The Purpose of the Church-To Teach

[Gerry]

If you went to your local Church and conducted interviews with the members, asking what the purpose of the Church is, or why does it exist, you may be more than a little amazed at what you hear, or even worse what you don't hear. Sometimes the silence is deafening.

Although there are many reason, in Scripture, I should like to offer at least a dozen or so for discussion. Perhaps the only feasible way would be to offer them one at a time.

One of the many purposes of the Church is to instruct other believers.

II Timothy 2:24: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {patient: or, forbearing}
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"


II Timothy 2:2: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach…: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations}
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."


Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {honest: or, venerable}
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

I Timothy 4:6: "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."

I Timothy 5:17: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

Father, help us, as the Church, to take seriously our responsibility to teach and share with other believers what has been shown to us by the Holy Spirit.

 

[GraftMeIn]

This sure ties in nicely with your previous posts on the church. The Lord has given you much teach and share with us, and I thank Him for doing so. I also thank you for sharing it with us as it was intended to be.

It is truly important that we share with others what the Holy Spirit shows us. The Lord certainly blesses us when we do this.

 

[Gerry]

The Lord has given much to all His children to share with one another, beginning with love. We are to share not only our knowledge but out trials and tribulations and burdens, and our joys and triumphs and blessings. We are to become one spiritually and one with Him!

May God help us to grow together in unity and singleness of purpose.

 

[DeputyDan]

I think that each Church should define what it is about.

Too many Churches think they provide everything for everyone and end up providing nothing for anyone.

A Church should have a primary mission and the congregation should work toward achieving that mission for the Glory of God.......

 

[Gerry]

Originally posted by DeputyDan
I think that each Church should define what it is about.

Too many Churches think they provide everything for everyone and end up providing nothing for anyone.

A Church should have a primary mission and the congregation should work toward achieving that mission for the Glory of God.......

Amen! That is exactly what we are talking about here! The Church, that is composed of the born again Christians and make up the Body of Christ, and it's mission as clearly defined in the Word of God.

You are right in saying that too many local congregations try to be everything to everyone and wind up being nothing to anyone. Thatis because they misunderstand the mission of the church in the first place.

Too many of them think that we are here to save the world from itself and to make it some sort of Utopia.

They think we are to lobby for stronger laws and legislate morality, and to conduct civil rights marches and pray-ins, and to protest wars, and the list goes on and on.

But NONE of those are the mission of the Church as defined by God's Word.
THAT is why this ongoing series of posts on the Church and what it's Mission really is, as defined by God's Word.