Have you ever been somewhere and wondered, what is the point? Maybe you’ve been to a kindergarten graduation – ok, what’s the point?Or you’ve been at a wedding for a couple that just met – what’s the point? It’s what we think when we see decorative wrapping paper on a present for a two-year-old – it’s what I think when I see decaf coffee or celery – what’s the point?
Ever do that with church? Why all the services? Why all the programs and missions? Why all the lessons, kids crafts and snacks, why all the donuts and coffee?
Here’s why this is important for us: We evaluate church based on what we think is the point of church.
If you think the point of church is fix your problems, you’ll evaluate church based on if your life is better.
If your marriage is still difficult or your kids are still a mess, then you probably think it’s a waste of time.
If you think the point of church is to feel close to God, you tend to evaluate church based on how it felt. But what if you didn’t like the songs? Or the message was something you’d heard before? You tend to think it was a bad experience.
What about honoring God? That seems like a good way to judge a church. We sing, we read scripture, we take communion. If that is the point you become the critic of what you think honors God. And if you didn’t like the song, or you were offended by something, you assume that God felt the same way.
While all of these can be byproducts of church, they aren’t the point of church.
Jesus tells us what the point is in his final words before he leaves this Earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus says, go and make other followers of me… baptize them… teach them what I told you… and then do it. Not just make converts – but make disciples. Not just be a disciple – but make disciples.
So the disciples head back to Jerusalem thinking about what Jesus has called them to do. What will they do? How will they do this? How is Jesus going to make all this happen?
The Holy Spirit shows up, and the disciples start talking about Jesus, and suddenly this group of about 120 believers turn into over 3000. And the church begins. Here’s what that looked like…
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
There are three things that the first church did:
- They met in a large group.
They would meet together in the temple courts where they used to attend as Jews. And now as Christians, they continued to meet there. But don’t miss who they are around – non-Christians. They are worship Jesus, talking about his resurrection, all in the presence of unbelievers. - They met in small groups.
They also met in homes where they experienced rich community. They would eat together, discuss the Apostle’s teachings, take care of each other’s financial needs, and even watched football together. (Trust me, it’s implied!) - They served in the community.
They would rescue orphans, they would serve the poor, and they would even take care of the sick and dying. They were the first welfare system, the first hospitals, the first orphanage, and the first hospice.
And as these things are working together… “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved…”
Don’t miss this: The church was Jesus’ way to fulfill the Great Commission!
The point of church is to make Jesus’ last words a reality.
So with that in mind, how SHOULD we evaluate church? Next week we’ll talk about 3 questions most of us overlook.