The purpose of the Church
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Introduction
Introduction
This evening we are going to explore the the purpose for the church.
I would like to start off by ask asking you a question:
What do you think of when I say the word “church”?
Help conversation about different aspects and ideas about the church
Now that we have dug through our heads, lets see what the Bible say about what the church is...
What is the church?
What is the church?
It can be confusing when we use the same word both a building and a group of people.
It is important to understand that in the Bible the church is people and not a building.
Fully answering the question of what the church is would take a long time, the Bible has over one hundred illustrations and statements talking about the subject. The most important word the Bible uses is the word “ekklēsia”
The word “ekklēsia” is translated church in our Bibles, and has the idea of a “gathering” of those who are “called out” for a purpose.
Leland Ryken, Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, et al., Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 147.
The church is also called the body of Christ in scripture in many places.
Can someone read:
And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1
And he subjected everything under his feet,ae and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
As his body, we are to continue what Jesus started 2000 years ago. He gave us a mission before he went to heaven:
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
And that is the purpose of the Church! Making Disciples. That it! any questions?
Of course there is plenty more to talk about. The next question is how does the church accomplish this mission? What does the church do?
What does the church do?
What does the church do?
I want to propose 5 key things the church does to accomplish it’s goal of making disciples.
Have students help you by looking around the room for hidden papers with the words on them.
After they are all found, split into 5 groups. Have them discuss for 5 minutes why this element is important for making disciples and them come and share. Bonus points if they have a verse to support their ideas.
Let’s take a look at our 5 key activities:
Evangelism
Evangelism
How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
Evangelism is the first and most important purpose for the church.
coming to Christ there would be no church. We cannot train someone in the
Without people coming to Christ there would be no church. We cannot train someone in the Word of God until they become a believer. We must always keep this as one of our highest priorities, because evangelism is the life blood of the church.
Word of God until they become a believer. We must always keep this as one of
our highest priorities, because evangelism is the life blood of the church.
Teaching
Teaching
teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Biblical teaching is the food of the church.
the believer know what God’s will is for their life. Jesus commanded the disciples
Disciples must understand what God’s word says in order to grow. Jesus commanded the disciples to teach all things He had commanded them. Paul told Timothy that he should give attention to reading the scriptures publicly and also to teach them. Notice that the early church believers were committing themselves to the apostle’s doctrine (teaching).
to teach all things He had commanded them. Paul told Timothy that he
should give attention to reading the scriptures publicly and also to teach them.
The most powerful influence in the life of a believer is the Word of God.
Therefore, good teaching of the Bible is critical in the church.
Notice that the early church believers were committing themselves to the apostle’s
Fellowship
Fellowship
doctrine (teaching). The most powerful influence in the life of a believer is
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
the Word of God. Therefore, teaching the Bible must be a high priority in the
And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
church.
Discipleship takes place in a community. A Christian cannot grow alone.
faith and needed encouragement from each other. They are breaking bread
(they were eating together and possibly celebrating the Lords supper), having
prayer together and worshiping together. This is the essence of true fellowship.
We see the early believers assembling together often. They had the common faith and needed encouragement from each other. They are breaking bread (they were eating together and possibly celebrating the Lords supper), having prayer together and worshiping together. This is the essence of true fellowship. As the church grew, each city formed a local assembly which met together for fellowship.
As the church grew, each city formed a local assembly which met together for
Worship
Worship
Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.
Praise him for his powerful acts;
praise him for his abundant greatness.
Praise him with trumpet blast;
praise him with harp and lyre.
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and flute.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!
fellowship.
Sincere public worship with other believers brings unity in the church, is a powerful testimony, and brings glory to God.
commandment is to love God with all our heart (). Without this
love we will not be motived to love others as ourselves. Our love for God is displayed
Worship is so much bigger than just music, it is a way of living your life. The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart (). Our love for God is displayed in worship and is the heartbeat of our mission as believers. Believers who worship together are putting God in His rightful and proper place in their lives.
in worship and is the heartbeat of our mission as believers. The believer who worships is putting God in His rightful and proper place in their lives. As this happens, service will result.
Service
Service
who worships is putting God in His rightful and proper place in their lives. As this happens, service will result.
And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
this happens, service will result.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
The natural outflow of a believer’s life is service.
equip the church so that the believers will carry out the work of the ministry. This ministry happens as individual believers use their spiritual gift to minister to others
God has gifted pastors to equip the church so that the believers will carry out the work of the ministry. This ministry happens as individual believers use their spiritual gift to minister to others. Most service happens outside of a church building as Christians do life together.
This ministry happens as individual believers use their spiritual gift to minister to
others
Now that we have discussed what the church does, how do we personally be the church?
How do we be the church?
How do we be the church?
So how can we do all of these things well? Do we have to be a super christian to be good disciple makers?
The church is an amazing thing capable of accomplishing a seemingly impossible task.
Lets looks at what this verse says:
“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
That’s a pretty incredible statement. How are we supposed to do greater works than Jesus? I haven't performed any miracles lately, have you? Fortunately, we don’t need to perform miracles to accomplish the mission Jesus gave us. In fact, we don’t have to rely on ourselves at all! That’s why Jesus sent us a helper!
Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
Something simple we can forget is that as a member of the church, we are not the whole church, and we do not have the responsibility of the whole church on our shoulders. Thinking this way will make us feel overwhelmed, like being a Christian is a burden we have to carry through our lives.
If we feel like we have to meet an impossible expectation in order to be considered a “good” christian, we will be ineffective in our work and find no joy in it.
What does scripture say is excepted of us?
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
What God desires from us is humility and availability. The truth is you can’t muster up the discipline, the intelligence, the strength, the perseverance or endurance you need. “Trying harder” to be a better christian is never prescribed in scripture. Instead Jesus is called the true vine and we are the branches.
Our spiritual growth is a natural result of our relationship with Jesus.
If you feel discouraged about your personal lack in any of the 5 areas we discussed, then the solution focusing on your relationship with Jesus.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
If the idea of drawing near to God confuses you or is unclear, then I encourage you to talk to a strong Christian you trust about it.
When you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, these 5 things will happen naturally.
You will share the gospel with people because you can’t keep quiet about it! You will teach those younger than you because you love talking about it. You will fellowship because of the Joy it brings you. You will worship because it’s the only reasonable response to being loved so much. You will serve because you have a passion to do so.
You don’t have all the spiritual gifts, so you will never excel in all things. You may never be great at teaching or evangelism, and you have have to be. But if we are going to be obedient to God as we should be involved in all of these things at SOME level.
That is what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you.
I hope now you understand better the wonderful grace God gives us in His Spirit. Lets talk about application...
Application
Application
You don’t have all the spiritual gifts, so you will never excel in all things. You may never be great at teaching or evangelism, and you have have to be. But if we are going to be obedient to God as we should be involved in all 5 of these things at SOME level.
A few questions to ask yourself:
Do you have a relationship with Jesus?
Are you being willingly disobedient in any of these 5 areas?
What area do you need to pray for God give you opportunity in?
Do you need to pray for wisdom to understand more about your spiritual gift?
To end, I would like us to get in groups of 2 or three. Discuss what area(s) you would to pray about for God to change your heart and give your opportunity to obey. Then pray for each other.