Do You Feel Far From God?

We Are the Church

Scripture References

Primary text

• Matthew 16:18
• Proverbs 31

Other references

• 1 Corinthians 13:13
• Ephesians 3:20

Overview

Jesus declared, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The message presses the listener to move from merely attending services to embracing the identity and mission of Christ’s bride. Drawing on Matthew 16 and a creative reading of Proverbs 31, the pastor shows that the church is God’s gathered-and-sent people, engaged in a spiritual war and equipped to bless the world. If life feels empty, what may be missing is active, sacrificial participation in the church—and the church may be missing you.

Main Points

Jesus Promises to Build His Church

• The Greek word “ekklesia” appears 107 times and means “called-out gathering.”
• First mention: Matthew 16:18—Jesus tells Peter He will build His church; it belongs to Him and cannot be stopped.
• The initial description of the church frames it as a force opposed by “the gates of hell,” reminding believers they are born into a battle.

Story: How the Church Shaped One Life

• Story: From childhood to adulthood, nearly every pivotal moment in the pastor’s life was linked to the church—early sense of calling, youth-group leadership, awakening to true faith at college, receiving his first full Bible, learning generosity when a stranger handed him $20 for the offering, meeting and courting Amy, proposing in a church sanctuary, parenting six children who now serve, and launching Life.Church itself.

• Refrain: these milestones came “because of the church, long before I was a pastor—simply because I’m part of Christ’s bride.”
• The pattern illustrates how God forms people through community, discipleship, correction, and shared mission.

Seeing the Church in Proverbs 31

• Proverbs 31 is an acrostic poem celebrating a bride who exhausts the Hebrew alphabet—“A to Z” devotion.
• The pastor inserts “Jesus” for the husband and “the church” for the bride, reading verses as a metaphor:

  “Who could ever find a church like this one… full of strength and mighty value… her shining light will not be extinguished… she is known by her extravagant generosity to the poor…”

• Point: When believers grasp they are that bride, the description stirs deep emotion and purpose.

What Might Be Missing From Your Life

• If the metaphor leaves you unmoved or life feels disconnected, lonely, or hopeless, the missing element may be real engagement with the church—and the church may be missing your contribution.
• Mind-shift: “We don’t just go to church; we are the church and we are here for the world.”

Engaging in the Spiritual War

• Recognition: an enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Conflict is spiritual, not political or social.

• Illustration: A fraternity altercation that began with friendly shoves turned into a surprise assault—the moment he realized, “We’re in a battle.” Believers must wake up to the same reality.

• Followers of Christ are light push­ing back darkness; passivity is not an option.

Practical Ways to Live as the Church Today

• Pursue community—iron sharpening iron.
• Pray with spiritual intensity; battle is won on knees.
• Use spiritual gifts; every part of the body matters, even when gatherings look different.
• Give generously—one of the ways we most resemble God.
• Invite others: online services make global outreach possible.
• Adopt a “search-and-rescue” mindset each morning; we are Christ’s ambassadors.
• Corporate impact examples:
  • Eliminated over $6 million in medical debt for COVID-19 heroes.
  • Funded more than 100 local mission partners.
  • Provided food to millions of Central-American families.
  • Offered the free Church Online Platform to 27,000 churches.
  • Supported the YouVersion Bible App, now on 433 million devices.
• Motto: “We are not spiritual consumers but spiritual contributors; the church exists for the world.”

Key Truths

• The church is an identity, not a destination; you can’t “leave” what you truly are.
• Jesus’ first statement about the church places it in direct conflict with hell’s gates, signaling ongoing spiritual warfare.
• God shapes lives, families, and futures through faithful, imperfect local churches.
• Generosity, justice, and love are defining traits of Christ’s bride.
• God does “exceedingly, abundantly more” through His people united in mission.

Response

• Embrace your identity as part of Christ’s bride; stop spectating.
• Engage in consistent, accountable Christian community.
• Pray daily for God’s will “on earth as in heaven” and for those far from Him.
• Discover and deploy your spiritual gifts in tangible service.
• Practice intentional generosity—time, skills, resources.
• Wake up with a search-and-rescue mindset: invite, witness, encourage.

Closing

The sermon ends with a rally that the church—united, generous, fearless—stands against one enemy and for one mission: leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

“We are the church, the bride of Christ… and the gates of hell will not prevail against us.”
If life feels empty, step into the battle; what’s missing may be the church—and the church may be missing you.

Prayer

“God, thank You for who You are. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross so that I could have new life in You. Make me new. I choose You, and it’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”