Why Church?
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Introduction: In a poll of 2,000 Britons the 'Perfect Sunday' involved: waking at 8:30 a.m. to the smell of breakfast cooking, a cuddle, and three hours of television. A quarter of Brits thought an ideal weekend morning starts with a full English breakfast in bed and a third wanted to start their Sunday morning with a cup of tea or coffee, before pottering around the house for an hour.
The perfect roast is said to be best served at 3:15 p.m. with, ideally, four people. Other activities Brits enjoy doing on Sunday include reading a book, listening to music, and doing some gardening. Nearly one in 10 said they spend their Sunday afternoon at the pub, while one in seven think Sundays are made for doing food shopping to keep the cupboards stocked for the rest of the week.
Attending church did not appear in the poll. Graham Nicholls from Affinity, a network of evangelical churches, said:
I suppose I was sad that attending a gathering of God's people, in a church, wasn't kind of anywhere on the majority of people's lists. … It means that they're not hearing the gospel, they're not coming to an encounter with God … It's also that churches are great places for taking our families, for making friendships and for learning who we are and why we're here.
Today we are taking a break from the sermon in the mount. I want to instead look at the church. Later I will explain to you why I am preaching this message today. But, before that, the question I have for us today is, “Why Church?” Why is it you come to church? It truly matters!
Read: Acts 2:42-47
Explanation: If you are familiar with Acts, this is the beginning of the NT church. Peter and the apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit and Peter preaches a message that cut to the heart of the hearers. 3,000 people came to Jesus that day. Then in verse 42, we find out what these and other believers were doing with their new found life in Jesus. The devoted themselves to their faith. Not to Peter or the other apostles, but to Jesus. Through their devotion to Jesus they gave themselves over to prayer, to the gospel, to the breaking of bread, and taking care of each other. They were a true family of believers. No, they were not free from trouble. But they knew that whatever were to come, they would be alright, because God was and would always be sovereign. So, Why Church? Why do we give up a little bit of time out of our week to come to this building? We come to...
Application:
Unite (v. 44)
Unite (v. 44)
Jesus has always intended that His children be one. One in heart, one in mission, and one in love. Just listen to what Jesus prayed, John 17:20-21
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
This means more than just having fellowship. Fellowship actually means more than “being together.” It means “having in common.” We need one another. We need to look after each other. The gathering is intended to bring the family of God together to...
Glorify (v. 47a)
Glorify (v. 47a)
Who are we to glorify? Not the preacher, not your Sunday school teacher, not the worship leader or the music. It is Jesus! If you come to church to glorify anything or anyone, besides Jesus, you are in sin. Paul writes in Romans 14:8
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
All that we do, we are to do it for the Glory of God. So, to come to church is to come to worship. It is to come an experience the presence of God. C.S. Lewis once said, “It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men.”- C.S. Lewis. As we come to unite and glorify, we look to God to help us...
Increase (v. 47b)
Increase (v. 47b)
As we come to church, we are equipped to go into the community, the world, and preach the good news of Jesus. We do this to help others find peace in Jesus and we do this to increase in numbers. The church is supposed to grow. In discipleship and in numbers.
This increase, I believe, is given to us by God when we are faithful to the mission He has given us. When we decide to put into practice what we learn. God is always faithful to bring growth, whether is be in discipleship or numbers, when we are faithful to keep His commands.
Remember Jesus’ words in John 12:32,
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Conclusion: So, why do you come to church? I pray that you are here to unite, glorify, and increase. We must honor Jesus by our presence no matter what happens. So, why did I talk about the church today? I’m going to get really personal right now.
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