July 25, 2010
Sermon #846
Why the Church?
Introduction: The man said, "Jesus - Yes, the Church - No!" He was not the first. Some who have never been a part of a local church think of it as just another civic organization or club. Others who have been hurt in a church reject it. What they do not understand is that there is no vertical relationship to Jesus Christ without a horizontal relationship to other Christians.
I. The Church is the people of God
Romans 9:19 - 27 (NKJV) 19You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?"
20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"
21Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
24even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25As He says also in Hosea:
"I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26"And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
'You are not My people,'
There they shall be called sons of the living God." 27Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.
The Church is a composite of people
Revelation 5:8-10 (NKJV) 8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
ILL: The first church I became a member of was made up of people who were all alike – white, middle-class, southern. The first church I was a pastor of was made up of people who were all alike – white, middle-class farmers, southern (pre-dating the civil war). The next church where I was a pastor was made up of people who were all alike – white, middle-class, southern KKK, tobacco farmers and whiskey makers. The first church I was a pastor of in Greensboro, NC was made up of people who were all alike – white middle-class, southern, mill workers. The most segregated hour in Greensboro was Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. When I started the Cathedral of His Glory in Greensboro, it was a multi-cultured body from day one. Why? Because I wanted to experience what the Church Jesus founded was really like! Church is a composite of people.
The Church is made up of people with different functions
1 Corinthians 12:12 - 31 (NKJV) 12For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.- Paul is writing about the Ekklesia, or Church as a government unit.
ILL: What happens to a body part if it is cut off from the body? It loses its function, goes into decay. So it is with a Christian separated from the local church.
Plurality of leadership
Hebrews 13:7 - 8 (NKJV) 7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- More than the 12 Apostles
Acts 14:14 - 18 (NKJV) 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
16who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
17Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."
18And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Romans 16:7 (NKJV) 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
- Start a New Work
Romans 15:18 - 21 (NKJV) 18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—
19in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation,
21but as it is written:
"To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand."
- Prophets
Acts 11:27 - 30 (NKJV) 27And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
- Evangelists
Acts 21:7 - 9 (NKJV) 7And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.
8On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
- Pastors/Teachers
1 Peter 5:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
- Elders
Titus 1:5 (NKJV) 5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you…
ILL: Notice that Paul does not say "appoint Deacons." There is no place in the Bible where Deacons run a church! A Deacon is a servant of the Church.
II. The Church is made up of "living stones"
1 Peter 2:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,"8and
"A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense."They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
A. What is a "living stone?"
ILL: Man-made blocks are not "living stone;" living stone is stone that has been blasted or cut from a mountain. No two pieces are the same; all have jagged edges. If everyone in a church looks alike, dresses alike, walks alike and talks alike, it is not a church but a cult. The Apostle marks the place the church is to be formed. The Prophet blasts the stone out. The Evangelist brings it to the place. The Pastor/Teacher marks the stone to see where it will go. Then the stones are rubbed together. How do you polish a diamond? With other diamonds!
Most diamonds today are cut and polished in Israel. The diamond cutter examines the stone to see how he can get the largest stone with the most facets. A diamond-tipped chisel or a diamond saw is applied and the stone is reduced in size. Then each area is polished with a diamond-coated polisher. What happens when they are polished? The dross is carried away. That is why most people leave a church – they don't want to lose the dross. Peter wrote: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow." People get mad at other members – they are filled with malice, hypocrisy or envy, and begin speaking evil about the church and its members or the Pastor. They leave the church before they are polished!
Jeremiah 18:1 - 6 (NKJV) 1The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:
2"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words."
3Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.
4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
5Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
6"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
B. "Living Stones" are special people that proclaim the praises of Him.
ILL: The purpose of the collected Church is to praise and worship
Acts 2:1 - 11 (NKJV) 1When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
Acts 3:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 4:23 - 31 (NKJV) 23And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
'Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.'27
"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
31And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Collective praise and worship brings collective power!
Conclusion:
Hebrews 10:19 - 25 (NKJV) 19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21and having a High Priest over the house of God,
22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25not 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.
ILL: The Church is like coals of fire – when a coal is removed, it becomes cold and dark. Why the Church? Because we need each other in order to stay hot under the anointing!
