Christians Agree on the Universal Church (Matthew 16:18)

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Christians Agree on the Universal Church (Matthew 16:18)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, May 4, 2025

John Fawcett is a name you may not immediately recognize. In the late 18th century, Fawcett pastored a small, poor church in Wainsgate, England, where his salary was only 25 pounds a year.

In 1773, Fawcett was invited to become the pastor of a much larger church in London. Initially, he accepted the new position. But as his belongings were being loaded for the journey, the people from his church came to bid him farewell.

The tearful goodbye was so moving that John’s wife, Mary, cried out, “John, I cannot bear to leave!” “Nor can I,” he responded. “We shall remain here with our people.” Their belongings were taken back off of the wagons, and John Fawcett remained in Wainsgate for the entirety of his 54-year ministry.

Years later, as he reflected on his decision to stay, Fawcett penned the words to his most-well-known hymn: Blest Be the Tie That Binds. The familiar words of that song resonate with the loyalty and love that characterized the pastor who wrote them.

Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne,

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

Our comforts, and our cares.

Fawcett’s story illustrates the legacy of long-term commitment in pastoral ministry.

Christians disagree upon many different things. Today, I want to preach a sermon on a subject in which Christians agree. Christians agree upon the universal church.

My theme: The church is for Jesus, you, and the world.

Read with me:

Colossians 1:18 (ESV)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

  1. The church is for Jesus.
    1. Jesus is the head of the church.
    2. The church belongs to Jesus.
    3. Let’s put that passage in context:
    4. Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV)
    5. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
    6. That passage is all about the supremacy of Jesus and He is the head of the church.
    7. Another passage: Ephesians 1:22–23 (ESV) 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
    8. When I talk about the church, I am talking about the universal church. The adjective “catholic” means “universal.” The catholic church really, originally, meant “universal” church. John Wesley would write about the catholic church, and that is what he meant.
    9. Christians agree that the church is universal. It is one holy, catholic church. The church is universal.
    10. Jesus established the church.
    11. The church belongs to Jesus.
    12. Jesus is the Lord of the church.
    13. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of the church.
    14. There is much more to be said about that, but I want to move on.
  2. The church is for you.
    1. Romans 12:4–8 (ESV)
    2. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
    3. I could give dozens of more verses about supporting and loving each other in the church.
    4. We are here to love each other, encourage each other, serve each other, support each other, and much more.
    5. 10:24: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…
    6. I have heard “stir up one another” be shared as “encourage.”
    7. As a church, we can build each other up. We can stand beside each other and say, “You got this, you can do this.” As we go through life together, we are supporting each other. We support each other with words of encouragement and love. We support each other in loving deeds. We support each other in teaching. We support each other with wise words. We support each other in so many other ways. This does not always mean we tell each other what we want to hear. No, the closer we are to each other and the Lord, the more wisdom we have to know what to say and when to say it (James 1:19-20).
  3. The church is for the world.
    1. How is the church here for the world?
    2. I am glad you asked.
    3. We are here to take the Great Commission to the world (Matt. 28:19-20).
    4. The stronger we are in fellowship, the more likely we are to reach the world.
    5. The closer we are in fellowship, the more people think, “I need a community like that.” That is the strength of Celebrate Recovery. People know they have a strong group of people, like a family.
  4.  Applications:
    1. A little boy tripped and fell outside and one of his hands fell in the mud. His mother said to him, “Go wash your hands.”
    2. He went in the bathroom and came out a few minutes later. He now had two dirty hands. His mother said, “I thought I told you to wash your hands!”
    3. He said, “I did. I took my clean hand and wiped my dirty hand.”
    4. The dirt rubs off. If you want to be clean, hang out with clean folks. 303,[1]
    5. Being part of the church does not mean that we are all clean. No, the church is a hospital for sinners saved by the grace of the Lord.
    6. I heard about this elderly minister. He was close to death. He sent word for two of his members, an IRS agent and a lawyer, to come to his house. Upon arrival, he motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The men were very moved that they could be with the minister in his final moments. At one point, the lawyer asked very sincerely, “Sir, why did you choose both of us?” The minister mustered up some strength and said, “Jesus died between two sinners. That’s the way I want to go.”
    7. I just meant that for humor. The church is for sinners saved by the grace of the Lord.
    8. We are not called to live the Christian life alone.
    9. I could give you applications about being committed to the church, and I think they would be appropriate. I could give you applications about giving to the church, which would be biblical. I could give you applications about Sunday School, small groups, and ministries, which are essential. However, let me go a different route.
    10. I want to review:
    11. The church is the bride of Christ.
    12. The church is here for: 1) King Jesus, 2) you, and 3) the world.
    13. 1) The church is here for King Jesus because He is the Lord of the church (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18).
    14. 2) The church is for you. We are all members of the church, and we are to support each other.
    15. 3) The church is here to reach the world with the Great Commission.
    16. I have ran four marathons and a half marathon.
    17. In these long races, there are points when you may think, “I don’t know if I can finish.” Then, you keep running and you see a crowd of people up ahead. They do not know you, but they are cheering you on. They have signs up. Akron was my last marathon. I was running up a big hill, and it felt like it would never end. Then, people on the sidewalks said, “This is the last hill, you’ve got this!” It was a lie; there were more hills, but they meant to encourage me. On my first marathon, I had my marathon number, which I wore, and something else that read, “first timer.” It meant it was my first marathon. Many people ran near me, saying, “You got this, first timer.” It is encouragement.
    18. That is the church.
    19. As we live life as Christians. As we face challenges, we face them together.
    20. As we face difficulties, we face them together.
    21. Do you know what I notice? The stronger someone is connected to the church, the more organic the support comes.
    22. The King protects the church.

O Church, Arise

O church, arise, and put your armor on;

Hear the call of Christ our captain.

For now the weak can say that they are strong

In the strength that God has given

With shield of faith and belt of truth,

We’ll stand against the devil’s lies.

An army bold, whose battle cry is love,

Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,

But to rage against the captor;

And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,

We will fight with faith and valor.

When faced with trials on every side,

We know the outcome is secure.

And Christ will have the prize for which he died:

An inheritance of nations.

Come, see the cross, where love and mercy meet,

As the Son of God is stricken;

Then see his foes lie crushed beneath his feet,

For the Conqueror has risen!

And as the stone is rolled away,

And Christ emerges from the grave,

This victory march continues till the

Every eye and heart shall see him.

So Spirit, come, put strength in every stride;

Give grace for every hurdle.

That we may run with faith to win the prize

Of a servant good and faithful.

As saints of old, still line the way, Retelling triumphs of his grace,

We hear their calls, and hunger for the day

When with Christ we stand in glory.

—Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (2[2]

 

Do you know Christ?

Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 104.

[2] Joni Eareckson Tada, Songs of Suffering: 25 Hymns and Devotions for Weary Souls (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 77.

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