Hermas —“The Ancient Voices of the Church”
Scripture:
Titus 3:5 — “He saved us… by the
washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Ancient Text:
“The tower is being built upon the
waters… the Church is founded upon the waters of baptism.”
Introduction:
A Shepherd’s Voice for a Growing Church
Church, today we listen to Hermas,
a Christian living in Rome in the early second century. His book, The
Shepherd, was so beloved that many early believers read it alongside
Scripture. It is not Scripture — but it is one of the earliest Christian
devotional works, filled with visions, parables, and pastoral exhortations.
Hermas was not a bishop. Not a
theologian. Not a martyr. He was an ordinary Christian — and God gave him a
message for the church.
His central vision is simple and
powerful:
The church is a tower being built by
God, stone by stone, life by life.
Some stones are strong. Some are
cracked. Some need repair. Some need replacement. But the tower continues to
rise — because God is building it.
Hermas’s message is a call to repentance,
renewal, and spiritual strength.
I.
The Tower: God’s Vision for His Church
Hermas sees a great tower rising from
the waters. The waters represent baptism — the beginning of the
Christian life. The tower represents the church — the people of God
being built together.
This is deeply biblical. Peter says we
are “living stones.” Paul says we are “God’s building.” Christ says He will
“build His church.”
Hermas reminds us:
The church is not a club. The church is not a meeting. The church is not a
building. The church is God’s construction project.
Every believer is a stone in that
tower. Every life matters. Every act of obedience strengthens the structure.
Every act of sin weakens it.
Hermas calls us to be stones that
strengthen the tower.
II.
Cracked Stones: The Need for Repentance
Hermas sees some stones in the tower
that are cracked — damaged by sin, compromise, or neglect. But he also sees
something hopeful:
The Shepherd takes the cracked stones,
repairs them, and places them back into the tower.
Hermas believed that repentance
restores usefulness.
Repentance is not humiliation.
Repentance is healing. Repentance is renewal. Repentance is restoration.
Hermas teaches that no believer is too
damaged to be repaired. No life is too broken to be renewed. No heart is too
cracked to be restored.
The Shepherd — Christ Himself —
repairs what sin has damaged.
III.
Rejected Stones: The Danger of Persistent Sin
Hermas also sees stones that are
removed from the tower — not because they sinned, but because they refused
repentance.
Hermas is gentle, but he is honest:
- Sin that is confessed can be healed.
- Sin that is cherished becomes destructive.
- Sin that is hidden becomes corrosive.
- Sin that is defended becomes deadly.
Hermas warns the church:
Do not cling to what Christ wants to
heal. Do not protect what Christ wants
to remove. Do not hide what Christ wants to forgive.
Persistent, unrepentant sin weakens
the tower — and harms the whole church.
IV.
The Shepherd: Christ’s Work of Renewal
Hermas’s book is named The Shepherd
because Christ appears to him as a gentle shepherd — guiding, correcting,
strengthening, and restoring.
Christ is not a harsh builder. He is a
patient shepherd.
Hermas:
- calls
- comforts
- convicts
- restores
- renews
- strengthens
- rebuilds
Hermas’s Christ is the same Christ we
meet in Scripture — the One who leaves the ninety-nine to restore the one.
Hermas believed that renewal is
always possible because Christ is always present.
V.
The Call to Strength: Be a Stone That Strengthens the Tower
Hermas urges believers to become
strong stones — stones that support others, stones that endure storms, stones
that remain faithful.
He calls the church to:
- purity
- prayer
- generosity
- obedience
- forgiveness
- steadfastness
- holiness
Hermas believed that the strength of
the church is not in its size, but in its faithfulness.
A small church can be a strong tower.
A rural church can be a strong tower. A suffering church can be a strong tower.
A persecuted church can be a strong tower.
Strength comes from Christ — and from
lives built on Him.
VI.
Renewal Is the Ongoing Work of the Spirit
Hermas’s message aligns perfectly with
Titus 3:5:
“The washing of regeneration and
renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Renewal is not a one-time event.
Renewal is the ongoing work of the Spirit.
Hermas believed:
- The Spirit renews the weary
- The Spirit restores the broken
- The Spirit strengthens the weak
- The Spirit purifies the sinful
- The Spirit builds the church
The tower rises because the Spirit
works.
Conclusion:
Let the Shepherd Restore, Renew, and Build Us
Church, Hermas calls us to a simple,
powerful truth:
We are stones in God’s tower — and
Christ is our Shepherd.
If we are cracked, He can repair us.
If we are weary, He can strengthen us. If we are sinful, He can forgive us. If
we are discouraged, He can lift us. If we are broken, He can restore us.
Let the Shepherd do His work. Let the
Spirit renew your heart. Let Christ build you into His tower.
May our congregation be a strong,
faithful, Spirit‑renewed tower for the glory of God.
Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, repair what
is cracked in us, restore what is broken, and renew what has grown weary. Build
us as living stones into Your holy tower, and make our lives strong in faith,
hope, and love. Strengthen Your church and let Your Spirit continue the work of
renewal in us, today, tomorrow, and forevermore. Amen.
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
No comments:
Post a Comment