Readings:
Sermon:
The Church of England has always seen itself as a part of the universal church, as we read in the creeds, the ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church’.
‘One’ describes the spiritual unity of God’s chosen people, a unity which transcends denominational and man-made barriers.
‘Holy’ alludes to the distinctiveness of the church as together we reflect the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour.
‘Catholic’ refers to the church universal: God’s people in every nation and throughout every generation.
‘Apostolic’ refers to the endurance of the teaching, ministry, and mission of the early apostles.
In our two New Testament readings today we’re exposed to both the doctrinal fundamentals AND the shape of the church’s apostolic mission.
What does it mean to be an apostolic church in 2026?
In Romans 5, Paul captures the fundamental message of the gospel - that we were once weak and perishing in our sin, but now through the death of Christ we've become recipients of God’s grace and are made right with God through our faith in Jesus. Really really importantly, Paul recognises the joy found in the hope that we will one day share in the glory of God, but he also recognises that, in this life, we boast in our sufferings.
Why? Because discipleship isn’t about escaping from the hardships of our lived reality, rather, it’s about being formed into the image of Jesus by remaining faithful and hopeful in the midst of our circumstances.
Unless we can appreciate this foundational aspect of what it means to be the hurch of God, then our mission and ministry in the world is flawed.
When we turn to Matthew 9, Jesus sending out his disciples, we’re exposed to the mission of Jesus and our participation in it. Jesus’ heart is breaking for the lost - the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd. So he sends his disciples out like labourers into the harvest fields.
Jesus gives the disciples his authority to cast out demons and cure diseases, and he tells them to proclaim the gospel message - that “the Kingdom of heaven has come near”. He tells them to travel only with the clothes on their backs and gives them no real strategy. He warns them of the reality of the mission, that they are being sent out like sheep into the midst of wolves and so they need to be wise like serpents and innocent like doves. He prepares them for the inevitability of the rejection, persecution, and imprisonment they will face. He promises them that they’ll be accompanied by the Holy Spirit. He underscores the urgency and pace of the task ahead of them.
Does this all sound familiar to the way your church functions? Does it sound like a familiar model for mission and outreach? Let’s be honest, it generally feels like we will try anything but this kind of radical apostolic ministry to grow the church.
I’m sure it’s easy to justify why we do things differently these days, but do we really think that Jesus envisaged the growth and expansion of his church to be dependent upon buildings, well dressed clergy, national funding, and non-offensive forms of persuasion?
Or - in this era of post-Christian culture - do we think it’s time we revived our apostolic identity - to rediscover what it means to be a sent, missional community who travel light, expect to see healings and miracles, who are prepared for persecution and hatred from the world around us, and who are tenacious and courageous in our efforts to see people saved?
Being apostolic means being rooted in the teachings of Scripture and being committed to the expansive project called the Great Commission.
How we desperately need to rediscover our apostolic calling, in a world that’s changing so rapidly and dramatically around us.
Questions:
- What is your church community doing to carry the gospel into your community?
- What risks are you willing to take so that people can hear and believe in the gospel of Jesus?
- Do you expect to see healings and deliverance?
- Are you prepared for resistance, rejection, and persecution?
- Do you believe it’s possible for the church to thrive apart from its buildings, clergy, and hefty resources?
- Do you believe that in this generation, the gospel still has the power to change lives?