The Soul Purpose of the Church
Intro: What is the primary focus of the church? Fellowship? Teaching? Is it potluck dinners? entertainment?
The soul purpose of the church is evangelism. To reach lost people. It is not a hotel for the saints, it is a hospital for sinners.
Look at the message of Peter in Acts 2:14-36
I. The message is about God. Vs 22-24
The gospel is the proclamation that the living God who has existed through all eternity, has at one definite point and in one definite Person broken into history.
In the life of Jesus, God has given us the full and final revelation of himself.
John 1:14 says “The Word (the living God) became flesh and dwelt among us.
We need to let people know :
FELLOWSHIP IS NOT THE FOCUS
CHURCH IS NOT THE FOCUS
THE PREACHER IS NOT THE FOCUS
THE MUSIC IS NOT THE FOCUS
THE FOCUS IS GOD AND GOD ALONE!!!
II. The message is about the cross. Vs 23
The cross is the very heart of the Christian message.
It is the identifying mark of the Church and it is the guarantee of a new life.
The cross is an illustration of human sin.
It reminds us that sin is not something we can tolerate. We don’t just solve the problem by turning over a new leaf. Sin is something so tragic, so devastating that it took the shedding of blood of a perfect Savior to rectify it.
The cross is a revelation of God’s love.
Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us!
1John 4:10 says “This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
In the very way Jesus died, with one arm stretched to the left and the other stretched to the right one can see just how much he loves us.
The cross is an invitation to life.
Until men come to the cross, they will never come to Christ
III. It is a message of the resurrection. Vs 24, 32
The resurrection is where faith kicks in. It takes faith to believe he rose from the dead and is alive today.
Men will believe it about Elvis, but not God.
The resurrection is a pronouncement of victory
The same power that resurrected Christ is the same power that one day will overcome the world.
The resurrection is also a promise of a living presence.
Read Matthew 28:18-20
We do not serve a dead God
IV. It is a message about life. Vs 33
Romans 6:23 (read) or (quote)
John 14:6 says The thief comes only to steal kill, and to destroy, I have come that they may have life, that they may have it more abundantly.
I want you to know you have not experienced life until you have experienced Christ!
Conclusion: In order to fulfill the SOUL purpose of the Church, we must proclaim the same Message as Peter. One that points to God, the cross, the resurrection, and life.
Here is my question are you fulfilling that purpose?
