Three passages to guide us as we "reopen" church
Lance Shumake • May 23, 2020
If you are looking for a verse or a passage in the Bible that speaks directly to COVID-19, you probably should start in 1st or 2nd Hesitations. Of course the Bible doesn’t say anything about the pandemic in 2020. Not even if you are one of those DaVinci code disciples.
We know the Bible is much more than a book of advice. It is the story of God and the revelation of the gospel. It is the Word of God. He is not only the hero of the story; He is the author as well.
But the Bible has plenty to say about how we should respond to trials and tests. It has more than enough encouragement when we are dealing with anxiety or in need of comfort and peace.
So we can look to the Bible to guide us through whatever we face knowing that it is God’s word. It is the source of absolute truth. It can and will inform us no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in at the moment.
As we “reopen” our churches (not that they were ever actually closed) and resume our worship gatherings, how can the Scriptures guide us? Let me offer just three of the many possible ways.
Hebrews 10:24–25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We all know the phrase, “you don’t really know what you got till it’s gone.” Has that been true for you in this season? I hope so. I admit it hurt quite a bit when churches were deemed non-essential. It hurt because too many times that is exactly how we (the church) live. As if the gathering of God’s people is non-essential.
Online church has been God’s provision during this time. There’s no doubt about it. More people heard the gospel on Easter Sunday this year than we can even imagine because of this crisis. Romans 8:28 has been front and center for us all.
Even so, we must never forget how it felt to not be able to gather for worship as the body. We must remember the disconnect we have experienced without being able to meet face to face. And we must remember that the Scriptures tell us that gathering together as the church is essential. It always has been. It always will be. No matter what anyone else says.
Let us not forsake or neglect this. Let us not put the real non-essential things in its place.
Philippians 2:1–5
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus
You probably have your own opinion about our current situation, and your opinion matters. Your interests are important. In fact, we are planning our service with your opinions and interests in mind. All of them. And yeah, that’s pretty tricky.
Do me a favor and take a moment to read back over the passage from Philippians 2 (above). I want to make sure it sinks in, especially that last sentence (verse 5). As you interact with others this Sunday and beyond, how can you count others as more significant than yourself? How can you look to their interests instead of just your own?
What about our brothers and sisters that continue worshipping at home? We have a significant number of our people that are truly at-risk to COVID-19. We have a number of families who will choose to stay home since we won’t have childcare. We have people that simply are not yet comfortable.
Let’s love each other like Christ loves us. Let’s have the same attitude towards each other as Jesus did towards us. Let that truth guide us in all our interactions, our gatherings, and even in our postings. In this season and beyond.
Ephesians 4:1–3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
This passage is one that we teach over at iGo Global to all of our teams. It is a concise and fitting instruction on how to treat each other as we preserve the unity we have in Christ.
There are four key words that inform our approach.
Humility
- you might be right about all of this, but you might not; so let’s think of ourselves less.
Gentleness
- the strongest among us are the ones that control their strength for the sake of others; so let’s be gentle in our words and actions.
Patience
- there are no quick fixes to this mess; so let’s endure this trial with joy together.
Forbearance
- someone is probably going to get on your nerves, and you might return the favor; so let’s bear with one another for the gospel.
At iGo, you probably know we are a little crazy. So we find it helpful to remember this with a perfect acronym - HGPF. Say it out loud - Higg-Puff. Let’s embrace HGPF as the body of Christ.
In this season, just like any other season we want to encourage you to let the gospel inform your attitudes and the Scriptures guide your actions as we seek to bring honor and glory to His name.
--Pastor Shu
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
