The Church What It Does

THE CHURCH-WHAT IT DOES

1Thessalonians 1: 1-10.

If you would look at verse 1 again. Notice in verse 1 that Paul is writing to “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

One of the things that I have come to realize is that most people, perhaps even some here this morning, do not know what or who “the church” is.
You can ask them, “Are you a member of the church” and they don’t know what you are talking about.

In the Greek the word “church” (ek klesia) literally means “to call out.”

It is never used to refer to a building (“I am going to the church”); and it never refers to the worship assemblies (“We had church last night.”)

In the New Testament the word “church” always refers to people and since the word literally means “to call out” the word “church” is referring to a “called out people.”

And 1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us that the “church” are those people who are “called out of darkness into His marvelous light” and it is God who does the calling…and those who answer His call become “His people.”
And the apostle Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 that God “calls people through the gospel.”
So, the church consists of those people who have heard the gospel and who have in faith and obedience responded to that gospel.

And if you will notice here in vs. 1 the “church” consists of those who are “IN God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” and we know from Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:26 that an individual is “baptized into Christ”; so the “church” consists of those who have been “baptized into Christ.” They are “IN Christ.”

And according to Acts 20:28 if you are IN Christ you have been “purchased by the blood of Christ.”
That is “who” the “church” is.

Now, the question this morning is “what is the church supposed to do.” “What is the church to be about?” “As God’s “called out people” what are we supposed to be doing?” What is our function?”

Many people, including some who claim to be “IN the church” do not understand what “the church” is supposed to do…and they don’t understand what they, as a member of “the church” are supposed to do.

Many have the idea that the church is simply a group of people that you meet with…that you pray with, that you praise God with, that you take the Lord’s Supper with, and hear a sermon with…and then go home with no “church” responsibilities again until the next Sunday.

And if you are really into “the church” you can come back on Sunday nights…and Wednesday nights.
But basically, “the church” is limited to what we do on Sunday morning.
And simply put, “the church’s main responsibility is to organize and hold worship service.”

Now you might ask, “How do I know that is what most people think?”

The answer is simple…that is what a large number of “the called out” members of the church practice…it is what they do.

Is that what “the church” is about? Is “the church’s” only function to organize and hold a worship service? Is “the church’s” function confined to the walls of this building…and are we only responsible for those who come to this building? Are we only responsible on Sundays?

Let’s look at what Paul says in this passage and let’s learn some vital things about “the church” and what “the church” is supposed to do…and what we “as members of His church are supposed to do.”

Let’s begin by looking at verses 2-3 again.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

From these words, do you get the idea that this group of Christians simply met on Sunday, worshipped God, and then went home doing nothing until the next week?

These people were consistently busy. They were working and laboring!

Not just one day a week…not occasionally.
This “church” was always at work.
And let me tell you why I say that.

See the word “labor” where it says “labor of love.”

The word “labor” comes from a Greek word that literally speaks of “intense exertion”, “toil”, “work that results in weariness.”

When Paul speaks of their “labor of love” he is speaking of the way they worked…they exhausted themselves.

You don’t exhaust yourself by only working once a week for an hour.
You exhaust yourself by working and working and working.
And even though they were tired…they kept working.

And look at what motivated them to work…and what motivated them to labor!

Their faith…and their love.

When a man/woman labors because they have love, it makes a difference.

Labor that is motivated by love is voluntary.
When you love something or someone…you willingly will do what needs to be done.
Labor motivated by love is done cheerfully…not begrudgingly.
Labor motivated by love has no limits…nothing you will not do.
And labor motivated by love is continual…it has no end.
That is how moms and dads sit up all night with a sick child…and continue to do so when they are exhausted.

And a Christian who has faith cannot remain inactive either.

How do I know?
Remember what James said in James 2: 17? James says, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead.”

Brethren, this “body of the Lord’s church” didn’t just organize a worship service each week.

They worked and labored…and they continued to do so.
And if we want to be “the church” the Lord wants us to be then we must do the same.

And look what Paul says they did. Look at verse 8.

8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

See the phrase “sounded forth?”

In the Greek that is a word they used for a “trumpet blast or a roll of thunder.”
It was a sound that reverberated…it just rumbled and rumbled and rumbled.

I love to go camping in the mountains…and a storm comes up…and there is a big old clap of thunder…and it just echoes down through the canyons and everything shakes.

That is what Paul says they were doing.

They were “reverberating” the word of God from Thessalonica.
It rolled and rolled and rolled forth from them.

And notice where they were “sounding forth” the word to. He says, “Not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place…”

It is easy to confine our teaching and preaching of the word just to the inside of these walls.

And it is easy to spend our money to supply what is needed to teach ourselves.

But that is not what they did.

These brethren “reverberated the word from Thessalonica…to Macedonia and Achaia…and through the hills and valleys of Greece!”

And look at the end of verse 8. This church had become so well known for their faith…and the work of their faith…that no one had to tell others what they were doing.

People already knew.

What about us?

As a body, is our faith such…and our work such…and our “sounding forth” the gospel such that no one has to tell others about us?
Does our reputation precede us?
If it is not that way…should it be?

Let me ask you this.

What church gathering is the most well known for its work, for its “sounding forth the gospel” in this town?
What about in this county?
When people talk about churches in this county and the work they do what is the first church they think of?

Shouldn’t it be us? Why can’t it be us?

The only way we are going to do that is if we too, extend our teaching…and our outreach…beyond these walls…and do what “the church” is supposed to do.
It will require each of us doing what we as members of “the church” are supposed to do.

Look at what else this “body of the church” did. Look at verse 6.

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Paul says that they “received the word in much tribulation…so that they became an example to all the believers.”

This is a church that held in high regard the word of God.

I mean when the other churches talked about this bunch at Thessalonica they said, “Those guys hold to the Word…they teach it…they preach it…they believe it.”
“They practice what they preach and every thing they preach is based on what the Word says.”

And that is what the Lord’s church is supposed to do.

It is His church…He is head of the church…and as Head He has all authority.
And what He says…is what we are to do.
To the point, that we too are examples to all believers.

Today, in some gatherings the word is just ignored.

For example…they tell people how to be saved…but what they tell them ignores what the scriptures repeatedly say.

In some gatherings the word of God is not the only authority of the church.

It is adjusted and compromised to agree with traditions…and preferences…and human doctrines.

That is not what this “body of the Lord’s church” did.

They “received the word in much tribulation…so that they became an example to all the believers.”

Notice what else “the church” is…look at the end of verse 9. Paul says: “you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.”

The church consists of “turned” or “converted” people.

People who have “turned” or “converted” to God.

These people had their idols.

And these people “turned” from those gods…to serve the living and true God.
They were totally and completely devoted to God.
NO one or No thing robbed God of these people’s devotion and allegiance.

What about us?

And you say, “We don’t have idols today.”
Don’t be deceived.

An idol is anything that competes with God for your devotion and allegiance.

It may be a hobby…or recreation…or money…or popularity…or a job…or a lustful pleasure. (Football team)
It may even be someone or even yourself.

If you and I are “turned” individuals; if we are “turned” people then “no one” or “no thing” will compete with God for our devotion and allegiance.

And then finally, look at the end of verse 9 and all of verse 10. “The church” consists of those who “are serving and waiting for the Son.”

We serve while we wait.

We live like Jesus could come again at any moment and the way we do that is by serving God.

Again, an indication that their work was ongoing…and extended beyond their own walls.

When I read this…I get a completely different impression of “the church” and what “the church” is to do and be, than what most people think “the church” is to do and be.

I do not believe that the church is just simply supposed to organize a worship service on Sunday morning.

The church is supposed to be busy working…and laboring…and it is supposed to be “sounding forth” the gospel to places near and far.

And the church is to honor the word of God.
And the church is to be completely devoted to God…to serve Him while we wait for His return.
That is what “the church” is and does.

Now, with that in mind…here is the critical question.

Are you/I a member of “the church”…or do you/I just come to church?
Does your/my life…your/my devotion…your/my service…your/my work…your/my practice…confirm that you/I are a member of “the church?”
Or does it just confirm that you/I “come to church.”

That is important…very important…because those who “truly belong to “the church” are those who will be saved.