How did we (will we) build this house?
by Robert Krumrey
When I was in fifth grade my family built our own house. This might sound a bit crazy, but it made sense seeing as how my dad did construction most summers when he was off from coaching and teaching school. The foundation was poured and the framing was raised by a bunch of kids from the high school shop class (with supervision of course). A friend of the family did cabinetry and my uncle the electrical work. My elderly grandfather helped with the roofing even though the house was two story and he was already up in years. Fifth grade Robert helped out every day of that summer fetching tools and cleaning up behind those who had real skills. Most of the work was done by my dad who worked tirelessly, doing a lot of everything oftentimes until midnight. The thing I remember him doing most was the hanging, taping, floating, and painting of a lot of sheetrock. There were many jokes about hell being a place where people were condemned to do sheetrock for all of eternity.
It was hard work, but in the end a house was built. A house that became a home for our family. Because we knew all of what went into that house we knew all of the “extras” that were built in and all of the “mistakes” that we covered up with caulking and moulding. There was something special about living in a house that you had built with your own hands and I knew my hands had been at least a small part of that endeavor.
Planting MERCYhouse has been a lot like this. It’s been hard work and many have come alongside to help with the building and a lot of them were a bunch of kids. I know well what is so special about this church that most people don’t realize until they leave and try to find it somewhere else. I also know well the flaws that seem to always crop up year after year. While the work has been hard, there’s something really special about pastoring the church that you planted from scratch.
I said this on Sunday but it has been a high honor to plant and pastor this church. So many have come through this place who have seen fit to call me pastor. Many of them still see me as their pastor after they leave. I recently received a call from a friend of someone who had been a part of our church years ago. The former MHer was in the hospital and literally dying of COVID. The friend said to me over the phone, “He still considers you to be his pastor. Would you join us on a call to pray for his healing.” Of course I did and by God’s grace he recovered and is healthy again. Being a pastor to those here and beyond is holy ground.
I am very aware that all of this building that has gone on over the past 22 years was ultimately being done by THE Builder. In light of this, we shouldn’t be surprised that such endeavors, though seemingly impossible, are successfully accomplished. Jesus promised this was going to be the case in a statement he made to one of his first New Covenant co-laborers:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ”
Upon hearing Peter’s profession of faith in the previous verses, the humble servant teacher Jesus suddenly gets a fire in his eyes and he defiantly declares his long-term intentions. He is not confused about the obstacles that will be faced. There is an enemy and that enemy will be doing everything it can to thwart the good purposes of God in the world. Jesus is unfazed by this enemy. In fact, he plans for the church he is building to be the church militant. To take the fight to the enemy in such a way that hell will be hiding inside a citadel trying with all of its might to keep the gates secure.
And the result? The gates of hell will not prevail. The church will be built in spite of great opposition not because humans are such great builders but because Jesus will do the necessary work on the cross to make it all possible. We are more like 5th graders along for the ride. Nevertheless, he invites us to co-labor with him which he has done over these last 22 years and will continue to do so. He is still building here with or without the Krumrey’s and he is inviting you to be a part of this grand endeavor.
In last Sunday’s sermon, I shared five ways that you can participate in co-laboring with God in the building of his church:
Pray - One of the most important (and mysterious) ways that God invites us to co-labor with him is to pray. Jesus literally teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:7-15). God’s way of ushering his rule and reign onto planet earth is in part through our prayers. So please pray for our church, the leaders, and its mission.
Serve - When we serve in the church we co-labor with God. Peter describes word ministry as speaking “as one who speaks oracles of God” and deed ministry as serving as one who “serves with the strength that God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11). Acts of service in the church are ways to participate in the building of God’s house.
Give - Generous giving of resources is a key component of contributing to the building that God is accomplishing in both the Old and New Testaments. Paul explains to the Corinthians that their giving “is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:6-14)
Follow - Submission to leaders is so important when it comes to the ongoing building project that is the church. Leaders aren’t perfect, but they are given to the church by God to give direction to the army of builders that is a local congregation. Paul directs the church of Ephesus by explaining to them that he (God) “. . . gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Found - Fifth and foremost always make sure that the foundation you are building on is the gospel. Jesus proclaims to Peter in Matthew 16 that he (Jesus) is building the church and doing so on “this rock”. Peter later describes the building of a local church as coming “to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.” (1 Peter 2:4-12). Jesus and Peter and every other New Testament writer are clear that the foundation of the church is the work of Christ at the cross.
Know beyond any doubt that this foundation is unshakable, even if it was installed by a bunch of kids.