The Church and Its Mission in the World

The Church and Its Mission in the World

Matthew 16:15-18

prepared by W.H. Wood on September 10, 1947

Introduction: What is a church? A body of baptized believers voluntarily binding themselves together for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of our Lord.

I. Our duty to the Church
1. To walk together in Christian love. This means that we are to love all the members of the Church, harboring no malice or unkind thoughts toward them.
2. To strive for the advancement of the church in knowledge, in holiness, and in comfort.
3. To promote its prosperity and spirituality.
4. To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
5. To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry.

II. Our personal duties
1. To maintain family and secret devotions. (Take time to talk to God)
2. To religiously educate our children
3. To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
4. To walk circumspectly in the world. We are to be careful of our actions and so live that all who see us will know that we are Christians.
5. To be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment.
6. To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger.
7. To abstain from the use and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
8. To be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

III. Our duties to others.
1. To watch over one another in brotherly love.
2. To remember each other in prayer.
3. To aid each other in sickness and in distress.
4. To cultivate christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech. Be kind to rich and poor alike.
5. To be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation.