021 – Why Church?

Why Church?

 

 

We are told of a few reasons for the existence of the church, or rather, ekklesia. Followers of Christ are meant to be together as the body of Christ. So, it would make sense for the religious system to want to usher new believers into the church system. But what is the reason for this? It is biblical for the believers to come together, so, let’s take a look at what the bible shows us on this topic.

 

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
Day drawing near.

 

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

 

 

  • Gathering with one another: we ought not neglect this
    • Fellowship
      • loving one another
      • spending time with one another
      • serving the needs of one another
    • Encouragement
      • stirring one another to good works
      • supporting one another in our callings
      • joining with one another in ministry to others
    • Worship
      • in unity as a group or congregation
      • worshipping God, not singing feel good music
      • encountering God on a personal level, even in a group
    • Prayer
      • there are many types of prayer
      • corporate prayer in unity and agreement
      • as led by Holy Spirit

 

 

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we attain to the
unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro
by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him
Who is the head, into Christ, from Whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it
builds itself up in love.

 

Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV

 

 

  • To be built up: strengthening the body of Christ
    • Encouragement
      • to seek the leading of Holy Spirit
      • to mature in the faith
      • to operate in obedience
    • Training
      • to operate in one’s individual gifting
      • to work together with others, including leadership
      • discipleship and mentoring
    • Maturing
      • a sort of aging spiritually as we do physically
      • growing in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom
      • becoming one trusted by God to carry out His plan

 

 

But God so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one
member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do
all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

 

1 Corinthians 12:24b-31 ESV

 

 

  • To do the ministry of the Kingdom of God
    • Operating in Love
      • nothing is the same without love
      • all we do should be motivated by love for others
      • every relationship of any value is built upon love
    • Manifesting the gifts of the Spirit
      • Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers for the sake of others
      • if we follow the leading of Holy Spirit, the gifts will manifest the love of God toward others
      • as learned from those before us and those in the five-fold ministry to the church
    • Walking in obedience
      • to the teachings of Scripture
      • to the individual calling of God on our lives
      • to the daily leading of Holy Spirit

 

For more in-depth study on these topics, see the following studies and podcasts we have already produced.

 

Let’s look a little deeper at the purposes of being a part of Ekklesia.

  • An ekklesia is an assembly
  • Followers of Christ are to be in an assembly of believers
    • A group of summoned people
    • Assembled together to receive the things of God
  • It is a ruling assembly for the kingdom
    • First and foremost, setting the spiritual atmosphere
  • Authority in prayer
    • Properly understanding what Jesus inaugurated

 

 

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

 

Matthew 16:18 ESV

 

 

  • Jesus is speaking to His disciples, primarily to Peter
  • This rock: the truth from verse 16
    • Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
  • I will build: Jesus is the builder, the One who summons the people
  • My church: more properly, My Ekklesia
    • It belongs to Jesus
    • It is His body
    • His authority given to the Ekklesia
    • The ruling authority of Christ Jesus
  • The gates of hell: more properly, the gates of Hades
    • The place where they were standing at the time
  • Shall not prevail against it: we win, evil loses
    • The authority in Christ Jesus is greater than any other that would come against Him or His kingdom

 

Believers are to mature and grow in faith, behavior, and living lives that provoke others to do likewise. God wants to promote us in authority and position within the Kingdom of God to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven.

 

We are priests in the Kingdom of God. We are meant to serve God and one another in love.

 

 

To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

Revelation 1:5b-6 ESV

 

 

Christ Jesus designated us to be priests in service to God.

 

 

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language
and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

 

Revelation 5:9-10 ESV

 

 

Through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, by the shedding of His blood, He redeemed us and made us into a kingdom and priests in service to God, and we shall reign on the earth.

 

 

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a
thousand years.

 

Revelation 20:6 ESV

 

 

We are priests of God and Christ, and we will reign with Christ Jesus during the 1,000-year period between resurrections and judgments.

 

We must evaluate whether the places we attend regularly are measuring up to what we have discovered here. This is not only of what they state as doctrinal beliefs, rather, are these things being heard and taught regularly? Are the saints being equipped, or trained, to do the work of the kingdom?

  • Do they teach on the fact of Christ Jesus crucified for us?
  • Do they teach on the fact of Christ Jesus resurrected?
  • Do they teach on the fact of Christ Jesus as the only means of forgiveness of sin and salvation?
  • Do they teach on the fact of Christ Jesus being God?
  • Do they teach on the fact of Christ Jesus having all authority?
  • Is the assembly meeting together regularly?
  • Are the members developing intimate relationships with one another?
    • Learning the needs of one another
    • Encouraging one another
    • Loving one another
    • Provoking one another to do good works
  • Are the leaders building up, or strengthening the body?
    • Training people to work together
    • Offering discipleship and mentoring
    • Discovering gifts and callings
    • Encouraging in the leading of Holy Spirit
    • Encouraging in the maturing in the faith
    • Encouraging in the operating in obedience
    • Encouraging in growth in knowledge, understanding and wisdom
    • Encouraging in becoming Christ-like
  • Are they leading in doing the ministry of the kingdom?
    • Exhibiting the five-fold ministry (at least those parts available and the promotion of it)
    • Operating in love
    • Manifesting the gifts of the Spirit
    • Walking in obedience to Scripture
    • Walking in obedience to the call of God
    • Walking in obedience to the leading of Holy Spirit
  • Are the leaders and members promoting relationship with God
    • Knowledge of the things of God through studying the word
    • Understanding of the things of God through meditation with God and mature believers
      • Moving the head knowledge to heart knowing
    • Wisdom in the things of God through leading of Holy Spirit
    • Intimacy with God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
    • True worship
      • In music that truly glorifies God
      • In prayer that seeks to draw closer to God
      • In actions that reflect the love of God
        • Proper attitude and motivation
      • Promotion and teaching of prayer
        • Types of prayer
        • Physical positions during prayer – what they mean or represent
        • Times of prayer
        • Examples of prayer
        • Promotion of corporate and personal prayer
      • Are they doing all these things in conjunction with Scripture?
        • Or from some other source?

 

 

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

 

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV

 

 

Paul is writing about the time the Israelites were grumbling in the wilderness, but the example here is that the accounts in Scripture are recorded for us to learn the lessons of those who went before us.

 

 

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium,
and at Lystra – which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

 

2 Timothy 3:10-11 ESV

 

 

Paul was writing to Timothy whom he had mentored, or discipled. Timothy had observed Paul who had many examples in his life of faith and perseverance. Many of those same examples were recorded in Scripture for our benefit as well.

 

Paul concludes this section of his letter by commenting on the value of Scripture for use in our lives.

 

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

 

 

Scripture has what we need for living a righteous life in the eyes of God. Does this eliminate all other sources of information or teaching? By no means. Any other source, however, ought to be in agreement with Scripture if it is to be considered by the followers of Christ.

 

I encourage you to use this information to evaluate the place you are assembling with other believers and ask God if it is where you belong. My desire is that you are in a place where you can become men and women of God, maturing, and being made complete, equipped for every good work.