By Steve Murrell
[Paper copies of this booklet are available at church too]
The Church - New Relationships
"Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter; and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" Matthew 16:16-18
Through a revelation of the Holy Spirit. Peter confessed the true identity of Jesus. the Son of God. Jesus said this truth would be the foundation stone that His church would be built on. He also described the type of church He would build. a victorious church that would overcome the kingdom of dark ness. Jesus and Paul used the word "church" in reference to the people of God. Church never referred to a religious building. Following are four benefits of being part of a local church.
Friendship
Real friends. Everyone needs them. Few find them. The best place to look for a real friend is in the church, the people of God. True friends are those who have our best interest in mind. They stick with us through thick and thin. Real friends never lead us away from God. Instead, they provoke us to godliness.
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" Proverbs 17:17
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
Fellowship
If a piece of burning coal is removed from the fire, it will cool off. If it is put back in the middle of a pile of red-hot coals, it will burn again. The same is true of Christians. If a Christian is removed from fellowship with other red-hot Christians, he will cool off spiritually. If a Christian stays in fellowship, he will stay on fire for God.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer .... 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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" Acts 2:42,44-46
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14
Worship
God is looking for sincere worshipers. Worship is simply the expression of our love, devotion, and commitment to God.
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24
Discipleship
The last command Jesus gave His followers before He ascended to heaven was to go and make disciples, to baptize these disciples, and to teach them how to obey God's Word. Therefore, we should first be disciples or followers of Jesus, then we should teach others to follow Him.
"'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28: 19-20
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2
PERSONAL APPLICATION
• Are you being discipled, either one-to-one or in a small group setting?
• Are you making disciples? Who are you teaching to obey God's Word?
• Are you an active member of a local church?
• Name three Christians you can call for help in case of a spiritual emergency.
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