Matthew 16:18……Ready

Matthew 16:18……Ready

16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I  (Not Peter, not Pastors, not Members, not Elders, not Denominations, but Christ Himself-(New) will build my church (The root meaning is not a building, but people.-(Eph. 2:19-22) In ancient Greece, an Ecclesia was a meeting of citizens in making legislative decisions on behalf of the state. It’s not the church spiritual or the church universal, but the church individual.-(New) and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Out of the two possible interpretations given for gates; defending or attacking, Most support the former, due to the fact that no one has ever seen a any “gate” anywhere chase somebody down.-(New) (For Additional Expository Notes See Book)

Extended Sermons 

“Teaches how Jesus as Lord & Savior is to be the foundation and Core doctrine of any bible-teaching Church → If Church’s are more interested in peoples physical well-being than their spiritual well-being, they lost sight of their foundation. If church’s are more interested self-help tips rather than pointing people to Jesus, they lost their foundation. If Church’s are more interested in their techniques, programs, promotions, and gimmicks, then they are about Jesus, they lost their foundation. If church’s are more interested in housing the homeless, helping the poor, and feeding the hungry, then sharing Jesus, they lost their foundation. If church’s are more interested in the filling the pews and paying the bills, then leading others the Jesus, they lost their foundation. If church’s are promoting a Social Gospel, that minimizes personal conversion and spiritual transformation to one of social reform and humanistic ideals, they lost their foundation. If church’s are preaching a Prosperity Gospel of Health & Wealth, then the true Gospel, they lost their foundation. If Church’s are watering down the Gospel to make people feel less offended and more welcomed, they lost their foundation. [Some church’s  have regulated Jesus as a kind of spiritual psychiatrist with remarkable powers to uplift people. Delivering them from their negative complexes.] Other churches have all together denied the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the Trinity, and the personhood of the Holy Spirit. None of this should come as a surprise. From the very beginning the early church fathers faced  the same type of false doctrines about Jesus, just as we see today. Eventually leading them to hold a council called the “Nicene Creed” in 325 A.D. to address heresies within the church. The beigest and most well-know heresy came from an individual name Arius. A Libyan Christiaan priest who questioned the deity of Christ. Who taught that Jesus Christ was not coeternal with God the Father, but rather a created being, a doctrine known as Arianism. Eventually the council of Nicene hammered out a statement of faith that clarified the nature of Jesus and the Trinity that read; “We believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds. God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate He suffered and was buried and on the third day He rose according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and He shall come again in glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose Kingdom shall have no end.” This defining term and doctrine about the deity of Christ and the Trinity is critical for the church. It’s a core tenet of Christian faith, which underpins Salvation, worship, and the church’s identity.

“Teaches how in Christ we have a new identity and purpose that the enemy will never be able to steal or destroy.” → The next time the Enemy tries to get us to question our purpose and calling we can proclaim “I’m a child of God, dearly loved and highly valued by Him. And because of that we no longer have fret about  what am I going to do, where am I going to find significance,

“Teaches how a firm conviction in Jesus is an unstoppable force that can never be stopped or defeated“ ⇒ The Enemy cannot come in a zone where faith and obedience in Jesus is present. From personal experience we can know something is true, you can give mental agreement to it. But yet the depth of your conviction and faith in that truth will depend on how much it will grow and deepen as you think about, pray about it, and obey it. Saying God lives n me is a powerful and mind blowing statement. But do we believe it. Do we put it into actual practice. How different would we live and act if we truly understood the power of God that resides in us. Giving us the power to obey Him. Knowing there’s a power that resides in us individually and collectively as a Church should inspire us and transform us. Let this truth fill you with confidence and hope: When your heart is anchored in unwavering faith and obedience to Christ, you become unshakable. No trial, hardship, or attack can overcome a life built on the foundation of Jesus. The power of Christ within you is greater than any opposition you could ever face. When doubts arise or the world tries to undermine your faith, remember—standing firm in who Jesus is and what He’s accomplished gives you access to a strength that cannot be conquered. The darkness cannot enter where the light of Christ shines brightly. Let your conviction in Jesus fuel your courage. Lift your head high, knowing that faith in Him is your shield, and your obedience is your victory. Even when challenges seem overwhelming, you are never alone or defenseless—God Himself goes before you, stands beside you, and fights for you. So, keep pressing on, knowing that nothing can separate you from His love or thwart the purpose He’s set for your life. Faith that is rooted in Christ is truly unstoppable—move forward boldly and let the world see the power of God at work in you.

“Even today, don’t get discourage when people fall away from Church. Don’t to get discouraged when Church’s shutdown, Don’t get discouraged when Church scandals breakout. Don’t get discouraged when you read of Christians being persecuted and beheaded. Because Jesus is still building His Church and it will be victorious and never fail.” ⇒ Nothing is going to stop the Church of Christ. You can cut off the members, but Christ will build His church. You can change the laws of the Government, but Christ is going to build His church. No matter how much cultural values change, Christ is going to build His church. No matter how immoral mankind gets, Christ is going to build His church. No matter how liberal society gets, Christ is going to build His church. No matter how decadent America gets, Christ is going to build His church. No matter how Godless our society gets, Christ is going to build His church  No matter how Apostate Christianity becomes, Christ is going to build His church. In recent years the church has experienced an increase in persecution around the world, especially in Africa and Asia. According to the “Watch World List” an annual report published by Open Doors and World Relief. Lists fifty countries in which Christians face the “Most extreme persecution.” It reported an increase from 340 million people in 2020 to 365 million in 2024. It said that 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide, including 1 in 5 in Africa and 1 in 7 in Asia. And is expected to increase annually. North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, and Yemen had the highest rates of reported persecution against Christians. When it comes to Churchgoing. Recent data indicates a decline in church attendance, with around 30% of U.S. adults attending religious services in person at least once a month.  In fact when the Covid virus hit in 2020 it almost wiped it out church attendance. Many people didn’t think the church would survive. Recent research had found that around half U.S. Adults who had attended church before COVID-19 are unlikely to return even if public health officials deem it safe. Even the Catholic church experienced a decline in attendance after the clergy sex abuse scandals hit in the 80’s. In some areas, weekly church attendance dropped to 17% of Catholics, down from an estimated 34%. A study found that the sexual abuse scandal had a statistically significant effect on church exit’s among Catholics. Other factors that may have contributed to the decline in Catholic Church attendance include the decline in the number of priests, which has been ongoing since 1970. Charitable giving also declined, especially donations to Catholic charities. Among those who left Catholicism for an evangelical church, 78% said “their spiritual needs” were “not being met.” Many people grew disenchanted with the Catholic Church because of the clergy sex abuse crisis. Church attendance over all has been declining for a variety of reasons, including. A growing movement towards secularism has led people to opt out of traditional religious practice. The rise of social media and digital communication has led people to go  online for church. Why dress up and get the kids ready when I can just sit on the couch with my popcorn and watch church. A significant portion of Americans (about half) attend services in person a few times a year or less often. When combining in-person and online attendance, the Pew Research Center found that 23% of Americans watch church on-line. This indicates a downward trend over the past two decades. High-profile scandals and the politicization of religious institutions have driven people away from church. It’s all about money and getting rich. People are busier and have less time to attend church.  Don’t give up on the church or let the failure of the Church get you down. Know it is still part of the body of Christ, no matter how bad your experiences are.

“This does not mean the church is going to be perfect. There’s going to be divisions and disagreements. But nothing will ever prevail over the Church or destroy it.” → Many people’s commitment to the church is sustained as long as they can maintain some false notion of the perfect church. Once they discover something that fails to live up to expectations, they change churches, devalue the church, or abandon the church. There are no perfect churches. The church is under construction. Yet, despite its flaws, faults, and failures, the church is the hope of the world.

More Notes & Applications 

Teaches no matter how small and inadequate we are, Jesus still wants to use us.

Encourages believers we might look like losers; rejected, maligned, and poor, but there’s victory at the end.

Teaches how nothing will stop the righteous work and cause of Christ, not even Hell itself, so keep going.

Encourages believers we might look like losers; rejected, maligned, and poor, but there’s victory at the end,

Teaches no matter how hard Satan tries, nothing will be able to shake our faith or prevent us in becoming who God has called us to be.

Comforts in knowing the Lord is going to do His work and it isn’t up to us, we just need to get into a place where He can do it where we are.

Teaches no matter how much our faith is tested and tried, it will always stand.

Teaches where we meet and gather as a church is not as important as why we meet. It’s who we’re serving and worshipping that is.

Teaches where worship and submission to Jesus is present, creates a power of God that can’t be shaken or defeated.

Displays how Jesus is not a passive observant, but a participate in building the Church and edifying our faith.

Displays the power of Christ Jesus in taking someone as weak, impulsive, and doubting as Peter. And a meek and mild band of followers who were cowering in a upper room,-(John 20:19) to going out and changing the world.

Assures the continuation of our faith and the church. No matter how bleak things look or how dark it becomes, God’s program is moving ahead. No matter how it appears on the surface or what looks as being broken, beaten, and defeated is not the reality at all. Jesus will always have the last word, not our situation or circumstances.

The Catholic Church uses this verse in support of the Papal Supremacy over the Church. Even giving legend to Peter standing at the “Pearly Gates” as to who can enter and who cannot. If Peter is to the “Rock” and supreme leader of the church. The one who has ultimate authority to make all decisions for the Church, who speaks infallibly, and who has all things put in his hands. You would think for God to put supreme authority in the hands of a fallible man. To us it doesn’t seem very wise. Even Peter himself would later disown Jesus three times.-(Matt. 26:69-75)  Not only that, but Paul had rebuked Peter at one point, because he was being hypocritical towards the truth of the Gospel.-(Gal. 2:11-14)

Notice how Jesus didn’t say “You will build my Church”. As if we could accomplish such a feat by our own talent, our own abilities, our own cleverness. Nor did Jesus say “I will build your Church.” As if everything revolves around our own desires and preferences. No, Jesus said “I will build My Church.” That is a Church purchased by His blood. That operates under His authority. That advances by His power. And that ultimately exists for His Glory. The Church is not built on crowd pleasing and easy believism. The Church is not built on how much money is being donated or how nice the facilities are. The Church is not built on gimmicks. The Church is not built on popular trends. The Church is not build on entertainment. The Church is not consumer oriented. But rather the Church is built and oriented around the Glories of Christ, Gospel truths, human sinfulness, God’s judgment, and the need for repentance. The Church doesn’t belong to a denomination, pastor, board of directors, or a group of elders, but to Jesus Christ. The church is Jesus’. The church is not the Catholic Church. It’s not the Protestant Church. It’s not the Southern Baptist’s Church. It’s not the United Methodist Church. It’s not the Lutheran Church. It’s not the Reformed Church. It’s not the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church. It’s not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It’s not any of the 45,000 denomination worldwide. The Church is Jesus’ idea and Jesus’ creation. The church is Jesus’ very own, it belongs to Him. The Church was purchased by Jesus’ own blood. Therefore it must be His prize possessions, He bought it with His own life!

This is the first documented time that Jesus uses church in His public ministry. The term Jesus uses for Peter as the “rock I will build my church”. Has caused much controversy and division among Protestants and Catholics, even among believers of the same denominations, who belong to the same church. The Roman Catholic church believes it is Peter himself based on the Greek masculine form of “Petros” meaning “Small stone”. But most other denominations believe it is Christ Himself based on the Greek feminine form of “Petra” meaning bedrock. Think about it, what makes more sense? That Jesus is founding His Church on Peter, and entrusting it’s existent to a person with human failures and shortcomings. Or is Jesus building His Church on Himself and all He has done? On His death and His resurrection. Therefore the most likely interpretation and explanation is that Jesus is referring only to Peter’s confession, which better sense.  When there’s debate over how to understand a verse of scriptures, it’s helpful look at other verses where the same word is used in the bible as well as context. Now there is good evidence throughout the bible where Christ is seen as the Rock. As an example Ephesians 2:20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”  Or 1-Corinthians 10:3-4 “ They all ate the same spiritual food  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” But when using the interpretation principal of Context, there’s even better evidence in the preceding Verses 16 that the rock on which Jesus will built is Peter’s faith confession; “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.”-(17:16)  

The term “Church” comes from the Greek word “Ekklesia” which has multiple meanings, including a political assembly. In ancient Greece, the Ekklesia was a gathering of citizens to conduct public business and consider matters proposed by the council. The word comes from the prefix ek or ex, which means “out of” or “from”, and the root word kaleo means “to call”. In the New Testament, ekklesia is the term for the Christian church. The word is often understood to refer to a group of people called by God, and is intended to seek the common good so that people may be Saved through Jesus Christ.

The term “The gates of Hades shall not overcome it”. In ancient times cities were built with walls and gates surrounding it. Walls to protect and gates to gain entrance, and for people to leave. They were mostly built to protect from invading armies. So when enemies attacked a city they would often attack the gates first. The “Gates” also symbolized places of power and  authority. Gates were accessible and visible, making them the logical place for leaders and citizens to gather. They served not only as points of entry and exit but also as places of commerce, legal proceedings, and public discourse. Gates served as vital hubs for legal and civic decision-making, with elders and judges gathering there to administer justice, settle disputes, and conduct business transactions-(Deut. 21:18-21, Ruth 4:1-11) Similarly, kings used gates to address their people, and leaders like judges and prophets would convene at the gates to guide the community. The gates of “Hades” is another word for the grave or the place of the dead. Some translations say the “Gates of hell”. So the idea of that is the “Power of death and hell” Or the “Power of death and Satan”. There’s been a growing  dispute over how these “Gates” operate. Some view it as the defensive nature of the church in prevailing against the wicked forces of evil and hell that will try to persecute and destroy it. Others view it as the offensive nature of the Church in breaking down the gates of evil and rescuing people from the power of sin, Satan, and darkness.

Jesus’ statement on this “rock I will build my church” has been variously interpreted as:

• Peter: Some interpret this as Jesus building the church on Peter himself, suggesting a leadership role for Peter. (Not supported by most) 

• Peter’s confession: Others interpret it as the church being built on Peter’s confession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Widely Supported by most)

CHARITERISTICS OF A CHURCH CHIRST BUILDS

• A Church will be built on a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord & Savior.

• A Church will be built on the deity of Jesus Christ.

• A church will built on Christ-centered teachings.

• A Church will walk in holiness, righteous, and obedience.

• A Church will built on unity & love for each other.

• A Church will be Spirit filled & empowered.

• A Church will have a servant mentality.

• A Church will be focused on outreach & evangelism

• A Church will hold it’s leaders accountable.

WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT:

• The Church is not a building. (Going to church does not make you a Christian.)

• The Church is not a business. (Christ didn’t die on the cross so He could redeem employees for Himself. Or generate profits for shareholders.)

• The church is not a political platform. (The church’s job is to share the Gospel, not to change the government.)

• The church is not a organization. (The Lord isn’t looking for a CEO to run His business, but to shepherd His flock.)

• The Church is not a self-help program. (It’s about God. Not self-help, but God-help.)

• The Church is not a source of entertainment.

• The church is not a social club.