Sunday Morning and Evening, May 4, 2008

Here's the church,
Here's the steeple.
Open the door,
But where's all God's people?

Cute little rhyme, but totally off base. The church is not a building. It doesn't have a steeple. Today, we studied the Bible with reference to the house of the Lord. It was really an eye opener for some of us. A lesson outline is provided below.

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The House of the Lord 

Psalms 122:1  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Once again we come to the house of God
To unite in songs of praise.
To extol with joy our Redeemers name
and to tell His wondrous ways. 

To thy house, Oh Lord, with rejoicing we come.
For we know that we are Thine.
We will worship thee in the Bible way,
As the Evening Light doth shine. 

By C W Naylor, Truth n Song 1907 (written in 1904) 

Both the above Old Testament scripture and verse of song reflect a sentiment that is widely prominent in the religious world today.  The “house of God” is viewed as a literal place, a name, or a building. In reality, neither this Old Testament verse nor this song reflect New Testament teaching. 

One little word change would make all the difference.

Once again we come as the house of God
To unite in songs of praise.
To extol with joy our Redeemers name
and to tell His wondrous ways. 

As thy house, Oh Lord, with rejoicing we come.
For we know that we are Thine.
We will worship thee in the Bible way,
As the Evening Light doth shine. 

Opening Comments: 

• A similar lesson last year on "Mansions in Heaven?"
  • In it, we discussed the house of God
• Our teaching is founded on the word or we would not have made it this far
• We are not against meeting in buildings, either owned or rented
• But we are against putting the focus on buildings and budgets that spend more on temporal things than spiritual things.
• As the church world goes further and further into apostasy, the focus will become more and more towards the temporal side of things  A carnal church will be carnally minded.
  • Laodiceans, Rev 3:17
  • “Church of the Laodiceans”
• The New Testament church did not own a building until the time of apostasy. This was not just by necessity, but by design. They could have owned a building if they had chosen to. Persecution of Christians was not universal.
• We were offered a building (chapel in South Charleston, Ohio), but were not interested in it.
• Returning to our roots

We’re setting the record straight. Unfortunately, reformation and rumors go hand in hand. While we are experiencing a reformation of sorts, the rumors are flying, particularly along our position on “church buildings”. Some have said that we are opposed to meeting in a building and that we teach that the church should only gather in houses. Others have said that we don’t believe that an assembly of saints should ever own a building. And the stories go on and on… It seems the rumor mill never shuts down these days. 

We can’t control what people say or think, but we can let people know what the scriptures teach. So, as is our practice to be honest and open and to always give an answer to every one that ask, we are making a public stand on this issue. Let this settle the issue, once and for all. 

Let us categorically state that the church of God is not a building. Never was and never will be. It is not made up of brick and mortar. Is it made up of stones? Yes, but they are lively stones, or we might say “living, breathing, spiritually alive people.” Not hard hearted or hard headed stones, but living stones! :o) No big boulders and little pebbles in this church. No, the precious stones making up the church are perfectly aligned with the one and only Cornerstone, none other than Jesus Christ Himself. He is the only One who sets the standard in which all of the stones are to line up with. He is the foundation of this wonderful building, and although it has seen storm after storm, thank God, the church has weathered each and every storm with grace and courage, and she is yet standing today! How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord! 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? 

Oh hallelujah! Listen and read the words of this song, and rejoice! 

Together, these spiritual living stones make up the temple of God. They are placed side by side, without any need for “hammering” or “hollering”. They were individually cut by the Master’s Hand and when He builds the house, it is certain to be done right for truly He is the Great Masterbuilder. The blueprint for this building was laid out in heaven! Each stone fits perfectly in place and only the Master knows where they best fit in, and according to the divine pattern.

• 1Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

In the Old Testament, the people gathered to worship in a building made by human hands.  While they had good intentions, this practice led to rituals and they eventually began worshipping the creation, rather than the Creator. So idolatrous was this manner of worship that by the time Jesus came on the scene, it had lost any sense of value or worth. Upon seeing their unrelenting spirit and their rejection of true worship and the true and only God, Jesus declared unto them, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matthew 23:38) and He prophesied that the temple that they idolized would be “thrown down” and literally destroyed such that no stone would left upon another. (Matthew 24:1-2) In AD 70, this happed just as was prophesied and the entire system of temple worship was declared null and void, being left completely barren and deserted.  

Yet even today, the religious world is still trying to fit God into their individual “church houses!” Sorry, but He is not that small. He cannot and will not fit in a box. He tried that once before and now He refuses to do it again. 

As a side note, some who are simply looking at numbers have said that they feel sorry for us because we are so small. Hey, don’t pity us. We’re part of the biggest church (spiritually living organism) on the face of the earth! It is you that should be pitied because God’s church is not as small as your little sect or denomination (spiritually dead organization), no matter what size the membership may be. The only wall of God’s church is the wall of salvation. Aside from that wall, it knows no external boundaries. 

God does not dwell in buildings made by human hands. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. No building made by human hands can claim to be the 'house of God'.

• Building funds
• “Work day” had an entire different meaning in Acts
• 1Co 3:9-10  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

God’s House: 

Definition of House - residence, but usually an abode, a family, home, household, a dwelling place, includes extensive dwellings, relatives, temple. 

Used to be the Temple

• Origins questionable at best:
  • I Chronicles 28:2-3 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’
  • David designed the Temple and gave the plans to Solomon so he could build it
    • I Chronicles 28:11-13 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD.
  • Same principle as Israel wanting a King. They wanted one, so God went along with their plan
• Luk 6:4  How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
• Discussion about Houses of worship
• Joh 2:15-21  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21  But he spake of the temple of his body.
  • Christ' death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus took the focus away from the literal: 

• Joh 4:19-24  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Father's House- The House of God 

• The following scriptures will help to biblically define the Father's house:
• Hebrews 3:1-6 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
• 1 Peter 4:17  For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
• 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
• Do we only behave only we assemble ourselves together in a building? 
• But we should behave when we meet.
  • No carnal fits!
• 2Cor 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
• 1Pet 2:5-9  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  

These scriptures teach that God's house, the house that was built by Him, is the church of the living God. It is made up of "lively stones" and is a spiritual house with Jesus being the chief cornerstone. It is not a building that we “come to”. 

God’s Temple: 

Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  

1Co 6:19-20   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

1Co 3:16-17  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.   

New Testament: 

Meet in houses and in the temple: 

Act 2:40-47   And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  

Act 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

Met in houses: 

Act 8:3-4  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

Rom 16:3-5  Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4  Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5  Likewise greet the church that is in their house. 

Col 4:15  Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 

Phm 1:2  And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house 

Met in rented school in Ephesus for 2 years:

Act 19:9-10  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.  

All met together: 

1Cor 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  

Upper Room: 

Act 2:1-2  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  

Solomon’s Porch:  

Act 5:11-14  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  

Act 3:6-11  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.