Synod Emphasis - Outreach North America


Jesus said, “I will build my church.” By Rev. Morrie Lawing


Recently, I have had the privilege of visiting some of our ARP churches. Amidst some of our conversations, a discussion would arise centering around a question.  for any church, whether a church is two centuries old or a church plant just two months old.


Stop and think for just a moment about how your church would answer this question. Starting a soccer program or hosting more youth events might be on your list. Finding other ways to serve the community might be another. What about providing evangelistic training or starting a small group ministry you’ve never done before?


All these may have a place in our churches. But perhaps we’re asking the


wrong question. Instead, let’s ask, “What has Jesus promised?” Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18). Synod’s moderator, Rev. David Walkup, has chosen “The Whole Counsel of God” as his emphasis for the year and asked me to write on this month’s theme, “I Will Build My Church.”


Let’s take a look at our Redeemer’s proclamation here and observe two broad truths:


It is Jesus who builds his church, and it is Jesus who claims it as his own. Jesus is the Builder


First, we understand Christ’s claim, “I WILL BUILD my Church,” to mean


 he is the one building it. Not the presbytery, not the session, not the pastor, nor even the dear saints of the local church. It is Jesus who is taking personal responsibility for the creation and growth of his church. The church is not a human institution but a divine one, founded and sustained by Christ himself. As Paul states in Colossians 1:18, “Christ is the  that in everything he might be preeminent.”


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Where do we his people come in? God has instituted the local body to be the instrument the Redeemer uses to build his church. Through the Great Commission, he has given to his church (not individuals) his means of grace—the making of dis- ciples through the preached Word, through prayer and through the ad- ministration of the sacraments (Matt 28:18-20).


The Builder has given his church the keys which “bind and loose” regarding


The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


How did Jesus build his church in Philippi?


Lydia, a wealthy woman, a seller of purple, heard Paul’s message. But Paul’s message would have fallen on a dead soul had not the “Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 6:14). She was brought into an eternal relationship    of his kingdom in Philippi had begun, both based on Jesus’ divine work. - ing his church today, for “in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling place in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22).


Jesus said, “I will build my church.”


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