Preached, February 27, 2005 am
THE CHRISTIAN AND SELF-RENEWAL (10)
The Church and Renewal (2)
Today we continue our study about the Christian and self-renewal. In our last lesson, we changed our focus to renewal within the Lord’s church. Briefly we examined what the church is noting that it is the people who come together at a specific location to do the work of God in that area (local church). We also noted how there are times when churches need renewal and/or revival. Consider the examples of churches like Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea all recorded in Revelation 2 & 3. We see how churches can be removed from God’s favor. Like churches back then, we need to be concerned about drifting both as individuals and as the Lord’s church (2 Timothy 4:2-4, Hebrews 2:1, 5:12-14). We then asked if there are measures we can put into place to ensure that we are growing and thriving as God would have us to. We then began noting the need for growth. The first step for growth that is pleasing to God is to understand what our purpose is. In our lesson today we want to briefly notice what the purpose of the Lord’s church is. With an understanding of this, we can determine: 1) if we are fulfilling that purpose, 2) what we need to do to make correction where it is needed, and 3) what we can do to ensure that we are continually moving forward and thriving. Our understanding of these things is not only important for the church today, but to ensure that the Lord’s church will still be here tomorrow. There are 4) Purposes for the Church
I. To worship God
A. An important purpose of any church is coming together to worship God. We find they did this in the first century on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41-42, 20:7).
B. What is the purpose of worship?
a.
What is worship? The primary word for worship is a
word that means “to kiss toward someone, adore.” (Word Study Dictionary) “To
prostrate oneself before someone as an act of reverence, fear or supplication.”
(Louw & Nida).
God has always demanded that man worship Him. The first murder was a
result of improper worship to God that He rejected (Genesis 4) where Cain
murdered Abel.
b.
To magnify God
James 4:8 – as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us
Hebrews 13:15-16 – praise to God is one way that we sacrifice to Him today.
When we worship God we are giving Him something (our time and abilities) and
expressing our appreciation for all that He has blessed us with.
C. John 4:23-24 speaks of God’s intent to be worshipped. This passage also summarizes HOW we worship Him – In spirit (with a proper motive) and in truth (according to His pattern).
a. If worship is to be pleasing, we HAVE TO know what we are doing and why. We also HAVE TO follow God’s pattern in what we do. Why? Because He is the one we are worshipping.
b. The Old Testament is filled will examples of condemned worship including Malachi 1:12-13 & Amos 5:21-24 which address improper attitudes.
c.
Even in the New Testament there were concerns about
abuses and improper actions and attitudes.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 – addressed abuses concerning the Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 14 addressed contentions in the worship service.
D.
There are acts of worship that require us to come
together as the church.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34, note vs. 20, 27-29; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians
14:15, etc.
II. To build up the saved. (Edification)
A. The word “edify” means to build up or as Vine says, “The promotion of spiritual growth”. Thayer says of this word, “in the N.T. metaphorically, edifying, edification, i. e. the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, happiness”. The bottom line is that in this world as Christians we need each other, and the church is a big part of that.
B.
Ephesians 4:11-12, 16 – God’s intent for leaders
was to build up the body of saints. Verse 12 notes that these leaders are given
“for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ.”
Vs. 16 notes how when every part does its share, the body grows “for the
edifying of itself in love” The growth of the church is directly related to
growth of its members (since members ARE the church)
C.
Consider also 1 Corinthians 14. Paul’s main
message is that when we come together as the church (to worship God) it is to be
an edifying experience. Consider verses 12 & 26 where Paul pointedly notices
this fact.
Colossians 3:16 also tells us that as we sing we are “teaching and admonishing
one another”
D.
As saints are built up they are able to better
evangelize, worship God properly and live a godly life being transformed by
renewing their minds and being renewed day by day. They are also able to build
up the church in every way as well as keeping her pure and united.
Included in this is the fellowship we have with one another.
III. To evangelize
A.
It is readily understood that we need to take the
gospel to the lost.
The example of first century Christianity bears that out.
The great commission bears out the expectation of our Lord – Matthew 28:19-20,
Mark 16:15, etc.
Paul’s attitude testifies to its importance when he said, “knowing therefore the
terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). His life was devoted
to saving as many as he could – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
B.
The result of these efforts was the establishment
of churches. In turn these churches promoted evangelism and continued to grow.
The fact that the church is intended to grow indicates a need for her to support
evangelism.
1 Timothy 3:15 notes that the church is “the pillar and ground of truth”.
C. How the New Testament shows the church was involved is interesting.
a.
First, we find the church supported the
preaching of the gospel. This is the primary way a congregation becomes
DIRECTLY involved in evangelism.
Acts 13:1-3 records the church at Antioch sending Paul and Barnabas to preach
2 Corinthians 11:8,9 – Paul “robbed other churches” meaning he was financially
supported by other congregations while in Corinth.
Philippians 4:15-17 – At times the church in that city was the only one
supporting Paul
b.
2 Timothy 4:5 finds Paul admonishing Timothy to “do
the work of an evangelist” and to fulfill his ministry. An evangelist
was a proclaimer of the good news or preacher of the gospel.
Ephesians 4:11 speaks of God giving some to be evangelists for the
building up of the body of Christ. This indicates that one way the church is
built up is through evangelism (from the same word as evangelist).
c. Furthermore, as members were built up and grew in the faith, they took the gospel to others. This was primarily how local churches grew AND other congregations were started. Consider 2 Timothy 2:2 as one example of this.
IV. To Help Needy Saints
A. Another work of the church that is sometimes misunderstood and abused in the religious world. God has provided authority for churches to take care of needy saints.
B. There are many Biblical examples of benevolence. In the New Testament we read of churches taking care of their own (Acts 6:1-7) and sending temporary relief to devastated churches (e.g. Acts 11:27-30). Every example of church benevolence was actually designed to relieve needy saints so that they could serve God with less physical distractions. We NEVER find benevolence used as a tool to introduce evangelism.
C. The work of the church in this area is limited as taught in 1 Timothy 5:9-16, etc.
D. Many churches today are engaged in all sorts of “good works” in the name of evangelism that simply are not authorized. The result is they are drawing crowds that are NOT seeking Jesus, but rather for the physical amenities and for the wrong reasons.
E. This was NOT God’s intention for the church – Romans 14:17; John 6:26, 27, etc.
F. Let it be understood, there are responsibilities that Christians have above and beyond the church in this area – James 1:27, Galatians 6:10, etc. And as we grow in Christ, we will do what we can for mankind. But this is simply NOT what God expected the church to be.
Thus we can see what our purpose is as the Lord’s church. Nothing more and nothing less. Much more can be said (and needs to be said) about this at a later time. Understanding the need for growth within the church and a brief understanding of our purpose – what can we do to ensure that we are thriving in our service to God and one another? In our next lesson we will notice some things we can do.