Five Truths God Wants Us To Know About the Church

February 1, 1992

- we're studying Basic Bible truths
- assurance, growth, God's provision through His word, prayer

- now we're in our fifth study - talking about God's
provision through the local church
- last week we spent most of our time talking about why this
study is important

- one of the bottom lines of all that was: The local church
is one of the Lord's primary provisions for our growth and
service in this age
- its plan A, B, and C

- it’s not perfect because humans are involved
- but any problems in a church is not because of the concept,
its because of the people

- as a result, we ought to be strongly opposed to anyone that
has the view that the church has outlived her usefulness
- or that there's better ways to get the job done in
this sophisticated day and age

- even in Acts 6, when the church had problems, the Lord
didn't throw out the concept of the church
- he had the leaders and the people work out the problem

- so when we think about God's plan and program for this age
- we ought to quickly think of what's happening in the
church
- when we think about what's really important to the Lord
today, our minds ought to think of the church

- as a result, a fundamental question each of us has to
answer is - Does the church have the same place in my
heart, in my thinking, in my actions, in my life...
- that it does in the heart and mind of God

INPUT - if that’s happening - what kind of things are going to
be true of that person's life? (What will it
affect?)
- what the person thinks about
- dreams about (cf. the rotten commercials -
wouldn't it be great?)
- where the person spends their time
- what they enjoy
- what they talk about
- where they invest their funds

- today, we want to study "Five Truths God Wants Us To Know
About The Church"
- it's important that we know, and understand, and are
applying the truth the Lord has revealed about the
church."

I. The Church Began on the Day of Pentecost

A. Predicted in Acts 1

- this passage is the final post-resurrection
appearance by our Lord
- automatically that ought to get our interest up

- any time we think about the bodily resurrection of
our Savior, that ought to do something to us
- that one of the things I like about our Easter
Drama - the opportunity to concentrate on what it
was like when our Lord was raised from the dead

- if that doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!

- READ Acts 1:4-9

- INPUT - what observations can we make about the
message the Lord gave the disciples here?
- these are "last minute" instructions and
therefore very important
- the Lord says something very spiritual and
very supernatural is going to happen to them
in the near future

B. Completed by Acts 11

- as you're turning, let me just say that these
verses are where Peter is explaining his ministry
to the Gentiles to the church at Jerusalem
- he explains his ministry by recounting all that’s
happened to him (much of what he says is not
pertinent to our topic today)

- but I would like us to look at verses 15-17

- (the question we're seeking to answer is: When did
the church begin?)

- in verse 15-17, Peter is telling the church at
Jerusalem about God sending him to Corneilus and
his Gentile brethren

- read 15-17

- point is - Acts 1 predicted that something
supernatural was going to happen
- clearly by Acts 11, that had happened

- so this supernatural event took place sometime
between Acts 1 and Acts 11
- so what's the event?

- the answer comes in Acts 2

- read Acts 2:1-8

- in verses 14-40, Peter preaches a sermon about the
death, burial, and resurrection
- encouraging men and women to repent and
trust Christ as Lord and Savior
- let's see what happened (READ 41)

- now let's thread some of this together (we need to have
folks ready to read Eph. 2:20-22 and I Cor. 12:12-13)

- we studied last week Matt. 16:18
- upon this rock I will build my church, Jesus said
- in Acts 1, Jesus predicts that an event that was the
most important thing He had to tell the disciples
before He ascended
- God, through His Spirit, was going to do a mighty
work
- that work was definitely completed by Acts 11

- Jesus clearly was predicting the birth of the church
in Acts 2

- now let's hear how Paul later described the event

- Eph. 2:20-22 (INPUT - as he reads, please think
about how this verse is similar to Matt.
16:18?) - note threefold use of "build"

- I Cor. 12:12-13 (note emphasis on the Spirit)

- now, you might say - "What's the point of all of
this? "
- the point is - what's happening in the church is
Spiritual business

- see, what's the most exciting thing for the Lord
to tell the disciples before He leaves the earth
- what the most spiritual thing going?
- what's the greatest demonstration of the power of
the Holy Spirit in this age?

- THIS IS IT! - THE CHURCH
- where for the first time in human history, men
and women could be permanently indwelled by the
Holy Spirit of God
- and could come together in local assemblies
to study, worship, serve, fellowship, and
spread the good news of Jesus Christ to
others

- here's why this is so important
- some folks have a whole different definition of "spiritual"
today
- some folks think being really "spiritual" is speaking in
tongues
- or going off on a mountain and letting God speak to you

- the most spiritual thing going today is the church
- the most important facet of the Spirit's work today is the
establishment and development of the church

- if a person wants to get in step with the Spirit of God
- if they genuinely want to walk in the Spirit

- then that person is going to have a significant place is
his heart and life for the church

- the sad thing is - some folks who call themselves
Christians - really don't give a lick about the church

- they don't think about the church much
- they don't pray for the church much
- they don't love the church
- they don't like to be at the church
- they don't support the church

- mark it down - based on what we're studying this
morning -- those kind of people aren't very spiritual
- they're not in step with the Spirit of God

- the church of Jesus Christ is the most spiritual thing
going

- cf. folks in town who want to come off real spiritual
(usually about some current social issue) but have no
time for the church
- stock answer - "What is your pastor saying about
this?"

II. Our Savior Is The Foundation and Head of The Church

A. Our foundation

1. He is the "rock"

- Matt. 16:18

- INPUT - what is the word "rock" a symbol of in
the following verses?

- Deut. 32:3-4 - (greatness)
- Ps. 18:31 - (strength)
- I Cor. 10:4 - (provision, consistency)

2. Everything we are as a church and everything we do
as a church is founded on Him

- I Cor. 3:11

B. Our Head

- Eph. 5:22-24

- Col. 1:18

- both of these passages teach that Jesus Christ is
the Head of the Church

- now let's push that one step further

- Question is - through what means is Jesus
exercising His headship today?

- John 16:12-14 (directing the activities of the
church through the leadership of the Holy
Spirit)

- Eph. 6:17 - (Spirit's sword is His sword)
- the bottom line is - our foundation and our head is Jesus
Christ
- that has to affect the way we're organized and the way
we're run

- INPUT - what are some evidences of a church that recognizes
Jesus Christ as the Foundation and the Head?

(many answers - be sure to include:

1) church must be autonomous: self-governing, self-
supporting, self-propagating)
2) church must be true to the Scripture
3) when decisions are to be made, while members
should look to pastors and deacons for
leadership, each must seek the mind of Christ

III. The Local Church Has An Organized Membership

- this is an area that some folks wrestle with
- let's think about some things the Bible says about this
issue

A. It was true of the first church

Acts 2:41

- note the three step process - saved, baptized,
added to the church

B. Special rolls were kept

- I Tim. 5:9

C. Church discipline assumes a role

- I Cor. 5:13

D. Elections of officers assumes a role

- Acts 6:2-5

- the bottom line is that the norm in the NT is that a person
is saved, baptized, and joins a church
- the idea of a person saying they're a Christian but not
being a member of a local NT church is unheard of in the
Scriptures

-now, I realize that when a person moves, they're going to
visit around and try various churches
- there's nothing wrong with that
- there's usually going to be a little time involved

- but its wrong when folks take months and months
without joining, and getting involved, and serving the
Lord together

- while we're on this subject, someone recently asked me a
question I think we need to address.
"Why is it important to be a member of this church in
order to serve. I think it's important to be saved,
baptized, and a member of a church-why does it have to
be your church?"

INPUT?

1) It doesn't have to be this church--but it should be
the one you want to serve at. If a person is a member
of another church, why wouldn't they be there serving?

2) cf. associate membership

3) reason - we have a responsibility for the kind of
folks that are placed in positions of service.

- esp. folks who work with children

- cf. Trenton VBS