“I Don’t Have to Go to Church” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

“I Don’t Have to Go to Church” I don’t have to go to a church building to please God I don’t have to attend, esp. one certain place I don’t have to get involved or participate

The Church Is Unnecessary It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3 ESV) THE CHURCH WAS PLANNED BY GOD

The Church Is Unnecessary And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, (Daniel 2:44 ESV) THE CHURCH WAS PLANNED BY GOD

The Church Is Unnecessary Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV) THE CHURCH WAS PLANNED BY GOD

The Church Is Unnecessary  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:8-11, ESV) THE CHURCH WAS PURPOSED BY GOD

The Kingdom Is Unnecessary Matthew 16:18-19 - church/kingdom were interchangeable terms Mark 9:1 - kingdom was coming in their lifetime He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13 ESV)

The Kingdom Is Unnecessary Matthew 16:8-9 - church/kingdom were interchangeable terms Mark 9:1 - kingdom was coming in their lifetime …and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6 ESV) I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, (Revelation 1:9 ESV)

The Kingdom Is Unnecessary And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ (Zechariah 6:12-13 ESV) A PRIEST/KING… WITHOUT A KINGDOM?

The Body of Christ Is Unnecessary And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV) IS JESUS HEAD OVER… NOTHING? …that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross… (Ephesians 2:15-16 ESV)

The Family of God Is Unnecessary (Are we starting to see a pattern?) 1 Timothy 3:15; Galatians 6:10 We’re in one of two places Family is where you find… Provision Discipline Instruction Loving care Outside of the family is… nothing! But not necessary?

The only means of overcoming confusion/division is unnecessary Different names, doctrines, priorities Ignoring the problem is not a solution, 1 Cor. 14:33 Apostles taught will of Christ, Matthew 28:19-20 Apostles organized/instructed churches Jesus prayed for those listening to apostles Consider the confusion of modern day denominationalism… Seriously? Is the church really not necessary?

We ALL only have to “come to church” if it’s important. And the church is only important if these facts are… If these are important to you, why not be an active, participating, part of the church of Christ? It was planned/instituted by God It is the kingdom of Christ It is the body of Christ It is the family of God It is the only means of overcoming denominational division