The Mission of Community

In this sermon, Pastor Kyle Cunningham explores the true nature and purpose of the church as established by Jesus Christ. He begins by addressing common misconceptions about what "church" means, emphasizing that it's not primarily a building or institution, but a community of believers.
Cunningham introduces the Greek concept of "telos" - the essential purpose or design of something. He argues that just as a hammer has a specific purpose, the church also has a God-given telos that we must understand and fulfill.
Drawing from Matthew 16:13-20, Cunningham outlines four key aspects of the church's identity:
It's a community of saints (believers)
Established by Christ
Proclaiming Christ
Resisting and overcoming the power of hell
He stresses that the church is not defined by buildings or programs, but by people gathered in Jesus' name. The church's purpose is to proclaim Christ as Lord and Messiah, standing firm against dark spiritual forces.
Cunningham then discusses three primary functions of the church, based on Jonathan Wilson's book "Why Church Matters":
Work - worship, teaching, caring for one another, missions
Warfare - spiritual battle through prayer, healing, and confronting evil
Witness - embodying the gospel message through our life together
He challenges the congregation to reconsider how they evaluate church gatherings. Instead of asking "How was church?" based on personal preferences, we should ask "How did we church?" - focusing on how well we embodied Christ's vision for His people.
Cunningham critiques the current state of the American church, noting that moral failures and abuse scandals have damaged its witness. He calls for a return to being the kind of loving, Christ-centered community that draws people in through its example.
The sermon concludes by connecting these ideas to Bridgeway Church's vision of being a "church without walls." Cunningham encourages listeners to live out their faith beyond Sunday mornings, intentionally pursuing Christ's mission in their homes, workplaces, and broader community.
Throughout the message, Cunningham emphasizes the need for both formal gatherings ("temple") and informal fellowship ("table") in the life of the church. He challenges believers to assess how well they are fulfilling Jesus' vision for His church, both individually and corporately.
This thought-provoking sermon invites listeners to reimagine what it truly means to be the church in today's world, calling for a return to the radical, transformative community Jesus intended His followers to embody.
Date: 8.25.24
Website: bwchurch.org/
Interested in Baptism? bwchurch.org/b...
Wanting to know what it looks like to follow Christ? bwchurch.org/s...
Facebook: / bwchurch
Instagram: / bwchurchtx
Spotify: podcasters.spo...
Want to reach out? You can email us at [e-mail]
Looking to support our church’s local mission? You can give at pushpay.com/g/...