TITLE: THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
TEXT: ACTS 2:42 & MATTHEW 21:12-17
INTRODUCTION
A. The success of the 1st Century Church
1. Continued steadfastly in the Apostles Doctrine
2. Continued steadfastly in Fellowship
3. Continued steadfastly in Breaking Bread
4. Continued steadfastly in Prayers
B. What is Prayer?
1. Learning from God
2. Fellowshipping with God
C. Prayer is the foundation of the success of the 1st Century Church
1. They prayerfully learned from God together
2. They prayerfully fellowshipped with God together
3. How? “I am the Church”
JESUS WENT OFF!!!!
A. Jesus drove out those who bought and sold
B. Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers
C. Jesus overturned the seats of those who sold doves
1. Sold Doves: Major markup to the poor
2. Moneychangers: High exchange rate to travelers / foreigners
3. Bought and Sold
a. Bought: Balance of lazy / unprepared / impoverished
b. Sold: Took advantage of the poor and travelers
D. “My house shall be called a House of Prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves”
1. They focus on the teacher and not the teachings…
2. They focused on the food and not the fellowship…
3. They focused on the practices and not the prayers…
4. “But, I came to church” (Jeremiah 7:9-11)
5. “No, I am the church”
THEN, OTHERS CAME IN
A. Then, the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed
them
B. Then, children cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David”
C. “My house shall be called a House of Prayer…”
1. I am the Body of Christ / Building of Christ / Tabernacle of Christ
2. How do they “Come to Jesus in the temple?” They come to me
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:
THAT I WILL REALIZE THE I AM THE CHURCH
DATE: October 23, 2016 PREACHER: Pastor Childs
