Why Does the Church Matter?

December 12, 2004

Introduction

            This past week has been a very busy week, and a very difficult week for the Minter family.  We had Lois’ funeral on Thursday and her grave side service on Friday.  During that time, there was a lot of discussion about the life of this dear lady.  This was a dear lady for whom the church meant a great deal.  She wanted all of her family to be in church.

            This morning, we want to address the question, “Why 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.

Body

I.        What is the church?

1. 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.

 

2. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

III.   Why does our assembly matter?

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

1.      I don’t mean by that that I agree with everything they may teach, but the world has recognized assemblies of Christians from the first century on.

(Heb 10:25 NASB)  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

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

2. 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."

Conclusion

I.        Someday He’s coming back to claim Him own.

 (2 Th 1:7-12 NKJV)  and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, {8} in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, {10} when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. {11} Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, {12} that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II.     The most important thing in all the world is to be right with God.

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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