Church Involvement
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What and Why The Church?
What and Why The Church?
Today we’re going to discuss the importance of The Church individually and collectively.
We’re going to ask an answer three important questions
What is The Church?
Why is The Church Needed?
Why must we go “to Church”?
What is The Church?
It comes from a Greek word which means “an assembly called out from among the general population”
It was used for governmental bodies within Roman and Greek society
In God’s use of it, it is used to describe the collective group of people who have answered His call to be a part of His Kingdom and government
It is used to refer to both the world wide group/body of Born Again Christians, as well as of those in a specific location (i.e. Hanford, L.A., etc.)
The Church, in Scripture, is called “The Body of Christ”, with Jesus Christ as “The Head”
As with a natural body, all actions and directions a persons body partakes of comes from our “head/brain”.
“The Body” (The Church) carries out the directions of “The Head” (Jesus), while The Head is keeping care of The Body by sensing hunger, thirst, health, immune responses.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians
Each body part has a vital function
We become part of Jesus’ Body (The Church) when we receive The Holy Spirit/Ghost
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
2. Why is The Church Necessary?
(1) It’s needed for the organization of believers
1 Corinthians
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
God is not a God of confusion
It also provides leadership and increases multiplies the rate of growth in spirit
(2) It provides proper fellowship/participation for believers
Fellowship of believers is commanded by God and was the practice of the early Church
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Good fellowship is important for ALL Christians, old and new alike
Good fellowship is important for ALL Christians, old and new alike
Good fellowship includes mutual encouragement (), Edification (building up) (), and sharing of joys and hurts/burdens of life ()
(3) It provides for the teaching of believers
Teaching and training are provided so the Christian can grow in spirit (inwardly) and learn to minister to others.
We learn doctrine (teaching on specific vital topics) through The Church
(4) It provides us an opportunity for group worship of God.
God desires and instructs us on our faithful, loving worship.
Worship is our heart/emotion filled recognition of Who we know Jesus to be (Savior, Provider, Protector, etc).
Groups worship, singing, and praise both honors God and is helpful to our growth.
(5) It provides a place for us to be in an atmosphere where God’s Spirit/Presence can reside and be felt.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 3
Acts
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(6) It gives us an opportunity for service.
The Church provides us with a place where we can use and practice using the gifts God has given us (physically, spiritually)
3. Why Should I Go?
The First reason you should go is because of all the reasons given for why The Church is necessary.
Secondly God commands us ()
Group involvement also keeps us from extremes, which on our own is easy to fall into.
The group helps us to gauge what the “norm” is.
More seasoned believers can help us through problems younger believers may have.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
