Organized Religion
A. FADS AND TRENDS AFFECT THE RELIGIOUS AND THE CHURCH.
B. TENDANCY TO EMPHASIZE INDIVIDUAL INVOLVEMENT ONLY. LIBERTARIAN.
1. Don William lyric in “I Believe In You:”
“I don’t believe that heaven waits
For only those who congregate.
2. Surveys say that people are forsaking organized religion
(churches with their worship and programs of work) for personal spirituality.
3. The purpose of the churches is to serve the temporal needs of the individual and not
connected with evangelistic work. Worship becomes a program or show to gratify
those who come. The work of the church becomes social or political.
4. Other activities , like rodeo or motorcycles, take the place of Sunday am worship.
B. LET’S SEE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ALL THIS.
A. PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH.
1. Sunday is a day off – Lazy!
2. Not interested in the obligations of membership – don’t want to be involved. $$$
3. They won’t be held accountable for their lifestyle or behavior.
a. Others in the church are responsible (Heb. 13:17; 10:24-25; 3:12-13;
2 Pet. 2:9-10). “Nobody’s gonna tell me what to do!”
b. They serve a different Lord (Matt. 6:24; 1 John 2:15).
4. But they will be held accountable (John 12:48; 2 Cor. 5:10).
B. WHAT DO PEOPLE SEE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION.
1. Form with no substance (Matt. 15:7-9). No heart in the liturgy.
2. Lives inconsistent with teachings (Rom. 2:1-2, 21-24).
3. Teaching inconsistent with the Bible (2 Tim. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:21).
4. It’s all about money! (1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).
5. They don’t stand for anything (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
A. A PART OF GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE( Eph. 3:10-11 ). NOT MAN’S INVENTION!
B. Heb. 8:1-5. THE TRUE TABERNACLE( vs. 5; 1 Cor. 3:9-11 ).
C. PROMISED BY JESUS( Matt. 16:18 ).
D. BROUGHT ABOUT BY HIS DEATH( Acts. 20:28 ).
E. AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-28).
A. EKKLESIA, "TO CALL OUT."
1. By the gospel( 2 Thes. 2:14 ). To what?( vs.13; Rom.1:16 ).
2. Called from what into what?( 1 Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13-14 ).
3. Called to be saints( 1 Cor. 1:2, 9 ).
B. THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM( Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4 ).
C. THE CHURCH IS GOD'S FAMILY( 1 Tim. 3:15 ).
HIS CHILDREN ARE IN HIS FAMILY.
D. JESUS, A PRIEST OVER GOD'S HOUSE( Heb. 10:21 ). No priest?
E. BODY( Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23 ).
F. SAVED WITHOUT THAT WHICH IS IN THE CHURCH?
1. All spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
2. All divine choosing in Christ (vs. 4).
3. All sonship is in Christ (vs. 5).
4. God’s grace is in Christ (vs. 6).
5. Redemption & forgiveness are in Christ (vs. 7).
6. His will purposed in Christ (vs. 8-9).
7. All things summed up in Christ (vs. 10).
8. Christ is the fullness of all things divine (Col. 2:9).
9. The church is the fullness of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23).
A. GOD DISIGNED THE LOCAL CHURCH.
1. Inspired letters written to them.
2. Organized by God (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Phil. 1:1)
3. God’s expectation of you (Acts 9:26).
B. WE MUST DO OUR PART.
1. Like members of a body (Rom. 12:4-5).
2. We must do our part, according to our abilities (Eph. 4:16; 2 Cor. 8:11-12).
C. DO WE HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH? (Heb. 10:9-25).
A. ORGANIZED RELIGION, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
1. What we find distasteful and inconsistent in the religious world.
2. What God has given in his pattern (Heb. 8:5).
B. WHO DOES JESUS SAVE? (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23).
C. HOW DO I GET INTO THE CHURCH? (1 Cor. 12:13).
D. DOESN’T THAT ALSO PUT ME INTO CHRIST? (Gal. 3:26-27).