My own memories of church. I remember going to church EVERY SUNDAY. The
place was Grace Protestant Church, on 92nd street in Canarsie (a portion of Brooklyn). I
remember The church bell, which was rung by Uncle Henry reminding everyone on the
block that it was time for church. I remember that after school, the boys attended wood
shop in Pastor Watt’s basement. I remember flying paper airplanes in the “fellowship
hall” after church on Sunday night, waiting for dad to get out of his “board meeting.”
I never struggled with going to church. I loved church.
Our 3 children asked for many things that they knew they would never get. But they
never complained about going to church. Today, our children and their spouses all love
their church and are actively involved.
But for many others, the church has fallen under hard times.
Some are saying, The church won’t survive.
Reggie McNeal: “Unless the church in North America makes big changes we are facing
“sure death”
Neil Cole: “American Christianity is dying. Our future is in serious jeopardy. We are
deathly ill and don’t even know it.”
George Barna: “If the local church is the hope of the world, then the world has no
hope.”
“Local churches have virtually no influence in our culture.. The church appears
among entities that have little or no influence on society.”
Or consider the book titles on the shelves of Christian book stores: Life After Church,
Divine Nobodies, Dear Church, Quitting Church, So You Don’t Want to Go to Church
Anymore, Pagan Christianity, They Like Jesus but Not the Church,
Or consider just some of the titles of books by Emergent church leader Brian McLaren:
The New Kind of Christian, Finding our Way Again, Everything Must Change.
Today, the family of Faith Bible Church will pledge a significant portion of our resources
for a building for the CHURCH. So far, 28 pledges have been made, averaging more
than $8500 per pledge! That’s a powerful commitment to the future of our church!
WHAT DOES GOD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE CHURCH?
The word used for Church is the word ekklesia. It is used 112x in 109 verses
Most simply, it means an assembly. It is used of the Universal church (Matt 16:18) and
the local church (Acts 13:1, Epistles, Churches in Revelation 1-3, etc.)
Jesus gave His GREAT COMMISSION to the disciples, after his resurrection. He told
them to GO into the world. When He did, He was speaking about the CHURCH.
TIMING of Matthew 28:19 Therefore GO and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name ...”
The church did not begin until after his death and resurrection. His work was complete! Someone said, "When Jesus’ work on earth was done, the churches work had just
begun!"
Notice how important the church was to Jesus as he left this world. He said, "wait in Jerusalem" (Acts 1:4-5). He said "all power will be given to you..." (Acts 1:8) What happened next? The CHURCH (Acts 2:1-2)
THE RESPONSE to this great work of the church is given in Acts 2:41-42. At the conclusion of Peter’s message, Three thousand were saved, baptized and added to the church. That’s quite a beginning.
Since that beginning, the Church grew. And as the church grew, it grew in the context of local churches all fulfilling the commands of Christ and believing in the Gospel
The first point of growth was Jerusalem/ Judea. Then, Samaria. Acts 8:14 “when the apostles in Jerusalem heard....” Finally, the gospel was preached to the Gentiles. Acts 10:44-47 (Peter was present in Samaria and when the gospel goes to the Gentiles in Acts 10. Peter was the key leader of the Church in Jerusalem and his presence validated that the next concurrent phase of the church’s expansion was taking place).
Persecution spreads the message into ANTIOCH. Acts 11:22 news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem...”
I love the church of Antioch! It is the first major church spoken of since we read of the beginnings of the Church in Jerusalem. Do you recall the specific historical events that took place at the local church in Jerusalem? They experienced persecution (Acts 4 and 5). They experienced church conflict and the resolution of that conflict related to the Greek Speaking widoes (Acts). They saw Stephen martyred (Acts 7)
Finally, when the Lord wants to get them back on track with the pattern of the Great Commission, he sends persecution (Acts 8:1). The result of that persecution is that the church spreads to Antioch.
ANTIOCH. The first truly GENTILE CHURCH. Acts 13:1-2
This new church in Antioch is responsible for many other new churches, as Paul and Barnabas are sent from the Antioch church on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).
NOTICE what PAUL and BARNABAS to when that first journey is over. Acts 14:21-22
1. Returned to the churches
2. Appointed Elders
3. Committed them to the Lord
4. Reported back to Antioch (Acts 14:27)
Today, some of the authors I mentioned earlier are suggesting that it is wrong to meet in large buildings. They say that the organized church is not needed (I always wonder if perhaps they would be happier with the "disorganized" church?)
To help settle this question, I think that we have some misconceptions about the early church.
Where did the early churches meet?
1. Homes. Some homes were large enough for an assembly of up to 100 people (DeYoung, “Why We Love the Church, 120)
They met in homes because there was NO WHERE ELSE TO MEET. Christianity was oppressed. Just beginning.
Buildings can be good or bad.
Kevin DeYoung notes, “They didn’t meet in homes in an effort to start the world’s
first nonreligious religion” (DeYoung, 120)
The early church also met in the spacious public area of Solomon’s colonnade. Acts 5:12 (NIV) "The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade."
They met in the Hall of Tyrannus Acts 19:9 (NIV) "He took the disciples with him
and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus."
They met in various Synagogues (James 2:2).
The point to all of this is that the church did not meet in large private buildings because none were available. The church met in the largest places available. Even when we think of the church meeting in homes, they were homes large enough to accommodate the assembly.
Next, let’s examine the ESSENTIALS of the church. These elements must be present for the entity to be considered a church. If any of these essential traits are missing, what you have is a Bible study or worship group, but not a church. Most “home churches” today
do not meet the criteria of a local church, according to the examples that we have
presented in the New Testament.
A. The Preaching of the Gospel. Galatians 1:9 (NIV) “As we have already said,
so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what
you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”
B. Teaching that produces mature disciples. Mat 28:19-20
C. Ministry through Spiritual Gifts. Romans 12:5–6 (NIV) “so in Christ we
who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is
prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.”
D. Faithful administration of the ordinances. The Lord’s Supper and Baptism
must be administered on a regular basis.
E. God centered worship. Every local church exists to glorify God. Part of his
glory is to worship him together.
F. Willing Followers. A relationship of leaders (pastors) and believers is
present in every local church. I believe that one of the attractive elements
of the non-accountable, open ended home church gathering is that it fits
well with today’s culture where authority structures are viewed negatively.
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.
They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so
that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
advantage to you.”
G. Godly Elders properly appointed. A local church must have a particular type of leader(s). These men are pastors who are called by the Lord. That calling is validated by other pastors who have also been called and identified. This continuous thread of identification connects us all to the true Gospel delivered by Jesus to His disciples, which they then passed on to others (1 Corinthians 15:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:1-4).
1. Titus 1:5 (NIV) “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might
straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every
town, as I directed you.”
2. 1 Peter 5:2–3 (NIV) “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
There are churches that meet in homes, but meeting in a home does not make you a
church.
There are people that meet in buildings we call “churches,” but meeting in a building
with a steeple does not make you a church.
The CHALLENGES to the Church (Where God establishes TRUTH, Satan
introduces a LIE). The following are false ideas about the local church
A. There is no church (Harold Camping)
B. I don’t need the church (disillusioned Christians. This is fueled by the spirit
of rebellion, self centeredness, and individualism of our day)
What is the reason that many are pulling out of local churches and meeting in homes?
Sometimes they are LONE RANGERS who simply cannot get along with other believers.
Sometimes People meet in PRIVATE HOUSE CHURCH (“organic church”)
Some propose "Virtual churches" where people interact on the internet. This cannot fulfill the NT principles for the local church
We are living in a “SERVE ME” mentality world. The idea that I can pull away from other believers and go it on my own is appealing in our culture, but for the wrong reasons.
The FUTURE of the Church
Why are these difficult days for the church? Many are DISILLUSIONED!
YOU SAY "There are too many sinners in the church" WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO FIND? Isn’t that why we are here? 1 Cor 6:9-11 reminds us abotu our past and says, "and that’s what some of you were!"
YOU SAY "there are too many hypocrites in the church" Isn’t that because we DO KNOW that we are to expect something different! Have you ever heard anyone say, "there are too many hypocrites in my office? On the police force? My bowling team??? We recognize hypocrisy in the church because we are supposed to be different!
Perhaps you are discouraged because of an ANNOYING person. Did you ever think that they are in the church so that God might demonstrate patience in you?
Perhaps you are disillusioned because someone is always STRUGGLING. Did you ever think that they might be in the church so that God might demonstrate His strength in you?
Perhaps you are frustrated because of the person who is a TAKER and not a GIVER. Did you ever think that they are in the church so that God might test you and provide the opportunity for you to be a GIVER?
Yes, there are STRANGE people in ever church!
1. Some are critical.
2. Some are needy.
3. Some are in a constant financial struggle.
4. Some are even somewhere on the OTHER SIDE of NORMAL!
5. And don’t be too critical, it just might be YOU!
So there are no PERFECT churches.
1. Only ones that Jesus DIED FOR
2. Only ones that Jesus LOVES
3. Only ones that Jesus entrusted to carry HIS GOSPEL to the ends of
the earth..
4. Only ones that Jesus NOURISHES and CHERISHES (Eph 5)
5. Only ones for whom Jesus has promised to BUILD MANSIONS in
HEAVEN
6. Only ones that will be RAPTURED INTO HEAVEN by Jesus when
He comes!
Jesus named His CHURCH the following:
1. It is HIS PLAN
2. HIS BRIDE
3. HIS BODY
4. HIS BUILDING
5. HIS FIELD
And if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, you are a PART OF IT.
He also said “I will not eat of this Passover again with you until I eat it with
you in my Father’s Kingdom” (Matthew 26:29)
EVANGELISM and MISSIONS will continue through LOCAL CHURCHES until Jesus comes!
His church is worthy of your love, your service, your treasure, your attention, your patience, your commitment. By God’s grace, THIS LOCAL CHURCH will continue to serve Him, along with all who call on Jesus. honor His Lordship and submit to His word . ...
Until He Comes Again!
