Sermon Tone Analysis

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