Part 1 of Why Church is Important
1 Corinthians 3:16; Acts 2:42-47; 14:23-28
We are indeed deep into the digital age. Almost everything can be viewed in the internet, using many different platforms such as TV, personal computers, Web, smart phones and social media. We are connected almost anywhere in the world. Bible teachings, preaching, blogs can all be found in the internet. Even the church worship can be viewed individually through your computers and smart devices. Hence, some wrongly believe that they don’t really need the physical church making the it unimportant. This belief is unbiblical, and it is wrong. God did not design His household to be virtual (See 1 Timothy 3:15). He designed it to be a physical community. The believers have to be together and to share things they have in common (See Acts 2:42-47).
1, God designed His church to be communal not individualistic.
1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
Hebrews 10:23-25, “23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The sense of closeness strengthens faith.
Encouraging intimacy through closeness.
The fullness of loving one another can only be done by being together.
“The idea of believers’ living independently of the church is totally foreign to the New Testament.” John MacArthur, Your Local Church and Why It Matters, 3.
Acts 2:42-44, “42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.”
Becoming a believer of the Lord also means you are entering into fellowship with other believers.
Being together means sharing life with one another.
Christian gatherings provide a strong testimony to others.
2. God designed His church for accountability and not to escape responsibilities.
Titus 1:5-9, “5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you... 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
God designed His church to have leaders.
Elders are responsible for teaching sound doctrines.
He manages God’s household.
He is at the frontline of God’s business.
Hebrews 13:17, “17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
Members are accountable to their leaders.
Members are being trained to obey.
3. God designed His church to transform us.
Philippians 2:3-5, “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”
Christians are like rough diamonds that need polishing.
Skills can be learned easily, but developing godly attitudes take time.
The goal is to develop Christ-like attitudes in us.
Developing obedience and humility requires the participation of the whole church.
No sanctification will happen without the church.