THE PURPOSE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

SERIES: THE POWER OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

TEXT: HEBREWS 10:24-25.

God has established the theocratic pattern of government for His people. In every place where man allowed God to govern, there was peace, prosperity and stability among the people of God. If we can only allow God to govern our life, family, church, country and world, there would be peace, prosperity and stability.

In the Old Testament, God’s people were known by various names:-

The Assembly, chosen people, a community, a congregation, the flock of God, a holy nation, the holy ones, a holy people, a kingdom of priests, the ransomed of the Lord, servants of God, sheep of His pasture, His treasured possession, the redeemed of the Lord.

In the Old Testament individuals and families came together in prayer and worshiping God. When the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed and people taken into captivity to Babylon, the captives gathered in groups to pray and study God’s word, this was the birth of the Jewish synagogue.

During the days of Jesus Christ on earth the temple had been rebuilt by King Herod, but synagogues were common and very well established as places where people gathered together on Sabbath to pray and to study the scriptures.

The synagogue helped the Jews to keep their faith wherever they went.

It was not until the day of Pentecost that the disciples and believers began to gather as a community group in homes that the church was born.

When the believers gathered at Antioch they were the first ones to be called “CHRISTIANS.”

From this, church leadership developed with some people providing spiritual oversight and others providing practical administrative functions. Here the idea of elders and deacons was born. Let us see:-

THE DEFINITION OF CHURCH.

• In the New Testament the word “church” comes from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means “the called out ones.” These are people who have been brought together by God.
• The local church is a group of believers in Christ that meet at a specific place under the ministry of the church leadership who provide spiritual guidance in the things of God.
• The assembly is local, visible, organized and constituted.

THE FOOLISH THINGS OF GOD-1^st 1:20-17.

• The things of God’s spirit cannot be processed by the human mind because it is beyond human understanding.
• There are four foolish things of God which releases the supernatural power of God.

1. The gospel message: The cross.

• Paul tells us that preaching the message of Jesus Christ is a foolish gospel.
• The gospel is the power of God to see sinners from eternal death.

2. The local church

• Many people do not join the local church because they think the institution is foolish and therefore unnecessary.
• But, nothing can be added to your spiritual life outside the local church.
• Submitting to the local church leadership activates the power of God for our individual destinies and purposes.

3. Speaking in tongues.

• Speaking in tongues sounds so foolish and it is for that reason many christians do not seek to speak and pray in tongues.
• But speaking and praying in tongue activates a power that unfolds the secrets and mysteries that God has in His heart for each and every one of His children.

4. The tithe:

• The tithe releases the power of God’s provision.
• In God’s economy 90 is greater than 100.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

• The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the local assemblies.
• The pattern of Paul’s ministry to establish local assemblies.
• Each church assembly Paul established was distinct and independent, each church was unique.
• In the New Testament, the early believers submitted under the protection and nurture of the leadership of the local church.
• The believers devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching.
• They gave sacrifices to the work of the ministry.
• They learned God’s word and the implication of it in their lives.
• They carried acts of love and service to one another.
• They commemorated the Lord’s death and resurrection through the breaking of bread.
• They prayed all the time for one another and the ministry of the church.
• The following are characteristics of the local church:-

It functions in a local area.

• The church in Jerusalem-Acts 8:1.
• The church in Antioch-Acts 13:1.
• The church in Corinth-Acts 1:2.
• The church in Philippi-Phil. 4:15.
• In Revelations 2 and 3 Jesus Christ addresses the 7 churches, located in different places in Asia Minor.

It has rules.

• The local church is organized.
• The local church convenes its meetings.
• The local church gives to the work of the ministry.
• The local church performs the sacraments, the Holy Communion and baptism.
• The local church prays and functions individually and corporately.

The local church has order.

• God is not the author of confusion, but of order.
• For any group of people to work in harmony, they must be organized.
• There must be an established leader and team. There must be an established chain of command.

It provides an opportunity to exercise individual gifts.

• The local church must create an environment for every believer (member) to exercise their individual spiritual gifts.

The local church is a place for training.

• The word of God must be taught.
• In the early church people eagerly devoted themselves to the leading of the apostles-Acts 4:42; Eph. 4:11-16.

The local church is a place of accountability and submission-Heb. 13:17.

• Believers should have an attitude of respect and be willing to follow their leaders.
• Following should be active and not passive.

The local church is the place of praise and worship-2^nd 20:21-22.

CONCLUSION

• Let us draw near to God with sincere hearts.
• Let us hold fast in hope, God is faithful.
• Let us stir one another towards love and good deeds.