Groups exist for various reasons ranging from camaraderie to common interests,   promoting ideas and agendas for some purpose with a view many times to increasing the membership of the group so more can enjoy the benefits of whatever the group offers. The idea being that the greater the size of the group, the greater will be the likely hood that the influence of the group will multiply. Such reasons are found in the Lord’s body, the church, and were taught by Jesus and the apostles.

During his ministry he told his followers as found in Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. At this point Jesus was speaking to individuals, telling them of the benefits of seeking God and following the teachings. Later, as he prepared to leave his followers after His resurrection from the grave, we find in Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  Now the group of followers is told to deliver His message to all who will hear; that message being the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.

On the first Pentecost after His ascension into heaven Peter preached the gospel message and thus the early church came into being. Peter told the listeners the following:  [Acts 2:38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [Acts 2:39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [Acts 2:40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [Acts 2:41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. In these verses we can see the ideas expressed in the opening paragraph. The preaching continued and then in Acts 2:46-47, the chapter concludes with, And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Preaching, fellowship, and rejoicing in the new found benefit of salvation caused the size of the group to increase.

Without a doubt the purpose of the church is to spread the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The people of the early church spread the good news daily and the church grew in number. Interestingly, the scriptures don’t reveal the mechanics of spreading the news; we are only taught to preach and teach the gospel but there is a behavior for doing so. That behavior is called good works as opposed to the unfruitful works of darkness behavior. [Eph 5:11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  In Galatians 6:9-10 more instruction is given, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Do good to all men is one of the works of the body of Christ.

Simply put, the church is a group of people which enjoys the benefits of salvation, the association with like minded believers, and ones who dedicate their lives to helping others rather than living selfishly for self called the unfruitful works of darkness. When the purpose of the church is emphasized daily, the numbers will increase as it did in the first century. There weren’t any fancy church houses or other types of ministries with highly paid preachers and slogans. No, the simple gospel message that rids sin from the lives of the lost was the message and it is the same message for today, salvation in Jesus Christ. Preach the gospel and increase the number of the saved which increases the size of the church and brings bountiful benefits to all. That is the purpose of the church.

© 1-07-2006 DEC

               Next Lesson The Existence of Jesus