THE CHURCH- THE APPLE OF GODS EYE
May 20, 2001 AM
Sermon Outline
Eph 3:10,11
INTRO: An old and favorite hymn which speaks of the church says it is the apple of Thine eye. That old expression describes Gods feelings about the church. A modern, secular, Biblically, illiterate world would wonder, Why? Why is the church that important to God? From the way in which some treat the church and their relationship to it we might wonder if the folks of the world are alone in their not comprehending why God so values the church. Reflect a bit with me.
I. CHURCH CERTAINLY PERMEATES THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. How could one read without seeing church?
B. How could one miss the importance of church?
C. How could one read ... and still see no relevance of church to his own life?
D. If nothing else, the letters to seven churches in Revelation should arrest our attention!
II. THE CHURCH IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO JESUS
A. Mt 16:18 He built it!
1. on the foundation that He is the Christ (1 Cor 3:11)
2. by His design; for His purpose; for His people (Heb 3:6)
B. Acts 20:28 He bought it
1. the greater the price, the greater the importance
2. the price? His own blood - His life (Eph 5:25)
C. Col 1:24 It is His body
1. note Eph 5:29 ones body is important to Him
2. thus, Jesus cares for, nourishes the church
D. Col 1:8 He is the head of the body/church
1. a head without a body, or a body without a head is just one thing ... dead
2. so, as the head, Jesus is vitally concerned about the body
III. THE CHURCH IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO GOD
A. Rom 8:32 He gave His own Son to bring it into existence
1. note 1 Pet 1:18,19 silver and gold are valuable
2. but precious metals could not accomplish Gods purpose ... something so much more precious was required ... the death of His Son!
B. Eph 3:8-13 He foreordained it
1. the church is absolutely no accident; no quirk of fate; no substitute for something else
2. it is an integral part of Gods eternal purpose
C. Eph 3:10 It demonstrates the vast wisdom of God
1. to the unseen world the church makes clearly known the multifaceted wisdom of God
2. exactly what all this means I do not know - but I know angels are interested - Lk 15:7,10 and 1 Pet 1:12 ...
3. (perhaps we need to think more of the ways in which His wisdom is demonstrated in the church!)
D. Eph 3:20,21 It glorifies God
1. I suggest that it glorifies God by being submissive to His will (Mt 6:10)
2. contrast: does our behavior detract from Gods glory? do we think of Him first in our decisions, choices?
IV. THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND ME
A. Acts 2:47 The Lord adds the saved to the church
1. note Gal 6:10 and household of faith
2. our identity as Christians is in relationship to the church ... we are not floaters; not orphans (Eph 2:19)
B. 1 Cor 12:18,20 God sets us into the body (church)
1. without the church wed be lifeless limbs, organs ... just dead body parts
2. inherent in this idea is life and function (so, Eph 4:16)
CLOSE: The church deserves our affection, or attention, our concern. Can God count on us to honor the apple of His eye?
Cecil A. Hutson
20 May 2001