Sermon Page

1.

The Purpose of The Church

Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church:-

  “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

  According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be:-

           1.         teaching biblical doctrine,     

           2.         providing a place of fellowship for believers,

           3.         observing the Lord’s supper,

           4.         praying.

The church is to teach biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in our faith.

 

Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

  The church is to be a place of fellowship, where Christians can:-

•    be devoted to one another and honor one another (Romans 12:10),

•    instruct one another (Romans 15:14),

•   be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32),

•    encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11),

 and most importantly ……

•     love one another (1 John 3:11).

The church is to be a place where believers can observe the “Breaking of Bread”, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

  The concept of “breaking bread” (Acts 2:42) also carries the idea of having meals together.

This is another example of the church promoting fellowship.

 

The final purpose of the church according to Acts 2:42 is prayer.

The church is to be a place that promotes prayer, teaches prayer, and practices prayer.

  Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Another commission given to the church is proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

The church is called to be faithful in sharing the gospel through word and deed.

The church is to be a “lighthouse” in the community, pointing people toward our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The church is to both promote the gospel and prepare its members to proclaim the gospel (1 Peter 3:15).

Some final purposes of the church are given in James 1:27:

 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

The church is to be about the business of ministering to those in need.

This includes not only sharing the gospel, but also providing for physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) as necessary and appropriate.

The church is also to equip believers in Christ with the tools they need to overcome sin and remain free from the pollution of the world. This is done by biblical teaching and Christian fellowship.

So, what is the purpose of the church ?

Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth.

The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth.

The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and “Christ-following.”

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2.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

  The world has had enough of religion. Religion is man trying to reach God. Man has been trying ever since the Fall to do that.

Christianity is not just another religion.  Christianity is Christ Himself........it is God reconciling the world to Himself through His One and Only Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus. Christ died for us. He fought our  battle.   He won the victory for us.   

 He was our substitute.He did for us  -  what we could not do for ourselves.

  1.   Man's Condition Before God

  The Bible tells us that Mankind is “lost in sin and shapen in iniquity.”     

It goes on to say that  “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”      

And that “there is none righteous, no not one.”

“The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desparately wicked.”

“Our sin has separated us  from God.”

  2.  God's Love For Mankind

Calvary demonstrates the extent  of God's love for us.

“For God  so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ...........”

 "But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Christ died in my place.

3. Christ’s  Substitutary Death

  On the Cross, Christ became my substitute.

  He bore our sin in His body on the tree.

  He who knew no sin became sin for us.  “He was wounded for our transgressions.............”

4.  Christ's Resurrection is  My Guarantee

  Christianity is more than a religion  -   it is Christ Himself.

  Every other religion has been founded by someone who is now dead and gone.

Budda is dead …..   Confucius is dead …..  Mohammad is dead….

  BUT  Jesus Christ is Alive.......today !   

  In other religions the death of the founder doesn't matter, his teachings, way of life, ritual is passed on from one generation to another.

  BUT  WITH JESUS CHRIST IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that He  is still alive.

  IF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT ALIVE THEN CHRISTIANITY IS A  SHAM.

  Because Christianity is  ……….      “Christ in Me the hope of glory.”

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the key to this.

  Everything depends upon the resurrection.

  What did people say about the resurrection at the  time?

  The  Jews claimed that the disciples stole the body while the guards slept. 

  BUT - They had done their best to ensure that this could not happen.

All they needed to do was to produce the body and dispel the rumours.

  5.  The Reality of the  Resurrection

Today, there are those who claim that Jesus never actually died but simply swooned on the cross and recovered in the  cool of the  tomb.

However someone  who had suffered such a flogging as He, and  who had been subjected to the torture of the cross could have recovered enough to escape from the grave-clothes let alone convince His followers of a triumphant resurrection is beyond comprehension.

In fact, initially His disciples did not believe that He had come back to life.

The whole of the account of the events which took place on that Easter Morn testify to the fact that the disciples did not believe initially that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Until.....they saw for themselves.Then, they witnessed something, which, completely transformed them from being timid, frightened, creatures into fearless witnesses to the resurrection. 

What was it?  What had happened to them?   They had met with the Risen Lord.

Have you met with the Risen Lord?   

When you meet Jesus in all His Risen Power then your life will be  transformed.

6.  The Relevance of the Resurrection

  If there had been no resurrection then we would have no grounds for salvation.  Paul wrote ....  “If Christ be not risen then ye are yet in your sin.”   

If there is no resurrection then ....... there is no hope of eternal life.

  His resurrection is the guarantee of our own.

  7.  The Evidence For the Resurrection

Paul writing to Corinth......1 Cor 15 deals with this very theme. There, Paul states that :-

            1.   Christ appeared to Peter

            and then to:-

            2.    The rest of the  apostles.

He then :-

             3.     Appeared to more than 500 believers at  the same time of whom many were still alive at  the time  Paul wrote that letter.

Then Paul describes what, to him,  was the most amazing thing of all  -  a post ascension appearance of Christ to Paul himself  on road to Damascus.

In 1 Cor 15 Paul  deals at great length with the subject of the resurrection of Christ and its relevance and importance to us.

 

8.  Christ’s Resurrection is the Basis for our Salvation

  Our faith, our eternal security depends upon this fact.

  If it is not true, then we are of all men most to be pitied.

  If it is not true, Christianity is founded on a lie  -  founded by a bunch of liers.

 Is this view the one which is in keeping with His  character or is it alien to the One who was willing to die in my stead that a soul, though unworthy might live.

  Yes, the path to the cross He was willing to tread all the sins of my life to forgive.

  He went to the  cross and lay down His life for me.

And God  gave His seal of approval by raising Him from the dead.

                         Up from the grave He arose.

                        With a mighty triumph o'er His foes .

                        He arose a victor fom the dark domain,

                        And He lives  for ever with His saints to reign.

                        He arose, He arose......

                        Hallelujah!  Christ Arose  !