Why On Earth Does The Church Exist ?
Part 1 of 5
John 3:30
Romans 15:5-6, 1 Cor 6:19-20, 1 Cor 10:31, 2 Thess. 1:11-12
It took 200 years to build and 700 years later work continues to be done to correct the errors in construction. The building will probably still topple despite efforts to save it. Though it is world famous, it has gained attention not for it’s beauty but for it’s flawed construction. Today it is off limits to people, and is considered a safety hazard. Do you know which bldg. I’ m speaking of........It is of course the Leaning Tower of Piza.
The tower leans because of an error in the foundation.
Rarely do we see the foundation of a bldg or think about it’s value. Yet, it is the most important part of the bldg. The structural soundness and thus the value of a bldg is determined by its foundation !
As we approach the beginning of a new church year.....one that I hope will be among the greatest in the 83 year history of this church.....I believe it is vitally important that we revisit the foundational purposes of the church.
I believe that the church can never function properly until we understand, and undertake it’s purposes as designed by the Master Builder....the Chief Cornerstone.....who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Over the next five weeks, I want to deal with the subject of “Why On Earth Does The Church Exist ?”
Why are we here ? We’ll never know if we’re doing our job or not until we know.......and once we correctly understand our purpose....will we commit ourselves to carrying out the purpose of the church ? Over the next five weeks, I’m going to give you five words ! One each week for each message ! At the close of the five week period, we will have the five words which I believe help define what the church is, and why we’re here !
The first word this morning in answer to our question.....”Why On Earth Does The Church Exist ?” is “Glorify”
The church exists to “glorify” !
To “glorify” means to “render honor” or to “magnify”. The purpose of the church is to render....give glory to God
How are we to glorify God ?
God Is Glorified........when the......
1. Savior Is Magnified !
John the Baptist in one sentence sums up his ministry, and I believe gives us a great definition of “glorifying God.”
“He must increase...I must decrease”.
To glorify God is to enlarge, to exalt, to magnify. The church.....Christians are to glorify God. We glorify God when we magnify his Son, and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.
Illust. Dummy Brown Pointing people to Christ
Illust. Little Boy attending Christian school
God is glorified when.....
2. Self Is Minimized
The church is not about me....not about you.....It’s about him. It’s not about look at me......but look at Jesus......it’s not about follow me.....but follow Jesus. I’m afraid sometimes so much of what is done at many church is for self edification....and self gratification....and if that’s the case.....then it can’t be about “glorification.” The church is really not even about the church.....it’s about Christ !!!
God is glorified when there is.....
3. Singleness of Mind.
Rom. 15:5-6
5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God cannot be honored...cannot be glorified where there is division,disunity and disarray.
Listen to the words of the precious, powerful prayer of our Lord Jesus before his death......his desire that we might be one.....why ? So that the world will know that Jesus was sent by the Father !
John 17
20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
I don’t know of many things that are more dishonoring to God....more blasphemous of his name......that do more harm to the Kingdom cause than for a church to be at odds. God can’t be glorified in situations like that.....God is glorified when we behave as people that have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.....Let’s glorify God by loving each other.....by respecting each other.....and by cooperating with each other to do his work !
God is glorified when the....
4. Scripture Is Modeled.
Acts 2:42-47 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.
V46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple....
The early church where God was moving, and working.....was a church that modeled the scripture. They met continually studying it....teaching..and being taught....and they modeled the scripture ! The church in which God is glorified is not only a Bible preaching church.....but it is a Bible living church ! 1 Pet. 2:12
James 1:22 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Psa 119
105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God is glorified when the.......
5. Spirit Is Minded.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The work of the Holy Spirit is to witness of Christ.....to glorify him. If we are mindful of the Holy Spirit, then we will glorify Christ.
Eph. 5:18-19....”be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit....to be beneath his control.....the result is glorifying Christ.....
19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
God is glorifed when....
6. Saints Are Multiplied.
When people come to know the Lord, God is glorified ! For that is the fulfilment of the great commission.....that we go, and preach the word, baptizing, and making disciples !
We as a church exist to glorify God......we do this by pointing people to Christ....by magnifying him......by preaching the word.....by obeying the word.....by being filled with his Spirit ! Is your life about self or the savior.....is it about gratification or glorification ?
