Evangelical Wasteland - Christ Will Build His Church (even in during a Global Pandemic)

WELCOME BACK TO THE PODCAST BUNKER! Who is building the church? In the midst of the chaos and confusion. The order and tradition. The shameful and shameless. The pure and the true. The truth and the error. Generation after generation, church schism, statism, deformation, reformation, denomination, convention, speratatism, independentism, networking; the question we hope to answer tonight is what keeps the church working?

Foundational thought: So, who is building the church?

Traditions?
Creeds and Confessions?
Church Governments?
Programs?
Big Eva?!?

None of these are “building the church” in the way that Christ affirms. These are all ways and means that the church has historically sustained itself in a practical way. And God does providentially use these means of grace. We would argue that in spite of man's best efforts the Lord remains the builder of His Church.

From one living stone to another living stone, the church in every generation continues to confess the same rock solid truth that Peter confessed in Matt 16: 16, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, He is our Chief Cornerstone.

Paul would go on to add that everyone who confesses that Jesus is the Christ..are

Ephesians 2:19–21 (NASB95): “... are … no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord…”

The writer of Hebrews urges the faithful to remain in fellowship and have confidence:

Hebrews: 19-25, (NASB95):19 “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

The Common Thread is Christ is the Cornerstone, the Chief Cornerstone that everyone within the church is built upon. Christ is building a Christ-Center Church upon Himself, for Himself and that looks like Himself all by the promise of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, by way of the finished work of Christ Alone.

So what is the purpuse of the church and why is Christ building it?

Here are a few areas we'd like to focus on:

Christ is building...

A church who loves God
A church who loves Christ
A church who loves the Word
A church who loves the body
A church who loves good deeds
A church who await eagerly the blessed hope

Each of these passages addresses the above point. Let's read them and explain how Christ is making us into His image.

Luke 4:8
John 14:15
1 John 2:15; 5:3
Gal 5:22-23
Ps 40:8; 42:1
1 Peter 1:22
Eph 5:25
Titus 2:14
Titus 2:12-13
Revelation 22:17

Did you enjoy our podcast? Please consider contributing to the show! The more our listeners contribute the more we are free to get you premium content in your ears. The Shieldwall Podcast is a labor of love for Cody and Ethan so any and everything is appreciated.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user/posts?u=32437484 (or search for The Shieldwall Podcast)

Venmo (Specify The Shieldwall Podcast in description): ephardy

As always, please follow The Shieldwall Podcast on:

Facebook.com/ShieldwallDiscipleship

Instagram.com/ExpositoryDiscipleship

https://twitter.com/CodyTrail

https://twitter.com/ExFideHarde

[email protected]

Available on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Tune In
Stitcher
Sound Cloud
PodBean
Youtube

Credits: Intro/Outro music by Jeremiah McCann and Ethan Dean. If you like what you hear, feel free to contact him @ [email protected]

Audio Production by Ethan Hardy.