WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST?

Foundational reasons for who we are and what we do!

Ephesians 4:11-16 “And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured

by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. From Him, the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the

growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.”

GROW- our desire to grow in our personal relationship with the Lord

“We should never be content with what we know or who we are.”

1. GROW BY MATURING.

II Thessalonians 1:3 “We must always thank God for you, brothers. This is right, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing.”

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore, leaving the elementary message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance…”

II Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

“If you stop and ask yourself why you are not so devoted as the early Christians, your own heart will tell you that it is neither through ignorance or inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it.” -William Law

So what will make the difference?

*Partaking of the Scriptures Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

Hebrews 5:11-14 “We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become to lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about

righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.”

*Praying in the Spirit Ephesians 6:18 “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”

Jude 20 “But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”

*Participate in Service Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God.”

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.”

*Practice of Soul-winning Matthew 4:19-20 “Follow Me, He told them, and I will make you fish for people! Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

Jude “But you, dear friends, as you build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

2. GROW BY MINISTERING.

*Compassion Matthew 9:36-38 “When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

*Change

*Cooperation I Corinthians 12 “Unity and Diversity”