THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY

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Virus 2

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Confusion of 'Church Hall' for 'Church'

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“Confusion”: ‘mixing two things that are not the same’.

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Introduction

This virus makes believers think that the physical building with roof and chairs is “the Church”. But Jesus never called cement “Church”. He called PEOPLE “Church”. Matt. 16:18 says “I will build My church”.

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The seed that grows the Church is God’s Word.

“The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11)  

Not bricks, not steel.

 

When a heart believes the Word, Jesus adds that person to His Church (Acts 2:47), writes their name in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20), and protects them (1 John 5:18). That can happen in a bus, house, train, or airplane. The hall is just shelter. The people are the Church.

 

Objectives

By the end of this virus, every learner will:

 

(1) Know what makes “the Church”: God’s Word and believing hearts, not physical buildings (Jam. 1:18).

 

(2) See the real role of Church halls: not “holy shrines”, but places of assembly providing shelter from the sun and rain.

 

(3) Reject idol thinking. Do not treat physical buildings as though God lives inside them (Acts 7:48).

 

(4) Understand that Jesus adds us, not buildings. He adds saved people to the Church (Acts 2:47).

 

Presentation

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1. God’s Word Gives Birth To The Church, Not Physical Buildings

Luke 8:11: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”

 

Jam.1:18: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

 

The “seed” is the Gospel. The “ground” is the human heart. When the Word enters and faith comes, God gives birth to a child of His kingdom. That child and other children are the Church. No physical building is needed. Acts 2:41 says “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Added to what? To the Church, not to a hall.

 

2. The Church Meets Anywhere That Believers Gather

Whether bus, house, train, airplane, it does not matter. Acts 2:46 says “they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house”.

 

Jesus sees the heart. When He sees commitment, He adds the person to the saved list. Acts 2:47 says “…the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” He also writes the name in His “Book of Life” (Luke 10:20) and starts protecting the person. 1 John 5:18 says “he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

 

3. A Church Hall or Cathedral is for Shelter, not Worship

Meeting shelters or Church halls must not be called “Church” or “God’s house”. Why? God does not live in physical buildings. Acts 7:48 says “howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands”.  If we call the hall “Church”, God sees it as shrine for idols. That is dangerous.

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So what is the hall for? Two things only:

• A convenient and known place to gather for corporate worship.

• Protection against the elements: wind, rain, snow and sun, so that saints do not faint under the Ukanafun sun.

 

That is all. It is a shed, not a sanctuary. The sanctuary is us. 1 Cor. 6:19 says: “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”.

 

4. Summary

The Church is the born-again people, born by the Word: Jam. 1:18.

 

The hall is a place in which to meet with a roof to protect the people from the sun and rain.

 

Do not confuse them. Worship God in Spirit (John 4:24), not in a physical building. The building can burn, but the Church will live forever because Jesus protects every name in His book.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. What is the “seed” that gives birth to the Church?

   • The Word of God. Luke 8:11 says “The seed is the word of God.” Not money, not bricks.

2. Can a person be added to the Church in a bus or house?

   • Yes. Acts 2:47: “…the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Location does not matter. Heart commitment does.

3. What are two uses of a church hall / cathedral?

   • As a convenient place for corporate assembly.

   • Protection against the sun and rain. It is a shelter, not “God’s house”.

4. Why must we not call the physical building “Church”?

   • Because God does not live in physical buildings (Acts 7:48). Calling it “Church” makes it look like an idol shrine. The real Church is people (1 Pet. 2:5).

5. What does Jesus do when a person believes the Word?

   • Three things:

     • adds them to the Church (Acts 2:47);

     • writes their name in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20);

     • starts protecting them (1 John 5:18).

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​​Prayer

Father, forgive us for calling physical buildings “Church” while Your Church is Your people. Plant Your Word deep in our hearts and give us new birth. Teach us not to call cement and roof Your temple, but to see every believer as Your temple. Let us use halls for shelter only, but worship You in spirit and truth. Write our names clearly in Your Book of Life and keep us safe. In Jesus’s name, the Builder of the true Church, Amen.