What’s The Value of Your Local Church of Christ?

I.Introduction.

A.I ran across a statement by Dick Halverson, chaplain of the United States Senate, that is eminently apropos: "In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise." [Quoted in E. Glenn Wagner, PhD, The Awesome Power of Shared Beliefs, 1995]

B.Though the above refers largely to apostate, error-ridden or denominational church(es), the end point is valid.

C.For too many people and for too many reasons church, especially the Lord’s church holds no value.

D.America was once a very moral, religious nation.

E.There was great merit to be seen in attending to spiritual things.

F.Sadly, that is not the case anymore.

G.What value is there in the church?

H.Can we see any worth in what it is and what it stands for?

I.Consider some aspects of the church of Christ and decide for yourself.

II.It Was Born From The Greatest Sacrifice.

A.Jesus is referred to as not only God’s Son, but God Himself

1.Matthew 3:17 NKJV 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

2.John 1:1 NKJV 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

3.1 John 5:20 NKJV 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

B.Leaving glory unimaginable, Jesus came to earth with a simple mission.

1.Philippians 2:6-8 NKJV 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

2.That one death has had more significance for humankind than any other.

a)Romans 5:6-10 NKJV 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

3.There was no other price for sin that could have been paid, which would have equaled the excellence of Jesus’.

a)1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

C.As people recognized that sacrifice, they identified with it in a most beautiful, symbolic way.

1.Acts 2:38-41 NKJV 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

2.Acts 2:46-47 NKJV 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

3.Romans 6:3-4 NKJV 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

III.It Has The Greatest King

A.People love to brag on their country and the way they are governed.

1.Yet, no matter how great that country, its authority is always limited.

B.Because the church was founded on the greatest sacrifice, the greatest authority rules it.

1.Matthew 28:18 NKJV 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

2.For that reason, he is its King

a)Colossians 1:18 NKJV 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

C.He rules by instructing with His word.

1.John 12:48 NKJV 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

2.Yet, more than simply a legal code of do’s & don’ts, His word is gracious and helps us to live so we might have hope.

a)Titus 2:11-14 NKJV 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

D.As people recognize Jesus’ authority, they change to live according to His word.

IV.It Performs The Greatest Work

A.The purpose of the church is very simple:

1.1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

a)The church exists to praise and honor God by showing the reality of a spiritual life before men.

B.We have a responsibility to show the wisdom of God’s purpose.

1.To our fellow men:

a)Matthew 5:16 NKJV 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

2.To spiritual beings:

a)Ephesians 3:9-10 NKJV 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

b)1 Peter 1:10-12 NKJV 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

C.The church accomplishes this as it goes about its work of:

1.Evangelizing the lost

a)1 Timothy 3:15 NKJV 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

b)1 Thess 1:8 1 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

2.Edifying the saved

a)Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

b)Romans 14:19 NKJV 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

3.This is the divine pattern for the church’s work, though some may think they have a better idea.

a)Illustration: The >User-Friendly’ Church

D.People respect the pattern of work and worship and abide by it.

V.If You Haven’t Figured It Out, PEOPLE Are The Value Of The Church!

A.Jesus died for people, so people could be saved, so people could live right, so people could show God’s wisdom and purpose by preaching the gospel and encouraging other saved people!

1.Not people that are great in and of themselves, but rather, everyday, ordinary people of faith doing extraordinary, valuable things for God!

a)2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NKJV 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

B.It is that kind of people who see the value in being a member of the church.

1.Hebrews 10:23-25 NKJV 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

2.Porter, Okla.‑‑Mrs. Ella Craig, 81, has not missed Sunday school attendance in 1040 Sundays, a perfect record for so many years. What's the matter with Mrs. Craig?

a)Doesn't she ever have company to keep her away from church?

b)Doesn't she ever have headaches, colds, nervous spells, tired feelings, and sudden calls out of town, business trips, Sunday picnics or trouble of any kind?

c)Doesn't she have any friends at all‑‑friends who invite her to a week‑end trip to the seashore or the mountains?

d)Doesn't she ever sleep late on Sunday mornings?

e)Doesn't it ever rain or snow, or get too hot or cold on Sunday morning?

f)Doesn't she ever get her feelings hurt by someone in the church?

g)Doesn't she ever get mad at the preacher or the Sunday school teacher, or some member?

h)Doesn't she have a radio or television so she can stay home and listen to "some mighty good sermons" from out of town?

3.What's the matter with Mrs. Craig?

4.What is the matter with Mrs. Craig? I'll tell you. She has old time religion down deep in her heart and she loves to worship God. Then too, she undoubtedly knows the meaning of the value of Hebrews 10:25! (From Stories for Preachers and Teachers)

VI.Conclusion

A.Can you see the value of the church? Can you see the value in you?

B.Jesus did and His life, death, & resurrection make it possible for YOU to be a valuable member of the most valuable body of people ever.