July 12th, 2000, Wednesday Evening

"Caring for the Church of Christ"
No--you're not caring for a building... but the people within

OPENING: 1 Corinthians 12:25, KJV

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• Psalm 139:14: Your body is a marvelous sculpture of God. It is what makes up the Church of Christ. Take that last sentence literally.
  
  
  • When people think of church they think of a building. Not true. The "church" is composed of those members in Christ (those saved). Thus those within the church building are the church members. Simply put, those in Christ are the church.
    
    
  • The church is designed so the members of the body (body of Christ of which we all are a part of) takes care of the body.
    
    
  • Tragedy comes when some members of the body don't care for other members of the body.
    
    
  • Do you care:
    
    
    • Of your church testimony?
    • How the community views your church?
    • How members of your church act?
    • The progression / prosperity / well-being of your church?
    
    
  • We are cleaning the church through the Word of God when all the members come together in one body in the church building.
    
    
  • 1 Corinthians 12:25: Who has God called for the welfare, protection, and well-being of the church? Not law enforcement. Not Government. God has called the members of.
    
    
  • EXAMPLE: The stomach is sometimes blamed for being too large or the stomach takes the rap for the pains coming from the intestine.
    
    
    • This is similar to us... just as we are criticized or suffer within the body, we mustn't quit working... just like the stomach. I'm glad my stomach won't quit working? Aren't you glad yours is?
    
    
  • In today's world is growing wickedness, people give up too easily in that the devil is just running around destroying everything in his path. This will only be the case if the church lays down its guard. God has given us power over the devil in some respects and the devil cannot overcome the church unless the church folds within itself.
    
    
  • We must also be concerned with other churches. But care for one's own church must come first.
    
    
  • CARE FOR WHAT--EXACTLY?
    
    
    • (1) Matthew 28:19-20: The mission effectiveness of your church in that you are tasked to take the gospel to the world.
      
      
      • This task isn't just for ordained and recognized pastors and preachers. If a 4 or 5 year old kindergartner can recognize, understand, interpret, and speak the Word of God, then he or she should... and this is for all church members to be able to learn and perform.
      
      
    • (2) Well-being of your church
      
      
    • (3) Sustaining your church operations: keeping the doors open to preach the Word that saves lives.
      
      
    • (4) Quality of worship
      
      
      • No bad spirits within church
      • No desires to find and expose the faults within others
      • Increase in the care and prayer for others
      • Seek forgiveness of our sins
      
      
    • (5) The church members themselves: for their growth, strength, and edification--that they're fed the Word.
      
      
    • (6) Evangelization
      
      
    • (7) Maintenance of the church
      
      
      • Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-2 then Corinthians 12:25
        
        
        • All members are of the same caliber--none superior or inferior.
        • We shouldn't abuse or mistreat our members, rather edify them.
        • We should sanctify and console our members; not be critical of them.
        • Most Christians today don't suffer for Christ's sake but rather for their own carelessness and negligence (i.e., car breaks down from mistreatment).
  
  CLOSER

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• So how should church members care for the body (saved members) of Christ?
  
  
  • Show an interest level; be concerned with church activities
  • Ask questions if an issue is not clear to you
  • Involvement: see where you can help. Church isn't a spectator sport.
  • Invest: give of yourself to make it happen.
    • Making a sacrifice is to give something to someone else that YOU WANT. If you don't want it but give, that's not a sacrifice.
  
  
• If you really care about something... you'll invest in it--no matter the cost.