Why Church

Definition

The Church (Greek Ekklesia) means an assembly, to call out or the called out ones.

Therefore,

1.  A church is a place for public Christian worship

2.  A church is a particular Christian Organisation, typically one with its own clergy, building and distinctive doctrines.

3.  Everybody who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is a part of the church.

Matthew 16:13–18 reads

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

4.  The church is not limited to a place, or the building, or the location, or the denomination – we; God’s people who are in Christ Jesus – are the church that He promised to come back for.

In the New Testament,

The church is a body of believers who have been called out from the world by God to live as His people under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1: 22 – 23 says,

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The group of believers (the body) of Christ began in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost through the Holy Ghost, and will continue until the day of the rapture of the church.

Therefore, anyone who has declared Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is said to be a member of the church.

A Church Vs. The Church

The Universal Church comprises of the body of believers called Christians who believed that Christ had sanctified them with His blood. All believers are members of universal church; if such has exercised faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

A church or local church is a local assembly of believers or a congregation that meets together physically for worship, fellowship, teaching, prayer and encouragement in the faith.

Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

In the Local Church, we live in relationship with other believers to break bread together (in communion), pray for one another, discipleship, and encourage one another.

The Purpose of the Church

1.  The church assembles to bring each member to spiritual maturity.

Ephesians 4:13 – “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

2.  The church reaches out to spread the love of Christ and the gospel message to unbelievers in the world.

Matthew 28:18 – 20 says,

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”

3.  The church is expected to minister or serve both believers and unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 12:27 says,

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

A Major Question:

So far I am a believer and I belong to a universal church; do I still need a church?

Example: Playing in a local club or league and playing for the national team of your country.

Why You Must Belong To A Local Church

1.  To grow into a matured Christian

Like a new born baby; you need a family to receive nurture, care, and healthy growth and strong will.

Acts 2:42 ... “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

How do you know if you are a church member or a church goer?

The major difference between a church member and a church goer is commitment.

Examples --- There are two types of couples; married and cohabiting (living) couples. The married ones are willing to perform all the necessary rites and vows of marriage but the cohabiting ones try as much as possible to avoid such bonding and commitments.

	Characteristics	Members	Goers
1.	Commitments	Like married couples; they live together for better or worse.	Like cohabiting couples who make love without committing to life of marriage.
2.	Attitudes	They are Contributors; serving, giving money and offering their skills + abilities to the development of the church.	They are consumers; receiving the messages, enjoying the worship and even eat what is served as meats without paying.
3.	Features	They are donors and stewards	They are like parasites.
4.	Styles	Provide the benefits as an expression of love	Want the benefits without responsibility and accountability
5.	Discipline	Can be corrected Obedient Disciples Teachable Remorseful Humble	Proud, feel too big Arrogant Defiant Abusive Pompous
6.	Bible Examples	Obed-Edom Functioned in different sections of the church that even the king took notice of him – and he reaped a benefit/blessing	Michal – Saul’s daughter/David’s wife Confined to the chamber, always criticising – and was cursed.

2.  To help you find and fulfil life’s purpose

Romans 12:5 says “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

A steering wheel is useless without a car. Being a Christian without a relationship with Christ and fellow believers is futile.

Each of us finds our meaning and function as part of His body. A chopped-off finger or cut-off toe cannot function at all. When you are disconnected from the life blood of the local church, you wander and wither away.

One of the first symptoms of spiritual decline is inconsistent attendance at worship service. Without a church home, you are like an organ without a body. You’ll be a bunny-believer, hopping from one church to another without any identity, accountability, measurable growth and commitment.

NB: A local church is like a classroom for learning how to get along with God’s family and for practising unselfish love. In a local church, you learn how to care about others and share in their experiences.

1 Corinthians 12:26 says “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”

Only in regular contact with ordinary imperfect believers can we enjoy real fellowship, fruitfulness, connection and inter-dependence.

Ephesians 2:19 says “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

3.  To develop spiritual muscles

Holiness is easier to profess when nobody is around to test you. Isolation breeds deceitfulness. Don’t fool yourself about spiritual maturity; real maturity only takes place during give-and-take of relationships.

Ephesians 4:16 says “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

4.  Local Church keeps you from backsliding

Nobody is immune to temptation; anybody can blow it up. Local church helps build a check-and-balance in our lives. We are called to be involved in each other’s life, not mind your own business scopes.

5.  A local church gives us:

·        A purpose to live for

·        People to live with

·        Principles to live by

·        A profession to live out, and

·        Power to live on

There is no place on earth where all these benefits abound at once.

6.  Because we are chosen to live together in peace; a local church promotes honesty.

Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

To fully fulfil your destiny as a Christian and member of a local church

a)   Be plain; do not masquerade

b)  Be opened; intimacy is not built in the dark

c)   You are a light, always reflects God’s glory by being positive; darkness hides our issues

d)  Don’t hide your weaknesses. In the open, we find forgiveness and cleansing. Our wounds are healed and the scars are removed.

NB: Openness is the only way to become spiritually and emotionally healthy

7.  Local Church Provides Support

When we are in need, have new babies, bereaved, discouraged, lacked focus, failed in business or pursuits, disturbed emotionally, abandoned, broken, bruised – the local church provides, encourages, loves, prays, serves, teaches, accepts, devotes, lifts-up and restores.

NB: You are not responsible for everyone in the church but you are responsible to them. God wants you to do whatever you can to serve them.

Romans 1:12 reads, “... That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

8.  In Local Church, Allowances Are Made for Our Faults

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

It is in a local church that we build the capacity to forgive our transgressors. We just let go and let God so as to be the children of our heavenly Father.

9.  In Local Church, we empathise with others.

Local churches brood sympathy and breeds empathy. Sympathy is pity from afar whilst empathy is taking up another’s burden.

Empathy isn’t giving advice or offering a quick cosmetic help; it is entering into the pain of others.

Empathy is understanding what others are going through and helping them overcome it. Empathy understands and validates needs.

NB: Self-pity and exclusive focus on our own goals dry-up sympathy for others but local church family empathises just as close friends who help clean up the mess after the party is over.

10.                Mercy are birth in Local Churches

Fellowship is a place of grace where mistakes are rubbed out. Local church teaches us to offer and accept mercy. It takes massive amounts of grace to create and maintain mercy.

Conclusion:

You need a need a local church because

·        You are imperfect

·        You’ll keep hurting others

·        You’ll need someone to grow

·        You can’t live your life alone

Although

Pastors may be after our monies, stealing our tithes and offerings

Church folks may be a bunch of liars and pretenders

Other organisations may be doing what she does

And a lot of atrocities and scheming happen in churches

Yet I say, there is no perfect church in the world. If there is one, the day you carry your imperfect self into it, it becomes imperfect. A drop of gall will destroy the taste of a palatable bowl of rice.

Friends, you need a local church; are you a member of one?