An Inspired Description Of The Church

Reihold Niebuhr said this about the church, “The church is a lot like Noah’s ark, if it weren’t for the storm on the outside, you could not stand the stink on the inside.”

True of many churches today, I don’t know of any time when the church has made more racket and been less effective in the world in which it lives.

What is the Church? Now many churches are there. In the New Testament the church is viewed as:

1. A Brotherhood. This emphasizes the Fellowship of those who belong to the church.

a. 1 Corinthians 1:9. Fellowship of Jesus Christ.

b. Galatians 6:10. Household of faith.

c. Ephesians 2:19. Household of God.

d. 1 Peter 2:17. The Brotherhood.

2. A Body. This Emphasizes the Function of the church through a variety of organs.

a. 1 Corinthians 12. The word “body” is used 16 times in vs. 12-27

b. As members of the church, we constitute the body of Christ.

3. A Bride. This emphasizes the fidelity of all the members of the church.

a. Their love for the Bridegroom and their loyalty to Him.

b. Ephesians 5:25-32

4. A Building. Our Lord is the Foundation of this spiritual house.

a. He is the foundation on which the church is built.

b. Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:19-22

5. Now what should our local church be like? In Acts 3:1-11, we have a picture of the outer activity of the church using three words. The Mission, The Might, and the Method of a Bible Church.

What is the job of the church? The power available to do the job and what is the way to do it?

I. The Mission of the Church

1. For some, the church of today is a kind of social club.

a. John 1:29

b. We should never be sidetracked in social and political issues.

2. The bible teaches that the believers are saved to serve, and that service consists of taking life to the lame and helpless humanity.

3. Look at the man described in these verses. In him we see a picture of humanity without God.

a. He is lame, been like that from birth.

b. He is helpless, destitute.

c. More concerned about material needs than about the spiritual.

d. He is near the temple but outside it.

4. Peter and John took the gospel and offered salvation to this man, and that is the job, the mission of the church in the world.

a. Luke 4:18-19; Jesus states His mission in this world.

b. John 17:18. As Jesus was so are, we to be.

c. The song writer said right. Rescue the Perishing.

II. The Might of the Church

1. What is the churches power to deal with desperate and helpless humanity?

a. It’s not material power. Not the power of money

b. It’s not the power of personality, vs. 4

2. The churches power is spiritual power. It is the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, vs. 6

a. Acts 8:5; 4:12; Philippians 2:9; Romans 10:13

b. This church, any church will only have power as it lifts up and exalts and preaches the Lord Jesus.

3. It’s foolish and sinful to make much of a movement or a denomination.

4. If the mission of the church is to go out and save men and women, and the might of the church is that power of the Lord Himself.

III. The Method of the Church

1. Their method was one of divine co-operation. The Lord was working with and through Peter and John. Mark 16:19-20

a. God doing His work through human channels.

b. It was not Peter and John doing the work. They were available to the Lord and were the instruments in His hands.

c. God has done all He can do to save souls. He must work through us as we are yielded to Him.

2. Their method was one of human co-operation. Peter and John were working together. Vs. 1

a. There is a variety of folks in our church. How we need to respect one another’s God given ministry.

b. All cannot be the same thing, but we need each other, support each other. 1 Corinthians 12:3-31

3. Their method was empowered and made effective by prayer. Matthew 18:19

a. The prayers of the saints are the decrees of God beginning to operate.

b. 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Now is this kind of a church we have. The church is made up of baptized believers.

I want to have a church that God can bless and use

Do you????