Acts: Life On Mission - Week 5 - Our Church is God's Temple

This week, the message centers on the idea that "Our Church is God's Temple." The teaching explores how every believer, as part of the local church, plays a significant role in this living temple. The early church gives us an inspiring picture of what it means to be part of God’s temple, not as a building, but as a people united by faith in Christ.

The Church as a Family

Acts 2:41-47 illustrates a vibrant community where believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer. This passage shows how the early church embodied the concept of family. The church isn't merely a place we go; it’s who we are. We are part of a fellowship, a family where believers come together and share life.

The message challenges us to ask ourselves, “How much do we care if our church grows?” Growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s about commitment. If we consider New Life our church, it’s important that we invest in it as a family.

Scripture Reference:

"Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer." (Acts 2:41-42, NLT)

A Living Temple, Not a Location

The Old Testament temple was a physical location, but through Christ, we have become God’s living temple. In the Old Testament, people had to go to the temple to meet God. But Hebrews tells us that this new temple, the church, is better because God comes to us. We are His temple wherever we go.

The church is not tied to a location; it’s a movement of people. Many of us struggle with the belief that we need to change locations or circumstances to find something better, but the problem isn’t external—it’s internal. When Jesus cleared the temple of its corruption (Matthew 21:12-13), He showed us that spiritual sickness comes from a heart that hasn’t been fully surrendered to God.

Scripture Reference:

"Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, NLT)

The Church and Repentance

The message stresses that the solution to spiritual sickness is not changing locations but changing hearts. This change comes through repentance—a turning away from our way to God’s way. When we choose God’s way, we become the church. Salvation is not just personal; it’s communal. When we are saved, we are added to the body of Christ, His church.

No one in the early church was added without being saved, and no one was saved without being added to the church. Salvation and church membership go hand in hand. It’s essential to understand that while anyone is welcome to attend church, only those who are saved can be the church.

Scripture Reference:

"So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself." (Ephesians 2:19-20, NLT)

The Value of the Local Church

The importance of gathering as a local body of believers cannot be overstated. In a world where online church is becoming increasingly common, we are reminded that online services are not a replacement for in-person fellowship. The local gathering is where discipleship happens. God is all in on the church. It is His bride, and He has entrusted us with the mission to grow and build it.

If God has placed all His chips on the church, so should we. As we see in Acts 5:38-39, if what the disciples were doing was from God, no one would be able to stop them. Likewise, God’s plan for the church is unstoppable. To fight against it is to fight against God Himself.

Scripture Reference:

"If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39, NLT)

Investing in the Church

We are called to invest in the church, and one of the biggest lies we face is that the church is dying. Jesus reminds us that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37). The issue is not a lack of opportunity; it’s a lack of laborers. Our task is to raise up more leaders and volunteers to help fulfill the mission.

One of the key ways we can do this is by identifying our first downs and touchdowns. In football, touchdowns are the ultimate goal, but first downs are crucial steps toward achieving them. Similarly, in the church, our "touchdowns" are when people come to know Jesus and follow Him. But to get there, we need first downs—smaller steps toward that goal.

Scripture Reference:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10, NLT)

Life on Mission: First Downs and Touchdowns

At New Life, we’ve identified key first downs as part of our "Life on Mission" strategy: Gather, Connect, Serve, Give, and Influence. These are essential to building the church and fulfilling our mission. We celebrate every step toward these goals because they bring us closer to our ultimate mission: saving the lost and making disciples.

Gather – The church is called to gather together regularly in worship, just as the early believers did. Connect – Building relationships in small groups or Life Groups is essential for discipleship. Serve – We are called to serve both within the church and in the community, just as Jesus came to serve. Give – Generosity is at the heart of the early church and remains a foundational part of building God’s kingdom. Influence – Every believer is called to influence the world around them by living out their faith in daily life.

Scripture Reference:

"They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity." (Acts 2:46, NLT)

Loving the Church: Christ’s Bride

The Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25). To love Jesus means to love His bride—the church. We can’t love the head without loving the body. The church is His body, and as members of that body, we have a mission. We are called to be actively involved, not sitting on the sidelines.

If New Life is your church, then invest in it. Get off the sidelines and engage. If another church is your home, invest there. The key is to be involved in the local body where you can contribute and be part of God’s plan to build His temple.

Conclusion

The message of “Our Church is God’s Temple” is a powerful reminder that the church is not just a place we attend—it’s who we are. As believers, we are part of something much greater than ourselves. The church is God’s chosen vessel to carry out His mission on earth. When we invest in the church, we invest in God’s eternal kingdom.

We are called to be a part of God’s living temple, actively participating in the mission to seek and save the lost. The steps we take—our first downs—lead us toward the ultimate goal of seeing people come to know Jesus and experience life transformation. Let’s commit to being the church God has called us to be, not just in name but in action, so that we can make a lasting impact for His kingdom.

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