Seven Reasons Why Going To Church Is A Big Deal
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July 6, 2003 Chester’s FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
"There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast.
a One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another man needed to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant the requests of all.
b Toward the end of the month, he noticed his supply of oil was dangerously low. Soon it was gone, and one night on the light on the lighthouse went out. As a result, that evening several ships were wrecked and countless lives were lost.
c When the authorities investigated, the man was very apologetic. He told them he was just trying to be helpful with the oil. Their reply to his excuses, however, was simple and to the point: "You were given oil for one purpose, and one purpose only - to keep that light burning!"
d A church faces a similar commission. There is no end to the demands placed on a church’s time and resources. As a result, the foundational purposes of a church must remain supreme."
B We have looked at what our job/purpose/reasons of existence as a church in the last two weeks.
Exalt, Evangelize, Equip, Edify. . . (Worship, Evangelize, Disciple, Minister)
a Jesus is using His church to reach a lost generation. (ETS)
b I hope you’ll make going to church a big deal to you. (Obj.) Who will?
C Let’s look at the last two reasons why going to church is big deal. (T.S.)
IV The fifth reason going to church is a big deal is. . .TO ENCOUNTER GOD IN PRAYER.
A In the Acts 2:42-47 snapshot of life in the early church, the five purposes that most writers recognize are clearly evident:
a. Worship: "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. . . .Day by day. . .they were. . .praising God and having favor with all the people" (2:43, 46-47a)
b. Evangelism: "And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (2:47b)
c. Discipleship: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching" (2:42)
d. Ministry/Service: "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need" (2:44-45)
e. Fellowship: "They were continually devoting themselves. . .to fellowship, to the breaking of bread. . . .they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart" (2:42, 46)
*There is another purpose of the church that is present in this snapshot.
*AC 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Emphasis added) PRAYER WAS VITAL PART OF THE EARLY CHURCH’S LIFE.
* "They all joined together constantly in prayer" (1:14), "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer" (3:1), "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken" (4:31), 6:4, 10:9, 12:5, 13:3, 14:23, 16:25, 20:36, 28:8
*Prayer was as much a part of the purpose of the early church as were worship, evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and fellowship.
B Scripture calls us to exercise prayer! (Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, Jeremiah, Jesus)
Satan calls us to excuse prayer! (Were to busy, I can handle it on my own, prayer doesn’t change things. . .)
*If Satan can not stop us from praying, he’ll seek to lead us astray so our prayers are ineffective.
ISA 59:1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
PS 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
*Isaiah & David both understood that God DOES NOT hear the prayers of a person who persists in sin. "Oh, Mike that is the old testament."
JMS 5:16b ". . .The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
". . .The prayer of an unrighteous man is powerless and ineffective."
*If Satan can tempt you to sin, then your prayers are emasculated.
*Speaking of emasculation. . .listen up men!
1PE 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
*Treat your wife bad. . .your prayers are powerless.
MT 5:23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
MK 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. "
1TI 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
*The family that prays together, stays together. The same is true of the church too!
C Popeye Picnic Committee member came to my house. . .
VI The sixth reason why going to church is a big deal is . . . TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN FELLOWSHIP.
AC 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship,. . .
A They devoted themselves to koinonia.
a Fellowship or a close relationship or association. *Not necc. a potluck.
b Fellowship is to build each other up in the church.
RO 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
RO 15:2 [2] Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
EPH 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
1 Thes. 5:11 [11] Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
B Genuine fellowship does not imply that the church should never take disciplinary sanctions against wayward members.
a 1 Cor. tells how a church member was caught up in incest and the church had to discipline the wayward member to PROTECT the fellowship of the church and to restore the man to righteous behavior...so he wouldn’t ruin the FELLOWSHIP.
b Protect the FELLOWSHIP. Bitterness kills it. Unforgiveness kills it.
C Can a church have too much koinonia? Absolutely, it’s a disease that causes churches to care about themselves/group and no one else. Koinonitus.
a Personal pew, seat in Sunday School, Church Growth threatens your close "fellowship."
Do you have koinonitus? List 10 believers you feel comfortable enough to share a prayer concern with. Then, list 10 nonbelievers w/ whom you’re close enough to share the gospel.
b If have koinonitis as a church, (too much fellowship) who is the happiest that were focusing on us instead of the lost? DEVIL
Conclusion:
A Jesus is working through his Church to bring salvation to a lost generation. (ESS)
We have looked at six reasons why going to church is a big deal
a (1) To Exalt God in Worship, (2) To Evangelize The World Through Proclamation and Missions. (3) To Equip believers through teaching & mentoring (4) Edify others through ministry and service (5) Encounter God in prayer (6) Encourage one another in fellowship
b Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship, Ministry, Prayer, Fellowship
B I hope you’ll make going to church a big deal to you. (Obj.)
a Options. Pray or become prey (That’s what the devil will do!)
b Options. Koinonia or Koinonitis
C What are you doing that shows church is a big deal to you? (Probing Question)
a The job of the church is not to impact the church, but to impact the world. It’s like a huddle in a football game. 67,000 people don’t pay $25.00 a ticket to watch the Rams huddle. What if you went to a Rams game and for 2 ½ hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and talk? That’s not what you pay for!! 67,000 people pay $25 a ticket to see what difference the huddle makes.
b What they want to know is, having called the play in secret, does it work in public?
c The challenge for the church is not what we do when we call our Sunday morning huddle, but what we do when we break our huddle and head to our Sunday morning assignment. When Satan lines up against us, what difference does it make that we are Christians?
***Notice: I have used Sermon Central sermons for a VERY long time. If this or any of my sermons are similar to a sermon that is already on Sermon Central by another pastor or teacher....chances are I have used it. Actually, there is probably absolutely nothing in this sermon that hasn’t been preached before! If I used your sermon and haven’t given you credit, please write me and I’ll give you credit by name. I have in no way intentionally withheld credit to any work I’ve used/borrowed from. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I HAVE "USED" YOUR WORK IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD A SUPER SERMON! I prefer to preach with an outline and just rearranged your sermon. My intent is to make sermons relevant and easy for outline guys to use. If you use MY work, feel free to claim it. I do not care!! Simply realize that I have borrowed from other preachers, too.
Mike Fogerson, Pastor, Chester’s First Baptist Church
