We are going to think about today's text by asking
you one question.
What do you think is the church?
What is your opinion about the church and this
building?
or a lovely old Cathedral?
as we know the middle of April 2021 last
year hordes of people including celebrities
and fashion industry Elites.
Descended on Saint Mary's cathedral in
Sydney to farewell legendary style
icon Carla Zampatti
Of course, I am going to talk about the place
where her a funeral was held rather
than her funeral.
Completed in 1838 Saint
Mary's cathedral is famous for
its Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral
So the interior and exterior of this
Cathedral resembles a typical European
church that is rarely
found in Sydney. Also. because the Cathedral
is so famous and accessible the
main hall of this Cathedral has
been opened to the public for tourism.
So I think some of those among us went inside
the cathedral to look around
or have Mass.
Here on July 19 2008
the Roman Catholic
Pope Benedict 16 celebrated the
mass.
The cathedral is stunning through
exterior and its proximity to
Hyde Park
and Botanic Gardens make it a popular wedding
location.
But is this the ideal church
we think?
One thing that impressed me when I visited Hillsong Church
in Bella Vista in 2019 with
my family was the
amenities inside and outside
the church.
There was a large parking lot, a cafe
selling delicious coffee and tea and
the children's favorite cries fill
the rooms of the independent buildings.
Apart from that they were wonderful
videos displayed during the
worship expensive sound and
lighting facilities, comfortable chairs
like like in a theatre etc.
Many people say that this church is a state
of the art modern Church
Of course, there will be people who are good good
at Faith lives in the
just in this church.
But it is church the
Lord's want.
The lords Christ. Jesus has called his
disciples including us a witness to
All His Life Ministry birth
crucifixion Resurrection Ascension
and Descent of
the Holy Spirit.
The Lord's disciples prayed whenever they
gathered according to the Lord's promise.
They meditate on the words of the Lord and
the scriptures.
And they lived according to the word of
the Lord.
They testified of the Lord's name
in their lives.
They are not only helped the poor, sick in
the name of the Lord, but they also they also
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ
there by mouth.
After a long time, they came to
be called Christians.
And their meeting became the church.
The apostle Paul Christ to the
head of the church
and the peoples to the church members.
the body of Christ
it is taught that when the church members
Unite.
with each other
and achieve organic Unity through
Fellowship.
The church will stand in perfection.
And also he wrote in Colossians chapter
1 verse 24 to 26.
Now I rejoice in I what I am
suffering for you.
And I fill up in my flesh. What is
still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions
For the sake of his body.
Which is the church.
I have become its servant by the commission.
God gave me to present to
you the word of God in
its fullness.
the mystery
that has been kept hidden for ages
and generations but is now disclosed.
to the Lord's people
Now let me ask you a question again.
What is the church?
Is the church a building?
Is the church a minister or the
staff?
Is the church music or tradition or
the ministry like Bible study
Charities Fellowship?
picnics
they are all good things, but they are
not the church.
Take them away and then church is
still here.
Why?
Because you are still here.
The church is you.
The church is you with a
purpose.
to love God and love others
the church. Is you on a mission
to connect
the unconnected to Christ and together
grow to full Devotion to
the triumph of God.
The church is you with a simple plan
To plug into God and we
can serve to charge up in a
small group community.
To lean out using your gifts and
passions and to pass
on your faith
To those who don't know Christ.
when you leave
and I leave like this. all the
things we used to do in church become the
things as the church.
God desires it.
The world needs it and we are
called to be it.
the church
is you
until the day the Lord calls us
day by day that become Christians who
build up the Church of Christ as
Witnesses of Christ.
Through reading the word of God.
prayer
And sharing the gospel.
and holy living