Northpointe 30th Anniversary Celebration

Order of Service

• Song — Surely It Is God Who Saves Me (based on Isaiah 12)
• Call to Worship — Psalm 100
• Hymn — All People That on Earth Do Dwell
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Apostles' Creed
• Scripture Reading — Psalm 36
• Hymn — Great Is Thy Faithfulness
• Pastoral Prayer
• Hymn — Holy Spirit Living Breath of God
• Offertory Prayer
• Hymn — Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
• Sermon
• Prayer of Benediction
• Hymn — The Church's One Foundation
• Benediction

---

Sermon Title: The Longlasting Church Across Generations

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

I. The Church as an Assembly of People

A. The Greek word ekklesia ("called out ones") defines the church as people, not a building

• Paul tells Timothy the Next Generation church is not primarily about buildings but about God's assembled people
• 1 Timothy 3:14-15 — "the household of God" is the church, the called-out ones united to Christ

B. True humanity restored in the church

1. The world trends toward artificial and fake humanity — avatars, AI, robots replacing human touch
2. The church is to be a safe haven of true humanity restored in and through the man Jesus Christ
3. John 15:13 — "No greater love has anyone than this, that one lay down his life for his friends"

C. The cross is the instrument of true humanity's restoration

1. The most inhumane act in history — the cross — is also where true humanity par excellence is displayed
2. The church becomes a safe haven as it follows Christ in picking up the cross and laying down life for one another

II. The Church as a Foundation of Truth

A. 1 Timothy 3:15 — the church is "a pillar and buttress of truth"

1. John Calvin: the church is called the pillar of truth because the office of administering doctrine, which God has placed in her hands, is the only instrument of preserving the truth
2. Ultimate truth is not found in the university, Capitol Hill, AI, or social media — it is found in the Church of Jesus Christ

B. The church is a pillar of eternal, not temporal, truth

1. The truths of the world are like vapor — bound up in fads, cultural moments, and changing headlines
2. People are driven to and fro by every wave and wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14)
3. The church offers immovable, unshakable, eternal truth that causes time to stop

C. The church is called to preach the Word

1. 2 Timothy 4:2 — "Preach the word, in season and out of season"
2. The church is a pillar and buttress of eternal truths drawn from the Eternal Word, pointing to the Eternal Son, speaking of eternal life in him alone
3. North Point has lasted 30 years by being about the people of God and remaining a pillar and buttress of eternal truth

III. The Church as a Body of Confessors

A. 1 Timothy 3:16 — Paul passes on an early creedal confession concerning "the mystery of godliness"

1. Most commentators believe this is an ancient creed circulating in the early apostolic church
2. It has a parallelistic structure mirroring Hebrew poetry, built on three sets of opposites

B. The three sets of opposites in the confession

1. Flesh and Spirit — manifested in the flesh (Incarnation, taking on the miseries of fallen mankind); vindicated by the Spirit (resurrection and ascension by supernatural power over sin and death)
2. Angels and Nations — seen by angels (heavenly citizens witness Christ); proclaimed among the nations (earthly citizens witness Christ)
3. World and Glory — believed on in the world (lower earthly realm); taken up into glory (ascended, seated at the right hand of the Father)

C. Christ fills both heaven and earth with his godliness

1. He is the Chief Cornerstone and sure Foundation of the household of God
2. When he returns, all not united to him will be shaken and destroyed; all united to him will remain as permanent as he is

D. The church remains a body of confessors by holding high the banner of Christ alone

1. The mystery of godliness is not found in pastors, elders, deacons, or members — only in Christ and Christ alone
2. Martin Luther: "When the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this — I admit that I deserve death and hell; what of it? For I know one who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where he is there I shall be also."
3. North Point must carry on as a cross-shaped people, a pillar and buttress of truth, settled on the sure Foundation — Christ and Christ alone