Church, why do we need to go to church, and what is the purpose of the church, ss

Church
Why Do We Need To Go To Church

What the purpose of the
church is?

But 1st. This
Can You Be
A Lone Ranger
Christian?

A Lone Ranger Christian
• Have you heard……?
• I don’t need to go to church, I can be with God
while I’m ________!

A Lone Ranger Christian
• First, let’s examine the “Lone Ranger
Christian” issue.

Even The
Lone Ranger
Wasn’t
Alone

Independent Americans
• We Americans have a long history of
independence, rugged individualism, self
reliance, standing on our own two feet, going
it alone, making our own way, doing it
ourselves, being captain of our own ship,
determining our own destiny, directing our
own affairs, being a self made man, etc..
• But is that the biblical model?

• Eccl 4:11-12 Again, if two lie together, then
they have heat: but how can one be warm
alone?12 And if one prevail against him, two
shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is
not quickly broken. KJV

We Are Commanded To Meet Together
• Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the
hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another — and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.
• Let’s see what they were doing, what they were
commanded to “not give up”;

Please open your Bibles to
Acts 2:42-47

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42 devoted to the teaching
the fellowship
the breaking of bread
and to prayer.
44 All the believers were together
had everything in common.
45 they gave to anyone as he had need.
46 continued to meet together
They ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the
people.
• And the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved.

• Phil 2:1-5 If you have any encouragement from
being united with Christ, if any comfort from his
love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy
complete by being like-minded, having the same
love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to
your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.
• 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus:…

A Lone Christian?
• Let’s examine the concept of a “Lone
Christian”.

A Lone Christian?
• Being a “Christian” means being a follower of
Christ.
• Acts 24:14…I admit that I worship the God of
our fathers as a follower of the Way…

There Is Only One Way, His Way

[Jesus said] John 10:14-15 "I am the good
shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know
me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I
know the Father — and I lay down my life for
the sheep.

Is It Possibly To Follow Christ “Your Own Way”
When He Is Leading Millions “His Way”?

Can We Follow Christ “Your Own Way”
When We Are One Body?
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We just finished Ephesians and the unity of His body;
Ephesians 2:15 …one new man…
Ephesians 2:16…one body to God…
Ephesians 2:18 …in one Spirit…
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as
also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of
all who is over all and through all and in all.
• Ephesians 4:25 …for we are members of one another.
• Ephesians 5:21 and be subject to one another in the
fear of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12-27
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DLK’s summary
12 many parts one body. Christ.
13 one baptism, one Spirit, one body
14 many parts one body
15 each part of the body belongs
16 each part of the body has a different function
17 If one member of the body doesn’t do his part
the body suffers

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•
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•

18 God soverienly arranges the parts in His body
19 not one big fat body, but a machine
20 many parts one body
21 you cannot say "I don't need you!“
22 every part is indispensable
23 which parts deserve honor?
24 God combined the parts
25 no division in the body, all parts are equal
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one
part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
• 27 the body of Christ is one, and you are a part of it.

If You Are a Christian
• You are the church!
• Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea,
Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace.
It was strengthened; and encouraged by the
Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the
fear of the Lord.
• 1 Cor 14:23 So if the whole church comes
together…

• If you are a “born
again,” a “new
creation in Christ”,
there should be
some changes in
your walk.

Why Do
We Need
To Go To
Church?

• That depends
on;
• What the
purpose of the
church is?

What Is The Purpose Of The Church?

1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7-11
• 1 Peter 4:7 …so that you can pray. [we get prayer
request here]
• 8 …love each other deeply… [we come together as
family]
• 9 …without grumbling.
• 10 …serve others… [we learn of needs here]
• 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking
the very words of God… [we hear God’s Word here]
• If anyone serves, he should do it …
• God must be praised by the “body” of Jesus Christ.

What Is The Purpose Of The Church?
• Eph 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be
apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
[God gifted these folks for specific jobs]
• 12 to prepare God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up
• 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ. [not completed yet]

Jesus And The Apostles Showed Us
What The Church Should Be

S. H. O. W. E. D.
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Serving
Holiness
Other loving
Worship
Evangelism
Discipleship

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Serving
• 1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use
whatever gift he has received to serve
others…
• 1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one
another without grumbling.
• 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone serves, he should
do it with the strength God provides…

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Holiness
• 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do
not conform to the evil desires you had
when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as
he who called you is holy, so be holy in all
you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy,
because I am holy."
• Matt 18:20 For where two or three come
together in my name, there am I with
them."

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Other loving
• Matt 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and
greatest commandment. 39 And the second is
like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All
the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments."
• 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Worship
• Matt 22:37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.‘
• 1 Cor 14:26…When you come together, everyone has a
hymn…
• Matt 4:10…it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and
serve him only.‘..
• Phil 3:3…we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in
Christ Jesus…
• Rev 14:7…Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the
sea and the springs of water…
• Rom 12:1…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship…

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Evangelism
• 1 Peter 3:15…Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope
that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect…
• Eph 4:12-13…so that the body of Christ may be built
up.
• Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from
house to house, they never stopped teaching and
proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
• 1 Peter 4:17…what will the outcome be for those who
do not obey the gospel of God?

S. H. O. W. E. D.
• Discipleship
• 1 Cor 14:26…When you come together, everyone has a hymn,
or a word of instruction…
• 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
• Titus 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach.
Encourage and rebuke with all authority…
• Titus 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound
doctrine.
• 1 Tim 4:11 Command and teach these things.
• Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you
teach and admonish one another with all wisdom

Communion
• 1 Cor 11:20
When you
come
together, it is
not the
Lord's
Supper you
eat…

Missions
• 3 John 7 It was
for the sake of
the Name that
they went out,
receiving no help
from the pagans.

Matt 16:17-18 Jesus replied…
I will build my church, and the
gates of Hades will not overcome it.

• Jesus is the church’s “blessed Hope”
John 14:9-18 Jesus answered:..
I will not leave you as orphans; I
will come to you.

THE END

Church, why do we need to go to church, and what is the purpose of the church, ss

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