Join our Facebook Group Community

The Church Alive

History reveals that – in times of crisis – the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, becomes stronger and deeper than ever before. The role of the church becomes crystal clear as it lives out its God-given assignment. As people ask, ‘Where is God in this coronavirus pandemic,’ the answer should not surprise us.

The Church has left the building

The church is not a building, but we too often forget that.
The church gathers for worship, and it scatters to serve and evangelize.

The request for a sign

During these days, we are filled with questions about what God is doing.
In I Chronicles 12:32 we reada description of men from the tribe of Issachar, who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” How we desire to understand the ‘signs of the times’ today.
In Matthew 16, the Pharisees andSadducees askedJesusfor a sign.Hereplied that the only sign they would receive was “the sign of Jonah.”

The establishment of the church

Later, Jesus withdrew to Caesarea Philippi with His disciples. When He asked them Who they said He was, Peter replied with his great profession of faith, “Thou art the Christ.”
Jesus stated (Matthew 16:17-18) that “upon this rock” (I.e. Peter’s confession) He would build the church. The Message Bible states, “I will put together my church, a churchsoexpansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.”
Beginning with Peter’s message at Pentecost (Acts 2), the rest of the book of Acts describes the explosive growth of the church.

The role of the church

The church is the “ecclesia” - the “called out ones.”

Members of the church experience “koinonia” (the fellowship of the body of believers).
The church is further described by the “one another” passages of the New Testament.
The church is described as thetabernacle of God, thepeople of God, the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ.

How to tell if a church is authentic

An authentic church fulfills the Great Commission (given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20).

An authentic church accepts the assignment Jesus gave to reach and to teach.

Learning from history

What contributed to the expansive growth of the church that resulted in the declaration by Constantine in 312AD thatChristianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire?
During two plagues (the Antonine Plague during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, and the Plague of Cyprian in 251-270AD), more than one-third of the people in the Roman Empire died. Everyone fled except for the Christians who cared for the sick and offered them “soup and prayer.”
These early Christianstherebydemonstrated their hope and confidence in the Resurrection.

Our response – and our responsibility

God has designed us (as believers) for crisis times such as this.
In Matthew 25, we read that when we serve the hungry, the thirsty,andthe sick, we aredoing these things forChrist(read Matthew 25:31-40).
During this pandemic, members of Second are reaching out, teaching, giving, sharing, praying, and loving our church members and the Houston community throughHouston Courage.

A sacred moment and an opportunity

God’s answer to the coronavirus is the church, alive and functioning.
This is a moment God has given us to strengthen relationships, minister to our families and our communities, and to pray that God will fulfill in each of us the purpose for which we were made.
Wehavebeen givenunique opportunities to be the hands, arms, eyes and feet of Jesus as we offer light and love in these uncertain times.

Think it over.

God has given many of us the gift of time as we “stay home and work safe.” What are some ways you are using this time?What lessons isGod is teaching you?

Why do you think God becomes more real to us during crisis periods in our lives? How can these crisis times become opportunities to “draw near” to Him and to seek Hisdirection?
Dr. Young began the message by stating that “the church has left the building.” Are you a part of this? What opportunities will you have to be the hands, eyes, and feet of Jesus this week? One way is to invite neighbors, friends, and family members to worshiponlinewith the Second Family this Easter weekend. Visit second.org for information aboutourGood Friday services, and our Saturday and Sunday Easter celebrations.

Service Dr. Ed Young

Share