THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

Eph. 5:23-25; Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18

I.       TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DEVELOP A HEART FOR GOD. EPH. 3:17-21

            A.        A heart for salvation Acts. 16:14, 15

            B.        A heart for the Lord. Mark 12:30

            C.        A heart for others. Mark 12:31

1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

James 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

            This first point is the key to all of the others.

II.     TO INCLUDE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY. ACTS 2.41-47

A.        Our goal and desire is to see people added to this family.

B.        It’s the Lord that adds to the church.

            Salvation is (to be sure) only from the Lord; not Peter's sermons, nor the miracles of fiery cloven tongues, and the rushing mighty wind, not the tongues that were spoken, could have converted any.

C.        The church is to be a family. “A FAMILY CHURCH WITH FRIENDLY PEOPLE.”

D.        Our lives, our attitudes, our testimonies, our demeanor should be such that people want to be here.

E.         We should be inviting people to come with us.

III.    TO INSTRUCT PEOPLE IN THE WORD OF GOD. 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-4

            A.        The Bible is the instruction manual for life.

                        Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

B.        The Bible is to be our final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

C.        The preaching of the Word of God is the most important part of our services.

D.        What kind of church would we have without the foundation of the Scriptures?

            Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

            Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

            1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

            1 Peter 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

            Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

E.         The Word is to be taught and preached in all of the classes and services that we have.

F.         The Word of God changes lives and salvages lives.

            2 Timothy 3.15

            Romans 15.4

            John 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

            1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

            Acts 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

IV.    TO INVOLVE PEOPLE IN THE WORK OF GOD. 1 COR. 15:58

A.        The church is a place where people can get involved with serving the Lord.

B.        The church is the place where we can work together bringing the lost to Christ.

C.        The church is the place where you can give to see the missionaries sent out to accomplish what God said to do in the great commission.

D.        The church is the place where people pool their talents and gifts together for the purpose of Christ.

            John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

            1 Cor. 3:13-15

            1 Thessalonians 1:3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

 V.      TO IMPACT THE AREA FOR GOD.

A.        We will do this through the programs we have through the church.

            1.         Letter writing

            2.         Door to door visitation

            3.         Bus ministry

            4.         Hospital visitation

            5.         Reformers Unanimous

            6.         Camp ground ministry

            7.         Tracts

            8.         Jail and prison ministry

            9.         Nursing home ministry