Sunday, November 16, 2025

Build His Church | Pastor Chris Searcy | 11.9.25

 

Focus on the family!

Build his church


Today I implore you:

Build his church in you

In your home

In your children

at your job


In us first


Predestined for adoption


Ephesians 1:3-10

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with

every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the

foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he

predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of

his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In

him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the

riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us

the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the

fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.

Saved by Grace

Ephesians 2:5-6

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by

grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the

heavenly places in Christ Jesus,


Body of Christ

Unity in the body of Christ


Ephesians 4:1-7

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which

you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another

in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body

and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one

Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in

all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.


Paul knew that the body of Christ is


Made up of families


Held together by spouses

Grown by children


Marriages

Ephesians 5:31-33

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall

become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the

church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that

she respects her husband.

Parents and Children

Ephesians 6:1-4

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and

mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you

and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to

anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Build his church in you:

1. Pray

2. Fast

3. Read the Bible

4. Fight temptation

5. Stay in christian community

Build his church In your marriage

1. Husbands & wives die to self

2. Husbands lay your life down for her

3. Wives submit and help

Build his church In your children

1. Parents train -time and attention

2. Children obey and honor

Build his church at your job

1. Work as unto the Lord


The promise…

Matthew 16:13-18 (ESV)

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do

people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others

say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you

say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed

this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I

will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of

hell shall not prevail against it.

This verse is the foundation for the idea of Christ building His Church.

In the Greek text, Jesus says:

"ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν"

"Upon this rock I will build My church."

Here’s what the verse emphasizes biblically:

“This rock” — not Peter as a person alone, but the confession Peter just made in

verse 16: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“I will build” — Christ Himself is the builder, not man.

“My church” — the Church belongs to Christ alone; it’s His possession and creation.

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” — no power, kingdom, or demonic

force will overthrow what Christ builds.

Gates:

Pulai = fortified city gates, defensive structures, symbols of strength and authority.

Hades

Hadou = “of Hades,” the realm of the dead—not “hell” (Gehenna), but the underworld.

“The gates of Hades” meant the authority, power, and defenses of death itself—the entire

structure of Satan’s domain.


Jesus made this declaration at Caesarea Philippi, a region known for pagan worship, especially

of Pan.

There was a cave there known as “the Gate of Hades.”


Jesus was a G!


Ephesians 5:15-20

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use

of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand

what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,

but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks

always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.


Build your church:

On Christ alone, our Chief Cornerstone

No other foundation can we build upon

Not philosophy nor the wisdom of man

All other ground is sinking sand


Upon this rock, You build Your Church

And the gates of hell will not prevail

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