The Church Who Needs It
The Church, Who Needs It? – We Do!
Too many Hypocrites
By Croft Pentz, Waynesboro, Pa
“I don’t attend church because there are too many hypocrites.” How often have you heard that comment?
Hypocrites are everywhere. You work with them; they live in your neighborhood; you shop where they shop. And it’s true there hypocrites in every church.
But if you were drowning and the lifeguard was a hypocrite, would you refuse to allow him to rescue you? If your house was on fire, would you refuse to allow a fireman to save you because he was a hypocrite?
Those who continue to reject the church and Christ because of hypocrites will
Too many hypocrites in the church? Come on in there is always room for one more.
A. What is the Church?
1. a called out group or body, not a building
a. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:23-25 NKJV)
b. Acts 7:48-49 NKJV (48) "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:(49) 'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHAT HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? SAYS THE LORD, OR WHAT IS THE PLACE OF MY REST?
2. It is a call from God, not an option
a. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 NKJV)
3. It is a structured community, not a Broadway production.
a. that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things…… Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, (Titus 2:2-7 NKJV)
b. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (Acts 2:42-43 NKJV)
B. What does the Church give you?
1. Identity – defines who you are by God’s Word, not by past behavior.
a. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT)
2. A Goal – What you are reaching for in the future, not what you have fallen into in the past.
a. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT)
3. Positive Fellowship, rather than a negative influence.
a. Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2 NKJV)
C. The Church provides you with a place to;
1. Serve one another
a. It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. (Galatians 5:13 MSG)
2. Encourage one another
a. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)
3. Admonish one another
a. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 NKJV)
4. Confess to one another
a. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16 NKJV)
5. Forgive one another
a. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV)
6. Accept one another
a. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7 NASB)