The Church! Who Needs It?

They knocked on doors and they just asked people this question: “If you don’t go to church, what are the reasons for it? There are five reasons. Reason number one, ‘It’s boring.’ Reason number two people said, church is irrelevant. Reason number three they said, ‘they’re always asking for money.’ Reason number four people said, ‘I’m too busy already.’ And reason number five is ‘I feel awkward when I come to church.’

Acts 1:12–15 NLT

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.

Acts 2:1 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:7–13 NKJV

Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

So I was reading a book, it was written by Dean Merrill, the vice president of the International Bible Society. And the name of his book, it’s really a clever title Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church is the name of the book. And he said, “On any given weekend about thirty-seven percent of Americans show up in church. The other sixty-three percent are reading the paper, drinking coffee, sleeping in, playing golf, or engaging in some other form of recreation.”

How many of that 37% are extremely devoted to the cause of Christ?

George Gallup in Saints Among Us, 13 % live deeply spiritual lives.

In the United States, 100 churches close per week.

The biggest reason for church closings is a decline in church membership. A March poll from Gallup found that fewer than half (47%) of Americans say they belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from more than 70% in 2000.

Combine China, Africa, and Latin America about 3,000 converts per hour

1. We Need God’s People

Psalm 68:6 NKJV

God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

1 John 1:3–4 NKJV

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NKJV

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Leadership magazine, ninety percent of new church members will stay in the church if number one they can learn to articulate their faith, number two they belong to subgroups within the church, like choir, Bible study group, Sunday School class; and number three, if they have four to eight close friendships within the church.”

2. We Need God’s Perspective

1 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV)

but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

3. We Need God’s Purpose

Philippians 1:3–5 (NKJV)

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

The purpose of God’s Church on earth is to change one life at a time through the preaching of the Gospel.

4. We Need God’s Presence

Matthew 18:20 NKJV

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

A. W. Tozer wrote, “It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God’s professed children are bored with him for they must be wooed to a meeting with a stick of striped candy in the form of religious movies, games, and refreshments.”

We are created with a need to worship Him!

Revelation 4:11 NKJV

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Hebrews 10:25 CEV

Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.