Why the Local Church?

Introduction

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

2 August 2015

Updated: 31 July 2015

By:

Boyce Belt

Why the Local Church

Introduction

Opening:

• Prayer

Text:

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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

Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Jude 1:19 KJV 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Introduction:

Our primary text admonishes us to “not forsake the assembling,” this involves far more than an erratic attendance.  The church is a body interacting.  It is not merely a dispensary of spiritual food and medicine.^[1]  One goes to a restaurant only when they are hungry and will only go to the doctor when they are sick.  Church attendance is a necessary function of the body of Christ regularly – not just in times of need.  The early church met daily.

The Christians you meet in the book of Acts were not content to meet once a week for “services as usual.”  They met daily, cared daily, won souls daily, searched the Scriptures daily, and increased in number daily.  Their Christian faith was a day-to-day reality, not a once-a-week routine.^[2]

1. The Example of the Early Church – Acts 2:42 KJV 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  It is of note that in Hebrews the emphasis is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly.^[3]

1. Doctrine

1. The apostles’ doctrine was true, not because an apostle taught it, but because it was consistent with the Scriptures.^[4]

2. Fellowship

1. One evidence that you have been truly saved is that you will have a love for other Christians.  You will want to have fellowship with them.^[5]
2. 1 John 4:7-8 KJV 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
3. 1 John 4:20-21 KJV 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

3. Breaking of Bread (communion)
4. Prayers

1. While Christ taught us to enter into the closet to pray, this was not to the exclusion of public prayer.  It is essential that we come together for prayer as well as private prayer.  An individual who does not pray at church probably never goes to the closet in prayer at home.
2. Examples of Prayer in the early church

1. The 120 were gathered in the upper room for prayer when the baptism in the Holy Ghost fell.
2. Peter and John were going to the temple to pray when the lame man was healed.
3. The saints were gathered to pray when Peter was released from prison.

2. The Gift of the Ministry – The ministry gifts are to function at the local level.  The purpose of the ministry gifts as found in Ephesians 4 should therefore become the purpose of the local congregation.  To refuse to be a part of that local congregation is to refuse to accept a gift given to that person from God.  This failure to accept God’s gift is both a failure to do the good that one knows to do which Scripture says is sin, and rebellion which is as the sin of witchcraft.

1. Perfecting of the Saints
2. Service to Others
3. Edification of the Body
4. Unification of the Faith
5. Knowledge of the Son
6. Establishment of Doctrine

3. The Purpose of the Body – There are many reasons why we gather together as a local body.  Most of them will fall under one of the following five categories which will become our outline for the remainder of this series:

1. Exaltation of the Savior
2. Exhortation of the Saints
3. Evangelism of the Sinners
4. Education of the Students
5. Eradication of the Sins

Conclusion:

Jude 1:18-19 KJV 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  This passage speaks primarily of those who cause division within the body of Christ.  It is may also be seen as those who separate themselves from the body.  The individual who does not feel the need to be a part of the local body of believers is not a spiritual person.  Rather than walking in the Spirit they are following the dictates of the flesh.  At best they are a carnal Christian.

The term sensual here means to be self-centered^[6].  One separates from the body is a selfish individual, focused only on his/her own needs and unconcerned for the needs of others.

The return of our Savior is soon.  In light of the nearness of His coming we ought to be more diligent in our faithfulness to the house of God.  We must meet together regularly in order to encourage and strengthen one another to hold fast to Christ as the end approaches.  If we withdraw from the body of Christ and neglect meeting with other believers, we become weaker, not stronger, and more susceptible to deception and the schemes of Satan.^[7]

Next Week:  Exaltation of the Savior