1 Corinthians 12:18-27; Ephesians 4:3-12
So Why Do I Need a Church (Part 2)?
Sunday Morning, November 14, 2021
“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:18–27).
Main Point: Through the Church, you can connect with Jesus Christ and other believers in a special way that you cannot find anywhere else.
There are five important reasons why you need a Church:
I. A relationship with Christ is easier in the church.
John 3:3-5 – “In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely, he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”
II. You have access to ministers and a Christian family in the church.
NLT Ephesians 4:11-12 – He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
III. You can discover life-changing spiritual truths in the church.
“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13–14).
IV. You can worship God better and find your ministry in the church.
NLT Ephesians 4:3-6 – Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit and bind yourselves together with peace. 4 We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. 5 There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.
V. You can share God’s love to other people in the church.
Challenge: Does the Lockhart family hold to similar beliefs as you? Do our goals and objectives resonate with you? Is God calling you to be a part of our church family?
Invitation: You can come forward this morning to talk to the Pastor. He is willing to pray with you or talk with you about how to become a member.