The Congregation, The Club And The Church - Santosh Poonen
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Summary
The speaker emphasizes that building the church requires a radical, sacrificial commitment, likened to shedding every layer of the 'old wineskin.' True Christian life, according to the speaker, must be rooted first in an unadulterated love and obedience to the Father. This foundational relationship with God (the vertical beam of the cross) must precede and motivate all love for people or ministry (the horizontal beam).
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What was the joy set before Jesus?Jesus went to the cross primarily out of an unadulterated love for the Father and obedience to His commandment, which was His greatest joy.Hebrews 12:2
The two beams of the crossA cross requires both a vertical beam representing our primary love for the Father and a horizontal beam representing our love and compassion for others.
Carrying the cross dailyA true disciple is defined by daily denying themselves, taking up their cross, and putting their vertical relationship with God first.Luke 9:23
Devotion to God is one hundred percent in secretUnlike the old covenant external display, true new covenant devotion to Christ is hidden in secret, focusing entirely on our private relationship with God.
Love for one another follows vertical devotionWhile loving one another identifies us as disciples, that horizontal love can only function properly after the vertical relationship with God is established first.John 13:35
Three categories of churchesThe speaker observes three types of groups: the congregation, the club, and the true church that lives out the new wine in new wineskins.
The congregation is a gathering of vertical beamsCongregations consist of individuals who take their personal walk seriously but fail to build true fellowship with others, reflecting an Old Covenant mentality.
The characteristics of a congregationCongregations often feature large numbers, external religious displays, soulish music, and religious language that hinders genuine everyday connections.
The club is built on human agreement and comfortClubs form when people gather based on human compatibility, shared styles, and mutual scratching of backs without a true spiritual covenant with God.
The dangers of club mentality and getting offendedClub members seek pampering, security in man, and easily get offended by correction from elders, revealing a lack of true spiritual growth.
Fellowship is the mark of the true churchFollowing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, believers immediately devoted themselves to true spiritual fellowship.
Overflowing love and the work of knittingTrue unity and fellowship are not manufactured by human effort but are knit together by the Holy Spirit as an overflow of private devotion during the week.Romans 5:5
The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and dieInstead of searching for like-minded believers, we must individually go into the ground and die to our own wills, which naturally draws serious disciples together.
There is no building of the church without sacrificeBuilding a true church requires paying a real price in personal comfort, finances, and convenience, just as Christ gave Himself to build the church.Ephesians 5:25
Becoming one bread through crushing and heatJust as individual grains of wheat must be crushed and baked under heat to become bread, true church fellowship is forged through shared sacrifice and death to self.
