Why I love my church

Text: I Timothy 3:15-16

CIT: Because Christ is the truth, His church exists to display Him to the world.

That allows every point to move in one direction.

The Flow of the Text

Notice Paul’s progression: v.15

The church is:

The house of God

The church of the living God

The pillar and ground of the truth

v.16

Then Paul immediately explains the truth:

Manifest in flesh

Justified in Spirit

Seen of angels

Preached among Gentiles

Believed on in world

Received into glory

The church is not the hero.

Christ is.

Why I Love My Church

Not because of:

programs

people

history

traditions

But because:

My church exists to hold up Jesus Christ.

CIT:Because Christ is the truth, the church exists to display Him faithfully to the world.

I. I Love My Church Because It Belongs To God (v.15)

“the house of God, which is the church of the living God”

Emphasis:

The church is not man’s invention.

It is:

God’s house

God’s people

God’s possession

This is where your material about:

faith not facilities

stretch not size

transformation not talent

fits naturally.

Application

I don’t love the church because it is perfect.

I love the church because it belongs to Christ.

II. I Love My Church Because It Bears God’s Truth (v.15)

“the pillar and ground of the truth”

The church has one primary assignment:

Not entertainment.

Not politics.

Not popularity.

Truth.

Explain:

Pillar

Visible support.

The church lifts truth high.

Ground

Foundation.

The church protects truth from erosion.

Application

Every ministry must answer one question:

Does it help people know Christ more clearly?

Not:

Was it fun?

Was it trendy?

Was it impressive?

But:

Was truth proclaimed?

III. I Love My Church Because It Proclaims God’s Son (v.16)

Now verse 16 becomes the climax instead of an add-on.

The question becomes:

“What truth are we holding up?”

Answer:

Jesus.

You can move rapidly through the six statements.

Christ Revealed

Manifest in flesh

Christ Vindicated

Justified in Spirit

Christ Adored

Seen of angels

Christ Proclaimed

Preached unto Gentiles

Christ Received

Believed on in the world

Christ Exalted

Received up into glory

Notice:

The church is not holding up doctrine as an abstract system.

The church is holding up Christ.

Stronger Conclusion

Right now the sermon ends with:

“A love for the church is built on a love for truth.”

That’s good.

But I’d sharpen it:

I do not love the church because it is flawless.

I love the church because no institution on earth has been entrusted with a greater responsibility.

The church is the house of God.

The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.

The church is the God-ordained means by which the world hears of Jesus Christ.

Governments will fall.

Businesses will close.

Empires will disappear.

But Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.

Therefore, I love what Christ loves.