The Purpose of the Church Exodus 9:16 & Philipians 2:1-11
Part 1 – overview
Everyone has a purpose.
Everything we do that is worthwhile has a purpose
God gave us the church with a purpose in mind…why is it that so many times the church seems so out of touch then?
I think when the world, that’s not part of the church, takes a look at us, that they see us as second rate, no purpose, no direction
And you know I think the way the church has functioned for a while, they might be right…
HOWEVER, God created the church with a purpose in mind…what we need to do is rediscover the truth of what God has already established and then begin to work in that direction
What we need to decide is what our driving force is…what is it that catches our attention and what it is that get’s us excited
I know what it is for some of you….
For some it’s UT football….cars….money…building things…civil war re-enactments…family
None of that is bad…but is that really the reason God put you on this planet? Is that really your purpose? I DON’T THINK SO!
AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?
When the world looks at us it looks like we were developed for bake sales, fish fries, bingo…but is that what Jesus had in mind when he told Peter…. Matt. 16:18-19 And 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. I 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.”
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE JESUS WAS STARTING SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL THAT WOULD MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
Now I do want to say something…none of the things I listed are bad…but if they become the main thing…then we’ve begun to major on minors
WHEN IS IT THAT THE MAIN THING BECOMES THE MAIN THING IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS?
About 8 years ago a minister in a church in California wrote a book entitled “THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH”, in this book he outlines for us five purposes that Jesus gave the church…after reading the book and having visited his church a couple of years ago, I’m convinced he is right on target
The Saddle Back Church (which is by the way Southern Baptist) has grown from a start in 1975 with Rick Warren and his wife and one other couple…to over 15,000 on weekends attending…obviously they are doing something right and have a vision of what God intends the church to be
Over the next few weeks I want to take a look at the five purposes of the church that Jesus gave us, today is just a quick overview….
Let’s begin to take a look at the purposes of the church…
Matt 22:37
Jesus replied: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...(NIV)
I. “WORSHIP”.
God is first and foremost looking for worshippers….Worship is one of the keys to a relationship with God and with each other in the church…WORSHIP ISN’T FELLOWSHIP, BUT IT CAN DRAW US TOGETHER AS GOD’S SPIRIT MOVES…
Worship is the key that opens the door for us to be in the presence of God and the beginning of relationship
Woship isn’t just going through the motions…it is us coming with expectation that we will meet God and it will make a difference in our lives…
Worship isn’t a spectator’s sport, something done for us…it us being lead by the worship leaders into experiencing God’s presence…through Song…through the prayers…reading of the Word…proclamation of the word…
It isn’t passive…no where in the scriptures are the worshippers just sitting, but participatory…BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DEPENDANT ON THE WORSHIPPER TO WANT TO ENTER IN….GOD NEVER FORCES HIMSELF ON ANYONE….
WORSHIP IS THE FIRST OF THE FIVE PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH!
Matt 22:39
And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbour as yourself.’
II. “MINISTRY”.
MINISTRY IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO DO FOR OTHERS…. Matt. 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
This is the doing aspect of the church…the church is to do for others…
I was talking to Stacey the other day…he is really excited about doing missions work…in fact he was telling me he wants to go back to the Bahamas, but even more he wants to work with Mission Discovery over here in Westmoreland…
As exciting as it is to go somewhere…missions, ministry can and needs to be done here as well…MINISTRY IS MEETING THE NEEDS…Physically, mentally, emotionally…and of course SPIRITUALLY of others…it takes all forms and shapes
Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..
III. To “Go...make disciples” is “EVANGELISM”.
TO MAKE DISCIPLES IS A TWO EDGED SWORD!
It means to bring new folks into the fold…that’s what evangelism is mainly about…but it’s more than that…IT’S ALSO MAKING DISCIPLES….YOU SEE MOST CHURCH MEMBERS COME INTO THE CHURCH…ACCEPT CHRIST AND DON’T GO ANY FURTHER…Rick Warren has a chart of the five levels of commitment in the church….
you start with community…that’s everyone not in the church that the church is wanting to take in…
The crowd is who comes to the special things, but aren’t comitted to the body
The congregation are those that gather each week..support the church, but are not heavily involved
There are the committed…those who take the next step to become intimately involved in the workings and ministry of the church
And finally you have the CORE…those who lives are absolutely committed to the work of the church…these are the real key leaders…not necessarily even the “Official” leadership….
You can carry this chart out to just about any organization…
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
Matt 28:19 ...baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
IV. THE FOURTH PURPOSE IS To “Baptize...” to “INCORPORATE INTO FELLOWSHIP”.
BAPTISM IS THE SIGN OF OUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST…IT IS THE ENTERING INTO THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH…I’LL DO MORE ON THIS LATER…
Matt 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
V. FINALY THE FIFTH PURPOSE IS To “Teach them...all things” is “DISCIPLESHIP”
TO BE A DISCIPLE IS MORE THAN JUST BEING A FOLLOWER…A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO LEARNS AND BEGINS TO APPLY THAT TEACHING IN LIFE. THE DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO BECOMES MORE AND MORE LIKE THE TEACHER…JESUS IS OUR TEACHER…THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER…
We’ll get more into this later as well….
You can see God has some great purposes for the church…the ultimate purpose is to CHANGE THE WORLD…TO POINT TO GOD…TO BE THE GUIDING FORCE IN THE WORLD…THAT’S WHAT ALL THESE POINT TO…AND THE INTERSTING THING IS THAT THEY ALL START WITH INDIVIDUALS MAKING A CONSCIIOUS DESCISION TO BEGIN TO FOLLOW CHRIST AND TO BE SERIOUS IN THEIR FOLLOWING HIM…
IT TAKES THE CONSCIOUS EFFORT OF THE CHURCH, MADE UP OF THESE DRIVEN PEOPLE TO IMPLIMENT WHAT CHRIST HAS COMMANDED US TO AND GO DO IT….ISN’T THIS WHAT JESUS TOLD US?
