When
Jesus started His public ministry, He did not call the learned Rabbis.
He called fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, farmers, shopkeepers...
the common man.
During the first three centuries of Christianity, the Church met on the Sabbath in small groups in a home, sang hymns (especially the
Psalms), read from the Scriptures, and kept the feasts of the Lord.
Sometimes someone may have a word to share, or there was group
discussions about the letters the Churches would receive from one of the
Apostles. In the early Church, breaking bread referred to the everyday act of sharing meals together in one another's homes. The
Apostles appointed able men to care for the flock. That was it... no
paid clergy, no earthly headquarters, just Brethren seeking the Kingdom
of God.
As
false teachers begin to creep into the congregations, they led people
away from the doctrines of the Apostles. Wolves in Sheep's clothing
formed their own Churches with their own doctrines. The main
organization that emerged was the Roman Catholic Church. Then in the
16th century came the protestant reformation that spawned thousands of
church organizations. Organized religion hijacked Christianity and
turned it into a hodge-podge of confusing doctrines and practices.
Anyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ must go back to the way the early Church worshipped. As it is written: Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. ~ Isaiah 58:12
In the New Testament, the concept of a "foundation"
refers to the core truths, teachings, and spiritual realities upon
which the Christian faith and the Church are built.
The
writers of the New Testament use the architectural image of a
foundation to show how a believer's life and the global community of
faith can stay strong against hard times.
1. Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Foundation
The most important foundation in the New Testament is the person of Jesus Christ Himself.
- The Only Foundation: In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Apostle Paul explicitly says that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- The Chief Cornerstone: In ancient building, the cornerstone was the first stone laid. It had to be perfectly square because every other wall aligned with it. The New Testament calls Jesus the chief cornerstone. Without Him, the structure of the faith would fall apart.
2. The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation
While Jesus
is the ultimate bedrock, the New Testament also attributes a
foundational role to the people who shared His message with the world.
- Spreading the Truth: Ephesians 2:20 teaches that the household of God is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone."
- The New Jerusalem: In the Book of Revelation, the vision of the heavenly city features twelve foundation stones, and on them are written the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
3. Obedience as a Personal Foundation
Jesus used the idea of a foundation to teach people how to live out their faith daily.
- The Wise and Foolish Builders: In Matthew 7:24–27, Jesus told a famous story about two men. One built his house on solid rock, and the other built on shifting sand*. When heavy storms and floods hit, only the house on the rock survived. *organized religion is shifting sand
- Hearing and Doing: Jesus clarified that the person who builds on the rock is the one who hears His words and actually puts them into practice. Mental agreement is not enough; active obedience is what makes a life unshakable.
4. The Six Foundational Teachings
The New Testament also outlines a list of basic doctrines that make up the "starting line" of Christian learning. According to Hebrews 6:1–2, these elemental foundations include:
- Repentance from dead works (turning away from sin)
- Faith toward God
- Instruction about baptisms
- The laying on of hands
- The resurrection of the dead
- Eternal judgment
The
author of Hebrews explains that once these fundamental truths are
firmly in place, believers should move forward into deeper spiritual
maturity. There is no shame in admitting your Church or your pastor does not have all the answers.
Worship
is far more than joining a Church, singing in the choir, and listening
to a preacher. It's a lifestyle of reverence, obedience, and total
surrender to God. It takes two primary forms: specific acts of praise
(like singing and prayer) and everyday acts of love and service. Meeting
with other Believers is a good thing, but don't get the idea God only
loves "your Church."
