The Purpose Of The Church

TITLE:  THE ESSENCE OF OUR EXISTENCE

THEME: The Purpose Of The Church

TEXT:  ASSORTED

By: Pastor Schreck

INTRO:   It's been said that Socrates was wise.  Not because he knew the right answers...but because he knew how to ask all the right questions.       And of all the questions to ask..., none seem to delve into the depths as fast as the question: WHY?

          A.  The O.T. is replete with penetrating WHY'S?  

                             1) God asked Cain:  "Why are you anxious?..." 

                             2)  He asked Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh?"

                             3)  Moses asked: "Why is the bush not burned up?"

                             4)  Nathan questioned  David: "Why have you despised the word of

                                   the Lord?"

                             5)  Job asked: "Why did I not die at birth?"

          B.  In the N.T. "WHY"  seems to be a favorite question that Jesus Asked:

                             1)  Why are you anxious?...

                             2)  Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye?...

                             3)  Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?...

                             4)  Why do you not believe me?...

                             5)  Why have you forsaken me?...

WHY has a way of tearing through the superficial husk of a matter, right down to the cob.  The question we are asking this morning is no exception....   WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST?  More specifically:  WHY DOES THIS CHURCH EXIST?  It is a question of PURPOSE.  For unless we know why we are...we will not know what we are to do...

When all the extras are set aside, when we dig right down to the taproot reason for our being on earth at this time,  what do we find,  Why on earth is the CHURCH in the world?   The answer to this question will... and should... radically affect the way we think and live.

I.   THE PRIMARY ISSUE-- Like Socrates, we want to learn to ask the right questions.  Like a pick and shovel, good questions are the best way to uncover what's not so obvious on the surface.                           

      A.  QUESTION:  " WHY ARE WE IN EXISTENCE AS A LOCAL CHURCH?"

            1.  Possible answers might be:

                  a. To present the gospel to the lost.

                  b. To bring hope to the hurting.

                  c.  To provide a place of worship and instruction.

                  d.  To equip saints for the work of ministry.

                  e.  To comfort the grieving.

                  f.  To feed the hungry.

                  g.  To help the needy.

             2.  While these are all very good answers and certainly worthwhile reasons, 

                   they are not the primary reason for the existence of the Church in the

                   World.

       B. ANSWER:  "TO GLORIFY THE LORD OUR GOD."  

             1.  I Cor. 10:31- Explicitly States the reason for our existence. READ IT

             2.  I Cor. 6: 19-20 -- Paul reiterates our purpose.   READ IT

             3.  Romans 15:5-6 -- Paul articulates the same purpose of the Church.   READ IT

NOTE:     

               The N.T. Throbs with an all consuming purpose to glorify God, yet the twentieth-century pulse grows faint at this point....Our heartbeat is more in line with corporate America than with the early church...more with Madison Ave. than with the N.T. Manuscripts.  Our goals, if we even have them are to be self -  sufficient...content  with the status quo...Don't rock the boat..get along...please everyone...don't do more than what's expected because then more will be expected... That's corporate America.   Just put in your time!  Then go home....If this is so for the church, then "Why do I spend time in preparing sermons, Why do we have Sunday School,Why , Why, Why,?"

              4.  II Thess. 1:1-12--Supports the only viable answer...To Glorify God.  THE

                   CHURCH'S PRIMARY REASON FOR  EXISTING ON THIS EARTH IS: 

                   "TO GLORIFY GOD"

                   a.  NOTE THE RECIPROCAL ACTION IN THESE VERSES:

                        * AS YOU GLORIFY GOD...YOU WILL BE GLORIFIED IN HIM.

                        * And when others observe your life, They will want to glorify

                             Him...Matt.5:16    "let your Light so shine..."

              5.  WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM suggest this about the

                   Churches purpose:  to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

II.  LET'S ANALYZE THIS ANSWER A BIT.

      A.  WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GLORIFY GOD? --Three of the most common

             meanings of the word "glory."

              1.  A bright, shining light.-- Shekinah glory(lit. dwelling of God)

                   a.  Denotes the visible presence of God-Isa. 60:2

                   b.  Alluded to in Isa. 60:2 as "His Glory"

                   c.  Exodus 40:34- Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the

                             glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

                   d.  God Led the Israelites with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by

                         night...but when the tabernacle was finished and His presence rested

                             in the Holy of Holies,  He took the form of a brilliant light.

               2.  A unique representation or distinct appearance.

                    a.  I Cor. 15:39-41 -- GLORY is used of celestial bodies.

                    b.  GLORY, in this passage, refers to the unique characteristics of every

                          created thing.

                3.  To magnify or elevate, shedding radiance or splendor on another.      

                     WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GLORIFY GOD? 

                     a.  It means to magnify and elevate the Lord God as we diminish and

                             deny ourselves.

                            *  This is best illustrated by John the Baptist:  "He must increase, but

                                      I must decrease." (Jn.3:30)

                     b.  It means being occupied with and committed to God's ways rather

                             than preoccupied with and determined to accomplish our own

                             ways.    

                     c.  NOTE:  It seems easy to "glorify God when things are going great...

                                         But what about the times when life just seems to get you

                                         down....nothing is going right...

                                          DAVID said this:  In the Day of my trouble I shall call upon

                                          thee, for thou wilt answer me. Ps.86:1-7

  PRAISE FROM THE PIT

In the day of his trouble, David called upon the Lord.  In the day of your trouble, to whom do you call?

In the day of financial trouble, do you try to "Master the possibilities" with Master Card or do you call upon the Master?

In the day of trouble in finding God's will, do you seek out the counsel of a man, or do you seek out the one who's name is wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace?

In times of trouble....sing praises to God instead of singing the blues.   Ps. 86:8-12

      B.  WHERE DOES IT APPLY? --- Getting down to everyday life... It applies to:

            1.  When. 

                   a. When you are unsure...                    

                   b.  When you need to make a decision...

                   c.  When you need guidance...

                   d.  When you find it necessary to relinquish a dream and walk away

                             willingly...not be grudgingly.

             2.   In. 

                  a.  In Public and Private life.

                   b.  In Relationships.

                   c.  In your home.

                   d.  In Your studies.

                   e.  In Fame & Fortune...He must be the focus ...the spotlight should be on

                             Him.

              3.  If.  

                    a.  If  the person you love stays or leaves.

                    b.  If  the cause you support... wins or loses.

                    c.  If the plans you arrange succeed or fail.... GOD SHOULD AND MUST

                         RECEIVE THE GLORY.

III. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.  "HOW CAN THIS TRUTH

      ABOUT GOD'S GLORY WORK IN MY LIFE ?

       A. Three thoughts.  Three thoughts about taking God's glory out of the realm of 

                   the  theoretical  and into the practical:

             1.  Cultivate the habit of including the Lord in every segment of your life.  

                   ASK YOURSELF: "Is God getting the Glory?"

             2.  Refuse to expect or accept any of the glory that ought to be God's.

             3.  Maintain a priority relationship with Him that's more important than

                   any other on earth.

                    More important than spouse, children, family, friends, job, etc.

                     Matt. 10:37-38

         B.  Three Actions.   To put some shoe leather on these three thoughts, here are

                   three  actions to go along with the thoughts.

                                            .

                1.  To help cultivate the habit of including the Lord in every segment of

                      your life, meet with Him often  and meet with Him alone.    No Fast

                      Foods

                2.  To help not expect or accept any of the glory, openly admit your

                      struggle with pride.

                       --Tell your family...Tell a support group...

                 3.  To help maintain that priority relationship with Him, filter

                       everything through this question:  Will this bring Glory to God?

                        -- Don't fake humility

Concluding thought: