The Church
The Church
Every family has a history, complete with unique traditions and treasured stories. Some people spend a lot of time and resources on tracing their genealogies, with the hope of better understanding their past. It seems now the interest is more about predicting their future. Hoping that somewhere in their DNA and ancestral history there are secrets hidden about health and longevity.
The Church, being a spiritual family, is no different. But it isn’t that difficult to trace our origins, nor is it hard to predict our ultimate future.
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning GOD […]
Revelation 22:20
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. […]
It is the story old as time. It is the fundamental block of truth for ALL humanity. God was there in the beginning, and He is coming back for His church in the end. But it’s what happens in the middle that will be the focus of this Bible Study Series.
Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
“What shall we do?”, this is the question that we all need to ask. It’s the question we need to find the answer to. It’s not enough to know that our past begins with “God said, Let there be” and it’s not enough to know that He says, “Surely I come quickly”. But what matters is are you a part of the church that He created, and He is coming back for?
Our Identity
The first thing we should know, or search out the answer to, is this question, “do we know who we are?”
Obviously, the answer to this question is, “We are the Church.” Yes, this is correct, but I want to go a little deeper. I want us to understand what the answer means for this community. When we first arrived back in mid-July (later to accept the pastorate in September), I noticed the cornerstone on the front of the building, where the founder of this “body of believers”, Bishop C.R. Cook, established in 1935 this work as the First Pentecost Church. It wasn’t long after we took Pastorate that we began labeling different publications and announcements with the acronym POBNC, and as of today, I am announcing that we want to officially change our name to the Pentecostals of Bakersville. With this we are creating a clear identification of who we are. We identify ourselves as a group of believers who trace their genealogy not just back to 1935, or back to a particular organization, but we go all the way back to the book of Acts, back to the Day of Pentecost. We are saying to ALL of Bakersville and the surrounding communities, that we know who we are and are willing to share that with anyone who asks, “where do you go to church?”. We will say “I belong to the Pentecostals of Bakersville, and you belong here, too.”
Why is this important? If we are going to answer the question of “who we are”, we must identify the true Church and to identify the true Church we have got to go back to where it was established in the book of Acts. The crowd asked, Peter preached the message, and the crowd responded, the Holy Ghost moved. All this happened at Pentecost, and the Luke summed it all up with these words.
Acts 2:47
47 […] And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Our Mission
Peter was given this divine charge from Jesus.
Matthew 16:18
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now that we know who we are, we need to learn what we are supposed to be doing. We will continue down this vein of tracing our genealogy back to Peter. Peter was handed the keys from Jesus, and at Pentecost he unlocked the doors of the Church, and afterwards Peter wrote these words of instruction to the Church.
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
From here we need to ask two questions.
- What has God chosen the Church to do? [Hint: the answer is in verse 9.]
- Why do we do this? [Hint: the answer is in verse 10.]
When Jesus saves someone, He doesn’t just leave them isolated to fend for themselves. The Church exists for a purpose, “to seek and save the lost” [Luke 19:10]. We are to connect others to Jesus. The early church was an active group of people at work, they were not content to conduct church as a social organization, or a social club where participation and attendance was optional.
Our Action
The early Church was never passive, and the members of this Church should not be either. We have a great commission to fulfill.
Colossians 1:28-29
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Every time we have service, you should be walking through the doors ready to connect together as a Church body in prayer, in praise and worship, and in receiving the Word of God. So that every time you walk out the doors you are ready to serve others.
Acts 2:42
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
In this day and time when our society seems to be becoming more withdrawn and divided it is more important to remain connected to the Church. You cannot serve God alone, and the Church is where you will draw strength, not only to make it through your strive and struggles, but the strength and encourage to fulfil your purpose in God, to win others.
Over the next several weeks we will be Building A Spiritual Life by studying,
- The Foundation of the Church,
- The Emotional Wholeness of the Church,
- The Doctrine of the Church, and
- The Lifestyle of the Church