The Church in a Pandemic

Series: Returning to Matthew

The Church in a Pandemic

August 30, 2020 | Paul Duppenthaler

Churches around the world have been shut down... at least they've been prohibited from gathering together in person.  It’s a one-of-a-kind challenge. Today, Pastor Paul looks at the very start of the church to get back to the basics. When Peter first recognized Jesus as the Christ, Jesus gave His disciples some basic instructions and encouragement about the formation and durability of the Church which He was going to build. We are still that church and will continue to be as long as we get back to these basics, especially during these days of the pandemic!

Sermon Notes

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Follow Along with the Message

The Church in a Pandemic

Matthew 16:13–20 NASB 

THE CHURCH BEGINS WITH THE   OF FAITH.

Matthew 16:15-17 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh
and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
 

  1. A THRIVING CHURCH IS  . Peter is a rock, Jesus is the rock.

Matthew 16:18a “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.” 

1 Cor. 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4 ESV …and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

1 Peter 2:6 “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 

  1. A THRIVING CHURCH IS  .

Matthew 16:19a “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” 

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
 

  1. A THRIVING CHURCH IS  .

Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 

  1. A THRIVING CHURCH IS  .

Matthew 16:18b “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” 

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can you become more “Christ-centered” in your daily routine?
  2. How would you explain the Gospel in a sentence? In a paragraph? In a testimony?
  3. Do you have anyone in your life that can help you live according to the Word of God?
  4. What can you do to strengthen Christ’s unstoppable church in this pandemic?

 

Series Information

Matthew became the most important of all Gospel texts for first- and second-century Christians because it contains all the elements important to the early church. In this series, we are picking up where we left off in chapter 9 and going on through chapter 13. We'll be covering the importance of getting Jesus' identity right, his healing miracles, discipleship, and several parables. This series will take us through the first half of 2020.

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