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The lord’s house is a special place!. The church is poetically referred to as a building. “On this rock I will build My church” (Matt 16:18 ). “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building ” (1 Cor 3:9). . Isaiah 2:1-5.
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The church is poetically referred to as a building. • “On this rock I will build My church” (Matt 16:18). • “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9).
Reason Number One: The church is chief, v 2. • The church is important: • Jesus died for the church (Acts 20:28). • Jesus loves the church (Eph 5:25). • Jesus is the Savior of the church (Eph 5:23).
Reason Number Two: The church is comprehensive, vv 2-3. • In the new temple--the church of our God--anyone can come. • Acts 10:34-35. • “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
Reason Number Three: The church has code, v 3. • The law would go forth from Zion. • “We shall walk in His paths.” • “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21). • “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matt 12:50).
Reason Number Four: The church has concord, v 4. • At verse 2, Isaiah says that “all nations” would come to the new temple. • Here, he says that nation would not lift up sword against nation.
One: Because the church is chief, we need to give priority to the church in our lives. • Do some self-examination and see what, if anything, takes priority over the church. • You need to make the church a priority in your life!
Two: Because the church is comprehensive, we need to welcome the stranger. • All nations would flow to the church. • We cannot accept sin. • But, the Gospel has the power to transform lives (1 Cor 6:9-11). • Be welcoming of new people. • If you were walking into this building for the first time, what would you like to know?
Three: Because the church has code, we need to know that code. • We need to be a studying people. • “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Ps 119:105). • “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (Jn 12:48). • Spend some time this week studying what the Bible has to say about the church.
Four: Because the church has concord, we need to live in peace with our brethren. • “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor 13:11). • “Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:13). • We need to do everything in our power to create an environment of peace in this congregation.