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What Is the Purpose of the Church?
When the fifth and sixth graders were asked during VBS, “What is the church,” the overwhelming answer was “the people!” They were exactly right. But is the church just any people? The church is a group of people assembling together with “the same mind, maintaining the same love, untied in one spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). The Bible calls this group of people Christians.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
1. Being a Christian is not just about having faith, it is action which God seeks. Our works will prove us as true Christians. Hebrews 11 is known to many as “the hall of faith.” At the beginning of each description of Bible characters is written “by faith,” but it doesn't stop there. The writer goes on to describe something that each character did. For example, “by faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.” Abel's faith was followed by an action that glorified God. As Christians, our faith must be followed by works.
2. Being a Christian means having the want to. Cross-country may be the most will-powered sport I know of, and it's usually the only time I hear the phrase. When running a race I could hear my coach yelling, “you got to want it!” And without fail the people who want it the most are always the ones receiving medals. As Christians we have to want it. Consider, how much do you really want it? How much do you want to please God? How much do you love God? If we can just take care of the want to as Christians then the rest of our lives should follow the same pattern of want to. Think about how much the First Century Christians wanted it. Stephen wanted it so much he was stoned to death. Paul wanted it so much that he left his reputation as a murderer of Christians to become a devoted disciple and even apostle of Christ, even to the point of his imprisonment and appeal to Caesar which eventually resulted in his execution. That is the want to we need to have, not just as the First Century Christians had, but as all New Testament Christians should have.
3. Being a Christian means being a member of the body of Christ. Our path to salvation includes being a part of the church. However, this is not the idea of just having our names in the church directory, nor does this mean that we attend services regularly. It means that we have been baptized for the remission of our sins and have remained faithful to our commitment of serving the Lord in everything we do. What does this mean for the church? It means that the church does not save people, it is the saved. “The Lord added to the number those who we're being saved” (Acts 2:47).
What is the purpose of Christians assembling together?
The church has been a part of God’s plan since the beginning if time (Ephesians 1:4-10). Just as the church has been a part of God’s plan from the beginning so has the purpose of the church.
1. The purpose of Christians assembling together is not for a social gathering. In 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 Paul teaches that the home should be the center of our social activity, NOT the church.
2. The purpose of Christians assembling together is not for recreational activities. It is becoming increasingly common to hear of churches supporting recreational activities such as sports teams, parties, and facilities that do not pertain to the work of the church. The gospel is not meant to entertain, it is meant to save souls.
3. The purpose of Christians assembling together is to evangelize. God's plan of salvation begins with the preaching of the gospel. Jesus describes this by using the idea of a landowner and workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:1. The church is the landowner and we are the laborers in the vineyard.
4. The purpose of Christians assembling together is to edify one another. The church is strengthened when it's individual members are strengthened. Paul helps us understand this in Ephesians 4:16 by using the apology of a body. The proper working of each individual body part causes the body to grow. When we as individual members perform our duties we cause the body to grow. When we encourage and edify others, we help the body function properly. How does the church edify it's members? Through worship (Hebrews 10:25). Through discipline (Titus 3:10). Through love and consideration without division (1 Corinthians 1:10).
5. The purpose of Christians assembling together is to obey the head of the church. The Bible uses another analogy of a body in (Ephesians 1:22-23). This time Paul explains the church as being the body and Christ being the head. Jesus as the head commands the body what to do and how to function. If the body does not follow what the head commands then the body is not functioning correctly. If we are not following precisely what Jesus, the head, commands us, then we are not functioning correctly.
