05/08/24 WE NEED BIBLICAL CHURCHES

05/08/24 WE NEED BIBLICAL CHURCHES

The idea of "local church" is not a human invention (though it is often corrupted by human intentions).

The "local church" is God's idea.
God revealed the purpose (local and global), order (organization, discipline, authority), and accountability of the local church in His word.
The local church is God's plan to evangelize, teach, equip, perfect, serve.
Those who relegate the local church to a club or pastime or obligation are demeaning God, His word, His work, and they are crippling themselves, robbing other believers and damning the unsaved.

God designed, establishes, calls, organizes, directs, equips, staffs, gifts, judges, sends and empowers the local church to be His corporate presence in this world.

We need to be attached to (part of) a Biblically sound, Christ following, Spirit led local body of believers.

Each Christian should be more dedicated to the local body of believers than they are to any human organization (military, occupational, fraternal, academic, philosophical, political).

Christians are to be committed to, and answerable to the local church.
Christians are to be in mission with their local church.
Christians are to incorporate new believers into a loving, nurturing relationship with their local church.