What is Church 3

What is "The Church" in the Bible?

(Continued)

which attempts to build the church of God with seeker-sensitive programs and name-brand authors, preachers and musicians. Such methods are said to follow the model of Jesus, who supposedly performed miracles to bring in the masses. Yet the Scripture tells us His miracles were a sign to confirm His Messiahship, not entertainment or gimmicks to draw a crowd. The true Church is built by God, not man, for Jesus said “I will build my church” (Mtatthew 16:18). “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47); “all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).

Which “way” is followed will ultimately determine what kind of people the church attracts. When the Lord adds to their number, churches will be populated with true believers who are able to follow exhortations like that given to the Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16). When programs and human methods build churches, they will attract the unsaved who are brought in to be “preached to,” but often remain because they find the programs and “religious experience” to their liking. When the church appeals to the lost, it is to the detriment of the saints.

The Church’s Biblical “Program”

Brethren, let us keep our focus: if the church would strive to do only those things we are commanded to do, and no other, we would do well and please our Savior. These things are abundantly clear from reading the letters written to the churches by the apostles:

1. Glorify God together.

Psalms 34:3 "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together."

Ephesians 3:21 "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

2. Uphold the doctrines of the faith.

1 Timothy 4:13, 16: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. . . . Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Titus 2:7 “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.”

3. Help saints in need.

Romans 12:12 "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality."

Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another‘s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Ephesians 4:2 "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love..."

4. Reprove, rebuke, and exhort each other to good works.

Hebrews 3:13: “but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted , forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”