Our Purpose - Building Up Christians Series

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER

RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK

(REVISED - 2019)

TEXT: Ephesians 4:11-16

A. Last week we started looking at the purpose of the church, & I asked these questions, "Why does the church exist? What is our purpose?" We concluded that the first & most important part of our purpose as a church is to seek to win the lost.

And I'm convinced that as long as we recognize that our ultimate purpose, the reason we exist, is to reach the lost, then as a congregation we will continue to grow.

In the 2nd chapter of Acts, the church in Jerusalem began on the Day of Pentecost with 3,000 members, & by the 4th chapter it had grown to 5,000 men, not counting women & children.

Acts 2:47 tells us that “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." It was a growing church, & they had a concern. "How do we take care of all these new Christians?"

ILL. One of the most exciting times in life is when a baby is born. The parents rejoice, & we all "ooh" & "ah" over it. Then they take the baby home, & reality sets in. They're changing diapers, losing sleep & trying to figure out what's wrong with the crying child. The joy of new birth is followed by the responsibility of caring for that child.

It's the same way in the church. People come to the Lord & we rejoice. But then comes the responsibility of bringing these baby Christians up in the Lord. Who is going to nurture them? Who is going to teach them & pray with them? Who is going to counsel them? Who is going to encourage them?

The early church evidently did a fairly good job of that, because we read in Acts 2:42, that these early Christians "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching & to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread & to prayer."

You see, there is a second part to our purpose, & that is to nurture, to build up Christians, to help them be all that they can be in this life.

B. With that in mind, listen to the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16. "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service,

“so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back & forth by the waves, & blown here & there by every wind of teaching & by the cunning & craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined & held together by every supporting ligament, grows & builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

That is an important passage, & I hope you noticed some key words & phrases like "service," "unity," "mature," "no longer infants," & "builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

PROP. Let's talk about that, about "building each other up" & growing as Christians. Here are some reasons why it is vitally important that we grow.

I. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GROW AS CHRISTIANS

A. It is vitally important that we grow as Christians, because growing Christians are full of joy. If you're grumbling & complaining, if you're not joyful in the Lord, it is probably a strong indication that you're not growing in the Lord.

On the other hand, growing Christians are excited about what the Lord is doing. You know that He is coming again, & you're excited about what He is going to do in His church between now & the time that He comes.

And you're excited about what He is going to do in your life & in your home, because growing Christians are joyful Christians.

B. Again, it is vitally important that we grow as Christians because growing Christians are willing Christians.

One of the dangers in a church is that people sometimes think that they're not needed. They think, "There is so much talent here. If I could sing or teach like so & so can, that would be great. But I can't." Or, "There are others, they don't need me."

But that's not true. In fact, there are many opportunities to exercise the abilities & talents God has given each of us. "Sure, I'll help set up chairs & tables. I'll help clean the kitchen. I'll be glad to do my best in whatever needs to be done."