Honesty in Church
June 17, 2013 at 10:35 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 7 CommentsTags: 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Timothy 3, church, church membership, Galatians 6, honesty, James 5, truth, truthfulness
C.hrist
H.oliness
U.nction
R.esponsibility
C.ommunion
H.
The second “H” in C.H.U.R.C.H. is for “Honesty.”
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
I Timothy 3:15 (emphasis added)
Church should be the one place where we can be honest about who we are and what we’ve done. Everyone there should be a forgiven sinner.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 (emphasis added)
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
I Corinthians 1:26
One of the prerequisites for being a Christian is being a sinner. Our sins are forgiven in Jesus and He is our One Mediator, but we still need to bear one another’s burdens.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Galatians 6:1-3 (emphasis added)
We need to bear one another’s burdens honestly – not thinking that we’re better than the person who is struggling. We all struggle, and Christ has given us each other – and “church” itself – to help us.
Communion in Church
May 28, 2013 at 10:29 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 6 CommentsTags: Acts 1, Acts 2, Acts 4, Acts 5, Acts 8, Christian unity, church attendance, church membership, unity in church
C.hrist
H.oliness
U.nction
R.esponsibility
C.
H.
The second “C” in C.H.U.R.C.H. is for “C.ommunion.”
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:14 (emphasis added)
In church we pray together. We should be in one accord, in common unity.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:46 (emphasis added)
There are times when we eat together – in common unity.
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts 4:24 (emphasis added)
In church we worship God out loud together – in common unity.
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Acts 5:12 (emphasis added)
In church, we discuss the wondrous things God is doing in our lives and the lives of people we know – together – in common unity.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Acts 8:6 (emphasis added)
In church we listen to preaching together – in common unity.
One thing that is important about church is getting together, and having the same mind about spiritual things.
Responsibility in Church
May 13, 2013 at 10:44 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 7 CommentsTags: 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Timothy 3, 1 Timothy 4, behavior in church, church members, church membership, hypocrisy, hypocrisy in church, order in church
C.hrist
H.oliness
U.nction
R.esponsibility
C.
H.
The “R” in C.H.U.R.C.H. is for “Responsibilty.” There are great privileges that come with being part of a church. But there are also great responsibilities.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
I Timothy 3:15 (emphasis added)
Christians should not be hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who acts completely different in church from the way he acts outside of church. However, we do need to watch how we behave in church. Church is not a place where “anything goes.”
Let all things be done decently and in order.
I Corinthians 14:4
What are some things you would do outside of church that are not sinful, but that you should not do in church? When I go to the park to have a good time, I am free to run, yell, throw things, make a mess, speak loudly and freely. I might even dress in a way that allows me to sweat and have some freedom of movement. But church is a place where these things are rightly restricted. And it is a place where you do need to take special care about what you wear. Modesty and appropriateness in dress is important everywhere, but it is especially important in church.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
I Timothy 4:12
If you are a young person, don’t give people at church a reason to excuse your bad behavior by saying, “He’s just a kid, what do you expect?” Don’t give anyone a reason to dislike you for being young. You need to watch older men and older ladies in church, depending on your own gender. Mark how they behave and follow their examples.
Holiness in Church
March 27, 2013 at 9:07 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 6 CommentsTags: church attendance, church membership, Ephesians 5, holiness, Jesus Christ, sanctification, The Bible
What does holiness mean? It is the condition of being set apart for a special reason, and the condition of being clean from sin. When Jesus saves a person, that person is set apart from unsaved people. He or she is set apart unto God. Then the process of cleaning begins: the process of getting more and more separated from sin.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:25-26 (emphasis added)
We call this process “sanctification.” Sanctification means becoming more holy, and Jesus uses church to clean us. Specifically, according to Ephesians 5:26, how does He do this? By the washing of water by the Word. In other words, through Bible teaching. One of the “right” reasons we come to church is for organized Bible study with each other.
Christ in Church
March 22, 2013 at 9:02 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 10 CommentsTags: church attendance, church membership, Colossians 1, Ephesians 5, Hebrews 10, Jesus Christ, teenagers in church, youth groups, youth ministry
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
What are some good reasons to come to church?
1. You are commanded to
2. To worship God
3. To hear the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God
4. To study the Bible
5. To minister to needs
6. Corporate prayer
7. To get involved in organized ministry
Those are some of the reasons you are supposed to come to church, but what are some of the real reasons people come to church? (Some of these are more applicable to teenaged children.)
1. Food
2. Fun
3. Fellowship – to see your friends
4. To catch up on gossip
5. Parents make me
6. Prizes
7. Feel guilty if I don’t
8. Need to show off my clothes or hair or phone or car
9. Extra credit for school
What is going to keep you coming to church when you don’t “have” to – or when none of these other reasons apply any more? As you get older, the enticements you are offered to come to church as a teenaged child are typically phased out. I believe one of the reasons we see so many young adults leave church – at least until they marry and have children of their own – is that there are not as many worldly or reward-based incentives to come to church once you leave a “youth group.” Having grown accustomed to the enticements, young adults don’t feel the need to come anymore when the enticements are gone.
Hopefully, understanding the importance of church will keeping you coming even when worldly or fleshly enticements are gone.
The “C” in “C.H.U.R.C.H. is for “C.hrist.” Christ is the “head” of the Church.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephesians 5:23 (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. He is in charge of it, and He’s the reason for it. We are supposed to be like His body. The head is most important, but the body carries out the actions that the brain commands. Jesus could get His will done on earth without our bodies, but He allows us to do it because He loves us.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18
Church must be about Jesus. He must have the preeminence. Jesus Himself must be the first and the foremost in our church participation – or else it’s not really church.
The Deep End 
Unction in Church
April 15, 2013 at 10:19 am | Posted in C.H.U.R.C.H. | 6 CommentsTags: Acts 2, church membership, commentary on Acts, early Church, Holy Ghost power, power, Sunday School lessons on Acts
C.hrist
H.oliness
U.nction
R.
C.
H.
Unction = power. Unction is what makes something move or something change. One of the ways God chooses to exercise His power in this world is through His Church.
Acts 2:1
This was the first time that a group of people in the New Testament received the power – the unction – of the Holy Spirit permanently. And this power resulted in:
Acts 2:41 (emphasis added)
Now that’s unction!