100 Days to a Healthier ChurchSample

(The First Sunday)

Today’s Big Idea: The church Jesus said He would build. The church you pastor, serve, or attend doesn’t belong to you. It doesn’t belong to the long-term members, the tithers, the denomination, the pastor, or the lien-holder on the facility. The church—including the local congregation we refer to as “my church”—belongs to Jesus. In fact, every time we use the term my church, we need to realize that we’re saying “my” in the belonging sense, not the owning sense. In the same way a baseball fan might talk about “my team.” It’s about commitment and partnership, not possession.

Key Verse: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18).

Thoughts to Consider: The first time the word church appears in the Bible, it happens as the direct result of a question, not about the mission or vision, but about the identity of Jesus. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Jesus asked His disciples. Then, after reporting a few of the rumors that were floating around, Jesus asked the all-important question, “Who do you say I am?”

Note that the order of the conversation in this passage shows us that Christ’s church flows directly out of His character. “Who do you say that I am?” leads very quickly into “I will build my church.”

Who is Jesus to you?

Who is Jesus, as seen in the Bible?

How does your picture of Jesus compare to the biblical portrayal of Jesus?

What does this picture of Jesus tell you about what His church should look like?

What might you need to change about your picture of Jesus and His church?