Sermon on a Church Anniversary I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. You shall be called Cephas – the rock, and on this I will build my church. Many scholars have dissected this statement from Jesus, and the general opinion is that Christ was not telling Peter he would be the rock on which the church would be built, but his confession of faith. Since Peter confessed him as Son of God, Jesus says, this confession which you have made shall be the foundation of those who believe, so that every man who intends to build the house of faith shall lay down this confession as the foundation. Christ is the head, the rock, the very foundation on which His church must be built. It is on our confession of Jesus as Lord, and Saviour of our lives, and as Messiah of this present age, that he will once again build his church here on earth. It cannot be built on the fact that our forefathers laid the bricks with their bare hands. The building bricks of our mission cannot be laid on the foundation that we have always worshipped here, in this place, in this way. The way forward is built on tradition but it cannot stand forever on that tradition. Now let me justify all of that, because I know how harsh it sounds. There is no way on this earth we would be worshipping here today had it not been for our ancestors who had the vision to build this fine church. There is no way we could worship here, or anywhere else for that matter, as Methodists, had it not been for our founder, John Wesley. There is no way we could worship as Christians, followers of Christ, had it not been for Peter and the early disciples. And there is certainly no way we could worship at all, simply no reason for worship, had it not been for a man called Jesus. I truly believe that the celebration of a church anniversary reminds us that Christian people living in the midst of the worlds history are like Janus of Roman mythology, who looked simultaneously forward and backward. Our look back at 100 years of this congregations life gives us courage and hope for the next 100. So tradition and history and background all have their place. But we are a movement – we were always known as the Methodist Movement – not an institution. We are a movement and our mission is to go forward in faith, in Christ and in God’s name. Like a mighty army moves the church of God. Brothers, and Sisters, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are treading where the saints have trod, but even the saints did not stand still. Look at St Paul. He travelled 5,000 miles on foot and another 5,000 by sea. John Wesley is reputed to have travelled a quarter of a million miles, mainly on horseback. If you get the chance, read about some of the Celtic saints and their journeys. The Celtic monks, who set off in their coracles from Ireland to set up on Iona and Lindisfarne, and then set about travelling the nation, trying to RECLAIM this nation for God. If we stand still, we are sitting ducks for the sceptics and the doubters and the mockers. It’s time, my friends, it’s time. It’s time to stand up, stand up for Jesus. It’s time to stand up for the one who laid down his life for you. It’s time to get up, to stand up, to get your faith stirred up. It’s time to get up and move – move – move. It’s time for revival. Jesus said to Peter, and he says again to us today, “I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it.” And sometimes he says, “I will rebuild my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” City councils may try, planners may try, historians may try, the politically correct lobby and the all inclusive faith groups may try, but I have declared, says the Lord, even the very gates of hell will not stand against my church. Now, let’s all calm down just a little, shall we. Let’s just take a look at what Jesus actually said to Peter. He said, “… I will build MY church” MY church. And that’s where so many Christians fall. That’s the first hurdle that trips up many a mission. It’s the church of Christ. The Church of Christ, not our Church! It’s not yours and mine. It’s not the Methodist Church. It’s not the Anglican Church. It’s not the Baptist, or the URC or the Catholic or the Unitarian Church. These are all just names we attach to groups. It’s the church of Christ in every age, beset by change, but spirit led. Beset by CHANGE, but SPIRIT led! Lord of all, of Church and Kingdom, In an age of change and doubt, Keep us faithful to the Gospel, Help us work your purpose out. Here, in this day’s dedication, All we have to give, receive: We, who cannot live without you, We adore you! We believe! Rev 3:7-8 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I visit and preach at churches that are literally hanging on by a thread – the thread that says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am also in the midst of them.” And I commend them for their faithfulness, but I have to ask, “What is the mission of that particular church?” Is it to meet together and pray, is it to win souls for Christ? Or is it merely staying open for tradition’s sake? What is our mission here? He makes his purpose clear, “One world, one Lord.” “One world, one Lord.” Our mission is to go out into that one world, to preach, make disciples, win souls for Christ. It’s wonderful to hear of churches staying open, almost in defiance of the times, but let’s keep them open for the right reasons. Let’s keep them open so that we can serve the purpose of God, not as a shrine to the past. Sometimes, we have to accept change in our lives, and I am only too aware that change is difficult and it’s hard and it’s painful at times. I know of churches that have almost turned the building into a shell, and then rebuilt from the inside, with the aim of mission- of creating a space where church and community can live together, and breathe together. I have seen churches closed down and churches turned into pubs, but I have seen three pubs in Sheffield turned into places of worship. Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. The world is ever changing, and we too must be prepared to change without losing our sense of identity and our hope as Christians. Let me share with you a word of testimony. Twenty six years ago, I found Jesus at Bramall Lane – or rather Jesus found me, and took my hand and led me into a deep, personal relationship. Gently he led me, but mightily he fed me. I was so filled with the Spirit, I almost burned out in the first week of my new found faith. I remember going with friends to a church near where I lived, not the one I normally attended and it was just after the crusade. I went along because the church held a Cliff Mission, and the church was full for days, with all sorts of events happening. I went along to the youth club there, as a helper. In the past, I had gone to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas they put on, twice a year. I walked with the church to the local church at Whitsuntide. But that church recently closed its doors for ever. Yes, it saddens me to think of what used to be. But we have to keep going. We have to move on. The congregation from that church has not just gone home and stayed there, they have joined the congregations of other local churches. You see, the church is not the building, its the people; and just like we recycle bricks and use them for other purposes, so God takes the bricks of His church and recycles them in other ways. We have to re-build the church of Christ. We have to stand our ground against those who say the church is no longer relevant in today’s society and we have to make it relevant. We have to make it a community – a place where people can come and share with us. Maybe if we accept people into our spiritual home, as friends, as travellers, as people with needs, maybe, just maybe, we can start to plant the seeds of new growth. Maybe, just maybe, Christ will turn to us, and say, “By your lives, by your actions, by your faith, by your love, and with your mouth, you have confessed me as Lord and Saviour, Messiah of this present age. On this, will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” May God Bless you all. May His Peace be upon your house. May his love be within. May his protection be around your house. May his foundation be underneath. May his blessing rest on all inside and on all who pass through the doors. This day and throughout the year. In the name of God, the Father. In the name of God the Son. In the name of God the Holy Spirit. God the three in one.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 17:02:53 +0000
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