Lessons on The Church - Day 3

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by Ralph Price, June 2000

THE CHURCH IN PRACTICE.

The church of Christ basically has a three-fold mission today.

1. Evangelism.
   1. We must evangelize to obey the commands of God (Mt. 28:19-20).
      1. This command is no less important than any other command in the Bible.
      2. So, by trying to convert others, we are also saving ourselves (Eze. 3:18-21).
   2. We should teach others in order to glorify God.
      1. This was Paul’s motivation (2 Cor. 4:15).
      2. This was Peter’s motivation (1 Pet. 2:12).
      3. This should be our motivation as well (Mt. 5:14-16).
   3. We should teach others because we love all men and desire them to be saved.
      1. Notice Paul’s example (Rom. 9:3; 10:1; 1 Cor. 9:16; Phil. 3:17).
      2. Notice Christ’s example (Lk. 19:10; Phil. 2:5-8).
      3. We can’t love God without loving our fellow man (1 Jn. 4:20-21).
   4. We should teach others because outside of Christ there is no hope (Jn. 14:6; Eph. 2:12).
   5. We should teach others because, if we don’t, someone else will.
   6. This does not mean that we should result to gimmicks to draw people. The Gospel should be the drawing power (Jn. 12:32).
      
2. Edification.
   1. Christians should edify, or encourage and strengthen, other Christians.
   2. Hebrews 10:24-25.
      1. We should provoke one another to good works.
      2. We should exhort one another by attending worship regularly.
   3. We are to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).
   4. We are to comfort one another (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
   5. We should seek to edify one another even if it impinges on our rights (Rom. 14:19; 15:1-2).
      
3. Benevolence.
   1. The church is to render aid to those who are unable to provide for themselves.
      1. James 1:27. The fatherless and widows.
      2. We are to good unto all men (Gal. 6:10).
   2. If we don’t help those who are in need, we do not have Scriptural faith (James 2:14-17).
   3. We are to love all men. Godly love is active and not in word only (1 Jn. 3:16-18). What if God’s love had been in word only???