“The Church” ::: “Exactly what did Jesus create the church to be :: Purpose #1 – To proclaim God’s truth (as found in the Bible) to a lost and dying world:: “I charge you before God. . . preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season! Convince, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 By doing this (Matthew 5 :13-‐ 14): #1 – The church becomes “salt” to the world #2 – The church becomes “light” to the world Purpose #2 – To care for one another with the love of Christ :: “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, so shall you love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34, 35 God’s second purpose for creating the church is for it to be a “safe haven” for people where believers in Jesus provide mutual care and support to one another. And also a place where we reach out and offer that same support to non -‐ Christians as well. Purpose #3 – To reach its world for Christ beginning with its own city :: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every person.” Mark 16:15 “And you shall be my witnesses, beginning in Jerusalem . . .” Acts 1:8 Jesus didn’t tell them to begin with a “foreign missions” program, but with a “next door neighbor” program. “And more and more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were increasingly being added to their number.” Acts 5:14 Purpose #4 – To make believers into disciples :: *Every “believer in Jesus” is not a “disciple of Jesus.” Disciples have “crossed a line” – and made a higher commitment ! “Go ye into all the world and make disciples. . .” Matthew 28:19 Disciples are “made” by a deliberate process that a church carries on: • A process of spiritual investment • A process of spiritual mentoring • Where mature believers help young believers step across that “discipleship line” –and stay across it – and then begin to help others across it. When we read the New Testament, we quickly realize that the Early Church was full of people who lived a “ lifestyle of evangelism.” A “lifestyle of evangelism” = every day they lived . . . everywhere they went . . . with every person they met . . . they were bubbling over to share Christ.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:03:54 +0000
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