Let's Talk about “Church”

Scripture: Isaiah 1:16-20

C.I.: A Conversation with God about His Church

Having a good relationship with God – is just like every other good relationship, - it requires communication!
“Prayer” is us talking to God, - the Bible is Him talking to us. – Today we will have “A Conversation w/God….”

I. A “1 st Century Church” or a “21 st Century Church” ? Which??!

A. Can We Trust What God has to Say?

1. I have asked God to join us today. – But I haven't seen Him yet?
a. ( Jn. 4:24 ), “God is spirit.” – Okay, so we can't see you. But are you really here?

b. I guess what I am asking for is some sort of sign. Just so I can be sure.
1) ( Psa. 19:1 ), “The heavens are telling the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work….”
2) Could I have just a little sign – just for me? - ( Matt. 12:39 ), “An evil and adulterous generation
craves for a sign.” – Sorry, didn't mean to upset You.
3) But can't you give me something? – ( Jn. 20:30-31 ), “Many other signs therefore did Jesus….”
4) I get it. Your physical creation is a sign for everyone. And your word is a sign for those who
want to come to know you personally, right?! ( Rom. 1:20 ), “For since the creation of the world...
5) And through your word – we develop a personal relationship? - ( Jn. 8:30-31 ), “If you abide in
My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth….” – GOT IT!!

2. Let me then get to what I wanted to really focus in on today. Church!
a. There are a lot of churches today. – Is one just as good as another?
1) ( Matt. 16:18 ), “I am going to build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
2) Your church? – But all of the churches claim to be “Your church.” What's the difference? –
( Matt. 7:21-23 ), “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven...”
3) Okay, so if it's not just about what we say – then it must be about what we do, right? – ( Titus
3:5 ), “He saved us, but not on the basis of deeds done in righteousness.”
4) Okay, now I'm confused. If being pleasing to You is not based on what we say, and not on
the basis of what we do – then how exactly does someone please you? – ( Heb. 11:6 ), “Without
faith it is impossible to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He is, and that He is….”

b. Faith? – But isn't “faith” just believing in Jesus and doing good?
1) ( Jms. 2:19 ), “You believe that God is one. You do well, the demons also believe & shudder.”
2) “Faith” requires believing but since the demons believe – it is more than just believing, right?
3) ( Pro. 3:5 ), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean upon your own understanding.”
4) Okay, faith is believing but also trusting. How do we show our “trust”? – ( Heb. 11:8 ), “By
faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive for….”
5) Wait a minute I thought You said - nothing we could do would save us. – ( Matt. 7:21; Heb.
5:9 ), “…he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” – “Jesus is the author of eternal
salvation to all those who obey Him.”
6) Let me see if I've got this now. – We are saved by “faith.” – But faith is more than just belief
(since demons believe), and it is not about works we do – but there are things we need to do if
we are going to be saved, right? – ( Jn. 3:36 ), “Everyone who believes… but he who does not
obey….” – Okay, so your people trust you & obey your will (the best that they can )– and these
are then the ones who are please you. GOT IT!!

3. Now getting back to “church” – Your church began in 1 st Century – but we live the 21 st Century!
a. ( Heb. 13:8 ), “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever.”
1) Fine! You are the same – but the times are different; cars, planes computers, telephones. –
How can we know 21 centuries later how to please You? – ( Matt. 24:35 ), “Heaven & earth….”
2) Okay, You & your word haven't changed – but people have! - ( Jn. 2:25 ), “…He did not need
anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself knew what was in man.”
3) Okay, I get it. – Times change but mankind (with all our issues/problems) remains the same!

b. But we have made many changes. – We have electricity now instead of candles – air conditioning
instead of hand-held fans. – Shouldn't our worship reflect these changes?
1) ( Jn. 4:23 ), “An hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in…”
2) What is spirit & truth? - ( Jn. 13:21; 17:17 ), “Jesus became troubled in spirit and testified, saying,
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'” - “Sanctify them in truth, Your word is truth.”
3) So “true worshipers” make sure that not only what we do on the outside – is according to your
word – but also our “spirit” (heart/emotions/thoughts) – are also in keeping with your word.
4) What about up-dating some of our methods, i.e., electric organs, guitars, etc.? – ( Eph. 5:19 ),
“Speaking to one another in songs….” – ( Heb. 13:15 ), “…continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to
God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”
5) Are church buildings out, too? – ( Acts 12:12; 16:13 ), “Peter went to the house of Mary…” –
“Paul went outside the gate to a riverside….”
6) Now if I understand You correctly – what You are saying is that You and Your will for man
haven't changed. – And mankind hasn't changed. – So… as long as we don't change Your
commands or add anything to your word – our worship will be pleasing to You! ( I Cor. 4:6 )!

c. So how come there are so many different religious groups all doing different things?
1) ( I Jn. 4:1 ), “Many false prophets have gone out into the world.” – False prophets? That
sounds so old timey. – What do they do? ( II Pt. 2:1-3 ), “False prophets arose among
the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive....”
2) But what harm can come from listening to them? - ( I Tim. 4:1 ), “The Spirit explicitly says….”
3) How can we avoid falling away? – ( I Jn. 4:5-6 ), “They are from the world; they speak as
from the world, and the world listens to them. – The apostles are from God….”
4) “Speak as from the world”? What does that mean? – ( I Jn. 2:15-17 ), “Do not love the world….”
5) So, once again it comes back to doing Your will, right? ( Jn. 14:15 ), “If you love Me….”

4. What are some other things You want me to know about Your church?
a. ( Eph. 1:3 ), “…have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
1) What are some of these “spiritual blessings” You have given to us? – ( Eph. 1:4, 5, 7, 12 ).
2) Inheritance ? What inheritance? ( I Pt. 1:4 ), “…an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled…”

b. Anything else I need to know about your church? – ( Eph. 1:22-23 ), “He put all things into subjection
under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body….”
1) Body? That's kind of a strange illustration for God's people. Why use it? - ( Eph. 5:31-32 ),
“For this cause a man shall leave….” – Oh, so like humans express love towards their spouse,
Christ's spiritual body, i.e., His church, expresses its love towards Him!
2) So, if we are part of Your church, the body, then we receive all spiritual blessings here - we
are able to give you all our love, and then when we die we go to heaven to be with you for all
eternity?! - WOW! Who wouldn't want that?!

c. I have one last question, what must we do to be saved?! ( Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Rom. 10:9; I Pt. 3:21 )
1) I know I said that was my last question – but just one more; is baptism really all that
important? – ( Acts 2:41, 47 ). - So baptism is the point at which I am added to the church!!
2) But why baptism? - ( Rom. 6:3-4 ). – So baptism is a spiritual joining of my life to Christ.
3) One last question – is being a part of Your church all that important? – ( Eph. 4:4; 5:23 )!!!

d. God really does want to have a relationship with us… with you!