The Purpose of the Church

From Wayne @ http://acts18910.blogspot.com

In our house meeting, we've been talking about what it means to be the church. One of the things we saw is that the church exists to point people to God by pointing them to the cross. Or to say it another way, the church exists to magnify the glory of God through the gospel of Christ.

One of the places where we looked at this was in Ephesians 1-3. Ephesians 3:21 says, "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." The church has been called the theatre of God's glory. In other words, God's perfections are displayed in the church. In particular, the book of Ephesians highlights the glory of God's grace and of his wisdom.

Ephesians 1:6 says that God's blessings for the church are "to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Everything God has done for the church in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-2:10) - from choosing us before the creation of the world to seating us with him in the heavenly realms - displays and indeed trumpets the glory of his grace.

We are beneficiaries of this grace through the gospel: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Eph. 1:13). There is nothing good in us to merit the blessings of God. We are by nature objects of wrath not blessing (Eph. 2:3). It is solely on the basis of Christ's life, death, resurrection and exaltation (the gospel) that we receive God's mercy, "in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

Ephesians 3:10 further declares that God's purpose is "that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." The wisdom of God is seen in his plan to extend his grace to all peoples, so that Jews and Gentiles - indeed all races - can be reconciled to God, united in one body, and given hope in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-18). Paul elaborates on this as “the mystery of Christ,” which is “that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

One of the implications of connecting the gospel and the glory of God is that glorifying God and making disciples are intertwined. We also see this in the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39), where love for God and love for our neighbor are interconnected. And the apostle Paul placed the two together when he said of his ministry: “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). Thus: The church glorifies God by proclaiming the gospel.

Sent as a Community of the Good News, Part 2

By Mark D. Roberts @http://www.markdroberts.com

Part 15 of series: The Mission of God and the Missional Church
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series

In my last post I began talking about how we are sent as a community of the good news to join in the mission of God in the world. I said that our corporate sending is important because: first, we get our training and support from our Christian community, and, second, many aspects of Christian mission cannot be accomplished by individuals working along.

A third reason why we’re sent as a community is this: so that our corporate life will be a vivid demonstration of the gospel. God intends to show all creation Hiw plan for cosmic reconciliation through the reconciled body of believers in Jesus (Eph 3:9-11). In a world so filled with hatred and vengefulness, our mutual forgiveness will announce the presence of God’s reign. When people see our love for each other, they will see Jesus . . . assuming, of course, that we are in fact loving one another! Sadly, our relationships within the church do not always reflect the reconciling work of God. But when they do, the good news shines forth as a light in the world, drawing people to Jesus as a lantern draws moths at night.

I am reminded of another story from my days in college. I was actively involved in the Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship, an inter-denominational student group on campus. During my senior year, a freshman named Tom joined our fellowship. Before too long, Tom found himself in the midst of an excruciating faith crisis. Try as he might, he just couldn’t get beyond many intellectual doubts and questions. With his heart, Tom still loved the Lord. But his mind told him that his faith was nonsense. He anguished over the split between his head and heart, crying out to God for help. Wisely, he also called out to some of us whom he knew in the fellowship. We began to spend countless hours with Tom, discussing his doubts, pursuing his problems. Though the outcome often seemed bleak, we kept on walking alongside of him in love. And we kept on praying in hope that God would affirm his existence and love to Tom. (Photo to the right: Harvard Yard in winter)

After many months and innumerable discussions, our prayers began to be answered. Tom found resolution for his theological queries. His heart felt God’s love, especially as it came in the form of patience from his brothers in Christ. By the end of his freshman year, Tom not only remained a Christian, but his experience of intimate fellowship with God and God’s people had grown to new depths.

But that’s not the whole story. Tom’s childhood friend, Liz, also walked with him through his year of anguish. Liz was not a Christian, but she did care profoundly for her friend. Sometimes she was present during the marathon discussions we had with Tom about his theological struggles. As the year drew to a close and Tom reaffirmed his faith in Christ, Liz made a most unexpected confession to him.

“Tom,” she said, “I think I believe in Jesus too.”

“Really?” Tom exclaimed. “How did it happen? What made the difference? Did the arguments that helped me also help you?”

“To tell you the truth,” Liz admitted, “the arguments and the ideas mattered only a little. Your friends did help me to understand what it means to be a Christian, something I never really got before. But it wasn’t their arguments that touched my heart, Tom. It was their love for you. They sat there with you night after night. They showed you more patience than you deserved. The more I saw their love, the more I began to believe in the love of God. What they said about Jesus began to make sense to me. That’s why I believe in Jesus.”

Hmmm . . . . wasn’t it Jesus who said our love for each other would prove to the world that we are his disciples?

Needless to say, to be a part of God’s sent people, you need to join with a community of Christians. Not only is your fellowship with other believers necessary for your own discipleship, but it will draw non-believers to Jesus like a magnet. In a world fraught with alienation and individualism, a community of reconciled Christians shines forth like a searchlight upon God’s offer of reconciliation through Christ. Our fellowship together becomes perhaps the most important enactment of the good news, that which demonstrates the success of God’s mission. Through Jesus Christ, God has healed the breach caused by sin. He has reconciled us to himself and to each other, while entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors of Christ together, sent into the world to deliver and to embody this good news (2 Cor 5:16-21).

The Five Fold Purpose of the Church

From http://reformingbaptist.blogspot.com

These last few weeks, I have been preaching on the purpose of our church. A few years ago we borrowed the purpose statement from Lancaster Baptist Church. It's a good purpose statement, but I wanted to customize it to be unique to us. I re-arranged the order and wording a bit so that it had a logical flow to it. At the end of the series I preached all of them over again giving examples from the early church who fulfilled these points on the purpose statement. Here it is:

To Instruct- people through preaching and teaching the word of God
II Timothy 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
II Timothy 4:1-4
1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Paul instructed
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

Barnabas instructed
Acts 11:24-26 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Luke instructed
Luke 1:1-3 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.

To Inspire- people to worship God with their whole person.
the preaching and teaching will inspire people to offer their lives as living sacrifices which is our spiritual form of worship

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Mary- sacrifice and worship
John 12:3-5 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

To Involve- people in ministry by serving God and others.
Worshipping people automatically give themselves to serve God and serve their brethren with selfless love.

Romans 12:9-13 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Luke – Assistant to Paul, Writer of Luke and Acts
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me.
Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Onesiphorus – Refreshed and encouraged
2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

Tychicus- A Messenger, faithful servant
Ephesians 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Colossians 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.

Martha – servant and hostess
John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Barnabas – giver, encourager, comforter, mentor, teacher, leader, preacher, missionary…
Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,)

Tabitha – good works and giving
Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Lydia – servants heart
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

To Include- people in a loving church family through evangelism.
The glory of God is the motivation to reconcile sinners to Him. It is the ultimate mission that all the previous parts of our purpose are meant to fuel.

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Apollos – Soul Winner
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Philip – Soul Winner
Acts 8:28-31 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The Samaritan Woman
John 4:28-30 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

Finally when all of these four have been accomplished the church will:

Impact...The tri-city area and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.