Tag: matt chandler

The church, minimum requirements

[Notes from a sermon series on the church by Matt Chandler at the Village Church.]

The basic requisites of a church, as agreed upon by almost all theologians, are (1) teaching the word of God, accurately, and (2) administering the sacraments, namely baptism and communion.

Add what extras you like, remove what fluff you dislike; teaching and the sacraments are the non-negotiable common denominator for what God’s people have done when they get together. I think it’s good to remind ourselves of the bottom lines. It helps us keep the upper decks in order.

In particular it’s a good reminder to us Baptists that baptism and communion aren’t afterthoughts or just nice old symbols – they’re the essence of being a local branch of the body of Christ. “Breaking bread,” home groups, outreach, should all orbit around the core.

He will never see death

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. – John 8:51

Matt Chandler believes this means that, at the moment right as our souls leave our bodies, they are scooped up, as if by an angel, to paradise. We don’t truly “see” or “taste” death, in the sense that the tearing apart of soul and body comes thus gracefully and gently to the believer. Our eternal life continues uninterrupted. I agree with this – I can see the beauty in the angels eagerly gathering the saint at the very first instant they can. Worth some further thought.