  3. But the "cutting edge" of ministry is when the entire BODY of Christ accepts the TRUTH that we are ALL to take Jesus Christ wherever we are: TO PROCLAIM HIM!
  4. We ENTER the sanctuary to fellowship and worship. We NEED the food, the edification. But we LEAVE the sanctuary to enter into "life." And life on Monday is REAL life out there in the world!

IV. JESUS IS ALSO VERY MUCH AT HOME IN THE CHURCH SCATTERED

  1. We need new ways to measure "church growth." Buildings and numbers and dollars are well and good— even necessary. But when people think of their ministry and value to Jesus in the church they do not need to think ONLY in terms of what they can do when the church GATHERS.
  2. In the ideal church 100% of the flock will GATHER in order to be fed, edified, strengthened.

    In the GATHERING they will give and receive support in prayer, and see that fellowship and education are happening.

  3. But in the ideal church a full 80% WILL HAVE THEIR PRIMARY TASK FOR JESUS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE SANCTUARY.

    This means that only about 20% of the Body will have "inward directed" tasks of teaching, administrating, keeping the wheels turning.

  4. This will mean "witness" in the old-fashioned meaning of the word: Helping people to the decision: Jesus is Lord! (Romans 10:9,10) That is true!
  5. But somehow it will also mean witness in the broadest sense of the word! It means a total life involvement: letting Jesus 'LOOSE' wherever we are! Not from "ought" and from "should" but from abundance and life and joy!

Conclusion:

V. JESUS HAS PROMISED LIFE TO THE FULL IN THIS CONTEXT: COMING IN AND GOING OUT!

This week a young person told me frankly: "You aren't preaching where we live! We have heavy responsibilities you aren't covering!"

I want to preach where you live! But I may not always be able to meet you where you are.

But I recall a testimony on a Wednesday night some years ago, now. A testimony I have often returned to (insight!)

[Illustration: Cindy Knox was a brand-new social worker in some of the toughest parts of Boston. One day she was shocked again by a particularly sordid case of neglect and abuse to little children. In her revulsion and anger she cried out, half aloud: "Oh God, Where are You?"!! And in her own words, Cindy said, "Jesus spoke to me, and He said: 'I'm in you, Cindy!" THE CHURCH was in that tenement that day!]

I'm not sure that I can preach where each of us lives! The businessman, tempted to shave corners. The student, tempted to cheat "like everybody else." The parent, tempted to let TV do all the babysitting. [How about the pastor, wondering what in the world to say as he faces pain and suffering??]

But I can assure you! I grasp these promises of the Good Shepherd, the Vine, the Door— that if we COME IN by the Door and gather in Jesus' name to fellowship and learn and worship— —and then GO OUT by the Door to proclaim Jesus, and let Him live out through us— WE SHALL KNOW REAL LIFE! WE SHALL BE THE CHURCH! AND THE WORLD WILL SEE JESUS!

#84EH Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me