Talk

The ABC’s of Church

Ben Stuart
June 4, 2023

This week, Ben Stuart kicks off our brand new series: Church People! As imperfect as it is, Jesus beautifully purchased the Church on the cross to be a community pursuing the greatest of causes. In this talk, Ben shares the ABCs of the Church, taking a look at the fundamentals of the Church and what it means to be “Church People.”

Key Takeaway

The focus on the fundamentals is essential to be successful.

  1. We need to know the truth. To align ourselves with reality.

  2. We need love. We need to be valued regardless of what we've done. To be loved even when we fail. That love is grace.

  3. The two great longings: belonging and mattering. Grace and truth.

—

  1. Assembly of Jesus. We are a church that Jesus forged together. This is His church, not anyone else's. He bought the Church and built it.

  2. Built of people. The Church is always a collection of humanity, men, and women bound together by their common allegiance to Christ. He built a church that's global, but it's expressed locally. You have family in every city.

  3. Continue His work. The more of us die well, trusting Jesus, the more people people put their faith in Jesus.

“
"The Assembly of Jesus Built of people people globally, expressed locally, Continuing in His work until we see His face."
”
Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you have people around you who help you align yourself with reality and show you the truth? How can you seek out these kinds of people in your life?
  2. Have you experienced the love of Christ—being valued regardless of what you've done? How is that different from the love of another?
  3. Why is community important for the believer?
  4. How have you experienced the Church outside of your own local community? Have you had an experience similar to Ben's taxi driver where you met another brother or sister in Christ and felt a sense of belongingness?
  5. How can you continue His work right now?
  6. Where are you sowing seeds of faith in your life?

Scripture References

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15
“But what about you?”
he asked.
“Who do you say I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
18
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.
19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven.”
20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.
1This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For in Scripture it says:

“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.”

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.