Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)
God created man with a need to belong. We were not designed to exist in isolation but in community with God and each other. At creation, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We need a relationship with God to be fulfilled, but we also need relationships with other people where we enjoy mutual love and acceptance.
Adam’s need for belonging was met perfectly by God and Eve before the fall, but sin corrupted mankind’s relationship to God and each other. Through faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with God so that when we are saved, we are restored to the right communion with God. We belong to Him.
But the gospel does not only restore our relationship with God. Christians belong to a unique group of people who belong to Jesus. This is why the Bible uses such language as is found in Acts two. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47) They had a place where they belonged in the body of Christ. And God continued to add to the church so that more and more people found a place where they belonged.
Each of us needs to belong. God wants to meet that need first through salvation so that you belong to Him and then through the church, a community of people that belong to Christ. The church belongs to Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then church is where you belong.
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- Jun 23, 2024Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)
Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)God created man with a need to belong. We were not designed to exist in isolation but in community with God and each other. At creation, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We need a relationship with God to be fulfilled, but we also need relationships with other people where we enjoy mutual love and acceptance.Adam’s need for belonging was met perfectly by God and Eve before the fall, but sin corrupted mankind’s relationship to God and each other. Through faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with God so that when we are saved, we are restored to the right communion with God. We belong to Him.But the gospel does not only restore our relationship with God. Christians belong to a unique group of people who belong to Jesus. This is why the Bible uses such language as is found in Acts two. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47) They had a place where they belonged in the body of Christ. And God continued to add to the church so that more and more people found a place where they belonged.Each of us needs to belong. God wants to meet that need first through salvation so that you belong to Him and then through the church, a community of people that belong to Christ. The church belongs to Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then church is where you belong.
- Jun 19, 2024The Predicament of Following (Exodus 14:1-18)
The Predicament of Following (Exodus 14:1-18)
- Jun 16, 2024Deacon a Noun and a Verb (Philippians 1:1)
Deacon a Noun and a Verb (Philippians 1:1)
- Jun 16, 2024Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)
Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)Why would people want to avoid commitment? People do not want to make commitments because there consequences for breaking them. They want to be able to do what they please and not be held accountable.God created us to exist in committed relationships. Even before the fall, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” So God made Eve, brought her to Adam, and they entered into a committed relationship. God soon instituted human government as another form of committed relationship that provides accountability. We are bound to obey the laws of the land or face the consequences.Accountability was also one of the reasons that Jesus instituted the church. Church is more than a place to gather, fellowship, be taught the Bible, and worship God corporately. The church exists to hold us accountable for what we believe and how we behave. Many people today miss out on this vital purpose of the church.In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus taught His disciples about this necessary role of the church in providing accountability. The local church has a role in holding individual Christian’s accountable when they err in belief or behavior. Accountability takes place on a smaller scale as we regularly participate in the life of the church.You need accountability to help you live how God wants you to live. The church, when operating according to God’s Word, provides that accountability. Therefore, you should want to be an active member of the church and benefit from the accountability that it provides.
- Jun 9, 2024Why Church Part 2 – The Pastors Calling (Titus 2:15)
Why Church Part 2 – The Pastors Calling (Titus 2:15)Why Church?There are some things that we do without thinking about it very much. Breathing is a good example. Most likely, you did not have to consciously make yourself breathe when you woke up this morning. You do it because it comes naturally, and you don’t think much about it. But if you were forced to stop and think about it, you would remember just how important breathing is.Maybe coming to church is like that for you. Perhaps you didn’t give much thought to why you came to church or how important it really is. Maybe you came simply out of habit, or duty, or for good luck, or just out of curiosity. Or it could be that you are here today because you understand the importance of the church and want to serve God and honor Him by participating in this Divine institution ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.Beginning today and for the next few weeks, I want to ask and answer questions like, What is the church? Why does it exist? Why should we get involved in all the things that a church does? Why should we go faithfully? Why should we join? Why should we give money to the church? Why should we pray for the church?In short, I want to answer the question, “Why church?” We begin with the big answer to that big question: the church exists because Jesus wants it to. The church is so important to Jesus that He began the church, He bought the church, and He is still building the church. If Jesus is important to you, then the church should be important to you, because the church is important to Jesus.
- Jun 9, 2024Why Church? (Matthew 16)
Why Church? (Matthew 16)Why Church?There are some things that we do without thinking about it very much. Breathing is a good example. Most likely, you did not have to consciously make yourself breathe when you woke up this morning. You do it because it comes naturally, and you don’t think much about it. But if you were forced to stop and think about it, you would remember just how important breathing is.Maybe coming to church is like that for you. Perhaps you didn’t give much thought to why you came to church or how important it really is. Maybe you came simply out of habit, or duty, or for good luck, or just out of curiosity. Or it could be that you are here today because you understand the importance of the church and want to serve God and honor Him by participating in this Divine institution ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.Beginning today and for the next few weeks, I want to ask and answer questions like, What is the church? Why does it exist? Why should we get involved in all the things that a church does? Why should we go faithfully? Why should we join? Why should we give money to the church? Why should we pray for the church?In short, I want to answer the question, “Why church?” We begin with the big answer to that big question: the church exists because Jesus wants it to. The church is so important to Jesus that He began the church, He bought the church, and He is still building the church. If Jesus is important to you, then the church should be important to you, because the church is important to Jesus.
- Jun 2, 2024Testimony of God’s Grace
Testimony of God’s Grace
- Jun 2, 2024The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18:1-11)
The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18:1-11)O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
- May 26, 2024Godly Counsel Illustrated (Joshua 9:1-27)
Godly Counsel Illustrated (Joshua 9:1-27)
- May 26, 2024Godly Counsel (Proverbs 12:2)
Godly Counsel (Proverbs 12:2)We have a universal need for godly counsel, Ironically, we also have a nearly universal tendency to spurn godly counsel. In our pride, we think that we have all the answers, or at least that we can figure them out on our own. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” It is rare for someone to admit their ignorance and consistently seek wise counsel as a matter of course. Those who do seek counsel often shop around until they find someone who tells them what they want to hear or agrees with what they have already decided.We need counsel because we do not know everything. We have gaps in our knowledge that we may not even be aware of. We need instruction and advice from outside sources to make up for this lack.Where we go for counsel is just as important as if we seek counsel. In fact, bad advice can sometimes be worse than no advice at all. It is crucial that we go to the right sources when seeking counsel. Getting good counsel is not always easy. It requires a lot of work, but the reward is worth it.Once we have received good counsel, it is up to us to use it properly. Knowing what to do and not doing it benefits no one. Having admitted our need and properly sought godly counsel, we must then act on it. When we do, we find that we make wiser choices. That is good for us, and it glorifies God the most.
- May 19, 2024The Passover Picture (Exodus 12)
The Passover Picture (Exodus 12)
- May 19, 2024What Will It Take? (Exodus 6)
What Will It Take? (Exodus 6)If we had to make a list of the most stubborn characters in the Bible, Pharaoh would certainly be close to the top of that list. When Moses told him that God said, “Let me people go,” he immediately responded by saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?”What followed were the most famous series of catastrophes in history known as the ten plagues. After each plagues, Pharaoh had the chance to yield to God but stubbornly refused to do so. He thought that he could defy God, but God would get the last word. The Lord told Moses, “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1)Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart against the Lord until the last plague, when God finally broke Pharaoh’s will. The tenth plague was the plague of the death angel. That night, every firstborn son in Egypt died, including Pharaoh’s son. But God knew what it would take to make Pharaoh listen.Pharaoh probably never considered that his stubbornness would cost him his son. His pride and selfishness had blinded him to the consequences of his stubbornness, just as our pride and selfishness blinds us. If you are stubbornly refusing to yield to God, you need to know that it is not worth it to resist God. What will it take to get your attention?
- May 12, 2024The Generational Impact of Motherhood
The Generational Impact of MotherhoodHow much is a mother worth? The question seems almost disrespectful to ask, because they are priceless. Salary.com completed a survey in 2021 “tracking real-time market prices of all the jobs that moms perform. The result? The median annual salary for stay-at-home moms [was] $184,820.”But in a strange twist of irony, many mothers doubt whether the hard work, long hours, and sometimes frustrating monotony of motherhood is worth it. The modern ideal of a career woman who climbs corporate ladders, earns large salaries, and live free to do as she pleases tempts women to think that making motherhood a priority is somehow inferior.A godly mother will have a positive impact that will last for generations. A mother has influence on her children, her grandchildren, and everyone that is touched by their lives. The ripple effect of a mother’s faith will encircle more and more people as time goes on.We see proof of this in the testimony of two women in the Bible particularly. Both had such an impact one young man’s life that the Holy Spirit commended them in the pages of scripture. The young man’s name was Timothy, and the women were Lois and Eunice, his grandmother and mother. Their godly testimony became a blessing on countless souls through the life of Timothy. On this mother’s day, each mother must recognize that she if having an impact on generations to come and use her influence by God’s grace to lead others to follow the Lord.
- Apr 21, 2024What Being Spirit Filled Looks Like (Ephesians 5:18-21)
What Being Spirit Filled Looks Like (Ephesians 5:18-21)The city of Ephesus in ancient times was known for a festival in which they would worship a false god called Bacchus. Bacchus was the god of wine, and their worship involved rampant drunkenness. The first century Ephesian believers that Paul wrote to knew all too well the effects of being “drunk with wine,” yet the Holy Spirit chose to use that imagery to explain an important truth about how He works in our lives.When you are sober, your God-given ability to reason stops you from blindly following the impulsive desires of your flesh. When you are drunk, you don’t think things through properly. You don’t think about the consequences of your actions, but instead you do what you feel like doing at any given moment. People who are drunk are more likely to do things that will hurt themselves and hurt others. The more drunk one becomes, the worse it gets. That is why the Bible is crystal clear about avoiding intoxicating substances. (Proverbs 20:1)The Holy Spirit has the exact opposite effect in our lives. When we are under His influence, we are controlled by God’s desires and the desires of our flesh are inhibited. This is the concept known as the filling of the Spirit. Just like the unbelievers in Ephesus would fill themselves with their “god” and then behave horribly as they were “under the influence,” believers are to be filled with the Spirit and behave according to His influence. As Christians, we should be "filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18) allowing Him to influence every part of our life.
- Apr 21, 2024The Filling Of The Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)
The Filling Of The Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)The city of Ephesus in ancient times was known for a festival in which they would worship a false god called Bacchus. Bacchus was the god of wine, and their worship involved rampant drunkenness. The first century Ephesian believers that Paul wrote to knew all too well the effects of being “drunk with wine,” yet the Holy Spirit chose to use that imagery to explain an important truth about how He works in our lives.When you are sober, your God-given ability to reason stops you from blindly following the impulsive desires of your flesh. When you are drunk, you don’t think things through properly. You don’t think about the consequences of your actions, but instead you do what you feel like doing at any given moment. People who are drunk are more likely to do things that will hurt themselves and hurt others. The more drunk one becomes, the worse it gets. That is why the Bible is crystal clear about avoiding intoxicating substances. (Proverbs 20:1)The Holy Spirit has the exact opposite effect in our lives. When we are under His influence, we are controlled by God’s desires and the desires of our flesh are inhibited. This is the concept known as the filling of the Spirit. Just like the unbelievers in Ephesus would fill themselves with their “god” and then behave horribly as they were “under the influence,” believers are to be filled with the Spirit and behave according to His influence. As Christians, we should be "filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18) allowing Him to influence every part of our life.
