Nov. 30, 2009 | By Gary D. Myers
NEW ORLEANS - The church is God's Kingdom instrument for proclaiming the gospel, Ed Stetzer said. And he warned against the current trend among some believers to devalue or downplay the importance of the church.
The director of LifeWay Research and resident missiologist at LifeWay Christian Resources, Stetzer made the comments during chapel services at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Nov. 12. Stetzer was also a featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Great Commission Research Network (formerly known as the American Society for Church Growth) meeting on the NOBTS campus Nov. 11-12.
Preaching from a familiar passage - Matthew 16:13-20 - Stetzer shared three keys to kingdom understanding.
The Gospels are filled will references to the kingdom, Stetzer said in his introduction to the text. In fact, Jesus talks about the Kingdom more than 80 times - with most of the instances recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).
"Over and over again Jesus refers to the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven," Stetzer said. "I don't know about you, but I don't see that as frequently referred to in our churches as I see it referred to by Jesus in the Gospels. So what does it mean for us?"
According to Stetzer, there seems to be a shift in language between the Gospels and the Epistles. While the kingdom is emphasized in the Gospels, the church takes prominence in the Epistles. Matthew 16 proves pivotal in understanding the language shift of the kingdom to the church.
"Jesus, on two occasions, talks about the church, this is one of those occasions," Stetzer said. "He is talking about the church and He ties it together to the Kingdom of God."
Seeing every word of the Bible as important and paying close attention to even the smallest details often helps bring understanding, Stetzer said. For him, the setting of Matthew 16:13 - Caesarea Philippi is vital for understanding Jesus' teaching on the church.
"Why is that important to understanding the passage?" Stetzer said. "Because it relates deeply to the Kingdom of God and how it births a church in its wake."
Before this time, Jesus primarily addressed crowds in the historical boundaries of Israel. Stetzer said that many in Jesus' day were looking for a "messiah" to end Roman rule and restore the Davidic Kingdom of Israel. Jesus had something else in mind. Jesus chose a place outside of historical Israel to talk about the Kingdom of God and the church. He chose the pagan town of Caesarea Philippi, far removed from these hopes for the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom.
First, Jesus asked the disciples what other people were saying about Him. The disciples reported that people were calling Jesus John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then, Jesus asked the disciples "Who do you say I am?"
Peter spoke first. "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
"‘Jesus is Lord' is the first of the three Kingdom keys," Stetzer said. "If we're going to understand the work and the nature of the Kingdom of God, we need to build it on the Lordship of Christ."
In uncertain times, the church must focus on the Lordship of Jesus, Stetzer said.
"If the culture turns and the economy tanks, Jesus is still sure," he said. "The Kingdom of God is already here, the Kingdom of God is moving forward as churches and as Christians proclaim the gospel. There is surety that He (Jesus) is the Messiah, the son of the living God."
Current research points to an uncertain future for Southern Baptist Convention. According to Stetzer, if current membership trends continue, the convention is headed for an extended period of decline.
"There are people who don't want to hear that," Stetzer said. "But facts are our friends. You cannot simultaneous bury your head in the sand and get your heart in the mission."
Stetzer said that the answer to the biggest problems facing the Southern Baptist Convention is not reorganization or restructuring. Churches need to "re-Jesus" and cry out "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God," he said, calling for a more gospel-centered ministry
The next of the three Kingdom keys is Peter's confession is the foundation of the church, Stetzer said.
Over the centuries, some have pointed to Matthew 16 and argued that Peter is the foundation of the church. Stetzer said that this view comes from faulty interpretation. It is Peter's confession, not Peter himself, that Jesus would use to build the church, he said.
"The cornerstone is Jesus... We need to build it on Jesus."
Stetzer pointed out with great emphasis the words of Jesus - "I will build my church." Stetzer's point was clear. Jesus is the foundation of the church and He is actively building the church.
The third key is that the Church is Jesus' Kingdom instrument, Stetzer said.
Stetzer noted that many Christian today are saying that the church no longer matters. While acknowledging that all churches have flaws, Stetzer warned against this trend to reject the church.
"Do not devalue the church," Stetzer said. "You cannot love Jesus and despise His wife - the church is the bride of Christ."
The church is God's chosen instrument to spread the gospel and bring people to faith in Christ, Stetzer said.
"This is the pivot point when Jesus announces that the Kingdom of God has birthed a church in its wake and Ephesians 3:10 says, God has chosen His church to make known His manifold wisdom," Stetzer said. "So the instrument, the tool, the vessel of the Kingdom of God today is your church and mine. It is the tool that God is using to proclaim the gospel and to transform society so that His name and fame might be more widely known."
"Love the church," Stetzer said. "The church is the sign and the instrument of the Kingdom of God."
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