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 Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
