The Life of the Church

 

Introduction:

  1. We should remember our study of the glory of the church compared to Solomon’s temple.
  2. Our church is the living temple, house, and body of the glorified Son of Man.
  3. We are all kings and priests able to offer up acceptable sacrifices by Christ Jesus.

Its PURPOSE

  1. A habitation for God through the Spirit (I Cor 3:16 cp Eph 2:22).
  2. The glory of God (Prov 16:4; Eph 3:21; Heb 12:28-29; Rom 15:5-7).
  3. The defense of the truth (I Tim 3:15; Jude 1:3; I Peter 3:15; II Tim 2:2).
  4. The perfection of the saints (Ephesians 4:11-15 cp Heb 10:23-25).

The GOALS

  1. Perfection before God is our goal (Eph 4:12; Col 1:28; 4:12; Phil 2:12-16).
  2. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17-19).
  3. Walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh (Gal 5:16-25; Romans 8:1-14).
  4. Growing in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52; I Samuel 2:26).
  5. Salvation from deceitful hardening and leaving our faith (Heb 3:12-13).
  6. No deadwood cluttering the ground without fruit (Luke 13:6-10; I Cor 5).
  7. No divisions, but all members striving together for one goal (Eph 4:1-3).
  8. Looking for the great hope of Christ’s return (Tit 2:11-14; I Thess 5:8-11).
  9. There are false goals that have been foisted upon churches by heretics.
    1. We are not a building-temple for public and private worship only.
    2. We are not a social club for society politics and networking.
    3. We are not a stage for the weekly performance of a pastor-actor.
    4. We are not a business organization for the Great Commission.
    5. We are not a seminary class for weekly lectures and training.

The MOTIVES

  1. It should motivate us to know our church is the temple and body of Christ.
  2. Our church is God’s staging area for preparation before His Return.
  3. To realize our mutual goals in the Spirit, we must be building this church.
  4. What was the early church in the Spirit like? (Acts 2:41-47; 4:31-37).
  5. Every church member was chosen specifically by God (I Cor 12:18).
  6. Our LORD remembers your small efforts to serve others (Matt 25:31-46).

The METHODS

  1. The fourfold value of society applies to churches well (Eccl 4:9-12).
  2. The combination of Christ’s gifts and every joint working (Eph 4:16).
  3. Attend and use every assembly that you possibly can (Hebrews 10:23-25).
  4. Warn, comfort, support, and be patient to others (I The 5:14; He 3:12-13).
  5. Convert and restore brothers overtaken in faults (Gal 6:1-2; Jas 5:19-20).
  6. Share joy or grief with any rejoicing or suffering (Rom 12:15; I Co 12:26).
  7. Love one another truly (I Cor 13:1-13; John 13:35; Rom 12:10; I Pet 4:8).
  8. Show hospitality one toward another (Romans 12:13; I Peter 4:9).
  9. Pass over transgressions (Proverbs 19:11; I Peter 4:8; I Cor 13:7).
  10. Pursue reconciliation with others (Matthew 5:23-24; Rom 12:18).
  11. Work out transgressions you can’t bear (Matt 18:15-17; I Cor 6:1-8).
  12. It is more blessed to give than to receive, so exalt giving (Acts 20:35).
  13. No cliques or neglect of any but care for all members (I Cor 12:13-27).
  14. You should be closer to your spiritual brothers in Christ than any other.

The HINDRANCES

  1. Shall we selfishly rebell as wicked Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
  2. Selfishness will not allow us to think about others (Philippians 2:3-4).
  3. Pride will not allow us to humbly serve others (Romans 12:16).
  4. Slothfulness, ignorance, rebellion, and hatred will all hinder our project.
  5. But carnality and walking in the flesh will cause you to miss everything.
  6. Unsociable and wicked habits you formed in ignorance or selfishness.
  7. Foolishly holding notions of the false purposes for churches listed above.
  8. Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church.
  9. Excuses are Legion.
    1. “I just don’t want to get involved.”
    2. “They will think I am proud.”
    3. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
    4. “Someone else will do it.”
    5. “I’m just not the compassionate type.”
    6. “But no one does such things for me.”
    7. “But I’m too busy.”
    8. “That’s what we have a pastor for.”
    9. “Every man must bear his own burden.”
    10. “Your cheerleading just doesn’t affect me.”
    11. “I just don’t have the personality for that.”
    12. “I don’t really have anything to offer anyone.”
    13. “He’s free, white, and twenty-one.”

Conclusion:

  1. Will you consider this day our purpose, goals, motives, and duties in the temple of God?
  2. The Life of the Church
  3. Introduction:
  4. We should remember our study of the glory of the church compared to Solomon’s temple.
  5. Our church is the living temple, house, and body of the glorified Son of Man.
  6. We are all kings and priests able to offer up acceptable sacrifices by Christ Jesus.

Its PURPOSE

  1. A habitation for God through the Spirit (I Cor 3:16 cp Eph 2:22).
  2. The glory of God (Prov 16:4; Eph 3:21; Heb 12:28-29; Rom 15:5-7).
  3. The defense of the truth (I Tim 3:15; Jude 1:3; I Peter 3:15; II Tim 2:2).
  4. The perfection of the saints (Ephesians 4:11-15 cp Heb 10:23-25).

The GOALS

  1. Perfection before God is our goal (Eph 4:12; Col 1:28; 4:12; Phil 2:12-16).
  2. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17-19).
  3. Walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh (Gal 5:16-25; Romans 8:1-14).
  4. Growing in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52; I Samuel 2:26).
  5. Salvation from deceitful hardening and leaving our faith (Heb 3:12-13).
  6. No deadwood cluttering the ground without fruit (Luke 13:6-10; I Cor 5).
  7. No divisions, but all members striving together for one goal (Eph 4:1-3).
  8. Looking for the great hope of Christ’s return (Tit 2:11-14; I Thess 5:8-11).
  9. There are false goals that have been foisted upon churches by heretics.
    1. We are not a building-temple for public and private worship only.
    2. We are not a social club for society politics and networking.
    3. We are not a stage for the weekly performance of a pastor-actor.
    4. We are not a business organization for the Great Commission.
    5. We are not a seminary class for weekly lectures and training.

The MOTIVES

  1. It should motivate us to know our church is the temple and body of Christ.
  2. Our church is God’s staging area for preparation before His Return.
  3. To realize our mutual goals in the Spirit, we must be building this church.
  4. What was the early church in the Spirit like? (Acts 2:41-47; 4:31-37).
  5. Every church member was chosen specifically by God (I Cor 12:18).
  6. Our LORD remembers your small efforts to serve others (Matt 25:31-46).

The METHODS

  1. The fourfold value of society applies to churches well (Eccl 4:9-12).
  2. The combination of Christ’s gifts and every joint working (Eph 4:16).
  3. Attend and use every assembly that you possibly can (Hebrews 10:23-25).
  4. Warn, comfort, support, and be patient to others (I The 5:14; He 3:12-13).
  5. Convert and restore brothers overtaken in faults (Gal 6:1-2; Jas 5:19-20).
  6. Share joy or grief with any rejoicing or suffering (Rom 12:15; I Co 12:26).
  7. Love one another truly (I Cor 13:1-13; John 13:35; Rom 12:10; I Pet 4:8).
  8. Show hospitality one toward another (Romans 12:13; I Peter 4:9).
  9. Pass over transgressions (Proverbs 19:11; I Peter 4:8; I Cor 13:7).
  10. Pursue reconciliation with others (Matthew 5:23-24; Rom 12:18).
  11. Work out transgressions you can’t bear (Matt 18:15-17; I Cor 6:1-8).
  12. It is more blessed to give than to receive, so exalt giving (Acts 20:35).
  13. No cliques or neglect of any but care for all members (I Cor 12:13-27).
  14. You should be closer to your spiritual brothers in Christ than any other.

The HINDRANCES

  1. Shall we selfishly rebell as wicked Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
  2. Selfishness will not allow us to think about others (Philippians 2:3-4).
  3. Pride will not allow us to humbly serve others (Romans 12:16).
  4. Slothfulness, ignorance, rebellion, and hatred will all hinder our project.
  5. But carnality and walking in the flesh will cause you to miss everything.
  6. Unsociable and wicked habits you formed in ignorance or selfishness.
  7. Foolishly holding notions of the false purposes for churches listed above.
  8. Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church.
  9. Excuses are Legion.
    1. “I just don’t want to get involved.”
    2. “They will think I am proud.”
    3. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
    4. “Someone else will do it.”
    5. “I’m just not the compassionate type.”
    6. “But no one does such things for me.”
    7. “But I’m too busy.”
    8. “That’s what we have a pastor for.”
    9. “Every man must bear his own burden.”
    10. “Your cheerleading just doesn’t affect me.”
    11. “I just don’t have the personality for that.”
    12. “I don’t really have anything to offer anyone.”
    13. “He’s free, white, and twenty-one.”

Conclusion:

  1. Will you consider this day our purpose, goals, motives, and duties in the temple of God?