What is church? Is it possible that your understanding of "church" is not quite accurate? Things are not always as they at first appear.
When you say "it's time to go to church," what do you mean? Normally you mean you are going to a building that you call church. In the Bible the word church is never used to refer to a building. It always, and only, refers to people.
Our english word church is the translation of the
greek word ekklesia, which is a compound word:
ek - out of + kaleo - to call
The church of Jesus Christ is comprised of all people He has called out of their sin and death and placed into His righteousness and life. Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, purchased His church with the price of His very own holy life, suffering for our sins and death in our place.
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What is the Church To Do?
There are four basic directions/actions of a Biblical church. These four actions are the foundation upon which all the life, activities and ministries of the church are built, maintained and grow. These four actions are the spiritual conduit through which all the life of our Lord flows. The four main actions/directions of the church are:
* teaching/proclaiming the Word
* praying
* evangelizing/disciple making
* fellowship/spiritual interaction with one another
The first action of the church has to do with the truth. The church of Jesus Christ must teach and proclaim the truth. Why? Because our Lord commands it. Because of the importance of the Truth. Because of the power of the Truth.
What is truth? John 18.37-38
1. The Importance of the Truth
Psalm 100.5 His truth endures to all generations
Psalm 117.2 the truth of the Lord endures forever
John 1.14 …full of grace and truth
2 Cor 6.7 the word of truth Eph 1.13, 2 Tim 2.15, James 1.18
2 Thess 2.12 be condemned who believed not the truth
Psalm 31.5 Lord God of truth
John 14.7 I am …the truth
John 14.17 the Spirit of truth 15.26 16.13
John 17.17 Your word is truth
1 Tim 3.15 the church is the pillar and ground of the truth 2. The Power of the Truth
Pr 16.6 by mercy and truth iniquity is purged
John 8.12 the truth will set you free
John 17.17 sanctify them through Your truth
James 1.18 He begot us by the word of truth
1 Peter 1.22 purify your souls in obeying the truth
Read the Truth. Listen to the Truth. Obey the Truth. Search the Truth.
Give out - teach, proclaim the Truth. Memorize the Truth.
Meditate (think seriously about for extended periods of time) on the Truth. _________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the Church To Do?
part 2
Our Creator, our God loves and cares for His children…
He provides for our needs…
He helps us through our trials and testings…
Our Lord Jesus gives us strength to conquer our temptations…
No matter how bleak the economic news becomes we have hope through our Father in heaven…
There is forgiveness from all your sins through our Savior Jesus Christ…
There is freedom from the chains that bind your mind, emotions and body…
There is hope for your relationships by His goodness…
How do you know these things? Someone told you. Because these messages are found in the Holy Scriptures. Someone taught you God’s Word.
The first, the primary, the most important action of the church is to teach God’s Word. There are four basic directions/actions of a Biblical church. These four actions are the foundation upon which all the life, activities and ministries of the church are built, maintained and grow. These four actions are the spiritual conduit through which all the life of our Lord flows.
The four main actions/directions of the church are:
* teaching/proclaiming the Word
* praying
* fellowship/spiritual interaction with one another
* evangelizing/disciple making
Teaching/proclaiming the Word
The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim 3.15 This is the primary action of the church. All others actions and ministries are based upon this one. All the life of the church flows out of our Lord Jesus Christ and our union with Him. We learn of this wonderful provision and all that our wonderful Father has for us through His Word delivered to His children in the power of His Spirit.
* The start of the church:
Acts 2.14 - birthed through the proclamation of God’s Word
2.40-42 - teaching, fellowship, prayer
* The foundation and growth of the church:
1 Timothy 1.3-4 - teach… nor give heed
3.2 - able to teach
4.6-11 - instruct… you will be a good minister… nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine (teaching)… these things command and teach
4.13 - Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (teaching).
5.17 - …who labor in the word and doctrine (teaching)
6.2-3 - Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches otherwise… words, words… to the doctrine (teaching)
We have one main function. The primary action of the church is the teaching and proclamation of God’s Word.
That one function has many different forms:
Sunday 9:30 AM Bible study groups, worship teaching, home groups, ladies Bible studies on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Awana ministries on Wednesdays, you sit down with a friend and talk about the scriptures, you lead a small group Bible study at work…
2 Timothy 1.11 - …appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher…
1.13-14 - …sound words which you have heard from me
2.1-2 - …commit… to teach others also
2.8-9 -
2.15-18 - …rightly dividing the Word of truth… their message
2.24 - able to teach
3.10 - …my doctrine (teaching)
Titus 1.3 - …through preaching
1.9 - …as he has been taught… by sound doctrine (teaching)
1.11-13 - …teaching things… that they may be sound in the faith
2.1 - proper for sound doctrine (teaching)
2.3 - …teachers of good things
2.7 - …in doctrine (teaching) showing integrity…
1 Timothy 3.1-17 - …profitable for doctrine (teaching)… instruction
4.1-5 - Preach the word… will not endure sound doctrine (teaching)… teachers… turn their ears away from the truth… How much time during the average week are you being taught (or teaching) God’s Word? How much time are our people being taught God’s Word? Is this sufficient to strengthen and equip our people?
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What is the Church To Do?
Part 3
There are four basic directions/actions of a Biblical church. These four actions are the foundation upon which all the life, activities and ministries of the church are built, maintained and grow. These four actions are the spiritual conduit through which all the life of our Lord flows.
The four main actions/directions of the church are:
* teaching/proclaiming the Word
* praying
* fellowship/spiritual interaction with one another
* evangelizing/disciple making
These actions/directions of the church work together. We are to do these things all the time. The working out of these actions will be many… One function, many forms…
1. Teaching/proclaiming God’s Word
Holding forth the Word of life… Phil 2.16
2. Praying
Acts 2.42; 3.1
1 Timothy 1.18-2.8
Luke 18.1
[] our Lord’s example
How much time during the average week are you praying with other people in our fellowship?
How much time are our people praying together?
Is this sufficient to strengthen and equip our people?
3. Evangelizing/disciple making
Acts 3.12-4.2, 33
How much time during the average week are you engaging unsaved people with the Great News of our Lord?
How much time are our people engaging unsaved people with the Gospel?
Is this sufficient to strengthen and equip our people?
4. Fellowship - spiritual interaction with one another
Acts 2.42
[] Our Lord lived with His family, the oldest of several brothers and sisters, for 30 years. He lived with them in a small village for 30 years. He ministered with 12 men for 3 years…
Hebrews 10.19-25
How much time during the average week do you spend with other believers in our body sharing, discussing God’s Word and spiritual matters?
How much time are our people connecting with each other on a spiritual basis? Is this sufficient to strengthen and equip our people?
One Function - Many Forms
Do we need to seek creative ways to increase the amount of time we spend as a body in these four areas? May our Lord help us, for His glory.
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