Why Should We Love The Church?

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not the Way God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23

The Corinthian Christians were reeling from controversy and divisions in their young urban church. So Paul, the church founder, writes this letter in an effort to contend for their survival. In this section Paul argues that the greatest threat to the church is usually from those forces from within and not from without: Its from enemies who join the ranks of the believing. Most importantly, we learn from 1 Corinthians chapter 3 that God cares very much for the church—even the messed up ones. Paul had a deep concern for the church and we should care too. Without a deep love for the church we can become the cancer that spreads through the church body that causes weakness and poor health.

Three things you need to know about the church

1. The Church Comes At A Great Cost
2. The Church Is Always Under Attack
3. The Church In America Is Struggling

Three Questions That Paul Answers In These Verses:

1. Why Should We Care About The State Of The Church?
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

2. What Causes Someone To Destroy A Good Church?
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “HE CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE, THAT THEY ARE FUTILE.”

3. How Can A Church Prevent Its Own Destruction?
1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

A Call To Excellent Christianity (Part 2)

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

In this section Paul gives us specific exhortations that direct believers toward spiritual excellence in their Christian walk.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 – “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;” There are five key thoughts expressed in these opening verses that help us understand how we can excel in our Christian walk and bring pleasure to God.

Progress

Verse 1 – “that you should abound more and more,”

Priority

Verse 1 – “just as you received from us”

Power

Verse 1 – “we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus”

Principle

Verse 2 – “For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Purity

Verse 3 – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;”

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.  (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

1. Know the will of God. Verse 3 – “For this is the will of God”
2. Learn “self control” Verse 4 – “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,”
3. Don’t take advantage of others. Verse 6 – “that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all…“