Why Church?

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What is the church?

People, not a place

A people called out of the world to worship God

We see a pattern of calling, separating, and worshipping

Starting w/ Adam being placed in the garden to worship

Noah, being called by God to worship

Abraham, being separated from all the other nations

Moses, leading the people into the wilderness, to be free from Pharaoh to worship

David was called “the Lord’s annointed”

Solomon built the temple, where God’s holy presence rested

Isreal was scatter, sent into captivity, God gathered them back together to Worship

Then we see Jesus use the word “Church” to talk about the assembled collection of worshipers

John 4:21–24 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

“What does all of this hearing, speaking, standing, sitting, singing, praying, eating, and drinking accomplish? Why this particular set of actives and not others? What do we achieve by doing these things? At the end of the service what will have happened? What will have changed, if anything? Are we there for an emotional experience? An educational lesson? To praise God? What is the point of doing all this?

4 Incomplete Pictures of Sunday Worship

Is going to church each Sunday actually important, or is it simply something to do if it’s convenient?

Worship as Evangelism

Worship as Education

Worship as Experience

Worship as Exultation (or Praise)

Worship as Covenant Renewal

Call to worship

Confession

Consecration

Communion

Commission

Baptism

Baptism is the entrance into this covenant relationship with God

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12–14 ESV

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.