THE CHURCH - NATURE AND FUNCTION 2
Readings: Exodus 30 v 34 - 38, John 4 v 20 - 24, Psalm 45 v
11, 99 v 5 Isaiah 42 v 8
The function of the church's emphasis should be on the
locality of the church in its intense, interactive community life at the level
of a local congregation. The structure to generate a climate for worship,
setting for fellowship with a system of education for instruction, training and
discipleship and strong fortress of evangelism. The church should be a bastion
of love and compassion that leads to service to ALL.
Let us now look at these ingredients of the church which
are;
a) WORSHIP - Inclusive and is the centre of your life. You
were planned for God's pleasure and so your purpose is to love God through
WORSHIP. Give Remembrance, Gratitude, Reverence and Amazement to God. True
worship is a life wholly focused to God.
b) INSTRUCTION - The world can be saved from a political
chaos and economic collapse by one thing only, and that thing is Living under
the instruction of the WORD of God. Our minds and thoughts should be synchronized
with the WORD of God. Our conscience must be led by the holiness of God and we
must feed the mind with the truth of God, so as to purge the imagination by the
beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the
purpose of God.
c) FELLOWSHIP - means the community of my life. Loving thy neighbour
as yourself because you were shaped for serving, and your purpose is to show
love to others through ministry. Remember there is:
i) Fellowship of life - 1 John 5 v 12
ii) Fellowship of light - 1 John 1 v 7
iii) Fellowship of love - 1 John 13 v 25
We were formed and fearfully made for God's family and so
let your purpose be to identify with His church through fellowship.
d) EDUCATION - a process of maturation through Christian
education in the church - Ephesians 4 v 11.
• A process of indoctrination in the word of God in the
church of God. - Acts 2 v 42
• A process of incorporation and multiplication. You were
created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through
discipleship - Matthew 28 v 29 - 20.
e) OUTREACH - The church is commanded to go out, and as a
result, a Great Commitment to the Commandment and the Great Commission will
make you a Great Christian. You were made and formed for a mission, so your
purpose is to share God's message through evangelism. - Mark 16 v 15
The church of Jesus Christ should be involved with the
ministry of the WORD - DEED - SIGN, and be of service to the world.
Prayerful thought: Lord let this church be a church that is
full of worship, instruction, fellowship, education and outreach so that we
will bring more repenting people to you.
Day 4
THE CHURCH - SPIRITUAL, FUNCTION AND PURPOSE
Readings: Ephesians 4 v 7 - 16, Matthew 28 v 18 - 20, Acts
14 v 21 - 28, Colossians 1 v 25 - 29
When we talk about the function of the church, it is
inclusive, with all members participating and contributing to the MISSION of
the gospel as parts of the body who need each other, who are filled for
fellowship and enablement. Though being equal in value, these members have
different functions in their involvement as servants in the process of building
up the body in LOVE.
Remember that these Christians live as children of light
pleasing the Lord, as witnesses for Christ in order to bring glory to God,
because their intention is on fulfilling God's purposes as His chosen
instruments. When you look at these Christians, certain concepts need to be
emphasized that all in the church:
a) are equal in value as children of God.
b) have useful, worthwhile service to give.
c) are servants and workers of Christ in the Church.
d) are special to God.
All Christians in the local church who are special and
should be involved in spiritual service to God hence the differences in
distinctions between the clergy and the laity relate only to function and
practice not value and usefulness. Therefore, we are called upon as members of
the church to see ourselves as servant workers of Christ involved in the
ministry of worship through spiritual service in and through the church.
With this in mind, the church has a purpose of making
disciples of Christ who will be mature believers in Christ by manifesting God's
glory to all mankind - creation rather. Jesus has commanded the church in His
authority to make disciples of all nations by GOING - BAPTISING and TEACHING.
Look here, GOING out from the church preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to
lost people everywhere - thus EVANGELISM, and new believers are led to publicly
confess Christ and participate in His church thus BAPTISING, while
instructing believers in the Word of God so that they will become obedient
followers of Christ and growth in spiritual maturity is TEACHING.
Making disciples involves leading people to become true followers
of Jesus - bringing people to Christ, and then people are built up in Christ
which is edification. Believers in Christ need to mature through proclaiming
the word, meaning to say feeding them with spiritual food, presenting people
mature in Christ by teaching, counselling, wanting. advising. rebuking,
correcting and encouraging performing all this work in the power of the Spirit.
This will eventually manifest God's glory to all humankind. Therefore, the
purpose of the church then is to evangelise and edify the people for God's
glory and the good of God's people.
Prayerful thought: Father in heaven, please help us to Go,
Baptising and Teaching as you made us disciples of all nations in order to
bring all the souls to you.