The Purpose of The Church - Romans 15:1-7

INTRO

We are a church plant and we love church planting.

We have been able by the grace of God to support church plants and church planting.

We want to see God continue to work in gospel centered churches.

16 years ago I left NC to go to Bible College and pursue ministry.

I loved Jesus and wanted to commit my life to him.

But if I am honest I had a fairly low view of church.

I remember for the first time as an adult being able to pick where I went to church.

That first year I pin-balled to different spaces and places.

I liked the churches that had free bagels since I was a broke college kid.

It wasn’t until I eventually got connected with a church I ended up staying at for nearly a decade that I began to fall in love with the church. (maybe riff)

Over the next 6 weeks we will be looking at the church.

This sermon series name comes from a Spurgeon quote (Baptist preacher in london during 1800s)

He said, “Still, imperfect as it is, the church is the dearest place on earth to us.”

The idea is that we, gathered as the people of God, we should be displaying to each other and a watching world a rich unity in Christ that stirs our hearts to joy and brings glory to the Father.

Tragically for many church isn’t the dearest anything.

We’ve lost prospective on what Jesus has established.

Consider the church.

Really the church isn't a place it is a people.

Church = called our assembly, congregation.

We are going to spend time exploring together what is the church.

Over the next 6 weeks we will look at the church examining it’s Power, Practice, Presence, Persistence, Promise

Today we will look at the purpose of the church.

Big Idea:

Big Idea: The Purpose of the church is to glorify God.

We are going to explore what the purpose is in a little prayer in the book of Romans.

It seems unassuming but my hope is that it would stir us to remember our why.

1. Our Great Calling (v.1-2)

Look back at the passage with me.

Romans 15:1–2 (ESV)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Now as we explore the call we have as a church.

It’s helpful to consider what is the call of every Christian.

Pauls says in 1 Corinthians that everything we do is for the glory of God.

The Heidelberg catechism says commenting on that verse

That our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

That is our purpose.

Coram Deo it is what all of us were made to do it.

We feel deep within us that we are made for something more, and God is that more.

Glory means weightiness.

The idea is that God should carry the most weight in our lives.

Now if that is what our chief end is, then the church’s chief end is also the glory of God.

That is the end all be all of why we gather to worship, why we encourage one another, and why we make disciples.

It’s all to bring glory and honor to the name of the Lord.

We see this in our passage in v.5-6 of Paul’s prayer –

He is praying that the church would with one voice glorify God, the church would offer welcome for glory of God

This prayer shows us that the church in Rome struggled to do this well.

Like every other church it had it’s issues

/Context - Division over how to prepare food /

This seems Silly / I’ve seen worse…

Jewish believers – dietary laws / Gentiles w/o history

They Couldn’t agree with each other

Paul in this letter calls out the Jewish believer–

Jews weak - unable to apply gospel to that part of lives /

Gentiles in this case were the strong believers.

But flip to the next book of the NT and we see in Corinth there is a similar issue but opposite who was strong and weak

The Gentiles were weak because they were concerned over food dedicated to idols

What does this have to do with the purpose of the church Billy?

Because we forget who we are and whose we are.

Any church in any age can divide over non-essential issues

Last 3.5 years have revealed that.

But I would say long before the pandemic there has been infighting and a danger of losing sight of why we exist.

In any church there are ‘strong’ mature believers, those with wisdom. Those who understand mystery.

Those who understand grace and patience.

There are also ‘weak’ less mature believer. They tend to be very black and white and rigid.

It’s an, I’m always right mentality.

Now the reason this particular section of Romans is interesting to me is that this is a challenge for the Strong.

Bear with the weak.

To bear with is no to just tolerate.

It means to come up under, to shoulder, to take their load.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Tragically we often make church about looking out for number 1.

We want our specific preference whether it’s music, the way discipleship should look.

Here is something I have seen over the last decade plus in ministry, People have a lot of ideas and very little patience.

We forget the call is to not make much of ourselves but of Jesus.

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake; I can wait.” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”

we forget who we are and whose we are.

Those of you who would have walked with Jesus for a number of years.

Those of you who would consider yourself seasoned in the faith.

Those of you who are key leaders in our church.

Those who have earnest desire to make much of the gospel.

Paul would say to you, bear with those who are weak.

When someone says something that makes you raise your eyebrows.

When something seems theologically off.

Bear with them.

We just said this a few weeks ago in James - Gospel + Safety + Time

Here is what Paul says specifically about the weak.

Romans 14:1 (ESV)

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Welcome, come alongside

Tragically we often see the opposite, an aloofness, cold, indifferent, withdrawn

You should receive others into your lives, hearts, calendars, homes

Our Great high calling is to display, imperfectly but visibly, something of the glory and mercy of God

Cannot settle for self-absorption, arrogance, judgment

So natural to just be indifferent, fight against this.

Let’s get really practical...

(If you look around and see someone younger either in age or faith, if you aren't pouring into someone, seeking to come alongside…you are being disobedient to scripture.)

Tim Chester:

“It is in the family of God that I am able to care and be cared for; love and be loved; forgive and be forgiven; rebuke and be rebuked; encourage and be encouraged. All of which is essential to the task of being a disciple of the risen Lord Jesus.” _Tim Chester

So would consider our calling to glorify God and see second Jesus’ Great Example.

2. Jesus’ Great Example (v3-4,7)

Romans 15:3–4 (ESV)

For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:7 (ESV)

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

If the call to bear with and welcome one another seems hard.

I would say it should.

The question is, how can we do this? Only by Jesus.

How challenging is it to truly welcome others as Christ has welcomed us?

Consider the depth of Christ’s welcome

At the heart of the Gospel is an invitation, not merely a welcome.

It's an embrace of love.

When we read Romans 15:3-4, it's clear that Christ wasn't self-centered.

He didn't ask, "What's in it for me?"

Instead, Christ stepped down from the magnificent glory of Heaven.

He took on a life of suffering, clothed in fragile human flesh and blood, yet without the stain of sin.

He wasn't here to fulfill a personal agenda but to glorify the Father by serving and saving us.

His sacrifice was profound.

He stood as a shield between us and our sins, becoming friend even to those who would count themselves as enemies.

Paul quotes the Psalmist speaks of bearing reproaches that were not our own;

Jesus embodies this, taking on blame and shame on our behalf.

Have you been welcomed by Jesus?

Think about that.

- Romans 5:6 illustrates this perfectly.

Romans 5:6 (ESV)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ, in His strength, chose weakness, so that we, in our weakness, might be welcomed and empowered by grace.

We become a part of God's divine family, not due to our deeds or worth, but purely by His grace.

We approach the cross, hands empty, to grasp the profound love that was displayed there for us.

This welcome – this profound, unconditional acceptance – is what we are called to extend to others.

So how do we live out Christ's Welcome

Right? How can we genuinely reflect Christ's welcome?

Verse 7 of Romans 15 doesn't merely say to "welcome."

It stresses the depth and nature of that welcome.

It's personal.

Our welcome should be a living memory, a tangible experience of Christ's love.

My wife read and loved Rosaria Butterfield’s book The Gospel Comes With A Housekey.

Rosaria talks about connecting with her neighborhood. She talks about connecting with a rough around the edges neighbor named Hank.

That welcome turn into a startling but poignant moment for her she writes:

As neighbors were texting my turned-off phone about danger at Hank’s house, I was sitting at my desk, praying for Hank. I was praying for Hank’s salvation. And then I noticed it: burly men ducking around the back of my house, wearing orange shirts marked DEA—Drug Enforcement Agency. Serene darkness exploded with the unnatural intrusion of police lights.

Yellow tape appeared everywhere—“Crime Scene.” I left my Bible open to Psalm 42 and ran to wake Kent and the children. I grabbed my phone and turned it on. The text messages bounced into life: “What’s going on at Hank’s house? I hear there is a meth lab across the street from you!” What does the conservative, Bible-believing family who lives across the street do in a crisis of this magnitude?

How ought we to think about this? How ought we to live? We could barrack ourselves in the house, remind ourselves and our children that “evil company perverts” (see 1 Cor. 15:33), and, like the good Pharisees that we are always poised to become, thank God that we are not like evil meth addicts.

We could surround our home in our own version of yellow crime-scene tape, giving the message that we are better than this, that we make good choices, that we would never fall into this mess. We could surround ourselves with fear: What if the meth lab explodes and takes out my daughter’s bedroom (the room closest to the lab) with it?

We could berate ourselves with criticism: How could we have allowed this meth addict into our hearts and our home? But that, of course, is not what Jesus calls us to do. As neighbors filed into our front yard, which had become front-row seats for an unfolding drama of epic magnitude, I scrambled eggs, put on a big pot of coffee, set out Bibles, and invited them in.

Who else but Bible-believing Christians can make redemptive sense of tragedy? Who can see hope in the promises of God when the real, lived circumstances look dire? Who else knows that the sin that will undo me is my own, not my neighbor’s, no matter how big my neighbor’s sin may appear? And where else but a Christian home should neighbors go in times of unprecedented crisis? Where else is it safe to be vulnerable, scared, lost, hopeless?

The Scriptures continually remind us of God's character, of the grace and mercy of Jesus.

This fuels our ability to welcome others.

His mercy inspires us, His love upholds us, and in Him, we are transformed into true welcomers.

This is crucial because God's plan for expanding His Kingdom isn't just about the eloquent evangelists.

I am not the paid professional, my job is to equip the saints - YOU - to do the work of the ministry.

All of us play a role in the purpose of the church.

All of us work to bring Glory to the father.

Yes when go to scripture we see amazing figures like Paul in Acts, but for every Paul, there are countless ordinary believers.

God delights to use you.

The church has always had three constants: the Word, the Spirit, and people who've tasted Christ's welcome.

It's these very people, seemingly ordinary in the world's eyes, who open up their lives, their hearts, their time, and their homes all for the glory of God.

To welcome as Christ welcomed us is to reflect the very heart of the Gospel.

It is a challenge, but one that's grounded in the profound, unconditional love that we've experienced from Christ.

As we are transformed by this love, we become instruments of it, reaching out to welcome others into the embrace of Christ.

So having seen Jesus' profound example, we must wonder: why emulate this love?

It's not just about mirroring His love or unity. Our purpose transcends these acts, leading us to the very heart of our existence...

3. God’s Great Glory (v.5-6)

Romans 15:5–6 (ESV)

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Everything we do, every step we take in our faith, is a compass pointing towards one true north: the glory of God.

This is our ultimate destination and the culmination of all creation's yearning.

But so often people miss it.

(When I graduated my plan was to hike to the bottom of grand canyon)

Imagine standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time.

Before you is an immense chasm that stretches as far as the eye can see.

The sheer size and majesty of it all take your breath away.

No photograph, no video, no words of others had prepared you for the overwhelming magnitude of what you're witnessing.

Now, as you stand there, imagine if someone beside you was entirely focused on a small pebble at their feet, marveling at its shape and color, oblivious to the vast expanse before them.

You'd probably think, "How can they fixate on that tiny stone when there's such grandeur right before their eyes?"

This is the difference between our human perspective and understanding of glory compared to the unparalleled, infinite glory of God.

Our achievements, the accolades of people, the wonders of this world, as impressive as they may be, are like that pebble compared to the Grand Canyon of God's glory.

While we often get caught up in the minutiae of life or the transient glories of this world, the eternal and surpassing glory of God stands vast and unchanging.

It's waiting for us to lift our eyes, to shift our focus, and to stand in awe of the One who surpasses all understanding.

We as the church are called to pull the gaze off of the mundane to look up and see the majestic.

Paul’s fervent prayer for the Roman church, and indeed for all of us, is that with a unified voice we would glorify God.

It's a call for harmony, where multiple voices, with their unique notes and range, come together to form a magnificent praise.

Just like a chord (C, E, G) that resonates beautifully because of its distinct notes, our diversity enriches our praise.

Johann Sebastian Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.”

He headed his compositions: “J.J.” “Jesus Juva” which means “Jesus help me.”

He ended them “S.D.G.” “Soli Dei Gloria” which means “To God alone the glory.”

When we talk about harmony and unity we have to keep in mind that unity in itself isn't the goal.

Instead, the goal is to amplify the greatness of God.

In that we get unity (when that is our focus)

Through the Gospel of Jesus, God has displayed His magnificent power, uniting people from various walks of life into one family.

Our mission of welcoming others as Jesus did isn't simply about being gracious hosts.

The heart of the matter is to showcase God's glory.

Our harmony, our united front, stands as a testament to the world.

It speaks of a profound purpose that has united our hearts.

Whether it's our worship service, community group, children's ministry, acts of service, or leadership meetings – every act, every gathering, every effort is directed towards magnifying the beauty, greatness, and matchlessness of God.

We might be imperfect in our ways, but our collective harmony stand as a beacon, reflecting our true allegiance and citizenship in God's Kingdom.

Would you pray that the atmosphere in Coram Deo Church showcases this?

Let's be a community that wholeheartedly welcomes everyone - those who might have misunderstandings about Jesus, those who grapple with challenges, the young in faith, or those still finding their way.

Would our love and warmth resonate so deeply that people would declare, “Surely God is in this place.”

When God's glory is the central theme of our existence, every act, no matter how big or small, becomes a significant part of a grand symphony.

We exist to make much of Jesus. We exist for the glory of God.

And as we continue to make this purpose our purpose, we indeed become the hands and feet of Jesus, showing the world the depth of God's love and majesty.

Spurgeon:

“Give yourself to the Church. You that are members of the Church have not found it perfect and I hope that you feel almost glad that you have not. If I had never joined a Church till I had found one that was perfect, I would never have joined one at all! And the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect Church after I had become a member of it.

Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us… All who have first given themselves to the Lord, should, as speedily as possible, also give themselves to the Lord’s people. How else is there to be a Church on the earth? If it is right for anyone to refrain from membership in the Church, it is right for everyone, and then the testimony for God would be lost to the world!

As I have already said, the Church is faulty, but that is no excuse for your not joining it, if you are the Lord’s. Nor need your own faults keep you back, for the Church is not an institution for perfect people, but a sanctuary for sinners saved by grace, who, though they are saved, are still sinners and need all the help they can derive from the sympathy and guidance of their fellow believers.

The Church is the nursery for God’s weak children where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep—the home for Christ’s family.”

Application Questions

1. Have I experienced the welcome of Jesus for myself?

2. When I feel empowered or 'strong', what hinders me from supporting those who are 'weak'?

3. How does Jesus’ finished work encourage & empower me to open up my life for others’ good?

4. How can I better align my daily actions and decisions to reflect and magnify God's unparalleled glory?