Church is a Big Deal

Bible Reading:  Matthew 16:13-28

Key Verse: Verse 18  - “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Key Words: I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against   

        it

So what’s the big deal about church anyway?  Really now, haven’t you wondered at times if the church is really that significant in a day of high level technology and powerful international issues?  How could a congregation of folks carry much clout in our modern era of transcontinental missiles, mind-boggling scientific discoveries, space exploration, and impressive educational advancements?  It’s easy to be a little cynical when you compare the importance of a brilliant body of sharp minds wrestling over decisions that could impact a contingent of people, with a few dozen people in some white clapboard building singing, “In the sweet by and by.”

Yet, unless you’ve recently cut Matthew 16:18 out of your Bible, it still says the same thing. Jesus said (Matthew 16:18b), “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Now chew on that for a second, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Let me give you five reasons the church is of supreme importance.

1. The church is the only institution dealing with “ultimate” issues: death, purpose, heaven, hell, lasting priorities, wholeness of body and spirit.
2. The church provides perspective that gives dignity to mankind.  We live in a day in which man is being used to further someone else’s goals (by cooperation, etc.).  To the church man is not a means to an end but the purpose of our goal.
3. The church provides moral and ethical direction.  Our society has rejected absolutes which produces confusion – not the church, we absolutely believe that Jesus is life and the reason for life.
4. The church is the only place to find healing, compassion and love. In the church people care about you, not what you have but what you need.
5. The church (like no other institution) has provided motivation for the most lasting, unselfish, essential, courageous ministries on earth: schools, hospitals, missions, etc.

No matter how it may appear to others, if the church is something God has chosen and God is pleased to use, IT IS A BIG DEAL!

 See you in church on Sunday and, as always, thanks for reading.

What to do:

✞Understand the role and importance of the church. You get this understanding not from man but God.