Why Bother with Church?
I Wonder... • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsI Wonder--Why Bother with Church? In other words, does it really matter if we are part of a local church? Isn't it enough if I just have personal relationship with Jesus? And does church membership matter? We may have asked this question, or we may have lots of reasons we do not like the local church (somebody hurt me; the church is filled with hypocrites.) Today's message will examine that question.
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Here is our “I Wonder...” question for today that we will address, and it involves a question I hear pretty frequently over the years.
And it goes something like this: “I wonder…why should I bother with church?”
Or to put it differently… “do I really need the local church?”
because…isn’t it enough if I follow Jesus or have a relationship with Jesus? Isn’t that what is really important—so why bother with the church?”
I stole that title from a little booklet by Sam Allberry who says “Why Bother with Church?” his book was helpful in preparing this message.
Beneath this question—is you get to the root of this question may be reasoning like this:
“Church is boring”…we do a lot of weird things at church. It doesn’t keep my attention. so it seems kind of pointless…it doesn’t really do anything for me. I can get a lot more out of sleeping on a Sunday morning, making lots of pancakes than going to church. Church is not very exciting…where else do you go anymore and here someone talk for about 30 minutes—maybe a stand-up comedian, and that’s a lot more entertaining than me.
“Church has exhausted me.” maybe you have served and served, tirelessly, and just being a part of a church is tiring.
“Church is filled with hypocrites”—someone who doesn’t practice what they profess. And this is true—we are. Our church is filled with hypocrites. I am a hypocrite, too
or if you think globally and historically—you may reason that the church is responsible for so many injustices—the Crusades, war, slavery…religion just causes problems, including the church. the church just cares about power.
to get really personal - “Church has hurt me”…this is very common. Spend enough time as part of any church congregation and people will let you down, leadership or pastors like me will let you down or hurt you. and I am so sorry that has happened, and the deeper the hurt, it takes time to heal and trust. (if you are here, know that it takes time)
Furthermore---”I got Jesus—isn’t that enough?” “It’s me and Jesus...”
Great questions—I am glad you asked...
These are all valid objections...
Let me do my best to give you 3 reasons from the BIBLE that show you why you should not only bother with your local church but get excited, thrilled, invested...
AND NOTICE - from the Bible.
If I give you my human words or human experience, you will burn out on the church, but if we look at what Jesus says.
and I am going to summarize those 3 reasons by using 3 words.
Here is the first word — GATHER.
what do I mean? why is this a reason you should bother with church...
when that word “church” shows up in the NT—it is the Greek word Ekklesia, shows up 114x in the NT.
you may have heard the term ecclesiology—that’s the study or doctrine of the church in the Bible. or ecclesiastical.
When that word for church is used—it refers at its core to an assembly.
to gathering. it is a gathering of a group of people.
that word is pretty broad in the NT—because it is used to describe an angry mob, and another to a gathering in the court of law. (Acts 19)
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.
a gathering of an angry mob! that word assembling is ekklessia.
but the majority of times it’s used is in a Christian sense—where early Christians are gathering regularly to worship the risen Savior Jesus Christ.
so for instance Acts 14:23
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
in Acts 7:38, the first Christian who died, the first martry for his faith—was Stephen, and in his speech he talks about the OT people of God—the Israelites—and look at the word he uses...
Acts 7:38 (NIV)
38 He (Moses) was in the assembly (ekklesia) in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
Stephen uses the word assembly to describe the Israelites in the OT—he uses the word ekklesia—church!
he describes the OT people of God (Israelites) as a kind of church..
and this gives us a clue of what the church is...
1. so at its core—a church is a particular gathering of Christian believers under Jesus…with a specific purpose…
what are those purposes?
think of the Israelites in the OT at Mt. Sinai—God had just saved them, rescued them from slavery.
Why did they gather at the mountain—at Mt. Sinai
to be in the presence of God:
to hear God’s Word,
to respond to it, (they were being formed as the people of God, under his leadership,)
and be sent out into the world…to be a light
so at its core—to be a church—means to be a people who gather....(not a building) the people of Christ
Sam Allberry (Why Bother with Church): so this means—that the church is not the building we meet in. WE commonly say “that’s a beautiful church.” but the church is not the building but the people gathering. “People don’t enter a church; the church enters a building.”
it’s gathering…assembling—with people—with other believers who follow Jesus together..
early church and what they did...
look at Acts 2:42
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.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
#--so why bother with church, the local church?
b/c the Bible is clear that Christianity is a gathering, coming together, assembling movement—that’s what it means as part of its core to be a church IN THE WORD ITSELF!
Christianity is a gathering movement—we gather regularly with the people of God to follow Jesus TOGETHER—that’s part of what it means.
and if you don’t gather, then you are missing out on what the Bible says itself to be a church.
based on the word church…ekklesia...
It can’t be just Jesus and you—that is not the pattern we see in the NT.
it can’t just be your favorite Youtube preacher or podcast preacher—that’s not gathering.
even if you are introverted — you still need others.
even if you don’t like people—Christians are called to gather.
this is why I am so concerned about online church. If your experience of the people of God is only online, or only through podcast or worship online—then you are MISSING OUT on what it means to be the church as the bible defines it as a gathering of people.
yes, there are exceptions—online church is great for health reasons, traveling, sick, shut-in, or missionaries—but that is a poor substitute for gathering.
I know if I talk with my family online—Facetime—i am thankful for it—but it is not the same as being with them—in flesh and blood.
(cut????) (and it’s not just 2 or 3 Christians doing whatever that constitutes a church. If I go jogging with a Christian buddy, yes we are gathering, but we are not a church necessarily, or if run into someone at Wal-Mart who is a Christian,)
so why bother with Church?
b/c God’s Word says at its core—when that word church is used it is an intentional, particular GATHERING of God’s people...it is an intentional particular gathering of God’s people, to hear His Word, respond to it, and be sent out just like the Israelites in the OT, just like the early church in Acts 2...
2nd reason why bother with Church?
1. first was gather—the word church is that at is core.
2. second is Jesus. The church is Jesus’ idea— (Matthew 16:13-20)
Look at Matthew 16:13-20
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
I love the Apostle Peter.
He is always getting into trouble.
always speaking before thinking.
but here—he is really the first person to truly get who Jesus Christ is--
Jesus is not just another human being, or a good teacher, or a prophet...
the Messiah (the Savior—anointed by God) on a rescue mission to save us
The Son of God.
and Jesus said on Peter and his confession of Jesus, he would build his church, his assembly.
and there is a little play on words—verse 18
Peter — Petros Greek Word...
rock — petra Greek Word...
Jesus loves puns! see it’s Biblical...
on Peter, Jesus would build his church. we as Protestants sometimes get funny about this—I believe the Catholic church goes too far with this statement, believing that Peter is the first Pope—starting an apostolic line of succession---that’s too far in my humble opinion.
but you can’t deny that Peter has a big role to play in the book of Acts.
because in the book of Acts—chapter 2--He is there on the Day of Pentecost preaching—and 3000 come to Christ.
He uses those keys of the kingdom to open the door to salvation.
In Acts 8—he uses those keys to affirm that the Samaritans are truly born again, believers.
in Acts 10—he uses them again with the Gentiles.
he and the apostles had a certain authority—whatever decisions they made on earth would be backed by heaven.
(btw — Peter was not perfect—just a few verses later—Matthew 16:23 Jesus tells Peter to get behind me Satan—you are a stumbling block (another kind of rock)
but it wasn’t just the apostle Peter who got this authority.
just 2 chapters later---
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
we often quote those last 2 verses—which are true—but here in this context of correction, church discipline—Jesus is saying he is with the local church. giving the local church some authority—whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed.
the decisions made here concerning church discipline, if this process is followed out—the decisions made by the local church are backed by heaven. heaven is in accord with church authority properly exercised. (now it can be abused)
so why I am bringing all this up—I mentioned Jesus.
I am struck with how Jesus talks about the church.
Matthew 16:18 — says the gates of Hades or hell, death itself will not prevail against the church. the gates symbolize power and protection—you protected places with walls and gates back then—but Hell, and all its power, death and all its power--will not advance against the church.
I am also struck by how Jesus gives Peter and the apostles, and his disciples and the church some authority—BACKED BY HIM! (now that can be abused and has been) Jesus gives the church, the gathered people of God, the right to speak with a certain kind of authority—the keys of the kingdom. whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven...
Here is how one writer says it: “Jesus gave the church, the right to speak with his authority. that’s what he meant when he said the church would hold the keys of the kingdom, and whatever it bound or loosed on earth would be bound or loosed in heaven.
in effect, Jesus was giving his church a royal charter of authority; it and it alone would be his embassy on the earth.
and he commissioned it with a charge to go and make disciples (talked about this last week)—proclaiming his kingdom and kingship and bringing people into the kingdom.
look at the charge we have..
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“The church, then, wasn’t the idea of a bunch of pastors who wanted some job security. It was Jesus’s idea. He constituted it, he chartered it, and he commissioned it; and now the church plays a grand and unique role in God’s plan of salvation.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-church-is-an-embassy-not-a-social-club/)
(Eph. 3:10?)
no other organization has that…—not businesses…not government…not schools…not non-profits or even parachurch organizations as much as we need and appreciate them.
but the church.
so why bother with church? b/c the church is Jesus’ idea (—he created it, he chartered it, he gave it authority, he commissioned it—it is his plan A to go and make disciples)
why bother with church...
so far we have seen from God’s Word...
Gather: that it is about gathering—that’s what the word means....ekklesia
Jesus: it is about Jesus—his authority, his creation, his commission—he has a high view of the church
3. Body: the church is compared to a body
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
I love this image of the church—like a body.
just as our body has many parts—each one has its own function—it’s diverse, but all are necessary…for the body to function in a healthy way.
so it is in the church...
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
why bother with church...
because you are part of the body…God has placed you in this particular church body...
you belong—you have a necessary role to play as part of the body, a difference to make...
if you feel inferior—and feel like you are not—others are higher up there—Scripture reminds us that all parts are necessary...
we cannot function without you!
and if you feel superior—look at what 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
one of my concerns about church—is that we treat it—as a consumer...
if this church meets my need, I stay…but if this church meets my need I go...
whenever I talk with someone about what they are looking for in a church, it’s not long before you and I say things like— good worship music, good preaching, good programs, perhaps even good coffee…and those things are ok...
but when you understand the church as a body—intimately, and vitally connected...
Jesus is the head of it…we will ask different questions—are we about Jesus...
and we are all connected in such a vital way that if one part suffers, we suffer...
if one part is honored, we are honored and rejoice.
and we all have a role to play, a gift to give, a way not just to get, but primarily to give...
to one another—love, serve, care, correct, restore, forgive--
I think it totally changes the question of how we even begin to approach this concept of church.
Church is not always about getting (meeting my needs) but giving—contributing...
church is about deep connection—where we serve deeply one another and feel deeply for one another…are we a church that truly is deeply connected...
church is about Jesus Christ—b/c He is the head of the church....are we a church that is all about Jesus and His glory...
so why bother with church?
Gathering — that’s what it means to church
Jesus—It’s his idea...
Body—the community life...
Gather
Jesus
Body
If church is left up to our human ideas, we will flame out.
if left up to our bad experiences, we will flame out.
but if we keep in mind what God says about the church—it will constantly re-energize.
Wrap it Up:
Pray for your church family...
love your church family
Consider joining as a member...
Strive to have the same view of the church as Jesus...
get in the game...
Gather…Jesus…Body
Let’s pray