THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

The practice of assembling with a church is important…

Hebrews 10:24–25 ASV

24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

Naturally, we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong and working one

But such may not always be the case

In New Testament times, there were many good congregations

But some were not what they should have been

Revelation 2:4 ASV

4 But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

Revelation 2:14–15 ASV

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

Revelation 3:2 ASV

2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.

Revelation 3:15–17 ASV

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

What, then, is the measure of a strong and working church?

Most often when we think of the work of the church we think in terms of Evangelism, Edification, and Benevolence - and rightly so

Sadly, though, some seem to focus only on:

The building (or lack thereof); the number of programs, classes, etc.

How smoothly it runs as an organization, with its committees, departments, etc.

But a congregation can have all these things and still be dead!

But today I want us to look at the work of the church from a different angle…

I suggest a better measure is to think of the church in terms used in the Bible to describe its characteristics and work…

Such as body, family, temple, kingdom, bride

Granted these are terms used to describe the universal church; but I believe these figures of speech can help us to properly measure the strength of a local congregation, and the work in which we are to be involved.

A working church will…

DISCUSSION

FUNCTION LIKE A BODY

The Church is the Body of Christ

Note Paul’s description…

1 Corinthians 12:27 ASV

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.

As such, it is an organism, rather than simply an organization

You can have organization, but still not have life! – a dead body

“The foot bone's connected to the leg bone...” can just as easily be said of a corpse as with a living body

The Body of Christ has Many Members

Not all have the same function…

Romans 12:3–8 ASV

3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Every member must appreciate his or her own function…

1 Corinthians 12:14–19 ASV

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Every member must appreciate the function of others…

1 Corinthians 12:20–22 ASV

20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:

The Body Must Have Members Who Fulfill Their Function

Growth occurs when “every part does its share” …

Ephesians 4:15–16 ASV

15 but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link

So, a body's strength is affected by weak and inactive members!

Injury or physical handicaps limit the ability of the body to perform

Others may try to help, but that limits what other work they would normally do

How each of us functions as a member of the body affects the strength and work of this congregation!

What is the work of the church? - To function like a Body

A strong working church is also one which...

LOVES LIKE A FAMILY

The Church is the Household of God

That is, it is the “family” of God…

1 Timothy 3:15 ASV

15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Do we think of each other as family? We should! …

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ASV

1 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

A Strong Family is One Where there is...

Concern and care for one another

Love for one another - e.g., the church at Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 ASV

9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; 10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;

2 Thessalonians 1:3 ASV

3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;

To Develop a Sense of Family Requires...

A willingness to get to know one another

Taking advantage of opportunities to spend time together

How well we love one another will be a true measure of the strength and work of this church!

What is the work of the church? - To Love like a Family

A strong and working church will also be one that...

PRAISES LIKE A TEMPLE

Temples of Old Were Built to Glorify...

The design of the structures were designed to praise the being to which they were dedicated

Sacrifices and services rendered in the worship

The Church is God’s Temple Today...

We are the temple, and priests who offer spiritual sacrifices

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ASV

16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

1 Peter 2:5 ASV

5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our purpose: to proclaim the praises of God…

1 Peter 2:9–10 ASV

9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

How Do We Offer Sacrifices and Praise to God?

By lifting our voices in song and prayer…

Hebrews 13:15 ASV

15 Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.

By doing good deeds…

Hebrews 13:16 ASV

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

By offering ourselves’ as living sacrifices…

Romans 12:1–2 ASV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

How each of us praise God with our voices, body and service is a true measure of this church

Let's be careful not to despise the name of the God we serve as a temple and priests

Malachi 1:6–8 ASV

6 A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible. 8 And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.

What is the work of the church? - To Praise like a Temple

Consider also that a strong and working church is one that...

SUBMITS LIKE A KINGDOM

As the Church, we are in the Kingdom of Christ

As were the Colossians…

Colossians 1:13 ASV

13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;

As was John the apostle…

Revelation 1:9 ASV

9 I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

A Kingdom Suggests Allegiance and Obedience to a King

Unfortunately, many churches are more like the kingdom of England

Where the king (or queen) is only a symbolical figure head

The true decision-making power is in parliament

But a strong and working church is one in which the citizens (members) submit to Christ as King in reality

Colossians 3:17 ASV

17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Acts 2:36 ASV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.

Where things are done as He directs, by His authority

Where we follow His commands, and not make up our own rules

How each person submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a true measure any congregation.

Finally, a strong and working church is one that...

IS PURE AS A BRIDE

The Church is the Bride Of Christ

Paul wrote of the church as a bride…

2 Corinthians 11:1–2 ASV

1 Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

One that he had betrothed to Christ

One that has a responsibility to be pure and chaste

Christ thinks of His church in the same way…

Ephesians 5:25–29 ASV

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;

He offered Himself to enable her to be pure and holy

He did this out of His great love for her!

John was told of the future marriage…

Revelation 19:6–9 ASV

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth. 7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.

Note that the bride has made herself ready

She was adorned by the righteous acts of the saints

As the Bride, we Must Maintain Our Purity and Adornment

By being cleansed through the blood of Christ...

First in baptism…

Acts 2:38 ASV

38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16 ASV

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

Then in confessing our sins…

1 John 1:9 ASV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We also maintain our purity...

By our righteous acts…

Revelation 19:8 ASV

8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

By abstaining from unrighteous deeds…

Ephesians 5:3–5 ASV

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

CONCLUSION

Such is The Measure of a Strong and Working Church, one that...

Functions like a Body

Loves like a family

Praises like a Temple

Submits like a kingdom

Is pure as a Bride

How each person does his or her part will have an effect on the measure of this church...

We may have the best organization, and all the outwards signs of a strong congregation

But we may be just like the church at Sardis…

Revelation 3:1 ASV

1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

Are all of us doing what we can (indeed, what we must) to make the church strong and working in the eyes of the Lord?