The Church
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Wednesday Bible Class • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:56
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· 122 viewsGod porovidentially cares for His Church.
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Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The word “church” in the Greek language means “the called out ones,” meaning, those who were called out of the world when they were baptized into Christ.
God Providentially cares for the Church
He has a Plan for the Church
He has Promises to the Church
He is aware of the Problems of the Church
He is Perfecting the Church
The church is “the house of the Lord”—Psalm 122:1.
1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
I. THE PLAN OF THE CHURCH
I. THE PLAN OF THE CHURCH
A. To Evangelize
A. To Evangelize
Mark 16:15. Jesus’ last words were to “go.” Note the result of obedience to the Lord’s command—Mark 16:20.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
B. To Educate/ Edify
B. To Educate/ Edify
Matthew 28:19–20. After a person accepts Christ, they must be taught. The word “preach” appears 175 times in the Bible while “teach” appears 216 times.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
To Edify
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Dear brothers, honor the officers of your church who work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong”—1 Thessalonians 5:11–12, Living New Testament.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
C. To Love One Another/ Benevolence
C. To Love One Another/ Benevolence
1 Let brotherly love continue.
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
II. THE PROMISE TO THE CHURCH
II. THE PROMISE TO THE CHURCH
“And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”—Matthew 16:18.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
A. Satan may cripple the church, but he can’t destroy it!
A. Satan may cripple the church, but he can’t destroy it!
Satan sends divisions, strife, etc. However, read Psalm 133:1 and Acts 2:1. The importance of unity.
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
B. Satan may confuse the church, but cannot destroy it.
B. Satan may confuse the church, but cannot destroy it.
Satan may send troublemakers into the church. However read Romans 16:17.
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
C. Satan may contaminate the church, but he cannot destroy it.
C. Satan may contaminate the church, but he cannot destroy it.
Sometimes the world comes into the church. The Bible says, “cleanse yourselves”—2 Corinthians 7:1. Then we have a clean church.
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
III. THE PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH
III. THE PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH
A. Cults
A. Cults
Matthew 24:24. These false religions will deceive the very best Christians.
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
B. Complaining
B. Complaining
Jude 16. Some people are never satisfied. God’s work does not grow because of complaining Christians.
16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
C. Confusion
C. Confusion
“For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won’t like what I find, and then you won’t like the way I need to act. I am afraid that I will find you quarreling, and envying each other, and being angry with each other, and acting big, and saying things about each other, whispering behind each other’s backs, and that you will be loud and coarse”—2 Corinthians 12:20, Living New Testament.
20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
D. Carnality
D. Carnality
1 Corinthians 3:1. Christians who live backslidden lives and commit sins. A carnal person is against God—Romans 8:7.
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
E. Complacency
E. Complacency
—Matthew 24:12. The love of many Christians will grow cold. Christians will be indifferent and unconcerned.
IV. THE PERFECTION OF THE CHURCH
IV. THE PERFECTION OF THE CHURCH
A. Cleansed Church
A. Cleansed Church
—Ephesians 5:26. God wants His church to be a clean and holy place. He wants His people clean and holy.
B. Consecrated Church
B. Consecrated Church
—Ephesians 5:27. Holy and without spot.
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
C. Concerned Church—
C. Concerned Church—
1. Concerned with man’s physical needs
1. Concerned with man’s physical needs
3 John 2.
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
2. Concerned with man’s spiritual needs
2. Concerned with man’s spiritual needs
John 3:3.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
3. Concerned with man’s mental needs
3. Concerned with man’s mental needs
Philippians 4:7.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The church can only move forward as Christians unite and cooperate together.
We cannot reach the lost without unity and cooperation.
It is the members who make the church.
Let’s all be the best of Christians![1]
[1] Pentz, C. M. (1970). Prayer Meeting Outlines (pp. 61–63). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.