Series: The Church
Sermon: Church 12
Tag line - 12 reasons why we all need The Church of Jesus Christ active in our lives.
Open with video: We are ---The Church!
Scripture Text: Hebrews 10:19-25:
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Introduction:
Last week I opened our series “The Church” asking the question or statement a person made to me a few years back, “Who needs the Church?” = It was said with attitude and last week I made the case that we all need The Church – my family needs “The Church” I need The Church. I can honestly say, “The Church has been more a family to me than my own family! So I am so glad to be a part of The Church, I really do love the Church. I would not be who I am today if it was not for The Church. My family would not be who they are today if it was not for The Church! Church is not just for me and my family it’s also for each of you and your families too. Do you believe that? The Church is here for the purpose of mission and you and I are part of the mission plan.
Here are some thoughts on The Church from a few 30 on down in age individuals from the book “The Relevant Church”:
Quotes:
Brian Kay, “It is impossible to be a follower of Christ and not be part of a local church!”
“No one can have God as Father who does not also have the church as Mother.’
“There are several good reasons to believe that the normal Christian life becomes entirely undone when it is not lived in the presence of other believers, in regular acts of worship and service.”
Robin Lemke, “I don’t think there is any question in Scripture that God expects us to come together in a community to worship Him and support each other. The thrust of the New Testament from Acts onward is about followers of Christ risking their lives and freedom to make believers and establish churches. Nowhere does Paul or Silas or Peter go into a city to make believers, then send them home and expect them to simply pray by themselves and in so doing follow Christ.”
Tyler Watts, “I think I disconnect from the Gospel of Jesus Christ when I’m not involved in close relationships with other believers.”
Jeremy Walden, “The phrase ‘go to church’ makes me crazy. I am the church. Believers are the church. Instead of talking about just going into a building for a service, let’s start talking about getting together with other believers to discuss God and pray together. That type of gathering is where we’ll find community, a place of encouragement, sharing listening, and worship.”
Philip Evans, “Every believer needs a ‘church’ even if it’s just four or five of you meeting together to worship, I know my relationship with Christ would deteriorate if I didn’t surround myself with people who encourage and challenge me in my faith.”
James Bullock, “I love the diversity of church-so many different people saved from a range of pain, addictions, lifestyles-now all set free in a community together.”
Andy Squyres, “When I hear the word ‘church,’ I think of the body of Christ in its fullness, without denominational or dogmatic boundaries, church in all its organic glory, shifting and growing, as all living things do.”
Cory Passehl, “Church is not just a building or Sunday morning service, but a place where the Body of Christ comes together for encouragement, edification, challenging, rebuking. It’s a place where people are cared for, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and a place of worship.”
Jendi Reiter, “Church is the one place where I am accepted ‘as is.’ Church gives me an understanding of human frailty and reminds me that we all need God’s forgiveness-even me. Growing up as a reformed Jew, I was always pressed to achieve and compete. Then when O began attending a Christian Church in college, I discovered church could be a place of amazing refuge, acceptance, and salvation.”
Robin Lemke, “I know that people say they don’t need church, but anytime we gather together, God promises to be with us. What could be more enticing than God’s presence? Why wouldn’t we go where God promises to be?”
Emily R. Geyer, “I don’t go to church out of obligation, but because I desire to worship Jesus in a place that is set aside for him, a consecrated space. It’s very different than a Bible Study in my living room or just praying in my car.”
Thought: The Bible clearly supports and expects Christians to be a part of the church. Church is a community of believers who come together on the Lords Day to worship God and to support each other. Scripture does not show Paul, Silas or Peter going into a city just to make believers and then after conversion sending them home to be lone ranger believers instead these new believers - the disciples of Jesus started churches. They united together to worship, to fellowship, to serve the Lord together, to help each other and to spread the Message of Jesus.
Definition of a Relevant Church from the book The Relevant Church: 1. A distinctive community of faith that is passionate for Christ as well as culture. 2. A community of believers who has bearing on and significance in present day culture.
Thesis: The Church is needed by you and I and I have discovered 12 reasons why we all need The Church. These 12 can be broken down into three focuses of God – Upward – Inward - Outward.
T.S. - “Who needs the church?” We all do as Christians and un-christians! Today I want to lay down some core facts and basic theological truths about “The Church” from the Bible:
Action point: I encourage you to take notes on these important Biblical truths: Last week I provided and outline for you to guide our study of the church - so if you want take notes on the first 4-5 reasons why we need - ‘The Church”:
These 12 reasons are from the Bible and are God's idea for The Church!
So here are The Church 12: “So why do we need the church 12 Biblical reasons we do?”
1. Because Jesus created the church and set up its divine mission not mankind (The mission has a threefold approach - upward focus –inward focus –outward focus)
a. Scripture texts:
i. Jesus said in Matthew 22: 34-39 in response to the religious leaders question about what is the most important points of the law Jesus answered:
1. The Greatest Commandment:
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
a. These two commands cover the upward focus and the inward focus of the church.
ii. The following two verses from Jesus focus us on the outward mission of The Church.
1. Mark 16:15-18:15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
2. Matthew 28:18-20: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
b. The above teachings of Jesus tell The Church that it is to be missional – in others words they must focus on their God Given mission from Jesus:
i. Quote: “The missional church is rooted not just in the New Testament church of Acts, but in the mission of Jesus himself. A missional church lives out the church’s three dimensional calling: to be upwardly focused on God in worship that is passionate; to be inwardly focused on community among believers that is demonstrated in relationships of love and compassion (forgiveness); and to be outwardly focused on a world that does not yet know God (evangelism)” (Leadership Magazine, Winter 2007, page 35 Article Missional: Possible by Chad Hall).
1. The 3 dimensions of the mission from Jesus:
a. Upwardly focused on God aligns with the first 4 of the 10 commandments found in Deut 5:7-15:
i. We are to have no other gods we worship only God alone.
ii. We are not to make our own idols to worship only God alone.
iii. We are not to misuse the name of God in any way in our life.
1. Swearing or saying God told you to do something which he did not!
iv. We are to observe the Sabbath Day and make sure we honor Him, worship Him and hear from Him.
b. Inwardly focused on building each other up in the Body of Christ – loving one another and caring for one another.
i. 1 Corinthians 13 and other Scripture texts tell us to love and use our gifts to serve one another in love within the Church.
c. Outwardly focused on bringing people to Jesus and getting them to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
i. We are to be His witnesses – living examples of what He can do with a broken life.
1. We are to go share the “Good News” to the world so they can be saved through a spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ.
2. We are to tell the world about Jesus' sacrifice for them so that they can be restored to proper relationship with God.
2. Quote: UK blogger Andrew Jones explains: “Missio Dio (Mission of God) stems from the Triune God: the Father sends the Son, the Father and the Son send the Spirit, The Father and Son and Spirit send the church into the world.”
a. Missional work is about doing and getting on God’s agenda not ours-it’s doing the work of God in the world he has placed you and I.
c. We need to always remember Jesus died for the Church and for its mission – we need to die to ourselves to fulfill the mission for God
i. Colossians 1:24: 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
ii. Jesus died for this church and the other churches in this area.
1. Do not forget this important –critical sacrifice:
a. We just celebrated communion to remember this important point of the church.
2. The church is to remember the sacrifice of Christ by celebrating communion.
a. Acts 2:42, 46: 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. .. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
b. Breaking of bread points in the direction of always remembering the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for you and me.
c. Jesus gave His life for us so we could gain eternal life.
3. I Corinthians 11:17-32:
a. The Lord’s Supper
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
i. We need to continue to remember what Jesus has done for us on a regular basis.
ii. Share about the group of kids touched my heart one Sunday at Communion and the people in India.
iii. We are not the only church in this area – there are others that Jesus died for and we need to pray that we would all unite together to fulfill the divine plan and design for The Church.
1. There are many churches in our area and we are not allowed to be there judge – that is Jesus job.
a. Our job is to unite, be one, edify each other, build each other up and win this world for Jesus!
2. When you criticize Jesus Church you criticize Him – so be very cautious who you run down!
a. Many people want to run down the church – but listen to this thought:
i. Mark Driscoll stated, “I was twenty-five and certain that my church would be new, different, and essentially cool. I quickly learned that beginning a church was far more difficult than criticizing one” (Page 24).
1. It is always easier to criticize a church then to help build up the church!
a. It’s always easier to run down the quarter back of the team than to be quarter back from your living room.
2. We are not here to judge other churches but to follow God's plan for this church.
a. God has a specific plan for Christian Hills! We need to know it and follow it!
d. The church is to be a place primarily that gives out the good news of Jesus! (Acts 2:1-37)
i. Acts shares with us how the first church received a message that was full of Good News, a message of hope and help. A message about Jesus!
1. It says in Acts 2: 36, 37 36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
a. The church of Jesus Christ needs to be challenging people with the Word of God (His Message) and delivering it with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When it is done this way people will say, “What shall we do?”
b. The message delivered with the anointing of the Holy Spirit has the power to set people free from the bondages of sin.
ii. It can happen just like in Acts. Yes, God’s Word has that much power to penetrate to people’s hearts.
e. The mission of The Church is to mobilize the Body of the Church to action – Quote, “Missional churches activate laity to carry out God’s mission in their various spheres of life. This creates a community of Christians who let the upward focus on God in the worship service impact their orientation and activity during the rest of their lives…this creates an attitude shift…Cravens describes an attitude shift being made among leaders: ‘We are moving from seeing ourselves as a church who needs members from the community to seeing ourselves as being in a community whose members need the church. We’ve realized whose members need the church. We’ve realized we’re here to serve the community in unique ways. (Leadership page 37 – Hall)
2. Because to be a part of The Church of Jesus you have to repent of sin and accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior in a verbal and action orientated way (upward focus).
a. Scripture texts:
i. Matthew 16:15-20: “Who do you say I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
ii. The church is based on a common confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior – this is the only way into heaven according to Jesus.
1. Just like what Peter did in this passage of Scripture this is how God built His church and is building His Church.
2. Our confession of faith in Jesus should always lead us to The Church!
iii. This profession of trust and surrender to the Lord is the common denominator that defines The Church and its people.
1. If we do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior – then there is no believer and no Church!
b. The church is to be a place where people believe and respond to the touch of God’s grace.
i. The church is a place where people feel the freedom to respond to the message of Jesus.
1. Acts 2:38-41 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
c. Yes people are to experience the Lord at church.
i. They need to come to a place and feel his loving embrace and grace.
ii. For this to happen the truth must be proclaimed and people must then choose to believe.
iii. There must be repentance for sin and people willing to ask for forgiveness from the Savior this is what opens the door for people to enter The Church of Jesus Christ.
iv. But the heart of the people and the heart of the local church must be in tune with the Spirit of the Lord!
d. Sandra Barrett: Skatechurch from The Relevant Church – Now they actually hold church inside an eleven thousand square foot skate park. Talk about a relevant way to worship-nothing is fragmented for these skaters…Paul’s priority has always been to ‘keep God first.’ From day one, he’s ensured that a clear Gospel message is presented to those in attendance…This is what can happen when you bring church to the people instead of trying to drag people into church.”
3. Because Jesus is the head of the church – not men, women, denominations, committees, boards, elders or deacons (upward focus).
a. Ephesians 5:21-27:
i. 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
1. Jesus is the head of the church and if He is not leading it then it is not The Church.
ii. If Jesus is the head of The Church then we need to be a part of His creation and serve it in spite of its messiness and ugliness at times.
1. But maybe this is why Jesus instructs us to be a part of The Church because he knows it faults and we have to learn to forgive and love like He did us.
2. We are told by Jesus that if we do not forgive others then God will not forgive us.
3. See I Corinthians 13 - Which speaks of the importance of love - note this church was rebuked by Paul for being divided and he tells them how to unite - love.
4. Because the church has people called to it by God (you may be one of them) who steward and lead the church as directed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (inward focus).
a. Scripture Texts:
i. Acts 20:28: 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
ii. Romans 13:1: 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
iii. Ephesians 4:11-13: 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.
1. God calls certain people to Shepherd the group of believers and works through leading and guiding them by the Holy Spirit.
2. There are those called by God –equipped by God to facilitate the operations of a church they pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists, shepherds, elders and deacons.
a. See our church membership handbook for a biblical description of our church structure.
b. Please note all leaders in the church: Will be held to a higher level of accountability when they stand before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ.
i. Mark Driscoll, “I was twenty-five and certain that my church would be new, different, and essentially cool. I quickly learned that beginning a church was far more difficult than criticizing one.”
c. Reference membership book.
i. Please see biblical description of why we have elders and deacons at CH.
d. The Bible is also clear how they should be treated:
i. 1 Timothy 1:17-20: 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
5. Because the church is designed by Jesus to teach, correct and discipline through love the Body of Christ:
a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
i. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
b. The church is to be a place of teaching and learning - Acts 2:42:
i. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
1. Yes, church is the best place to get spiritual education about the Bible, and Christian living.
c. Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1 the following about his letter to him and how important it is for people to conduct themselves within the church.
i. I Timothy 3:14-15: 14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1. It’s to be a place where we all learn more about Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Father God. About how to conduct ourselves in the family of God – The Church!
a. The Church is to be a living thing not a dead building with no personality or life.
b. In Revelation 2 and 3 each one of these churches had personality because they were alive – it’s not about the church building it’s about – The Church!
2. Our Small groups are designed to bring life and connection to our church so I encourage you to get plugged into one: See Bulletin!
a. This is why we have these types of classes!
i. It’s where we learn how to live.
ii. It’s where we learn information that will help us to live for eternity.
d. It’s where we learn how to renew the mind so that self dies.
i. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
e. The Bible is to be used to teach and to correct:
i. Matthew 18:15-19
ii. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
iii. 1 Corinthians 5, 6:
1. The Bible and those who follow are to use the truths discovered in it to correct, rebuke and train people up into what is truth, what is right living, what is godly behavior and what are genuine holy lives.
f. You may be thinking – does Scripture really teach accountability?
i. Yes, people are to be held accountable for their actions it’s biblical teaching – why-so we are continue and grow in our faith – so we mature – children do not mature unless they are corrected and shown and taught the right things to do. They will not learn it on their own.
1. We are to teach even in the financial realm of life how to conduct ourselves. The church did not just give money to any one that wanted it but to those who where a part of the family of God. The church is to give and teach people how to manage/ steward money Biblically.
a. If you need help with this consider Pastor Beth’s class “Financial Peace” starting up in September.
ii. The truth is we all need to be held accountable – it’s Biblical:
1. Cousins notes, “To whom are you accountable? If you think about it, you are accountable to many people. If you are a student, you are accountable to the teacher to complete your work. If you are a taxpayer, you are accountable to the government to pay your taxes. If you are driving a car, you are accountable to law enforcement agencies to obey traffic laws. If you rent an apartment, you are accountable to the landlord to pay the rent on time (And for not damaging his/her property). There are endless examples that could be produced, but they all illustrate the same point: like it or not, everyone has obligations to others that must be fulfilled. When it comes to accountability before other believers, many Christians become uncomfortable. Although they are willing to accept their fact that they must be held accountable before other people and institutions, they are reluctant to allow themselves to be responsible to and for other believers. They do not stop to think about how many struggles with sin could be overcome if they received the counsel and encouragement of other Christians” (47).
iii. People need to be held accountable for their actions because “It does affect and impact others!”
g. But the over arching message of Jesus and The Church should be grace!
i. Grace is there because none of us deserve what we have in Jesus. It’s all about forgiveness and restoration.
1. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
2. Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Conclusion:
We need to have a Biblical understanding that The Church is God's idea - not man's idea. The Church is for all who believe and have placed their life into Jesus hands. The Church is lead by Jesus not by people. So it is imperative that we in leadership follow the agenda of God and not our agenda. The Church is to be stewarded by God's people, by the ones He has called to a local church. All Christian are called by God to serve and build up the Church of Jesus Christ. Yes, the Bible says that God calls people and you may be one of them. The Church was established, it was birthed, it was created to teach truth to the people of this world. It's mission is to preach, teach and point people to Jesus. The Church was given the Holy Spirit to infuse it with power to win the lost and open the eyes of the blind. We are part of The Church and we are placed here for such a time of this to lead people to Jesus and a spiritual awakening.
Summary of the 4-5 points of why we need the church from today:
1. Because Jesus created the church and set up its divine mission not mankind (upward focus –inward focus –outward focus)
2. Because to be a part of The Church of Jesus you have to repent of sin and accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior in a verbal and action orientated way (upward focus).
3. Because Jesus is the head of the church – not men, women, denominations, committees, boards, elders or deacons (upward focus).
4. Because the church has people called to it by God (you may be one of them) who steward and lead the church as directed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (inward focus).
5. Because the church is designed by Jesus to teach, correct and discipline through love the Body of Christ:
