The Work of the Church

Introduction:

1. Illus. Eugene Britnell's impression of the people in L.A. - "sheep without a shepherd."
   a. Doubtlessly an allusion to Matt. 9:36.
   b. In this verse Christ teaches us how to view people without Christ - "as sheep having no shepherd." He also teaches us how
       this sight should affect us - we should be "moved with compassion." "Compassion" - not aversion, not anger, not curiosity.
       not indifference.
2. Three important items to notice about Christ's response to the scene before Him.
   a. We observe what Jesus Saw - "the multitudes" (people in sin).
   b. We observe how Jesus felt - "moved with compassion."
   c. We notice what Jesus said (Matt. 9:37,3 8).
3. Jesus is no longer here in the flesh (Acts 1:9).
   a. However, before His death He promised to build His church (Matt. 16:18).
   b. He honored that promise (Acts 2:47).
   c. The members of His church are called "Christians" (Acts 11:26).
      (1) A Christian is someone who is "of Christ." Being such, he should strive to be "Christ-like" in all areas of life - including
           possessing the same desire for and the same attitude toward the lost which Jesus had (cf Matt. 9:3 6; Lk. 19:10).
      (2) In a sense, the church is an extension of Christ on the earth (I Cor. 12:13); it is the body of Christ; as members thereof,
           we are "the world's Bible."
      (3) Whatever was the primary work, or mission, of Christ ought to be the primary work of the church - which is His body.
4. In this study we are discussing the work of the church.
   a. Note: When we use the word "church" in this lesson we are referring to the local church.

Discussion:
I. That the Church has a Work is inferred by the fact that it is the Result of God's Eternal Purpose.

A. It was not an afterthought in the mind of God (Eph. 3:8-11).
B. God, then, is the Supreme Architect of the Church.
   1. Built according to His divine pattern.
   2. All that God has designed for man's salvation was according to a divine pattern.
      a. The ark (Gen. 6:13-22).
      b. The tabernacle (Ex. 25:40).
      c. The church (Heb.8: 1-5).
   3. The church is the "tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man" - built by Christ in harmony with God's purpose and plan.
   4. Rule by Divine will and authority.
      a. Matt. 16:18 - "I will build my church."
      b. Eph. 1:22,23 - "head over all things to church."
      c. Whatever the church is, and does, Christ must have willed it.

II. What the Work of the church is Not:

   A. Social -The early church did not become a social institution for purpose of waging a campaign for social reformation.
      1. The home is the center of social activity (I Cor.11:20-22).
      2. The increasing tendency to socialize church services and church work by having "fellowship banquets," a social hour with
          refreshments for various groups, a church dining room, parlor or cafeteria to entertain visitors and accommodate social
          functions, serving refreshments between Bible classes and worship to attract greater attendance is purely sectarian and
          leads directly to what Paul condemned upon the part of the Corinthians.
   B. Recreational - church basketball teams, church-sponsored skating parties, swimming parties, facilities for ping-pong and the
       like are a perversion of the energies and resources of the church.
   C. Making Money - I Cor.. 16:1,2.
      1. Manufacturing, merchandising, farming, real estate ventures, etc. do not fall within the scope of "church work."
   D. Secular Education -science, mathematics, history, literature, English, etc., does not come within the scope of the work of the
       church.
   E. Political. God did not design the church to become a political action party. He arranged civil government (Rom. 13:1 -7).
   F. A Money Raiser for Human Institutions.

III. What Is Its Work.

   A. To Provide Self-Edification (I Cor. 14:12; Rom. 14:29; Eph. 4:11-14).
      1. Babes must grow.
      2. Weak members must be strengthened and fortified (I Thess. 5:14).
      3. The church is its own college (Eph. 4:15,16).
   B. Benevolence.
      1. Acts 2:44,45; Acts 4:34,35; Acts 6:1-7; Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:25,26; I Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 8,9; I Tim. 5:16.
      2. All cases of collective benevolence were for saints.
      3. The early church established no human institutions to pay it to do the benevolent work of the church.
   C. Evangelism.
      1. I Tim. 3:15; I Thess. 1:7,8; Col. 1:23.
      2. The church is the only agency in the world charged with the task of evangelizing the world.
         Note: In New Testament days the church accomplished this work without building a single human institution, a human
         missionary society, a college, and without binding local churches together in an ecclesiastical set-up which would make
         "brotherhood elders" out of one group of overseers, and which would have robbed the contributing churches of their
          autonomy.

Conclusion.

1. Illus. from Dan. 5:25-28. State what happened on that occasion.
2. In today's world, the "handwriting is on the wall." The Lord's church is not growing as it ought. There are several reasons for
    this:
   a. One is the secularism and the materialism of the age.
   b. Many are so blinded by human denominationalism are unable to comprehend the concept of simple New Testament
       Christianity. They have long since departed from the simplicity which is in Christ.
  c. But the principle reason for the church not growing is the fact that the Lord's people, in general, have either lost sight of its
     mission, or they have ceased working as they should.