Jesus: The Builder - Eric Fretz

January 14, 2024
Series: Jesus

Sermon: Jesus the Builder

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15  “But what about you?”he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades  will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be  bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will beloosed in heaven.”

INTRODUCTION: Not only is Jesus the foundation of the Church but he is also the builder. 

”Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How does Jesus build his church? 

”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus builds his church through: 

1. Anointed Preachers 

”How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. Anointed People

”As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. Anointed Places

”And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CONCLUSION: The church that Jesus is building the “gates of hell” will not be able to stop it!

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