DISCIPLINES OF CHURCH & THE IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH

By Pastor Mike Andrews

The church is the community of all true believers. The church is made of all those who are truly saved. Paul said “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” Eph 5:25. What Paul is saying is “’The church’ is used to apply to all those whom Christ died to redeem, all those who are saved by the death of Christ. Understand! This must include all true believers for all time, both believers in the New Testament age and believers in the Old Testament age as well. In the Old Testament we read God called them a “gathering of people”. (Deut 4:10) The Greek word“ekklesia” translates to church in the New Testament, is the word that the Septuagint most frequently used to translate the Old Testament term “qahal” (69 times)the word used to speak of the congregation or assembly. He told Moses to build what? The Tabernacle. (Book of Exodus 26-30) So the church or assembly of believers was very important to God and for His people. We know that Christ is over the church and has been given highest authority for the sake of the church. Paul wrote “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Eph 1:22-23

Why is church important? 

Jesus built the church by calling people to Himself. (Matt 16:18)

The growth of the church came not by human effort alone. (Acts 2:47)

The church is a place of ministry to God through genuine worship. (Col 3:16) (Eph 1:12) Eph 5:16-19).

The church is a place of ministry to the believer to find food for their soul. (Col 1:28) (Eph 4:12-13).

The church is a place of ministry to the world through evangelism. (Matt 28:19) (Acts 1:8) (Mark 16:15-16) (Rom 10:17-18) (Rom 15:20) (Ezekiel 33)

The church is a place where believers must submit themselves to spiritual authority. (Heb 13:17) (1 Thess 5:12-13)

The church is a place for spiritual accountability. (Heb 10:24) (Rom 14:12) (Matt 12:36-37) (Gal 6:1-2)

The church is a place from which discipline is biblically administered. (Matt 18:15-17) (Prov 27:5-6) (James 5:19-20)

According to“Barna Research Group”(and many others like it) church attendance and impressions of the church are the lowest in recent history. The most drastic among millennials described as 22-35 year olds. Only 2 in 10 Americans under 30 believe attending a church is important or worthwhile (an all-time low). 59% percent of millennials raised in a church have dropped out. 35% of millennials have an anti-church stance, believing the church does more harm than good. Millennials are the least likely age group of anyone to attend church (by far).

An illustration to the present state of the church in many locations. A father approached his son and asked what are you building? To which the son replies "I am building a church," as he was playing on the floor with a set of building blocks, "and we must be very quiet." His father, eager to encourage this unexpected reverence, asked, "And why are we quiet in the church?" "Because the people are asleep!" was the immediate response. The father thought to himself “Think of the opportunities we have missed because of spiritual drowsiness!” This is sad, the church is a beautiful place because this is a place where we come together to worship and praise of God for the gospel that saves sinners. May we never take the church for granted, as we come together to worship, glorify our Great God, and to edify the saints with Biblical truth that prepares us for the kingdom that is yet to come. As the Hebrew writer wrote, " Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb 10:23-25 SDG