Church

 

Read this if you want to know:



Why should we go to church?



What should church be like? Is there anything we need to change?



What should we be doing - to prepare for Jesus’ return to the Earth?




A. WHY should we go to church?




A1. Company & protection


The Tabernacle & Temple were physical, earthly, pictures / fore-shadows  -  to help us understand God’s everlasting church in Heaven.


(Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:1-24; Revelation 15:5)




Let’s see how Solomon built the Temple  -  which shows us how God builds His church:








2 Chronicles 2:16 ~ And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need:


and we will bring it to thee in floats (= rafts) by sea to Joppa (= a voyage of about 100 miles);


and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.



--> We’re like those logs: one day WE'LL be carried up to the HEAVENLY Jerusalem.








In the same way, God ‘fastens us together’ with other believers - so that WE don’t become lost & lonely:






Psalm 68:6 ~ God setteth the solitary in families … 


--> This includes our CHURCH FAMILY.




The King of Tyre would have appointed sailors:






Just like God appoints Pastors / Elders:






A2. Support


1 Peter 2:5 ~ Ye also, as lively stones (= living stones), are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.



--> The stones in the walls of a house SUPPORT each other.



--> Just like there are times in all of our lives when:










Further reading

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12




A3. Encouragement


Hebrews 10:24-25

24And let us consider one another to provoke (= to spur one another on) unto love and to good works:


25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (= encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.



--> We need:






So we must MEET with other believers:






Further reading

Nehemiah 3:1-32

Psalms 42:4, 101:6, 122:1

‘Encouragement’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com

 



A4. Presence of God


Matthew 18:20 ~ For where two or three (= more than one) are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. 



Q - Why did Jesus say this?


A - To make it clear that we need to meet with other believers.




There’s a  STRONGER presence of God when we worship & pray TOGETHER - rather than alone.


Like it’s a better experience to attend a big match with others - instead of watching  it alone on TV.




We can even feel blessed when preparing for, and travelling to / from church - because this all forms part of our worship experience.




Further reading

Psalms 27:4, 84:1-4 & 10




A5. Getting our priorities right


Leviticus 23:3 ~ Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation (= an assembly / a meeting) …



--> On Sundays, CHURCH should be our MAIN event.


--> So we should organise other activities around church: not the other way around.




Illustration


It's like when we plan / order a meal:





--> Church should always be the ‘main course’ when planning our Sundays.




Luke 4:16 ~ And He (= Jesus) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.




Life also goes smoother when we do things God’s way.




Example









Q - What if we can’t attend our USUAL church?

(e.g. If we’re away on holiday / business  / visiting friends or family.)




A - We should attend ANOTHER church. 


Not only will we worship God, we can also experience how other believers ‘do church’.




B. What should church be LIKE?

Is there anything we need to CHANGE?



It’s good to give our church an occasional check-up : like we should have our teeth & eyes inspected regularly.


Then we can find and sort out any issues - before they cause serious problems.




B1. The church doesn't belong to people - it belongs to God


1 Corinthians 1:2 ~ Unto the church of God which is at Corinth …




We talk about ‘Our church’ - like we might say at the bus stop: ‘Here’s my bus coming’:







Further reading

Matthew 16:18

1 Corinthians 15:9


2 Corinthians 1:1

Galatians 1:13


1 Timothy 3:5

Revelation 1:12-13 then 1:20 - 2:1




B2. Jesus is the Head of the church


Colossians 1:18 ~ And He (= the Son from verse 13) is the Head of the body, the church.







Further reading

Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-24




Acts 9:1-5

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,


2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.


3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:




4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?


5And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.







The body must be CONNECTED to the Head:


Q - What happens when a body’s disconnected from its head?


A - It dies!




That’s why there are so many ‘dead’ churches:






Further reading

2 Chronicles 36:14-20




Throughout church history, there’s been a CONTESTING between those who want:




or





Thousands of Bible-believing Christians have been martyred in this battle for truth.


We should be inspired & humbled by the sacrifices of saints who have gone before us.


So likewise, we should never surrender /  give-up  Biblical truths.




If we DO let Jesus be the Head -->  His Body (= the church) will come back to life!




B3. Variety & equality in the church



VARIETY


Acts 13:1 ~ Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers;


as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.








--> They had very VARIED backgrounds.




Illustration

Just like the managers of top football clubs bring together players with complementary skills, from very different countries (in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America etc.) to make up their team.


So does the Manager (= Jesus) of our church bring together very different people - to make-up His team: for the work He wants done in a particular location.




EQUALITY

 

Luke 4:33-34

33And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,


34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art; the Holy One of God.

 


--> How would WE feel about someone like this in church?


--> Would we welcome them or ask them to leave?

 



Q - What did Jesus do?


Luke 4:35 ~ 

35And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he (= the devil / demon) came out of him, and hurt him not.

 



A - Jesus didn’t ask the man to leave, He HELPED him.


We should follow Jesus' example.

 

 


It’s important to treat EVERYONE in church the SAME - and to ignore their:  background,  job, wealth etc.

 


James 2:1-4

1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons (= don’t show favouritism).


2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel (= fine clothing), and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment (= cheap / dirty / shabby clothes);




 3And ye have respect (= pay special attention) to him that weareth the gay clothing (= fine clothing), and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; 


and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (= sit on the floor by my feet)




 4Are ye not then partial (= discriminating) in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts (= with wrong motives)?

 


--> Church should NOT be a cosy social club, just for 'people like us'.


--> It’s important that we make EVERYONE feel welcome. 

 



Further reading

Proverbs 28:21a

Acts 8:18-22




B4. Acts chapter 2 is a checklist of the nine key attributes of church



Verse 42

42And they continued stedfastly (= earnestly / diligently) in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.



#1  Doctrine needs: Bible teaching / study.

God plants you & me where we’ll hear the right messages for us.



#2  Fellowship = Meeting other believers.



#3  Breaking of bread / Communion (from the Latin word for fellowship / sharing)  /  Eucharist (from the Greek word for thanksgiving)  /  the Lord’s table.



#4  Prayer.




Verse 43

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.


#5  We should expect & welcome God performing signs & wonders.




Verses 44-45

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 


45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted (= distributed) them to all men, as every man had need.



#6  We should be generous and help each other.




Verse 46a

46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, ...


#7  Unity / one team - not divided into factions.



Further reading

1 Corinthians 12:25




Verse 46b

... and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat (= meals) with gladness and singleness of heart,

 

#8  Focussed on the Kingdom of God.




Verse 47a

47Praising God, and having favour with all the people …


#9  Praise.




Q: What happened when the church did these nine things?


Verse 47b

A:    47… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.




-->  If WE do these nine things - Jesus will again BUILD HIS CHURCH.




B5. Jesus also told us what He likes / dislikes in churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3



It’s like a cooking a good meal:




1. We need the correct ingredients = KEEPING GOD'S WORD.


Revelation 3:8 ~ … for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name.




But we also need to avoid bad ingredients = avoiding false doctrine & false prophecy:


Revelation 2:14 -15

14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam … 


15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 




Revelation 2:20 & 24

20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest (= tolerate) that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants

 …

24But unto you I say … as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.




2. We need to cook the meal at the RIGHT TEMPERATURE.


Revelation 3:15-16

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.


16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.


--> Jesus wants a church ON FIRE for Him!




3. The meal needs to TASTE good - not just look good.



Revelation 2:4 ~ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.



Revelation 3:1 ~ … I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 




There’s no point in our church looking good on the outside:






But not having Jesus as first love in our hearts.




--> So let’s make sure that we have a:







B6. Four tips for churches




1. We need to look BOTH WAYS:



A. Outward

If we don’t evangelise --> the church doesn’t grow.



B. Inward

If we don’t build-up believers --> individuals don’t grow.




Illustration


It’s like keeping warm:


A. We take-in heat - by eating food.


B. We keep the heat - by wearing warm clothes.



--> So our churches need to look both outward & inward.




2. Don’t make unhealthy comparisons with other churches:






3. Work to extend the Kingdom of God - not our particular church:






How can we do this?


A.  Pray for other churches.


B.  Work with other churches.


C.  Speak well of other churches.




4. Include SMALL GROUPS


In someone's home if they're willing to host, or in another venue.


Create and encourage clusters of believers with shared interests (mums & toddlers, youth, senior citizens, Creation, football, Israel, fitness, social action etc.)




A. Small groups care for their members.


This is especially important in a large church, where the Pastor can’t personally look after everyone.




It’s like being injured on a hill-walk:






B. It's much easier to get to know other believers.




C. We can ask questions.

Which may not be easy during the main Sunday service.




D. Great for developing ministries:


i. Ask people about the giftings they want to develop.


ii. Then give them opportunities.




It's much easier to develop giftings in a small group, than in the main Sunday service:






B7. Three things in church life which can depress us - and how to get around them




1. People leaving.


This happens in every church:






John 1:35-37

35Again the next day after John stood, and (= with) two of his disciples;


36And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!


37And the two disciples heard him (= heard John the Baptist) speak, and they followed Jesus.




2. People criticising our church.


People often criticise, when God is doing a good new thing in another church:






Q - Who’s the equivalent of the Pharisees today?


A - Someone who honours what God did in the past, but criticises what God’s doing today.




There’s no point arguing back - that just takes time & energy which would be better spent on building God’s Kingdom.


Instead - we should just ‘turn the other cheek’, and keep obeying what God’s told us to do.



Further reading

Romans 14:10




3. Being in a 'dead' church - which doesn't follow the Whole Counsel of God.



Ask ourselves:






If the answers are:


Yes - We should stay in that church.


We can build ourselves up spiritually with: good audio or visual teaching messages from elsewhere, books, conferences etc.



No - We should find another church: otherwise our faith will wither & die.




Further reading

Numbers 9:17-22




C. What should WE BE DOING - to prepare for Jesus' return to the Earth?




Let's learn from John the Baptist


Q - Why?


A - Because:






We’ll look at:



#1 LUKE's gospel:






#2 MATTHEW's gospel:






#3 Finally we’ll look again at LUKE's gospel - which tells us:






#1  Luke chapter 1 - John the Baptist's mission



Background - John the Baptist’s:


Mother = Elizabeth


Father = Zacharias




Verse 7

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years (= very old).








This is what the angel told Zacharias,  before John the Baptist was born:


Verse 15

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.



Q - Why has the Spirit-filled movement (= Pentecostal & Charismatic churches) only restarted in the LAST 5% of the church's 2,000 year history?







A - The historical fact that this didn't happen UNTIL the 20th century, means that we’re now getting NEAR to the time when Jesus returns to the Earth.



Further reading

‘Return of Jesus to the Earth’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com








--> Because they both have the SAME TASK.


--> To PREPARE the world for Jesus: JUST BEFORE His coming.




Verse 16

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.







Verse 17

17And he (= John the Baptist) shall go before Him (= Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elias (= Elijah),


to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;


to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.







Verses 39-44

39And Mary (= the mother of Jesus) arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;


40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.




41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 


42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb (= the child you bear).




43And whence is this to me (= why has this happened to me?), that the mother of my Lord should come to me?


44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation (= your greeting) sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.







Q - Why?


A - Because He’s coming back to take us to a much BETTER place!




Verses 57-59

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered (= it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby); and she brought forth a son. 


58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.


59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.



--> Some family members & neighbours wanted to call the baby Zacharias - after his father:






But which name had the angel already given the baby?


Luke 1:13 ~ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.




Verses 60-63

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.


61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.




62And they made signs to his father, how (= what) he would have him called.


63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.



--> John the Baptist was the first person in the Bible called John.


(There were Jonathan’s in the Old Testament - but no-one named John.)




Q - Why is this important?


A - Because God doesn’t want us to keep looking back to the church's past.



Instead - He wants us to work with  Him on what He’s doing TODAY.




Further reading

Matthew 9:17 / Mark 2:22 / Luke 5:36-39 ~ New wine needs new bottles / new wineskins.




Zacharias then prophesied to his son John ~ verses 76-77


76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; 


77To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,




Q - What’s our mission?


A - To prepare the way for Jesus' return: by telling people why & how they need to be saved. 




Further reading

Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6 

John 1:6-8 & 15




Verse 80

 80And the child grew, and waxed (= grew) strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.







#2  Matthew chapter 3 - How did John the Baptist carry out his mission?



Verse 1

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,







On the streets, in the workplace, in the media etc.




Verse 2

2And saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.



A. We must explain to unbelievers the urgent need to REPENT of their sins, and how to do this.


(By turning towards the goodness of God and away from the evil of sin.)


Further reading

'The Cross’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com




B. We must not dilute this message:






Verses 3-4

3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah 40:3-4), saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.


4And the same John had his raiment (= clothes) of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins (= a leather belt around his waist); and his meat (= his food) was locusts and wild honey.



Q - Why locusts & honey?






--> We need to  ‘eat both’ (= to read about them in the Bible).


--> Then explain both of them to unbelievers.




Verses 5-6

5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,


6And were baptised of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.


--> We must baptise new believers in water.




Further reading

'Baptised in water' message on WholeCounselofGod.com




#3  Luke chapter 7 - What was John the Baptist like?



That's what WE need to be like.



Luke 7:24-27

24And when the messengers of John were departed, He (= Jesus) began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?


A reed shaken with the wind? (= swaying, compromising & going along with the way unbelievers tell us to live.)




25But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment (= soft clothes)?


Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately (= splendidly clothed and living in luxury), are in kings’ courts.




26But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.


27This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.




Q - Was God's messenger (John the Baptist) soft & weak?


A - No!




Q - Did John the Baptist compromise & water-down his message?


A - No!




God’s given us - His Spirit-filled church - that same vital job: to PREPARE the way for Jesus to return to Earth.




So let’s be like John the Baptist:


 


A.  NOT giving-up nor compromising.

 


That would be like the Europeans who collaborated with the occupying Nazis, during WW2:



 

 


B.  But preaching the truth of the gospel BOLDLY - until Jesus comes back!




Amen