Key verse: Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Biblical truth: Jesus is the founder and builder of the church. The word "church" means a body or a group of believers, called out or together to worship the Lord and carry out the great commission. As far as assemblies go, the Bible teaches that they assembled often in the Old Testament in for the reading of the Bible and for the messages from the prophets of God to be heard. This was specifically for the nation of Israel. The New Testament church will not be a Jewish or Gentile organization, but the body of Christ on this earth made up of all saved, baptized and assembled believers that will carry out the work of the great commission.

The Nature of the Church

The church is at the center of everything that Jesus is doing in the New Testament. It would be impossible to be involved in the work of God in this age without being a part of a New Testament church. The ordinances, offices and instructions given to the church convey the plans and the methods that Jesus has laid out for the redemption of the world and the glory and worship of God.

1. The formation of the church in the Bible is seen first in Matthew 16:13-18.

   a. Jesus is its founder, and it is central in every teaching of the New Testament.

   b. The word "church" or "churches" is found in 114 verses in the New Testament.

   i. The book of Acts is written about God's working in the church.

   ii. Romans through II Thessalonians are 9 letters written to churches.

   iii. I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus are letters written to church leaders.

   c. The only other gospel mentioning of the church is Matthew 18:17 and there they get instructions on church discipline.

   i. He placed great value on the church. It is His church. (Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28)

   ii. He empowered and authorised the church to do His work.

   1. Wait on the Holy Spirit to be endued with His power. (Luke 24:49)

   2. After that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. (Acts 1:8)

2. The Purpose of the Church

   a. He commanded the church to fulfil a certain ministry.

   b. He gave the Great Commission to His church. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21, Acts 1:8)

   c. Jesus plainly taught the great commission.

   i. We are to take the gospel to Every Creature. That means that we will have to reach more than 7,000,000,000 people with the gospel message! (Mark 16:15)

   ii. We are to take the gospel (repentance and remission of sins in His name) to All Nations. Nations refers to people groups and not entire countries. We have the Cherokee nation in the nation of the USA. (Luke 24:46-49)

   iii. We are to teach all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20)

   1. "Teach or teaching" means "to show how to do something, to give instructions to, to train, give lessons to (a student or pupil), to guide the study of, to instruct, to hold classes in, to provide with knowledge, insight." Synonyms: impart, direct, instruct, informer, counsel, admonish, educate, inculcate, enlighten, advise, indoctrinate, and train.

   2. The word "teach" makes it clear that I must disciple or train all nations. It is not enough to get them to pray a prayer. They must be taught enough to be saved, then baptized, then trained to live the gospel. (Romans 10:13-15)

   iv. We are to go "both" to our area and to the uttermost, or furthest part of the world. Every country is to hear the gospel. (Acts 1:8)

   v. We are sent as He was sent. This is the incarnation. This is becoming one of them to reach them in the context of where they live and the language they speak. (John 20:20-21)

How should I view the church? Is it to be a place for me to get my needs met or as a place to serve?

The Critical Nature of the Mission of the Church

It can be plainly seen that Jesus formed the church, but why did He do so? The purpose of the church is to carry out the great commission. The church bears that responsibility and we as believers and church members must be concerned about the lost like Jesus is.

1. Along with the great commission should come a great concern.

   a. Those without Christ are condemned already. (John 3:18)

   i. The Creation leaves them without excuse, because it shows them that God does exist. (Romans 1:20)

   ii. Their Conscience shows them that they need this God. (Romans 2:15)

   iii. The Church fulfilling its Great Commission will show them how to get to know this God. (II Corinthians 5:18-20.)

   1. "the ministry of reconciliation"

   2. "the word of reconciliation"

   b. Our conviction that we are responsible before God to get the gospel to all the world.

   i. The blood of the uninformed is required at the hand of the watchmen. Bloody Hands. (Ezekiel 33:6)

   ii. Paul felt that responsibility because he said that he was free from the blood of all men. (Acts 20:26)

   iii. It is our shame if there is someone in the world that doesn't have the knowledge of God. (I Corinthians 15:34)

   iv. Tears will be wiped away after having seen the horrible Great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 21:4, I Thessalonians 4:17)

   c. The continual sorrow that we should feel. (Romans 9.1-3, 10:1-3)

   i. The horrible condition of man.

   ii. The Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15)

   iii. Deceived by religion (Matthew 7:21-23)

   iv. Dead in Sin (Ephesians 2:1)

   v. A literal burning eternal hell (Luke 16:19-31)

   vi. Blinded and deafened

   d. The compassion of God. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, II Peter 3:9, I Tim. 2:3-6, Hebrews 2:9, I John 2:2, John 10:11-18)

   e. The church must realize that it is personally responsible for the world. It must then pass this burden on to its people so that all will feel responsible to get the gospel to the world

In what way am I responsible for getting the gospel to my area and the world?

Personal study time:

Reading: Read Matthew chapter 9 and 10. Notice the prayer request that Jesus makes at the end of Chapter 9 and write any devotional thoughts about that in the space below. Read chapter 10 about how they went out and the experiences they had witnessing. Write your thoughts below.

• What are Sonme Devotional thoughts from my reading

Read these quotes from men that felt the full responsibility of the Great Commission on their lives.

People who don't believe in missions have not read the New Testament. Right from the beginning Jesus said the field is the world. The early church took Him at His word and went East, West, North and South

• J. Howard Edington

There is nothing in the world or the Church, except the church's disobedience, to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility

• Robert Speer

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed

• Hudson Taylor

Christ's last command should be our first concern

The unfinished task is to evangelize all individuals, to proclaim the gospel to all peoples in all the geographical regions of the world and to disciple them

• Avery T. Willis, Jr.

• What are some thoughts about these quotes?