The Church We Want To Be
Have you ever wondered, "What kind of church is ideal?"
Paul provides a clear blueprint in his letter to the Thessalonians.
In his sermon "The Church We Wanna Be," Pastor Brandon Woodward highlights how this early church sets an example for today.
Becoming a Model Church
Paul praises the young Thessalonian community:
“And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere.” 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8
What made them stand out?
1) Sacrificial Service
The Thessalonians practiced active, tangible faith, love, and hope:
Paul praises their "work produced by faith," their "labor prompted by love," and their "endurance inspired by hope" (1 Thess. 1:3).
Paul speaks about these not in the abstract but rather as concrete outcomes.
Pastor Brandon put it this way:
“Paul points out to the Thessalonians, these things are not internal, but they are actually external things that are tangible in the life of a church and a believer… And so our faith doesn't just exist in our heads or our hearts, but it always makes its way to our hands.”
This is the model Paul praises and what churches today should pursue.
2) Committed to Scripture and the Holy Spirit
There’s no dichotomy here.
Paul emphasizes a gospel accompanied by both Scripture and the Holy Spirit:
“Our gospel came...not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
Paul didn’t draw a false dichotomy between the church’s emphasis on the Word (Scripture) and Spirit..
Pastor Brandon put it this way:
“I believe a healthy church is a church that does not sacrifice word for spirit or spirit for word. People try to create a false dichotomy, what I would call a dumb dichotomy between, hey, is this going to be a word church or like a spirit church? The two don't somehow go together?”
We must remain grounded in scripture.
In an age of confusion and subjective truth, it’s essential to remain firmly anchored in Scripture.
This isn't just for pastors – it's essential for every believer.
Brandon put it this way:
“I don't care if you are in ministry or in seminary or you're just here at church trying to check a box.
You need good theology and you need to understand sound doctrine, because you're gonna hear a lot of stuff when you leave this space today, in our culture, our world, from your own families and friends that do not align with the Word of God.
And if you don't know the word of God, then you will be blown back and forth by every new wave and wind of doctrine.”
Reject the privatization of truth
Some prefer a kind of privatization of truth, thinking “Well, you have your truth, and I have mine.”
Pastor Brandon rejects this, saying:
“We fundamentally reject the idea of the privatization of truth... There can be no such thing as your truth. There can be no such thing as my truth or their truth. There is a singular truth that we find in the Word, and if that is not our lens through which we see the rest of the world, then we don't have anything tethering us to anything.”
A healthy church must remain committed to Scripture as truth and to the holy spirit, both of which matter for each and every congregant.
3) Singular Devotion to Christ
Paul praises the Thessalonians for turning "from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thess. 1:9).
Idolatry isn't just an ancient problem – it subtly persists today.
William Stringfellow wrote:
“Idolatry is pervasive in every time and culture, no less now than yesterday, no less in Washington than in Gomorrah.”
We may not worship ancient deities like Aphrodite or Zeus, but we often bow at altars of money, power, comfort, and political identity.
The call is clear: follow Christ alone, renouncing all competing loyalties.
Psalm 86:11 beautifully captures our aspiration:
"Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
This means Christ isn't added to a crowded life – He replaces everything else as our primary devotion.
This is the kind of devotion the Thessalonians had, as Paul says:
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Far-Reaching Impact
Paul notes that the Thessalonians' faith "rang out" far and wide (1 Thess. 1:8).
They impacted their city, their region, and beyond.
At Union City Church, we aim to grow, not just numerically but in spiritual impact, influencing our neighborhoods, our city, and our nation.
Turning hearts toward Christ in influential cities like DC can echo across nations.
Brandon put it this way:
"DC is the opposite of Vegas, because what happens in DC doesn't stay in DC. What happens here goes everywhere. It impacts everybody.”
Practical Steps to Becoming a World-Changing Church
Brandon outlines practical actions for every church:
Prioritize Community:
Let's be known for our sacrificial service.
Commit to Biblical Literacy:
Let's hold firmly to sound doctrine and eagerly invite the Spirit's power.
Pursue Unity Actively:
Let’s foster humility, prioritize people over our personal perspectives, and aspire for biblical harmony in community.
Sermon Highlights
"And so our faith doesn't just exist in our heads or our hearts, but it always makes its way to our hands."
“DC is the opposite of Vegas, because what happens in DC doesn't stay in DC. What happens here goes everywhere. It impacts everybody”
"Our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Watch the full sermon, "The Church We Wanna Be," here.
