Does the Church Matter

Does the Church Matter?

January 30, 2011

Introduction

As we begin a new year, we are reminded that many of our ideas and values are being challenged. This morning, we ask the question “Does the church matter?” Why does church attendance matter? From the first century on, there have been those, who for various reasons, did not want to attend church. But what is the church?

Body

I. What is the church?

By definition.

Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites

1d) in a Christian sense

1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1. It is an assembly that has come out of their homes.

2. In the case of the church, we have assembled to worship God.

According to scripture, the church is described in different ways.

1. The body of Christ.

(Eph 5:23 NKJV) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

a. As the body, we are to care for the parts of the body.

b. Our members must be connected to our body, or we die.

(1 Cor 12:25-26 NASB) that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. {26} And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

2. The church is described as the bride of Christ.

(Eph 5:25-27 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, {26} that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, {27} that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

II. What is the purpose of the church?

A. We are to have fellowship with one another and with God.

(Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

We are to worship and honor God.

(Acts 2:46-47 NKJV) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, {47} praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

We are to edify one another and build each other up.

(Eph 4:15-16 NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1. We are to build each other up.

(1 Th 5:11 NKJV) Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

(1 Th 5:11 NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

2. One way we build each other up is by our coming together

III. Why does our assembly matter?

Assembly for worship has marked Christians as Christians in every age.

In (Heb 10:25-26 NKJV) we have this admonition: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. {26} For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,”

Two or three things need commenting on.

1. The “forsaking” in this case was somewhat, if not completely permanent. It was to avoid being identified as Christians, and thus escape persecution. Concerning “willfully,” Thayer has this to say,

1) voluntarily, willingly, of one’s own accord

1a) to sin wilfully as opposed to sins committed inconsiderately, and from ignorance or from weakness

2. The old Soviet Union had gangs that would go out and break up “house meetings”

3. One member of one of these gangs gave up everything but the clothes on his back to swim to freedom and become a Christian.

Our assembly is a testimony to our faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Christ wanted us to be witnesses for Him.

(Acts 1:8 NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

2. In a more general way, He put it this way.

(Mat 10:32-33 NKJV) "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

3. Jesus also stated it as being ashamed of Him.

(Mark 8:38 NKJV) "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

4. We are to be the called out.

(2 Cor 6:17 NKJV) Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

a. We need to be different from the world.

b. Be separate from the world.

(Romans 12:1-2 Phillips) - With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Conclusion

I. Are we supporting members of the Church?

II. Does the church mean to us what it should?

III. Will I pay the price to be a Christian?

IV. Have you been baptized into Christ to become a Christian?

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