What is the Purpose of the Church?

The “Church” is “Relational” in purpose and function.

Church = body of Christ (which transfers down to each local assembly of believers gathering in His name)  What is expected, by definition, of the Church is transferrable to each and every local assembly.

Another way of saying it is “the way it is supposed to work is why it exists” which also means that if a local assembly is not functioning as it should, then it needs to correct itself or should consider disbanding (since it’s members might have a better chance of learning balanced ministry and a balanced personal walk elsewhere)

after all , each member’s life should reflect the life of the Church.

and, the life of the Church reflects the life of it’s members.

It’s like saying “I have a strong chain with weak links” or “My brick wall is very hard except where the soft bricks are in the middle” !

(the two are interdependent)

I am starting off with some pretty strong statements, but there is good cause for this:

The Church is comprised of it’s members (like the body described in 1 Cor 12 by Paul) and the health of the Church is determined by the health of it’s members, every single one of them. So it is of vital importance that the local assembly function importantly so that it’s members learn to function and live the same way …

healthy and balanced by the Word of GOD.

 

The purpose of the church (a balanced church) can be broken up into three E’s—

• evangelization of the unbeliever
• edification of the believer
• exaltation of God

There needs to be a balance between all three areas.

For example:

An assembly placing all of its emphasis on evangelization, becomes a body of immature believers because there isn’t the edification of believers.

An assembly with all of its emphasis on edification of the saints, quickly becomes a stagnant, lukewarm group, since it is the new believers bringing enthusiasm and life into the church.

An assembly that focuses all of its energy on the exhaltation (worship) of God will become a shallow assembly and suceptable to false teachers.

We need to ask God for his direction and be submissive to the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) to find the correct balance for each group of believers.

Let’s look at the three “E”s.

evangelization of non-believers

edification (and disciple) of believers

exhaltation of God

 

Evangelization

• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 16:15
• Romans 10:14-15

Edification

growth and spiritual edification.

• Acts 20:32
• Ephesians 4:11-16
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17

spiritual fellowship.

• Hebrews 10:22-25
• 1 John 1:3, 6-7

proclaim divine truth and protect it.

• 1 Timothy 3:15
• Titus 2:1, 15

strong spiritual leadership development and maturity.

• 2 Timothy 2:2

Exhaltation God

The church is where believers gather to worship God.

• Ephesians 1:12
• 1 Peter 2:9
• Revelation 5:12

The church is purchased with His own blood.

• Acts 20:28
• Ephesians 5:25
• Colossians 1:20
• Revelation 1:5

The church is to learn and obey God’s word.

• James 1:22
• Psalm 119:11

in summary, every local assembly may have it’s own flavor or “leaning” a little more into one area of these three than the others, but …

all three must be present and active, alive

(and are mandated by scripture by definition of “the Church”). The very word balance implies two or more things working weight or priority against ow with one another. every assembly is called to balance these three E’s.

Evangelization of unbelievers

Edification of believers

Exhaltation of God
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εν διακονια τω θεω, Dave Cadieux