God’s Committed Community: The Purpose of The Church
Last week we looked at the Nature Of The Church and we found that the Bible calls the church:
1. A FELLOWSHIP.
2. A FAMILY.
3. A BODY.
4. A FLOCK.
Each one of these terms gives us a different understanding of The Church and shows how The Church is to function. We also found that The Church is Christ’s Church. Founded by Jesus and empowered by Jesus. We read in Matthew 16:
‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’” Matthew 16:15-18(NKJV)
This week I would like for us to examine The Purpose Of The Church.
I have found that sometimes you can use handy tools that help you memorize things. Today I am going to give you one of those tools. Let’s look at Mathew 5:16 together.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
The word shine can be used as a simple tool, an acrostic, to help us understand the purpose of The Church. S – H – I – N –E. Let’s take these five letters and examine The Purpose of The Church.
S – SEEK and to SHARE.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. Our job is to seek and to share. Why – because God always does the saving. We are called to seek and to share – and let God do the saving.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
This commandment – called The Great Commission was given to The Church. Our job is to seek and to share. We are commanded by Christ to tell The Good News to those who don’t know it. But notice this – circle the words – “I am with you always” – How Long? – for a little while – for a day – for a month – a year – NO – I am with you always, even to the end of the age. What this means to me is that is the responsibility of The Church for all generations. We are to share the Good News with the people we meet. No Generation will tell the Good News to this Generation except this Generation. That means us. Christians of the past are not responsible with telling our generation about Christ – we are. Future Christians can not tell our generation about Christ if they have not been born yet. We are charged with telling people in our time about Jesus.
But did notice in Matthew 28 that we don’t have to share The Good News alone? “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” means that Jesus is with us when we share the Good News. When we share with our neighbors and friends about our relationship we have with Christ – He is right there with us.
Will everyone we talk to about Christ accept Jesus just because we have told them about Him? No! But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t keep telling them. Why - because God is the only answer to bringing peace to the human soul. If you had the cure for cancer and did not share it – it would be criminal. If you had the cure for aids and did not share it – it would be immoral. But you know the cure for the human soul if you have a relationship with Christ. You have the cure for the human condition. If you know Christ – He has touched you. He has cured you. He has forgiven you. You know how people can have peace with God. We need – no we MUST share the cure in a sick and hurting world. Follow along with me as I read 2 Corinthians 5:
“Through Christ, God has made peace between us and himself, and He gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with Him… So we have been sent to speak for Christ!” 2 Corinthians 5:18, 20 (NCV)
Circle “He gave us the work.” That’s our part in this. All we are to do is tell – all we are to do is and share the gospel and then let God do His part.
S – is for SEEK and to SHARE.
H – is for HELP.
H – HELP.
We are here to care for one another. Because of the relationship that the New Testament Church had with one another and with God – when someone had a need The Church stepped in to meet that need. That’s what we are supposed to do. We are supposed to help each other. We are to use our gifts and talents in helping others not just we can earn a living.
“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)
Circle the words, “God made us to do good works.” That’s our second purpose.
WARNING:
The primary purpose of The Church is not a WELFARE AGENCY.
10 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don’t work, you don’t eat." 11 And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. 12 This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. 13 Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (MSG)
There is a saying that goes like this. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him the rest of his life.
Folks, we are to help others so they can become productive parts of society. Peter said this about helping others:
"God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.” 1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
S – is for SEEK and to SHARE.
H – is for HELP.
I – is for INCLUDE.
I - INCLUDE
Include means to welcome people into the family. Make them feel at home. Folks we are blessed in this. We are a friendly church. We greet each other and welcome each other each Sunday. We strive to make our guests feel welcome. Keep up the good work. Practice hospitality. Be friendly.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NKJV)
How many of you remember the movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” with Spencer Tracy. There has been a remake of that movie called “Guess Who” and the plot is the same. The father was not too pleased when his daughter brings home the “friend”. Remember that? But do you remember how the young man is finally accepted? The father loves the daughter so much that he is willing to accept the young man because of his love for his daughter.
Churches sometimes are not very accepting of new people when they arrive. They are not willing to accept new comers. But folks let me make this as plain as I can. Whoever walks through that door needs to be treated like family because Jesus, the one we love, has chosen them to be here.
“Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 (CEV)
How many of you liked to be left out? How many of you liked being picked last for the team? How many of you liked it when you didn’t get the invitation to the party? How many of you liked going to a church where no one even acknowledge that you existed. No – none of us liked that did we? We wanted to be included. We want to be part of the activities. So folks when we have new people enter these doors include them. Treat them nice – do what you can to make them feel welcome.
S – is for SEEK and to SHARE.
H – is for HELP.
I – is for INCLUDE.
N – is for NURTURE.
N - NURTURE
Nurture is about growing in Christ and becoming more like Him. Did you know that God’s plan for your life is to make you like Jesus? That’s what the Bible says:
“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (LB)
When we pray “Jesus I want to be more like you” we better be ready for Christ to start working in our lives – sometimes leading us into difficult situations. This past week I received this e-mail from my cousin in Ohio. She sent me a story. She wrote:
A man was sleeping in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of the cabin. The Lord told the man that he was to push against the rock with all his might. He did, day after day.
For many years the man pushed against the rock – from sun up to sun down – his shoulders set squarely against the cold massive surface of the unmoving rock. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been wasted.
Since the man was so discouraged, Satan decided to enter the picture – and placed more negative thoughts in the man’s mind. He started thinking of himself as a failure and became quite depressed. The man started having thoughts of suicide – but the day before he was going to carry out his plan he decided to pray to God.
“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service putting all my strength to do that which you asked. Yet after all this time, the rock has not moved half an inch. What went wrong? Why have I failed?”
The Lord said, “I asked to you serve me and push against the rock. You have been faithful. But I never expected you to move the rock. Your task was to push. You have not failed – your arms are stronger – your back is too. Your legs have become massive and your hands callused. Through pushing you have become a different person then you were. Through opposition you have become stronger.”
“True, you have not moved the rock – but you have not just exercised your body but also you faith. You just pushed. Now I will move the rock.”
At times we hear a word from God and we try to analyze and decipher what it means – when actually what God wants from us is faithfulness and obedience. He just wants us to PUSH.
P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens
S – is for SEEK and to SHARE.
H – is for HELP.
I – is for INCLUDE.
N – is for NURTURE.
E – is for EXALT.
E - EXALT
This is the fifth purpose of The Church. We are to exalt the Lord by worshipping Him. The psalmist said it this way:
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalms 34:3 (NKJV)
The overall purpose of the church is to glorify God. To exalt Him. It’s what The Church needs to do today – it’s what The Church needs to do tomorrow and it’s what The Church will be doing into eternity.
"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." Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
S – is for SEEK and to SHARE.
H – is for HELP.
I – is for INCLUDE.
N – is for NURTURE.
E – is for EXALT.
These are the purposes of The Church. But these are also purposes of the Christian. You and I are to shine so that men will see God in us and He will be glorified. He is worthy of best that we can give Him.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
What is the purpose of The Church – to SHINE. What is your purpose and my purpose – to SHINE so that men can see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.
NOTES
God’s Committed Community: The Purpose of The Church
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
S – ______________________________.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
“Through Christ, God has made peace between us and himself, and He gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with Him… So we have been sent to speak for Christ!” 2 Corinthians 5:18, 20 (NCV)
H – _____________________________.
“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)
WARNING:
The primary purpose of The Church is not a ____________________.
10 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don’t work, you don’t eat." 11 And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. 12 This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. 13 Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (MSG)
"God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.” 1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
I - ______________________________.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NKJV)
“Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 (CEV)
N - ______________________________.
“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (LB)
E - ______________________________.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalms 34:3 (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." Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
S – SEEK and to SHARE.
H – HELP.
I – INCLUDE.
N – NURTURE.
E – EXALT.
Sermon Starter Idea came from the sermon “The Practical Purpose of The Church” by Stephen Quenby.
