Why Church?

Matthew 16:13–18 KJV 1900

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

does church really matter?

does it matter if we assemble on a Sunday or if we stay home and watch online?

does it matter if we are a part of a local assembly, or if we are merely a subscriber?

I can listen to messages from a vast variety of pastors

And I praise the Lord for the ability to have all the tools, influences in our lives -

I listen to messages

I listen to podcasts

I watch material / content that others have put out that God is using… it’s a great tool - But does it replace church?

I can watch whatever service I want -

I can listen to it on the way to a day in the woods

I can watch it as we go to the ocean

after all - doesn’t it only matter if I listened to a message for the week?

Does it really matter if I attend the services offered???

Sunday am

Sunday pm

Wednesday night?

Well Pastor - “I’m not “ON”, these other services, so I don’t need to be there...”

I “work” these services...

(You won’t be working at all -if this doesn’t change)

You and I are not replaceable-

God’s work is bigger than me

God’s work is bigger than you

I was listening to a podcast earlier in the week regarding the effect of consuming church online (again - if you are watching online - this is not an attack - we have it so people can watch) but - it’s not a replacement of the church...

One of the hosts - who is in “full time ministry” - said that their family does’t watch their church’s services online - because it is “too churchy” - they have chosen to “supplement” with other online “content” that is more “engaging”.

WHAT IS GOING ON???

is church about “consumer driven content” -

about the consumer???

are we consumers???

is this entertainment?

is the church relegated to compete with:

Amazon’s selection

Olive garden’s service

Net flicks - entertainment??

Why Church?

Pray:

I think it is an appropriate thing for all of us to stop and have some reflection of where we are spiritually...

I believe that Barna Group was quoted as saying that 2 out of 5 churches will not survive the COVID 19 Pandemic.

that is a 40% failure rate...

with churches closing at a rate of 300 a month - 75 per week - what is the future?

“Church survival is not dependent upon the circumstances of society”

Matthew 16:18 KJV 1900

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The church has survived....

The very symbol of Christianity is the cross - Persecution - is in our very foundation...

Jews against Christians - Stephen - the 1st recorded martyr in the NT - at the hand of Jewish persecutors - Saul - Sanhedrin - later saved - Apostle Paul

Roman Empire

AD 64 - Nero organized the first persecution of the church - blaming them for the Great Fire of Rome -

Christians afterwards were blamed for: famines, pestilence

(churches are blamed as hotspots for covid - but the riots / Walmart / casino’s are not the problem...

303 - Great Persecution in Rome - christians were stripped of all legal rights

313 - Edict of Milan put that persecution to an end

Middle East - historically persecuted Christians

20th Century Europe:

1922 Lenin

1941 Nazi Germany

1 Peter 4:16 KJV 1900

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

christians have willingly sacrificed their lives for the cause of Christ...

Church has had it’s enemies - from without...

church has had it’s enemies - from within...

Church is not perfect - nor was it ever designed / expected to be

Church leaders are not perfect

There are injustices that take place

there are misunderstandings

there are mistakes...

But “the church” - “the people of God” - “the local assembly” move beyond the humanity for the cause of the eternal

Why?

Does it matter?

Is the church relevant for the current society?

Why Church?

1. Elevation fo the Lord

Ephesians 3:17–21 KJV 1900

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Lift Him Up

Glorify God

Ephesians 5:19 KJV 1900

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Praise Him

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

ELEVATION OF THE LORD

2. Edification of the Believer

John 8:31 KJV 1900

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Matthew 28:20 KJV 1900

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Educate

1 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV 1900

5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV 1900

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

2 Timothy 2:2 KJV 1900

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Enlighten

Ephesians 1:18 KJV 1900

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Engage

Philippians 2:25 KJV 1900

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Philippians 4:3 KJV 1900

3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Encourage

1 Thessalonians 5:11–14 KJV 1900

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

to Keep on:

TRUSTING

TASTING

Psalm 34:8 KJV 1900

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

TELLING

2 Timothy 1:8 KJV 1900

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

ELEVATION OF THE LORD

EDIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER

3. Encountering the Lost

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV 1900

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV 1900

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

ELEVATION OF THE LORD

EDIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER

ENCOUNTERING THE LOST