The church: the gathering of God’s people.
The church is the most powerful and significant human family on earth, but many people have not understood the church yet. Let us work with Jesus to gather more people for God.
Text: Exodus 19:3-6; Acts 2:44-47; Matthew 16:18;
In both the Old and New Testaments, the church is the gathering of God’s people. God gathers them through the preaching of the gospel (Acts 2:41;47). It is Christ who builds His church (Matthew 16: 8). The local church is a manifestation of God’s people in that area (e.g., see Rev 2-3). Noah and the Ark were God's mission to save His people (the church) in ancient times (Genesis 6:9-22).
How to join the church?
Confession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God (Matt 16:16-18; Rom 10:9-10); the church is the body of Christ, where the saints are baptised into ( Rom 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:38-41). God's blessings are experienced through the church: the church puts God’s blessings on people (Num 6:22-27); preaches the gospel ( Matt 28:19-20; Eph 3:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). It is a sacred place of refuge and comfort when all is lost; a sacred place of learning, discovering, nurturing, healing, and becoming like Jesus Christ (Imago Dei)
What keeps God’s people together is love (John 15:12-17). Love is healing, love is strength, love is freedom!
Love for one another and for God binds the church together (John 15:12-17). When you see yourself fighting the church, or a member, or Christ, know that you are in danger (Matt 18:6). The wicked shall not dwell in the assembly of the righteous (Psalm 1:5-6; Acts 8:9-25).
The protection of the church
The angel of the Lord guards and surrounds the people of God (Psa. 34:7); Fire comes down from heaven to consume the enemies of the church (Rev 20:9); the gates of Hades shall not overcome the church (Matt.16:18).
The gathering of God’s people must be holy (Exo. 19:10-11; Deut 23:9-14, Matt 22:12-17).
THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH: is made up of all of God’s people from the first day to the last day, of human existence on earth; and when the roll is called, would your name be there (Heb. 12:22-29). When you stop attending church, you remove yourself from the people of God (Heb. 10:23-25).