The Church Part III

Again my dear friends what an opportunity for me to brag on the Lord, last night was an excellent service in the house of God. What would this world be like without the ability of a preacher to meet with the people in the church house and hear the Word of God? I shudder at the thought of it as I read through the book of Revelation and the end times. Now we shall continue on today with some points of the responsibilities of the church as a whole to fulfill until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. All this of course I encourage you to go back and look in your bibles and read.

1. The church is to edify the believers (1 Cor 14:26; Eph 4:11,12,16)
2. The church is to discipline its members (Mt 18:17; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:1-13)
   this of course in no way substitutes for the command of self-discipline (1 Cor 11:31), and
   sovereign discipline (1 Cor 11:32) if we were to follow in these examples then the role of
   church discipline would not be needed.
3. The church is to provide a place for fellowship for believers (Acts 2:42,47; 1 Cor 1:9,10; 2 Cor 8:4)
   There are also certain things to be aware of as the church concerning fellowship some to
   be reminded of are:
   a. The reason for fellowship-The Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn 1:3)
   b. The dangers of loosing fellowship- Sin (1 Cor 10:16,21)
   c. The responsibilities of fellowship:
   i. To confess our faults
   ii. To rebuke sin in each other (not to destroy, but to restore)
   iii. To forgive one another
   iv. To bear one anothers burdens
   v. To comfort and exhort one another
   vi. To pray for one another
   vii. To edify one another
4. The church is to care for its own in the time of need (2 Cor 8,9; 1 Tim 5:1-16)
5. The church is to be an enlightening and restraining in this present age (Mt 5:13-16)

Friend I hope this study has been as much a delight for you as this has for me. I encourage you to look at the bible and study out what has been presented and see if you are lining up with scripture. My desire is to see you in fellowship in all services that are offered in the church house and find yourself serving instead of sitting. As the bible states in 1st Corinthians we are all many members of one body, not all can be the body. Strive to examine yourself and get things right with the Lord, then ask Him to place you where you are needed and can be used of Him.