ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH

PROJECT SUBMITTED TO DR. J. MELVYN MING FOR THE CLASS PTHM 528 VISION CENTERED LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

BY

MONTY GALLOWAY

BOX 131

SPRINGFIELD, MO

MAY 15, 2002

PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH The ultimate purpose of the Church is to glorify God in all that it does (Worship). The Church fulfills this purpose by: Going (Evangelism), Gathering (Fellowship), Growing (Discipleship), and Giving (Ministry). The purpose statement of a Church following this format would be, “Go, Gather here to Grow and Give to Glorify God.” The Church was created for God’s glory (Isa. 43:7). The foundation of the Church is the proclamation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matt. 16:16, 18) The Church is not a building, but people. In Acts 7:48 Stephen said, “The Most High does not live in houses made by men…” The Church is every believer of Jesus Christ. As the people belonging to God (1 Pet. 2:9), and temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), the Church has an obligation to fulfill its purpose. That purpose is to Glorify God in everything that the Church does (1 Cor. 10:31). 1. GO (Evangelism) Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Matt. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 2Cor. 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore yo u on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Rom. 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 1Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Acts 2:40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves

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2 from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. The first way the Church glorifies God is by Going (Evangelism). Jesus fulfilled this purpose when He said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” The Church, as Christ’s ambassadors, is called to proclaim the message of reconciliation to the world (2 Cor. 5:20). The Church is commissioned in Matthew 28:19-20 that as they are Going to make disciples of all nations. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells His disciples that they will be His witnesses in their city, their surrounding area, their country, and ultimately the ends of the Earth. The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness to the world about Jesus. Every believer is a minister. The Church has not called a few, but as Jesus looked into the harvest field, he told His disciples to “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matt. 9:38). Jesus wants the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be salt and light of the Earth (Matt. 5:13-14). As Romans 10:14 says, “how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” 2. GATHER (Fellowship) Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Heb. 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, The second method of glorifying God is Gathering (Fellowship). Jesus fulfilled this purpose in His life on Earth. In John 17:12, Jesus said, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.” The early Church also fulfilled this purpose. In Acts 2:42 the Church devoted itself “to the fellowship and to the breaking of bread.” Again in Acts 2:44, the believers were “all together and had everything in common.” The writer of Hebrews in 10:25 tells us not to “give up meeting with one another.” Jesus said we would be

3 known as His disciples if we love one another (John 13:34). The Church is called to fellowship with God and fellowship with one another (1 John 1:3, 7). 3. GROW (Discipleship) Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Col. 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Eph. 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Heb. 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

4 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The third way the Church glorifies God is by Growing (Discipleship). Another part of the Great Commission is to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19, 20). Jesus fulfilled this purpose in John 17:8 when He said He gave His disciples the words the Father gave Him. Jesus also wondered of people who called Him Lord, but did not do what He asked (Luke 6:46). If the Church is a wise servant, it will do what He asks and it will be good for the Church when Jesus returns (Matt. 24:45-46). God wants the Church to be built up, to reach unity in the knowledge of Jesus, to become mature, attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Believers must not be infants tossed by the waves and blown by the wind. God desires the Church to grow up in Christ to support the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12-16). The Church must be mature. 4. GIVE (Ministry) Matt. 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mark 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Rom. 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone

5 preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Matt. 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe yo u? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 2Cor. 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2Cor. 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confessio n of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. Matt. 20:26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Eph. 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

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1Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 1Cor. 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. The fourth way the Church glorifies God is by Giving (Ministry). The Church is called to give, not only of money, but also of time and of itself. Jesus said in John 13:15 that if we followed His example the Church would be blessed. In Mark 10:42, Jesus told His disciples not to be like the rulers of the world. Instead, whoever wants to be great must be a servant (v. 43) and whomever wants to be first must be slave of all (v. 44). Jesus Himself said that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (v. 45). The Church is called to follow the example of Christ (John 13:15). The early Church fulfilled this purpose in Acts 2:45 when “they gave to anyone as he had need.” The Church must serve people. The Church is God’s hand extended to the world. The mission of the Church is to serve. The heart of Jesus is a servant’s heart (Mark 10:44-45). Every Christian must have a ministry to fulfill their purpose in life. The Holy Spirit gave each one a gift to prepare the Church for works of service (Eph. 4:12). There are different gifts given to each one to serve one another (Rom. 12:4-5). There are different types of service and gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-6) but the Spirit gives them all for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7). 5. GLORIFY GOD (Worship) Matt. 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

7 Heb. 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Eph. 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Th. 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Rom. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Psa. 100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Matt. 4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Heb. 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Psa. 150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The fifth and final avenue the Church brings glory to God is Glorifying God (Worship). The early Church is fulfilled this purpose in Acts 2:47 for they were, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” The Church should give “thanks to God the Father for everything” (Eph. 5:20). Besides the regular worship service the Church, the believers must present themselves as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom. 12:1). The true Church practices this spiritual act of worship. The Church must teach people to worship in this manner. As Jesus said in John 4:24, “in spirit and in truth.” To worship God is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and your entire mind (Matt. 22:37). Jesus brought glory to God while He was on Earth (John 17:4). To follow the example of Christ, the Church must bring glory to God in everyway.

8 PRACTICAL APPLICATION 1Cor. 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. The purpose statement is “Go, Gather here to Grow and Give to Glorify God.” This statement has many applications for the local church. The five “G” statements include all of the ways the Church fulfills the purpose of the Church. A visual aid would be the Pyramid of Purpose. The foundation of the Pyramid of Purpose that God is building through the Church is Christ (1Cor. 3:11). Jesus said that on the basis that He is Christ, He would build His Church (Matt. 16:16:18). Without a solid foundation, the pyramid will be unstable and will fail. The foundation is the most important aspect of the pyramid. Without a solid foundation of Christ in the Church, the Church will be irrelevant and powerless in the world. What is built on top of this foundation will be tested for quality by fire (1 Cor. 3:13). This church wants to build a solid structure on top of the foundation of Christ. This structure is Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Worship with the whole structure inlaid with a coat of worship that Glorifies God in all that it does. The base is Evangelism, or Going. The base must be strong and very broad to hold the rest of elements. Without a strong evangelistic plan, the Church will not reach those it is called to reach. The base is where the Church touches the world. The base must be broad to reach the diverse culture and people that live in this world. This level fulfills part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19. The believers were told by Jesus that as they were going to make disciples. It is an expectation of Jesus that His disciples would tell people of all that He had done. The base is where the Church can most relate to the people of the world. While the base is different from the world, non-believers can relate to it, and effectively enter the Pyramid of Purpose and then move to the next level. The first level of the Pyramid is Fellowship, or Gathering. This is the level of the Church were the believers build relationships with each other. This level fulfill part of the Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19, to baptize people into the fellowship of the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the level of the Pyramid of Purpose where people are connected to each other in loving relationships through small groups, and Sunday school classes. Discipleship, or Growing, is located on the second level of the Pyramid of Purpose. This level fulfills the next part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19. In this level of purpose, the individual believer is then a disciple of Jesus. The believer is taught to obey everything that Jesus commanded the Church to do. Through small groups and Sunday school classes, the individual believer is taught the commandments of God and how to apply them to daily life. Giving or the purpose of Ministry is the next level in the Pyramid. This is where believers are plugged into a ministry to give, not only of their money, but also of their time and

9 of themselves. This level fulfills part of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:39 to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Through classes on Spiritual gifts and personality, the believer is connected to a personal ministry. The believer is trained in their area of service to be God’s hands extended to the world. Worship, or Glorifying God, is the final and highest point in the Pyramid of Purpose. This level of the Pyramid is the most evident. Worship fulfills the first Great Commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37-38). Believers, as individuals and as a whole, are connected to God in an intimate relationship in this level. While this area is most evident in the regular “worship” service of the church, this church wants to connect people to God in every area of life. Whatever the believer does should be done for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). The believers’ spiritual act of worship should not only be the church service, but also the offering of their body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1). With this in mind, the entire Pyramid of Purpose must be covered with worship. Worship must not be contained to the acts of singing songs. Glorifying God is the ultimate purpose of the Church, and must be done everyway and everyday (1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:1).

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PYRAMID OF PURPOSE

GLORIFY GOD

WORSHIP GIVE

MINISTRY GROW

DISCIPLESHIP GATHER

GO

FELLOWSHIP EVANGELISM