The Importance of The Lord’s Church | 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Scripture

• 1 Timothy 3:14–15

About this sermon

Introduction: To love the Lord Jesus is love what He loves. It is to be committed to all that He would have us be committed to. And if you love what Jesus loves, then you must love the local church. If you are committed to what He would have you be committed to, then you must be committed to the local church. He loved the church and gave Himself for her, and He has promised to build His church, and He has, and He is. Sadly, we have lived our lives in a time when there has often been a gross misunderstanding of the local church. We don’t know who we are, and we don’t know why we are here. And what is sad and amazing about that is that we have God inspired letters given to us for the very purpose that we would never find ourselves in that position. As the title of one book about elders is entitled, “When all else fails, read the directions.” Well, here in the word of God, and specifically, in the Pastoral Epistles, we have the directions. What do they teach us? THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH This is perhaps the first thing that we often forget — just how important the Lord’s church is. There is error on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to this issue. **There are those who treat the church as if it isn’t important to God, or to genuine Christianity. -Some place the church on the same level with any Christian teaching organization. -Some place the church on the same level with Christian television or radio -Some see the church as a tragic failure and abandon it altogether -Some give the church their time and their attendance as it fits into their schedule *If it doesn’t interfere with their work, or their pleasures *If it gives them what they see as value *If it can be fit into their retirement plans and travel plans **There are others who treat the church as important, but they don’t really understand why it is important. They see the church — not through the eyes of the New Testament — but through the eyes of their own ideas. They see the church as important, but not for the reasons they should, and what they really desire is not at all what the Lord intended His church to be. Indeed, it is a sad reality that with many professing Christians the more the church becomes what it was intended to be, the less they desire it. I. SEEN IN PAUL’S PASSION FOR THE CHURCH A. RECENTLY RELEASED FROM ROMAN IMPRISONMENT B. VISITING CITIES WHERE HE HAD MINISTERED, LEAVING TIMOTHY THERE TO SET CERTAIN THINGS IN ORDER C. HOPING TO COME TO THEM PERSONALLY IN A SHORT TIME D. GIVING THEM CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS UNTIL HE CAN BE PRESENT Why did Paul have such a passion for these assemblies? ESV Acts 15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. ESV Acts 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. ESV 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one-- I am talking like a madman-- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. He had a passion for these assemblies because He had a love for the church taught to Him by the Lord of the church. II. SEEN IN PAUL’S PATIENCE WITH THE CHURCH

Topics

• Church & Fellowship
• The Church