Local Churches Have Distinct Purposes

- these last couple of weeks we've looked at God's Provision
Through The Local Church

- last week we began talking about the purposes of the church
- it very important for all of us that we've studied the
Scripture very carefully on this issue of purpose because
our philosophy/purpose guides what we do and don't do as a
church

II. Local Churches Have Distinct Purpose

A. The Church's Purpose As We Meet Together

1. perfecting the saints through studying God's Word

- Eph. 4:12 - for the perfecting of the saints

- Acts 2:42 - "continually devoting themselves to
the apostles teaching."

- Matt. 28:20 - teaching (to observe)

2. worship

- John 4:24 - they that worship Him must worship
Him in Spirit and in truth

- not that worship can only take place in a
church service, but surely our services are
to seek to bring honor and glory to the
Lord in all aspects

3. fellowship

- I John 1:3

- Acts 2:42 - "continually devoting
themselves...to fellowship."

- not the way we often think of fellowship
(sloppy Joes and cookies after the evening
service)
- building relationships to help one another
grow

4. observing the ordinances

- Acts 2:42 - "breaking of bread"

5. prayer

- Acts 2:42

6. baptizing - Matt. 28:19

- now, let's talk about some applications of this 1) while
there may be some variation in the ways these purposes are
achieved - we have no right to deviate from these primary
purposes of the church services.

cf. new movement today
- Sunday morning - purpose is evangelism
- do everything you can for the "seekers"
- don't make the church look like a church
- don't sing songs
- very little or no Bible
- "slip" the gospel in where you can
- the church for the 90's

- most of these churches don't have a service on
Sunday evening (or if they do, they're very poorly
attended)
- meet together on Wednesdays (or in home Bible
studies) for instruction

- lot of "catch-phrases" to go with the movement
- "non-traditional," "alternative church services"

- but the bottom line is - the primary purpose for
the church services (when the church comes
together) is not evangelism
- we'll talk about where evangelism fits in in a
moment

- we have to let the Scripture determine our purposes
for coming together

- now there's some flexibility within those
guidelines
- we're not saying that if a church doesn't begin
with an opener by the choir, have a congregational
hymn (standing), have someone lead in prayer--that
that’s wrong
- there's freedom within the parameters we've
mentioned

- but we can't change the purpose

- (develop - importance of faithfulness to the services)

- a question that flows out of this material is: Are you
in step with the purposes for which the church comes
together?
- one of the reasons we took time to lay out these verses
is because we wanted to look at the emphasis the Lord
places on instruction.
cf. trend on S. nights
[objection - not in the Bible]
- INPUT - How would you answer that?

- before we leave this point - we need to address this
question - Based on what we've said - does evangelism have
any place "in the services?"
INPUT?

B. The church's purpose as we go out

(not necessarily in order)

1. do the work of the ministry

Eph. 4:12

- some Christians have the same view toward
church as they do toward NFL Football (Sunday
is game day)

2. edifying the body of Christ

Eph. 4:12

- looking for concrete ways to build up fellow
believers in their faith during the week

3. mutual helpfulness

Acts 2:44-46

4. praising God

Acts 2:47

5. favor with others

Acts 2:47 - "having favor with all the people"

6. evangelism

Acts 2:47 - "such as should be saved"

7. making disciples

Matt. 28:19

- the primary point that we want to see from these verses is
that the Lord's purpose for us as we go out is that we
"multiply."
- we share the gospel
- make disciples
- get them in a church where they can be baptized and
taught
- learn both in and out of the church how "to observe"
- they them repeat the process

1) Wondering? and "Read Matthew 25"

a. not man's greatest need

- must be looking for ways to share the good news of
Jesus Christ
- in creative ways
- sensitive to:
- where you are in the community
- financial condition and generosity of the
church

b. we are involved in "poor relief"

- taxes
- voluntary programs at work
- BCH
- counseling ministry
- missionaries around the world

c. churches aren't commanded to feed all the poor of the
world, they're commanded to care for those in the
body.