Why Church?

LISTEN TO THESE THREE  BIG  MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE CHURCH

1st  CHURCH IS A BUILDING WHERE  PEOPLE GO TO BE JUDGED
2nd CHURCH IS FOR WEAK MINDED PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO
3rd CHURCH IS JUST A OLD TRADITION MADE UP BY A PERSON FOR A SENSE OF BELONGING

----WELL LET'S CLEAR UP SOME OF THESE MISGUIDED THEORIES ABOUT THE CHURCH AND IT’S PURPOSE

WHY CHURCH ?

- WE ARE IN THE YEAR 2012 AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CHURCH STILL HAS AN IMMOVABLE PLACE IN SOCIETY

- THE CHURCH IS SO ESSENTIAL THAT IT EVEN AFFECTS NON-BELIEVERS AND OR PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T EVEN LIKE IT!

- THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE FORGET AND DISREGARD, DEVALUE OR JUST DON'T REALIZE THE POWER THE CHURCH HAS TO TRANSFORM LIFE ITSELF.

HOW MANY OF YOU CAN SAY BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH YOUR LIFE HAS CHANGED?

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
[37] Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1 Corinthians 13:2-7 (NIV)
If I speak in the tongues  of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,  but do not have love, I gain nothing. [4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

A - AS THE CHURCH WE ARE DESIGNED TO EXEMPLIFY THESE CHARACTERISTICS.

B - IT IS NOT THE CHURCHES JOB TO JUDGE, TO CAST AWAY, OR TO DESTROY BUT TO LOVE PEOPLE.

C - WE ARE HERE AS A LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF WHAT TRUE LOVE IS ALL ABOUT.

D - IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER YOUR NUMBER ONE CHARACTERISTIC SHOULD BE LOVE!.

5 WAYS JESUS LOVED
1.) He died for us --so  you sacrifice something
2.) He did not judge us but forgave us --- you stop judging
3.) He had mercy on us.  ---- you show mercy
4.) He brings healing when we are sick --- so you be the antidote
5.) He is coming back for us ---- you go back and get someone

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THE CHURCH IS LOVE

Acts 2:42;
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Mark 12:31
Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.                                                                                                                                                                             

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins - 1 Peter 4:8