-
some things that people misunderstand about the local New Testament
Church.
1.
The Local Church is a Rescue Mission in purpose.
***Anything
goes mentality produces a care lifestyle.
I
Corinthians 14:40 refutes this misconception.
All
things are to be done decently and in order.
Formalism
is not equal to order.
***“Come
as you are” creates an entertainment establishment instead of an important
message from the LORD.
Soothing
words mangle sound doctrine.
2
Tim 4:1-8
2.
The church is for sinners to come and be evangelized.
***
refuted. Matt 16:18-20/matt 18
it
is a place of purpose not proposition.
It
is for believers to be edified in.
Heb
10:25
It
was not for sinners to find lodgment…. Although it is great when they do.
Matt 18
Acts
2
3.
The church should not reject anyone from coming.. Everyone is welcome
to come. (Social hall mentality) Matt 18,II cor 13:2, Titus 2, I cor 5:,
I Tim 1:20
4.
The church is a country club where you must be a member to come.***
Everyone is welcome. Just don’t belong. Everyone is welcome who will abide
by the scripture and laws and
bylaws and
5.
The church is here to entertain my kids, wife, family…etc… (power
team, drama clubs, theatrics, coffee house, social gospel, entertainment… be
funny but don’t preach truth… mentality
***The
church was not founded to meet with friends. It was for believers to find
encouragement FROM the world. Heb 10:24-25
The
world was to be shut out of the church, not included… “In the world not of
the world”
I
John
The
Church is a place of doctrine… not Hollywood. It is a place of consolation
not contention. Acts 2
What
is the Church’s Purpose?
Matt
16:13-18
1.
Foundation- 1Co 3:11
For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ;
Not
only is he the foundation but he is the one who laid it…
Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
It
is not the Person who proclaimed the truth that is the foundation, it is the
truth that IS the Foundation…
2.
Formation: JESUS BUILT it… not peter… not Paul, not cream of wheat, not
John Wesley, not John the Baptist, it was CHRIST!!
3.
FUNCTION: what is the Church here for?
Heb
10:24-25, Matt 16: 18, matt 28:18-20
A.
To Provoke- to stir up, to gear, to guide.. One another to GOOD works
1.
By example
2.
By exhortation
3.
By excommunication
a.
By Pastor
b.
By membership
c.
Even GOD exercised church discipline- Acts 5
B.
To be the lighthouse for those around- Matt 5:16
C.
To agitate the devil and “storm hell with a squirt GUN”.
Too
many Churches have it wrong.. they thing that we are on defensive…
nope….WE ARE OFFENSIVE… Gates don’t move but to open and shut.
“SWING
ACROSS HELL ON A DRIED GRAPE VINE AND SPIT IN THE DEVILS EYE”
in
conclusion: we have been out maneuvered in the battle for souls…
<
flanked and now surrounded… because we give room to the devil and his people
in the churches… and their ideals>