FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Todd Gaddis

to attend two or three times a month now go one or two. Having served as a senior pastor for over 25 years, I’d say our best potential for reaching people comes from the dechurched— those who once attended, but haven’t for an extended period. I sympathize with these folks. Clinging to memories and outdated methods, church can be boring and irrelevant. People in the church can be cliquish, judgmental, and temperamental. If someone tells me they won’t come because of so many hypocrites in the church, I say, “Oh, come on anyway, there’s always room for one more” (not really, though I have been tempted). As imperfect as it can be, the church remains God’s plan for reaching people locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally with the Gospel. With that in mind, let’s delve first into the start of the church. The English word “church” comes from the Greek ekklesia, which refers to those who have been “called out.” The first time it appears in the New Testament was when Jesus told Peter, “Upon this rock I will build My church” (Mathew 16:18). Many believe the Lord is referring to Himself here, since Peter refers to Him as such (1 Peter 2:8). Others claim He is addressing Peter’s confession of faith (Matthew 16:16). While I see merit in both explanations, I believe that the Lord is alluding to Peter the person. This assertion is based on what Jesus said when He called Peter to be a disciple. “‘You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). ” Both Cephas and Peter mean “rock” in their respective languages (Aramaic, Greek). Jesus’ declaration came to fruition a few months later, 50 days following Christ’s resurrection in fact, in Jerusalem on the Jewish day of Pentecost. Peter the “rock” preached one of the most powerful sermons in the history of the Church. The Holy Spirit came, the people fell under conviction, 3,000 were converted and the church was birthed. The church was considered a sect within Judaism at first because most Christ’s original followers were Jews. In fact, they maintained

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