The Church And You! Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:16 Together We GROW, United We BUILD! “Together We Unite To Build God’s Family” The Church And You! Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:16

CH___RCH – What is missing? A Christian's life can never INTRODUCTION CH___RCH – What is missing? U "CHURCH" is not complete without “U!” A Christian's life can never be complete apart from a healthy CHURCH.

A church can be one of the greatest joys of your life …. absolutely essential to being a faithful and productive Christian.

Without Going To Church? MAIN POINTS 1. Can You Be A Christian Without Going To Church? "NO!"

“a true believer” …. love our brothers. Anyone who one of the signs of Let’s read 1 John 3:14 – one of the signs of “a true believer” …. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (NIV; also verse 15)

One sign of “a backslider” We naturally want to be around those we love. One sign of “a backslider” is withdrawing from Christian fellowship.

1 John 2:19…. “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” (NIV)

As Augustine an Early Church does not have the church Father once said…. “He cannot have God for his Father who does not have the church for his mother.”

Important For A Christian? 2. Why Is The Church Important For A Christian?

“covering of protection” The CHURCH is our SPIRITUAL COVERING in this world of darkness! The Bible tells us that there is a “covering of protection” in Mount Zion which is a type of the New Testament Church.

Isaiah 4:4-6.... “ (v.4) The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. (v.5) Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day ….

Isaiah 4:4-6.... …. and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. (v.6) It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” (NIV)

Hebrews 12:22-24.... “ (v.22) But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, (v.23) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, .…

Hebrews 12:22-24.... …. the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, (v.24) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (NIV)

3. Who Are We As The Church?

of the world, to be part of The Greek word for “church” is “ekklesia” meaning “called out ones.” … one whom God has called out of the world, to be part of His Family, the church!

“assembly” or “congregation.” “Ekklesia” also means “assembly” or “congregation.” …. local congregations which are to be earthly representations of “His Heavenly Kingdom.”

Jesus Himself was the one who ordained & commissioned the “church” (Matthew 16:18). One of the Biblical names for the church is the “Body of Christ”

being joined together…. Ephesians 4:16 describes the “Body” as being joined together…. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (NIV)

Ministry Life Fellowship Worship Encouragement Teaching Strength Joy You will be SUPPLIED with.... Ministry Fellowship Encouragement Strength Life Worship Teaching Joy

A key element in the life of the church is the concept of A Christian who is not part of a local church is a totally foreign concept to Scripture. Note: A key element in the life of the church is the concept of “COMMUNION.” COMMON UNION

God wants His people to live in this “common union,” both with Him, and with one another.

Romans 12:4,5…. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:25 “(v.4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (v.5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (NIV) 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:25

1) Community 2) Accountability 3) Family Through the CHURCH Christians learn 3 concepts of God’s Family…. 1) Community We are a fellowship of believers. 2) Accountability We are responsible for one another. 3) Family We are brothers & sisters in Christ.

4. What Exactly Constitutues A Church As A Body Of Believers?

Being a body, the church is an organized, structured unit. A number of characteristics are required before an institution can be properly called a “church.”

These include.... A) Organized, regularly scheduled meetings (Acts 14:27; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 14:26; 16:1-2) Membership records (Acts 1:15; 2:41, 47; Revelation 3:4) B)

Pastors & church leaders who oversee the congregation (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:2-3 )

Preaching, teaching, and exhortation from the Word of God (1 Corinthians 9:16; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2)

Testament ordinances, water baptism (Acts 2:38,41), Observances of the New Testament ordinances, water baptism (Acts 2:38,41), and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Accountability for sin (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13).

Biblical church membership... "a solemn covenant" which involves.... Faithful commitment in attendance (Hebrews 10:25) B) Tithing & giving (Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 8, 9; Hebrews 7:8)

Cooperation with the church’s leadership (1 Corinthians 11:1-2; Serving and ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Ephesians 4:7, 11-12; 1 Peter. 4:10-11) D) Cooperation with the church’s leadership (1 Corinthians 11:1-2; 6:15-16; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7,17

CONCLUSION Is the church perfect? "NO!" It is made up of imperfect people - like us!

“Like iron sharpens iron, God’s people are to help ‘sharpen’ Proverbs 27:17…. “Like iron sharpens iron, God’s people are to help ‘sharpen’ each other.” (NIV) You need the CHURCH, the CHURCH needs you!

Jesus died for His church (Acts 20:28) Jesus is returning for His church (Ephesians 5:27) It is His church that will rule and reign with Him (Revelation 22:1-5)

So going to church doesn’t make you a Christian! in itself cannot save anyone! So going to church doesn’t make you a Christian!  

“Family of Believers” not as a building, but a in Christ Jesus. Let us this morning see the importance of the "CHURCH" not as a building, but a “Family of Believers” in Christ Jesus. Amen! Let’s pray!