The church is a big deal. I know that many want to see the church as just an antiquated organization with little relevance to their daily lives. Even a growing group, who say they are followers of Christ, will behave as though the church is not significant for them—they believe in Jesus, but don’t need the church to be a Christian.
It’s just not so. A child needs a family. A football player needs a team. A worker needs a business. A soldier needs an army. A student needs a school. There are a great many things you can do as an individual. Being a Christian is not one of them. Yes, our response to Christ is an individual decision, but that decision is made as the result of a witnessing community, the faith is to be professed publicly in baptism, our spiritual growth occurs in a fellowship of disciples and disciple-makers, and our spiritual gifts are designed for the church to engage in its ministries and mission.
I might quote an abundance of verses that drive home this point. Suffice it to say that the entire New Testament teaching concerning Christianity concerns life in the church—and that very few references are about the church as a global, spiritual body of believers, but most present the church as a local body of saints, the church at Ephesus, the church at Rome, the church in Corinth, and so forth.
If I had no other Bible verse than this one, I would see the church as a very big deal: “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph.5:25b). The value of something is determined by what someone is willing to pay. If Jesus values the church so much He was willing to die for her, that makes Pole Creek Baptist Church a big deal. In the end the church will judge angels, reign with Him, and share His glory.
So, what is the church and why does it matter? The next five sermons will deal with the nature, function, governance, teaching, and responsibility of members to the church. It is a big sermon series because the church is a big deal.
