Ekklesia.  This is the Greek word translated “church” in Matthew 16:18 … and the word appears 114 other times in the New Testament.  Jesus said He would build “His church.”  Jesus wrote letters to 7 churches in Revelation 2-3.  Paul planted churches in most signifiant cities within the Roman Empire.  Today, buildings all over town are called “churches.”  The word is common … but what did Jesus mean when He talked about “church”?  What was Paul planting?  If we are members of a church, what are we a part of?  If we are considering finding a church, what are we looking for?

The word “church” literally means a congregation of people gathered around a purpose.  Or (to say it another way) a group of people called out from the flow for a particular cause.  When Jesus created His church and committed to build it, He was saying that there would be a group of people who would be called out from the world, UNITED AROUND HIM, and engaging in His mission. As John Stott says, “[the purpose of God] is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build His church, that is, to call out of the world a people for His own glory.”

Sadly, we tend to place the church in one of two categories:  either we see the church as purely vertical (i.e. we are only relating to God), or purely horizontal (i.e. we are only concerned with making friends.)  When we are only horizontal, the church is merely a cure for our loneliness.  When we are only vertical, we can be duped into thinking that I don’t need any other people in my life to live as God intended.  Both of these extremes are incomplete understandings of the Christian life, and the importance of “church”

The church IS a place designed for personal worship and inspiration for personal piety … but it is also a place of interconnected relationships and service to others.  We are set apart for Christ … but we are set apart TOGETHER for Christ.

At Wildwood, we talk about following Jesus together to the glory of God.  As we do so, we see four opportunities for influence … we call them the “4 Fours.”  We are for the nations, for the community, for the next generation, and for the church.  This Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 service we will talk about what it means to be “for the church” and how to live as though the Body of Christ MATTERS in our spiritual lives.  We will do so by looking at Romans 12:1-5.  Around these verses, we will sing, pray, celebrate the Lord’s supper, and encourage one another as we gather together.  Hope you can make it this weekend as we talk more about what it means that we are “FOR THE CHURCH.”  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

America has a remarkable history (even though we are quite “young” by historical standards), and a bright future (though we may debate the shades of that brilliance – the potential is certainly there!)  So how does the story of our great country get communicated from one generation to the next?

When our founding fathers conceived this nation, they had no capital city and no universal holidays to celebrate.  Think about it.  There was a group of people who had to decide which days we would revere and which events (and people) we would celebrate.

At the founding of Washington DC as our nation’s capital, a French architect, Pierre L’Enfant, designed a “national mall” in the center of our capital.  Later editions of the U.S. Congress came to recognize this public land as a “national trophy case” of sorts, where the most significant people and events could be commemorated.  Over the years monuments have been erected for Presidents (like Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR), defining wars (WWII, Vietnam, Korea), and other prominent leaders.

Additionally, in 1870 the first four national holidays were established by the Federal government: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, and New Year’s Day.

A stroll down the National Mall or National calendar tells a story of our history and what we value most.

In the summer of 2022 my family went to Washington DC and saw these monuments for ourselves.  They were very helpful to remind me and create conversations with my son about the history of our country.

I was thinking about this today as I read Joshua 4:19-24.  In this chapter, the Hebrew people had just moved into the promised land.  A new nation had begun.  How would they remember their history … and what/who needed to be celebrated?  Rather than allowing the nation to “wander in the wilderness” on this issue, God revealed to them one important thing for them to remember … and a set of stones are erected in these verses as a conversation piece for future generations.

What are you passing along to the next generation, and how are you sharing and remembering these truths?  What are the “monuments” you have erected in your life as conversation pieces with your children and friends about what matters most?  What we celebrate and commemorate will leave an important imprint on the next generation.  Will we pass along only hot dogs and fairy tales about the North Pole … or will we share reminders about Almighty God who reigns on high?

At Wildwood we talk a lot about being “For the Next Generation” following Jesus together with us to the glory of God.  This is one of our key strategic emphases.  This Sunday, on Promotion Sunday at Wildwood, we will look at the importance of sharing the story of God’s faithfulness with the next generation through what we remember and celebrate … and Joshua 4 will be our guide!  Hope to see you Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services.  See you there, and bring friends!