Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today I want to spend just a few moments and examine a simple question.

Why Church?

What’s the point and purpose of church?

Some of us spend up to 4-5 hours a week at church, why?

I’ll be honest, when I began typing that statement out ‘4-5 hours a week’ - that’s on the high side.

That’s if you’re coming to all church services.

4-5 hours is IT.

But truthfully, most will not even commit 4-5 hours a week to the house of God.

Most of you will watch far more TV in a week than you do at the House of God.

Today I hope to help you understand why your presence and participation in church matters - and why it should be one of the greatest priorities in your life.

As we examine our text, we see Jesus referencing the church.

And there’s a couple things to note:

Jesus is building His church.

Jesus is the architect.

The church has been given incredible power - IF it operates as Christ has designed it.

As we begin to examine Why Church?

Why does gathering in the local assembly matter, the first thing that we must recognize is because Jesus was Crucified for It

I.

Because Jesus was Crucified for It

This my friend is the first - and ONLY reason necessary to make church attendance a priority in the life of the Christian.

Jesus died so we could be Saved

Act.

20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

I’m thankful that Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary so that I could be saved from the Hell that I deserve.

What a blessing!

Christ could literally have given you no more than what He gave.

He died so that you may live!

Imagine the suffering (garden, post, Cross) - and He did it for you.

Jesus died so that we could be Saved, but He also died so that we would Serve

Jesus also died so that we would Serve

Rom.

12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

You’ve been saved for a purpose.

(Ill.)

You know, you can be on the football team, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to play.

Same thing with basketball.

But this is not the way God designed the church.

There is no ‘riding the pine’ - there is a role for you in the body of Christ.

We see this principle exemplified in Eph.

4:11-13 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Jesus died so that we would Serve - be His hands & feet in this world.

And we serve in and as outreach from the local church

Why Church?

Because Jesus died for it.

And because it’s God’s Chosen Vessel to Accomplish His Will

II.

Because it’s God’s Chosen Vessel to Accomplish His Will

Joh.

15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

His Word is Directed to the Church

The majority of the NT is directed to church bodies specifically.

(Demonstrate)

A few are written to individuals, but with the organizational structure of the church in mind (1Tim., Tit)

The commendations & corrections given in Rev. 2 & 3 are directed to churches

Order is Established through the Church

God gave specific instructions for the roles, requirements and responsibilities for church leaders and its organization.

God gave men the leadership positions for a reason

God specified the qualifications and characteristics for the Spiritual leaders, as well as the Physical caretakers of the congregation

God instructed elder women to teach and train the younger

So God had a specific plan for His church - and there’s a reason for that: It’s because you can do far more with 100 people united with the same mind striving together, than with 500 scattered about doing their own thing how they see fit.

Discipline is Administered through the Church

Jesus Declared it (Mat.

18:15-17)

Jesus understood how to settle a problem.

He gave the answer for mediation and discipline whenever you had offences between brothers.

If they couldn’t settle the issue amongst themselves, they were to bring mediators, if that didn’t do it, they were to bring it before the church, and then the church would discipline the offender.

Jesus Himself declared it - then Paul declared it

Paul Declared it (1Cor.

5-6:8)

Paul speaks of sin that is known to be in the church, and he chastises the church for not bringing down discipline upon those found in sin.

Then in ch6, Paul goes on to discuss why and how brothers are supposed to settle legal disputes as well.

So Paul declares it as well.

The Bible Settles it (2Cor.

13:1)

In the mouth of two or three witnesses, it’s to be established.

Here’s the thing: God uses the church as the vehicle to carry out His Will - and has setup standards, order and when need be, discipline so that it can do His Will to the best of their ability.

God never intended for men to just live and serve as they saw fit.

He has an order for it all.

Why Church?

Because it’s God’s Chosen Vessel to Accomplishing His Will

Why Church?

Because Jesus was Crucified for it.

Because it’s God’s Chosen Vessel for Accomplishing His Will.

Next, Because of our Command

III.

Because of our Command

Heb.

10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

God has given us instruction to gather together.

It isn’t offered as a suggestion.

it isn’t given as optional.

It’s an instruction for us.

And there’s great reason for that.

There’s really a lot to unpack with these two verses, but for now I want to focus simply on v25 and the command to ‘not forsake the assembling together’ as we look first at the History of the Congregation

The History of the Congregation

Jesus Gathered them Together (Joh.

1:25-51)

Throughout Jesus’ Ministry many followed him (constant congregation)

After His Crucifixion, they assembled (Joh.

20:19)

...and again 8 days later (v26)

They abode together at His ascension (Act.

1:6) [They saw the ascension and recieved instruction

They abode together after His ascension (Act.