February 1st, 2026: The Christian Church | Mark 4:26-32, Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Matthew 16:18)

 The first use of the word church is in Matthew as Peter answers the question Jesus asked,” Who do you say that I am?”  Peter’s answer is that Jesus is the rock or foundation for a new covenant. Jesus is so much more than men realize. He is not just a good prophet or just a miracle worker. Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God! The followers of Jesus were first called Christians (followers of Christ) at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

Jesus’ response reveals much. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16: 16-19).

 Knowing who Jesus is comes through divine revelation. The rock that Jesus’s church is built upon is the confession that Jesus is God who came in the flesh. It is the confession of faith in the person and the work of Jesus, the Son of God. As surely as his name is Peter, the kingdom of God will be built upon the true words of his confession. The church begins and is fulfilled in Christ. Peter holds the keys to the gospel to unlock this foundational revelation to everyone through preaching Jesus. Christ is the chief cornerstone (the solid Rock), the church united is a place where God, through the Spirit, can live .  

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2: 18-22).

 Peter does not hold the keys to letting us into heaven by standing at the pearly gates and deciding who gets in.  As special as he was to Jesus, God is no respecter of persons, and Peter understood that we are all lively “ rocks”, dead things made alive, once we confess Jesus as the Son of God and surrender to Him as Lord. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (1Peter 2:4-9). 

Peter was not confused. This is not about him; this is all about Jesus and belief/obedience versus disobedience.  Jesus’ church carries the gospel that sets loose the sinner. Those who do not accept Jesus are bound and condemned already. 

As you study this lesson, ask yourself, “What is the purpose of the Christian faith?"  What is the core truth, as far as God is concerned?  Have we allowed other things to become more important than clearly proclaiming the pure gospel? Is worship at the center of our services? Is the main focus on us and our needs or on Him and His Authority? 

Mark 4: 26-32

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

This parable follows the parable of the sower and the seed.  After revealing the interpretation, we are shown another perspective. A good  farmer knows that he actually has very little to do with the processes of seed  growth into harvest.  Many factors come into play, such as ground, water, temperature, depth,  seed, etc.  Most of these factors are outside the farmer’s control. The farmer cannot see the seed burst open or make roots. Yet, every farmer knows that when the seed breaks through the ground and brings forth, they will reap the harvest of God’s blessing. The Kingdom of God has the same kind of growth.  We don’t see every detail of our walk in grace through faith, but eventually it will grow and yield a harvest. The church is born, bursting forth in grace and mercy,  enduring adverse events, scattered from the seeds of resurrection and life. 

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

This mustard seed, like all other seeds, grows while it is hidden deep within the earth.  It, like our faith, starts out very small, yet it will grow into a plant with great branches and abundance for the life around us. The kingdom of God started very small as the Apostles began spreading the news of Jesus. Today Christianity has spread to the far reaches of the globe changing time, culture, and every aspect of life.  

Ephesians 4: 4-6

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There are not many kinds of Christians; there is one.  One.  When we speak of the Christian church, we should clarify that there is one universal bride of Christ. Your denomination does not separate you from the body.  Many gifts, different fields to operate in, but only one purpose: to glorify Christ. As the Apostles spread out with the gospel, they did not teach many ways, they taught one way.  Jesus.  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)  We find,  however, by the end of the book of Acts, that many false teachers and divisions have already infiltrated the simplicity of Jesus. 

The Christian church’s job is to be responsible for holding on to the truth of the gospel, the person, and the work of Jesus. Try as we might, and as much as we enjoy separating over our likes and our dislikes, there is only one true church, and the word of God is the authority for all of them.  True born-again believers must be on guard against adding to or taking from the truths of God.  We cannot be like the Pharisees, adding to men's burdens or separating men as if God is a respecter of persons. The foot of the cross is level.  Anyone can access Christ. The Spirit must draw them ,and they must come humbly before Him, confessing who He is.  

Ephesians 4: 11-18

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

What are His commandments?  What standard is required for every gift and talent given to each of us? Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22: 36-40).

To what end or to what purpose does Jesus call his followers? To plant the seeds of His kingdom through believers already saved. To see His words break through the hardness of hearts in grace, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. To raise up and sprout toward  the light and ministry that brings new believers into the family of God.  And finally, to bear fruit pleasing to God, by His truth,  in one body of believers, united under one God and one Savior.  

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The Christian church is living in difficult times. Deception is everywhere.  Our culture is saturated with lies of every kind.  The only way not to be carried and tossed is to know what the Word of God says.  Whether someone likes it or not, the truth is what is needed.  The church cannot hide behind politically correctness or relativism.  Speaking the truth in love and considering one another will lead to Christ; fearful and ashamed compromise will not. Are you standing fully persuaded in the truths of God?

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

The Christian church is fitly framed - correctly structured to bring the good news of Jesus to the lost.  It is correctly structured to teach sound doctrine and turn our hearts toward God.  It is correctly structured to keep us from being alienated from God. How do we know that?  Because that is how Jesus and the apostles set things up.  The scriptures are full of things that will tear up a church and how to prevent them.  For instance: These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19). If the 2026 Christian church would forsake worldly thoughts, bow, and humbly ask forgiveness and guidance, God from heaven would hear and bless the bride.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!