Church Renewal: Rediscovering the Glory of God in the Gospel

The early church Had little to no institutional or earthly power…. And yet, it grew and spread.

The medieval church had grown preoccupied with its institutional power and glory • Veneration of the saints • Pope Boniface VIII – “I am Caesar. I am emperor.” • Pope Leo X – sold indulgences to finance St. Peter’s Basilica • Local Prince Bishops controlled towns/regions

The medieval church was preoccupied with its institutional power and glory

The medieval church was preoccupied with its institutional power and glory • Veneration of the saints • Pope Boniface VIII – “I am Caesar. I am emperor.” • Pope Leo X – sold indulgences to finance St. Peter’s Basilica • Local Prince Bishops controlled towns/regions

This preoccupation with power and glory was accompanied by corruption This led to church leaders often overlooking and neglecting the spiritual needs of ordinary Christians.

The church had forgotten the glory of God displayed in the gospel of Christ Jesus The gospel is not simply the good news that we are saved by placing our faith in the gracious work of Christ alone. The gospel is also the good news that the glory of God and Christ is demonstrated in the work of Christ renewing and restoring all things.

The church had forgotten the glory of God displayed in the gospel of Christ Jesus Renewal: Ephesians 1:10: “…to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth.” Glory: Ephesians 1:3-14: “to the praise of his glory” is mentioned three times.

The church had forgotten the glory of God displayed in the gospel of Christ Jesus • “[They’ll come, Ray.] And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they'd dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game -- it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.” • Terrance Mann, from Field of Dreams

The church had forgotten the glory of God displayed in the gospel of Christ Jesus • Moral reform without the gospel did not work.

The Reformers drew central attention to God’s glory demonstrated in the gospel

The Reformers drew central attention to God’s glory demonstrated in the gospel • “In the cross of Christ, as in a splendid theater, the incomparable goodness of God is set before the whole world. The glory of God shines, indeed, in all creatures on high and below, but never more brightly than in the cross, in which there was a wonderful change of things — the condemnation of all men was manifested, sin blotted out, salvation restored to men; in short, the whole world was renewed and all things restored to order.” • (John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel of John)

This central attention to God’s glory impacted the Reformer’s leadership • The Reformers were committed to the Spiritual nourishment and development of those in their churches.

Some lessons for us • Regularly remember the glory of God demonstrated in Christ’s death and resurrection! • It will give you joy and hope amidst life’s hardships.

Some lessons for us • Regularly remember the glory of God demonstrated in Christ’s death and resurrection! • It will give you joy and hope amidst life’s hardships. • It will help you trust the character of the God who calls you to follow himself.

Some lessons for us • Regularly remember the glory of God demonstrated in Christ’s death and resurrection! • It will give you joy and hope amidst life’s hardships. • It will help you trust the character of the God who calls you to follow himself. • It will help you maintain humility.

Some lessons for us • Regularly remember the glory of God demonstrated in Christ’s death and resurrection! • Remember that all work brings glory to God.

Church Renewal: Rediscovering the Glory of God in the Gospel