Sabbath: The Church: In Service to Humanity
Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Pet. 2:9; Matt. 28:19-20; John 17:21-22; Acts 15:1-29.
Memory Text: “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-15, NKJV).
Key Thought: “We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard.” – Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 2, p. 396.
For many, church isn’t what it used to be (whatever that was). Some people are even talking about “a churchless Christianity,” a concept that is self-contradictory. Others rail against “organized religion” (what is better, “disorganized religion”?). The Bible teaches, clearly, about the importance of the church. It’s not an option; it’s a crucial component in the plan of salvation. No wonder, then, that as the great controversy unfolds, Satan works so hard against it, especially because the church is one important means by which sinners are brought into contact with God’s offer of salvation. The church, wrote Paul, was “the house of God,” even “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15, NKJV). The church is not a human invention; it is was created by God for the purposes of bringing erring sinners into a saving relationship with Him.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 24.
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The church is were God meets with sinners.
The church is God's invention.
The church (a Christians heart) must be ready to be in service to humanity. It is no longer I living (Gal 2:20) but Christ.
the church is a place of healing and fellowship.In these last days we need to be where our brothers and sisters meet.In church.
to me the church is a hospital, where sick people are thought how to make their lives better.if you are sick and you went to a named hospital and you are in that hospital for a long time and you are the same , then its time to find another one. But if you are getting better than you once was, then its time to publish and to recommend the doctor which is God and the hospital which is the church to everyone you can. God bless .
I am so happy we have such a lesson.It's my prayers that those who God used to organize churches in various places will come to know and understand that the church is not their personal property that they have to controlled and be life time elders or church officers.The church is our heart and how we portray the God we have come to know so we should not lord over it.
Amen! I pray that this week lesson will wake us up to the true reallity of GOD's chosen people the church.
It is not about us the church, how we can out do each other, nor about measuring self against each other to satisfy self, nor is it about our own selfish motives and agendas. In doing so it blinds us of our true nature and hinder GOD from dealing with our sin problems.
Therefore it is about GOD's plan for His church (us His bride) to get rid of the sins in our sick soul and adore us with His character prepared for His kingdom.
Let's measure ourself against GOD so we will see our unworthyness and the need of Him. Pray for help to rid ourself of me, myself and I so CHRIST can lives in our soul to be a witness to the world.
Let's come to church to meet with GOD, to hear from Him His instructions, His directions, admonitions, assurance and affirmation, unitedly praising his name, that is the will of GOD.
Be bless
Paul speaking on the same topic to the Hebrews had this to say, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
The church is God's dwelling place whether in the heart or a synagogue. It was designed by God himself to heal his creation.
I agree in totality that church is a place purposely set aside for discret and distinct use and that is purely for like minded people of common faith to come referently before the very presnece of God to render worship. Worship entails, reading bible, singing hymns of praise, meditation, praying, preaching, sharing. Church is not a place to come and meet friends not seen for week or two or its not a club to come to socialise.
However, the converse is true that church is becoming an ordinary place to catch up with friends, greet each other and say how is the week been for you and tell worldly stories, eat, play contemporary music, etc. Church is not revered as a dwelling place for God and we being God's redeemed people through the merit of the blood of Jesus Christ, it is a place we put aside cares of life and humbly come before His very presence to adore, exult, praise, uplift, hobour and pay homage to His Highness.
During a church dedication time, a Pastor once said, " In the church, the noticeable noises are, noise from prayer, noise from singing, noise from discussion of God's business, noise from preaching, noise from flipping pages of bible and hymnal and these are only distinct noises found in the church and other than the above, other noises are mere noises and should not be tolerated. In other words, God is a holy God we come to have an ordiance with Him in the church and in all strickness, maintain its saintity.
Above is in terms of the physical structure of the church but the same principle applies to the members of the community of belivers. For we are called for a distinct purpose. As the members of the body of Christ, we congregate to share one commonality and that is Jesus that is known to us. As we converge to the church, we are drawing nearer to God to behold and be empowered to advance the course of the gospel because we were called out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim the praises to Him 1 Peter 2.9.
As a church we are the body and Jesus is the head. We are a collective noun, we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. We are God's possession particularly acquired and owned by God.
As we grow in Christ, this week's lesson gives us an opportunity to see how Christ manifests in the Church and how we can have the same for our strength and above all in preparation to receive eternal life. When we perform the various tasks in the church we are representing the church [Christ, what He would have done if He was the one in your state], But we should take care not to be over ridden by pride as Lucifer was and think that however good we are God's work won't continue, we are to be prayerful always and in all situations.