The First 1000
Chris Seidman
Part of This Is Us
August 13, 2023

This Is Us

The First 1000
August 13, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch


Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

What Does the Term “Church” Mean?

  • The word for “church” in the original language of Matthew is “ecclesia.”

  • An assembly or meeting of civic leaders – leaders who have been elected or “called out” from the community to represent them.

  • Nothing to do with a place, but a gathering of people – people who have been “called out.”


1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light.


1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.


So the church is a gathering of people who’ve answered the call to come to Jesus, spend time with Jesus, be filled with Jesus, and follow Jesus, that they might be Jesus to people, and call people to Jesus.

Constantine’s Ripples

  • From circles in houses to rows in buildings.

  • From every believer a “minister” to only a few believers being “ministers.”

  • From organic and de-centralized to institutional and centralized.

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Takeaways …

  • Though we’re in the 21st century, objects in our rear view mirror are closer than they appear.

  • The history of the church is the story of God using “cracked pots.”


2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

  • Forms, structures, traditions, and heritage can be helpful, but the power is in a relationship with Jesus.


John 5:39-40 (NIV)
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”