The function of the Church of Jesus Christ

My notes from a sermon on Sunday 14 August 2011

Acts 8 verse 1 -4, Acts 13 verses 1 – 4

We began last week to look at the subject of the church in the New Testament. What is our definition of the church? What goes through our minds when it is mentioned? We tried to clear our minds from the idea of an organisation we were brought up in, an establishment we belonged to from a child or a place where our grandparents and parents attended. The picture in the New Testament is not of bricks and mortar or a great establishment but rather a group of people separated unto God through the finished work of Calvary. Everyone who has put their faith in Christ is a member of Christ’s own church. I want us to think again not of the founding of the church but rather of the function of the church. What is the role of the church? What is my role or your role in the church of Jesus Christ today? Not all of us are arms, hands, eyes – each one of us has a role in the body of Christ. It is our responsibility to find out what that role would be. Where are you in the body of God? What gifts have I got that I might use in this church?

The function of the church is the conversion of sinners. The prime purpose of the church is to bring the message of the gospel to people who are lost in sin and cannot find their way. There is no other function for the church. It is a channel to see sinners saved. Why do we open the doors? Invite people in to meetings? We come primarily to hear God’s word and see others saved. Our goal is to invite others in and see them saved. Jesus reminded his followers before he left this earth “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” That was the only command he left them. They couldn’t leave Jerusalem until something significant happened – had to wait for the Holy Ghost came and filled their lives. The greatest need for the child of God is to know the infilling of the Holy Spirit. When did you last sit and plead for the Holy Spirit to fill your life? In Matthew’s gospel we read these words “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.” (Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20) Today the church is a social gathering for many but the main function is to see souls saved. We come together that others might be saved. In Acts of the Apostles we read of Paul going into the city of Thessalonica and on 3 Sabbath days he preached the word of God in the synagogue. It says “he opened and alleged that Christ must suffer and be raised again from the dead.” Paul openly debated with the religious leaders that Jesus must suffer, hang on the cross, be put into a tomb and be raised again. He showed them from the Old Testament scriptures how Jesus was the Messiah. In Acts 8 verses 4 we read of the disciples who were persecuted and scattered but they went “everywhere preaching the word”. In Acts 13 the Holy Ghost comes to the people at Antioch and says “separate unto me Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them.” Later in verse 5 we read that Paul and Barnabas came to Salamis “they preached the word of God in the synagogues.” The function of the church is to preach the word of God and see men and women respond to God’s word and accept Christ as Saviour and Lord.

The function of the church is the communion of the saints. Peter referred to God’s people as a “peculiar people”. That word means a redeemed people. People who once were steeped in their sin but had turned to the Lord. Jesus paid the price on Calvary for my sins. He wasn’t selfish, he knew what he had to do when he came into this world. He knew he had to suffer and be rejected by his own disciples. The Bible tells us that we are all born in sin and shapen in iniquity. That sin will take us into eternity but thank God for his wonderful gift – “the gift of God is eternal life.” Remember in Acts chapter 2 when the disciples were in the upper room they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they were different from anyone else. If you are saved, filled with the Holy Ghost you are a different person. Have you known something of the convicting power of the Lord? Acts 2 verses 42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” No child of God can isolate themselves. Every child of God needs fellowship and in the early church that fellowship was found in the disciples doctrine as they met together. Remember Peter in jail in Acts 12. He had been put in jail after preaching for the Lord. What was the local fellowship doing? Meeting together and praying for Peter’s release. They prayed without ceasing. When Paul met in the synagogue the leader turned to him and asked if he had any word of encouragement. He didn’t ask him if he enjoyed the meeting but rather asked for his input into the meeting.

The function of the church is a constraint from sins pollution. Jesus said “ye are the salt of the earth.” Salt in those days was a preservation of food. It was important for the people to understand they were to live as preserved people. They were to hinder the onslaught of the enemy and his sinful intentions. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 7 “for the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” We haven’t seen the full depravity of man when the restraints will be lifted and every man will do that which is right in their own eyes. The church prevents it today.

The church is also for the glory of God. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever.” Are you wholehearted for God today?

The founding of the church of Jesus Christ

My sermon notes from Sunday 7 August 2011

Matthew 16 verses 13 – 20
Ssubject: the church.

Overall the view of what the church actually is for many today – a building of brick and mortar. Then they would think of the tradition attached to the church in terms of marriages, births, baptisms, deaths. That is not the church of the New Testament of which Jesus is the head.

God’s plan for the church - “I will build my church.” Are you a member of Christ’s church? That is different than asking you are you a member of such and such a church. You could answer yes or no but are you a member of Christ’s church? We need to go back to the Garden of Eden, the days of creation when God was creating all things from the dust of the ground. He formed man and breathed into him so that he became a living soul. Then a deep sleep came on him and God took a rib from Adam and made Eve. God’s plan was to make a perfect couple. Everything he laid his hand on he declared it as very good. A perfect environment. God saw the mistake and failure of Adam and Eve. It didn’t take God by surprise. God didn’t go down into the Garden to talk to Adam by surprise. God knew all about Adam’s disobedience. He now said his plan for the world was for redemption. Man had fallen into sin and God had to take the very best he had to offer for the world’s sin. The lamb was slain. That is the foundation of the church. God put into the heart of his son to redeem this world. Are you part of God’s church today? The foundation of the great redemption plan. Remember the ark in Noah’s day. God said he would destroy the world with a great flood. He gave Noah instructions to build a great ark. The ark was built because of the judgement coming on the world. Everyone in the ark would be safe. This world is not spiralling out of control – God has got it in control and the world is spiralling to the day of judgement. All who entered into Noah’s were safe. All who come to Jesus will be saved. Are you in Christ today? There is but one church today. It is the church of Jesus Christ. When Peter was asked who Jesus was he replied “thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.” Remember the pictures the Lord portrayed in the parables – the wheat and the tares. A man had a field and this field represents the world today. There are just 2 seeds in that field. There are the good and bad seeds. Then the servants come in and asked “why are there tares in this field?” That happened in the Garden of Eden. The devil came and sowed a seed of sin. From that day God has a redemption plan. Do not be deceived. As God looks on us he sees us as a field. There are those in the family of God and those who are not. God has a plan. In Acts 15 the elders of the church of Jesus Christ met together in Jerusalem. The gospel had come to the Gentile people and they were getting saved. Alarm bells rang in the hearts of the Jewish people. The leaders of the church came together and wanted to talk about it. They believed the people needed to be circumcised. James butts into the conversation and corrects them. He opens up the word of God and goes back to the prophets – verse 16. There is another day coming when the Lord will come back and take the church home. He will return and build again the tabernacle of David. He will come back to deal with the Jewish people. Are we in that number he is calling out? God’s plan for the church.

The people of the church – in Matthew 16 Jesus takes Peter to one side and asks him “whom do men say that I am?” Peter told him what other people said in the market place. Some referred to him as John the Baptist, others the prophets. Then Jesus asks Peter “who do you say I am”. At this moment in time Jesus is interested in you today. What think ye of Christ? The church is not a tradition but an active body with personal association to Jesus Christ. For us to belong to the church we need an association with Christ. It is only through the cross of Calvary. Not depending on tradition. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Doesn’t depend on confirmation or baptism – are you in that relationship today? When we talk of the church we are talking about the body of Christ. Having trusted in Christ as Saviour and Lord. The word translated from the Greek word means a called out people, an assembly, the gathering together. Can be used in different circumstances not necessarily a church group. In this light it means a congregation, an assembly gathered together of people. The word church is not translated directly from that word. It was kept in our Bible because before the Bible was translated into what we have today the Bishops got together and wanted to get rid of this idea. The Bishops said to King James “we don’t mind the production of a new translation but need to change the words.” The Bishops original meaning was a called out people, lose the meaning of materials and bricks. Jesus told Peter “thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church”. The rock is Jesus Christ – that is what church is depending on. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. What are we built on today? The foundation stone is the last stone to be put into the building. It is the most important stone. If we take away Jesus Christ everything else falls apart.

The place of the church – Ephesians 5 verse 25 “even as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” The price was none other than Christ‘s life, death and resurrection. He stepped out into this sin cursed world, took on himself the form of a servant and became obedient onto death that we might be saved. We are not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold. Are you saved by God’s grace?

The provision of the church – “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” verse 18.