“THE CHURCH PLACE”
TEXT: Ephesians 3:1-21 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: The church is the Lord’s. All that we enjoy in regards to the church is because of the way Christ built the church. I wish to view that church in regards to its place as a called out assembly of baptized believers.
I. THE CHURCH IS A SAVING PLACE (Acts 2:47)
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)
A. As Indicated By the Churches Message (1 John 1:5-7)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)
B. As Indicated By the Churches Mission (Matthew 28:19,20)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt 28:19-20)
C. As Indicated By the Churches Ministries
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
II. THE CHURCH IS A STRENGTHENING PLACE
(Eph 6:10)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
A. At the Church You Should Find the Presence of God Where You Get Your Fellowship
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matt 18:2)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:3-4)
B. At the Church You Should Find the Pardon of God Where You Get Your Forgiveness
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
C. At the Church You Should Find the Provision of God Where You Get Your Future
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)
D. At the Church You Should Find the Power of God Where You Get Your Freedom
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Tim 1:6-9)
III.THE CHURCH IS A STABILIZING PLACE (1Corinthians 15:58)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
A. There Will Be Preaching to Help Keep Your Mind Right
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phil 2:5)
B. There Will Be Preaching to Help Keep Your Morals Right
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Tim 4:2 )
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Phil 1:27)
C. There Will Be Preaching to Help Keep Your Marriages Right
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Eph 5:24-26)
IV.THE CHUCH IS A SERVING PLACE
A. The Church Teaches You to Be Unselfish towards Others
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Gal 5:13-15
B. The Church Teaches You to Be Sensitive to Others
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Eph 4:32)
V. THE CHURCH IS A SOULWINNING PLACE
A. Known For the Way That It Preaches the Gospel of God
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17
B. Known For the Way That It Proclaims the Grace of God
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:4-9)
VI. THE CHURCH IS A STEWARDSHIP PLACE
A. Where The Members Give Their Time to the Lord
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)
B. Where The Members Give Their Talents to the Lord
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:5-8)
C. Where The Members Give the Tithe to the Lord
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (2 Cor 9:7-9)
CONCLUSION: As the church meets at its place, may we who are the church have a greater appreciation and awareness of who we really are and what that entails…
