STUDY NUMBER FIVE, COVERED THE THE NUMBER ONE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH – TO WORSHIP GOD.
Study number six, covers the secondary purpose of the church.
THE CHURCH – ITS WORK
For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
The church at Thessalonica did the work of the Lord so thoroughly, that the apostles did not even need to evangelize Macedonia and Achaia. The church did what is was supposed to do – shared the Gospel with the lost.
Sharing the Gospel is the main work of the church.
THE CHURCH IS COMMISSIONED TO WORK
MATTHEW 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
THE CHURCH WORKS WITH CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
2 CORINTHIANS 6:1
We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
ACTS 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
THE CHURCH WORKS WITH CHRIST IN THE FIELD (THE WORLD)
MATTHEW 13:36-43
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
MARK 16:15
And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
THE NEED FOR THE CHURCH TO WORK IS GREAT
JOHN 4:35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
THE TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO WORK IS NOW
2 CORINTHIANS 6:2
(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
WE – THE CHURCH – ARE TO DO THIS WORK UNTIL THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST – WHEREIN HE WILL JUDGE THE WORK OF HIS SAINTS
2 CORINTHIANS 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
THE CHURCH WILL BE REWARDED FOR ITS WORK
1 CORINTHIANS 3:9-15
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The purpose of the church does not consist of self esteem programs, positive thinking and health and wealth. The purpose of the church is simple:
Come and worship, and go and work.
ACTS 8:1-4
8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The Vine Vigil 