Church, What is it's Purpose

Lukewarm. There is not much that one can do with water when it is lukewarm. One can do something with cold and hot water, but lukewarm there is not much. We read in , that the church which is built on Christ and by Christ the Rock is lukewarm and will be spat out or vomited out. God says that He wished the church was cold, in other words, lacking affection, unemotional, not affected by emotion. He also says that He wished the church was hot, in other words, glowing, it makes it distinct. When the church is cold there is no enthusiasm on the other hand when the church is warm or glowing there is an energy, and excitement. But sadly, John says that God’s church is neither of these.

Is this state of lukewarmness what Jesus longs for His church? If this is not that state that Jesus wants us in what would He want for us? He would want us hot. How would we define being hot? Maybe we would say that as a church we do evangelism. We hand out literature, we do public meetings and so on. But could a church who does this still be missing the mark? It seems as if this is possible, because the church does do these things, but it is still described as lukewarm. What would then describe a lukewarm church? A pastor tells the story of one day saying that he loves the smell of smoke in the church. The result, some of the leaders said that they were going to call the conference. What was the pastor trying to say? He was not advocating that smoking was good or that he was going to start handing out cigarettes at church. What he was saying, was that if someone was struggling with a habit where was the best place they needed to be? At church on a Sabbath morning. Knowing that they would receive unconditional love and acceptance as they grow.

One Sabbath morning a pastor’s son and daughter arrive at church and are very warmly greeted at the door. The greeter says to the two of them, “I know who your dad is and he would be embarrassed know that you are not wearing a tie and to his sister she said you ought to know better than to come to church without wearing a dress. The result was that the two young people turned around and walked back to the car while the lady called out and said I will be speaking to your father about this.

Many years ago, while I was still attending elementary school my mom started to attend church on the occasion. According to one lady my mom had not been at church regularly enough and when she did see her at church one Sabbath, she walked up to her and slapped her through the face. The reason. My mom had not been at church for quite some time. Why a slap? I do not know. A huge would have been a far better interaction while saying, “I have missed you and it is lovely to see you again.”

One Sabbath morning a pastors son and daughter arrive at church and are very warmly greeted at the door. The greeter says to the two of them, “I know who your dad is and he would be embarrassed know that you are not wearing a tie and to his sister she said you ought to know better than to come to church without wearing a dress. The result was that the two young people turned around and walked back to the car while the lady called out and said I will be speaking to your father about this.

This type of judgement, standard, action is what lukewarm is describing in this text. Many years ago, while I was still attending elementary school my mom started to attend church on the occasion. According to one lady my mom had not been at church regularly enough and when she did see her at church one Sabbath, she walked up to her and slapped her through the face. The reason. My mom had not been at church for quite some time. Why a slap? I do not know. A huge would have been a far better interaction while saying, “I have missed you and it is lovely to see you again.”

Our inter personal action at church define what that church is and by association the members. says that all are invited to come to Jesus and then in Him to find rest. A church that lacks personal warmness and acceptance does not allow people find Jesus and then in Him to rest. This type of judgement, standard, action is what lukewarm is describing in this text.

This type of judgement, standard, action is what lukewarm is describing in this text. Many years ago while I was still attending elementary school my mom started to attend church on the occasion. According to one lady my mom had not been at church regularly enough and when she did see her at church one Sabbath she walked up to her and slapped her through the face. The reason. My mom had not been at church for quite some time. Why a slap? I do not know. A huge would have been a far better interaction while saying, “I have missed you and it is lovely to see you again.”

says, we are reconciled to God in one body and that reconciliation was made possible through the cross. What does it mean to reconcile? It means to restore relationships. Which relationships? Well, first off, our relationship with Jesus. Because it is in Him that all other reconciliation takes place. The reconciliation spoken of here in is not only with Christ but also between Jew and Gentile and also with the universe and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Gods body is reconciled in totality through Jesus. This body of God which is reconciled through Jesus is defined in …His body, which is the church.

Jesus says, “that on this rock I will build My church.” In the Greek it is not just rock but “the Rock” the rock described here is not just any rock, but it is the “one” the only one on which church can built. It means that the church is defined by this foundation. When Jesus builds, He is building in the concept of a house. Build in this verse is not the action of building only but Jesus is saying that a house is being built. In other words, the church that is being built on Jesus is a house so to speak. In a house we find a family. A family functions as a whole. A family looks after the wellbeing of all the members.

Jesus says, “that on this rock I will build My church.” In the Greek it is not just rock but “the Rock” the rock described here is not just any rock but it is the “one” the only one on which church can built. It means that the church is defined by this foundation. When Jesus builds He is building in the concept of a house. Build in this verse is not the action of building only but Jesus is saying that a house is being built. In other words the church that is being built on Jesus is a house so to speak. In a house we find a family. A family functions as a whole. A family looks after the well being of all the members.

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

As Jesus is building His Church it is not just a church because the Greek speaks about “the Church.” It is not just any rock or any process of building or any church. All this is founded on Christ. Jesus is saying that this church is to be a home which He will build. He is the active part. He is the builder; He is the foundation. This means that Christ needs to be seen by all who come to His Church. This means that the fruits of His Spirit need to be expressed by those who are being built up by Him.

As Jesus is building His Church it is not just a church because the Greek speaks about “the Church.” It is not just any rock or any process of building or any church. All this is founded on Christ. Jesus is saying that this church is to be a home which He will build. He is the active part. He is the builder, He is the foundation. This means that Christ needs to be seen by all who come to His Church. This means that the fruits of His Spirit need to be expressed by those who are being built up by Him.

Jesus says, “that on this rock I will build My church.” In the Greek it is not just rock but “the Rock” the rock described here is not just any rock, but it is the “one” the only one on which a church can built. It means that the church is defined by this foundation. When Jesus builds, He is building in the concept of a house. Build in this verse is not the action of building only but Jesus is saying that a house is being built. In other words, the church that is being built on Jesus is a house so to speak. In a house we find a family. A family functions as a whole. A family looks after the wellbeing of all the members.

As Jesus is building His Church it is not just a church because the Greek speaks about “the Church.” It is not just any rock or any process of building or any church. All this is founded on Christ. Jesus is saying that this church is to be a home which He will build. He is the active part. He is the builder; He is the foundation. This means that Christ needs to be seen by all who come to His Church. This means that the fruits of His Spirit need to be expressed by those who are being built up by Him.

The rock, the church, active in building

God’s church needs to be a place where He can be found by all walks of life. It is in these doors that the gospel is to be seen. Ellen White says this about church, “If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” Coming to church is a realization that we are all in a position of need. All of us are on life journey professing conversion but caring around with us a burden that God want us to leave at the foot of the cross. Jesus is waiting for us to do this. Jesus is waiting for His Church that He is constantly building to be a place where those who do not know of God can find Him in the activities that take place here. Jesus wants us His church to be more tenderhearted, more pitiful and courteous.

Paul wanted the church to be rooted and grounded in love. An expression of God love can only take place if we know Him who is love. Information is important but if that which we know is does not demonstrate the love of God then the character of Christ will never be impressed on those who are longing for a place of safety in a world that offers none.

Whee: Experiencing the Gospel

As we experience the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives God’s church becomes the avenue through which the lives of those who are seeking meaning, direction can find it. As we look at how salvation impacts the church, we begin to see that when salvation enters into our lives God’s church becomes a means of expressing the rest people find as all those who are weary come to Him. It is by God changing us that church becomes a reflection of Himself. For the church to be an avenue of the Gospel, the good news of salvation we need to find it every day because we are the church.

Wayne, not our Wayne, was a sabbath school teacher in a church. One day the police came to his house and took him to jail. Everyone was shocked to learn that Wayne and a buddy had been burglarizing homes in several nearby counties. He ended up in jail for several years.

During his time in jail Wayne’s heart softened and asked God to forgive him and he longed to make things right. It was a Friday when Wayne was released. The Pastor of Wayne’s church hoped that he would have the guts to come to church that Sabbath. The Pastor preached at his smaller church at 9:30 and hurried off to his larger church to preach. As he hurried in the door, one of the elders grabbed him. “Wayne’s here!” he discharged the words from an angry face. “I heard he was released yesterday,” the pastor responded. “I am glad he is back.”

During his time in jail Wayne’s heart softened and asked God to forgive him and he longed to make things right. It was a Friday when Wayne was released. The Pastor of Waynes church hoped that he would have the guts to come to church that Sabbath. The Pastor preached at his smaller church at 9:30 and hurried off to his larger church to preach. As he hurried in the door, one of the elders grabbed him. “Wayne’s here!” he discharged the words from an angry face. “I heard he was released yesterday,” the pastor responded. “I am glad he is back.”

Well I am not, he said. “Wayne embarrassed the church and now everyone is oo-ing and awh-ing over him and I think its disgusting!” The pastor was almost on stage when a deacon stopped him cold. Did you hear about “theify boy” he asked cynically. “He is in church,” he said with a harsh voice. The pastor replied, “I am glad.”

Well I am not, he said. “Wayne embarrassed the church and now everyone is oo-ing and awh-ing over him and I think it’s disgusting!” The pastor was almost on stage when a deacon stopped him cold. Did you hear about “theify boy” he asked cynically. “He is in church,” he said with a harsh voice. The pastor replied, “I am glad.”

The pastor put his notes aside and preached on . The prodigal son. He started out, “the story happened in this town. And it is not yet over because we decide how it ends. Wayne thought to himself in a far country, “jail”. With a broken spirit, he came to his senses and said to himself, “I wonder if I can go back. I wonder if anyone still loves me. I wonder if they will forgive me. Maybe I could just return as a servant I sure do not deserve to be there.”

Who are you as a church, as sinner in need of Christ. We are all like Wayne coming to church to find Christ to find a place of safety.

Who are you as a church, as sinner in need of Christ? We are all like Wayne coming to church to find Christ to find a place of safety.

Who are you, are we as a church, as sinner in need of Christ? We are all like Wayne coming to church to find Christ to find a place of safety.

Amen.

Who are you as a church, as sinner in need of Christ. We are all like Wayne

Amen.

Church, What is it's Purpose

Oops: Upsetting the Equilibrium

Ugh: The Plot Thickens

Ugh: The Plot Thickens

Aha: Disclosing the Clue to Resolution

Whee: Experiencing the Gospel

Yeah: Anticipating the Future