What is a church? A building or a place where Christian rituals are held? A local church in southern China gave an explanation in a Sunday sermon.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered."Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:12-26)
The church is a community practicing the values of Jesus.
The above verses said that Jesus cleared the temple. Israel believed that God's presence was in the temple, but Jesus declared that the temple would collapse because of lopsided buying and selling in it. It no longer experienced God.
Then where do we encounter God? In the church.
What is the church? First of all, it is not a building or a place where ceremonies are conducted. Instead, it's a community practicing the values of Jesus. Is a church where a group of Christians performing ceremonies at a house? No. The church is a congregation of people who have a mission, vision, goal, and plan, and execute them based on the truth proclaimed by Jesus. It practices the values of Jesus to become the testimony and blessing to the world.
The church is a community bearing fruit.
The fruitless fig tree was cursed and withered from the roots. What does God want from us? Fruit.
Was it unfair to demand fruit from a tree when it was not a fruitful season?
Fig trees produce fruit from April to October about four to five times. The first crop doesn't have fruit. If a tree fails to produce fruit in the first crop, it will be fruitless forever. So Jesus knew that the fig tree that didn't bear fruit would be fruitless like many people are good at reasoning but never take actions.
The sermon pointed out that bearing fruit decides whether we were blessed or cursed.
Today's many churches give empty and dull sermons, "spiritual" long and pompous speeches far from reality; the management personnel is arranged in order of seniority and church workers want to be greater rather than cooperative; believers praise God without the power to change reality. Does God favor the unattainable promises in your mouth? He prefers you to be silent and do what He commands --- producing the fruit of the Spirit by His grace.
Chinese people have a bad habit: they sermonize and shout slogans, but have weak practical capabilities. It's the same with the church. Pastors and believers always mention Bible verses, but they don't bear fruit in the workplace or ministry. This is a serious problem.
Have you ever experienced the power of God? Has one followed Jesus because of you?
The message warned Christians not to be content with attending church services and believing in God in their hearts. Although the priests in Jerusalem attended more services than us and offered sacrifices for their people almost every day, they didn't please God. Satan had firmer faith than us and knew that God would be the ruler despite that His death.
- Translated by Karen Luo
