1. God’s Commission for the Church

Jesus established the church to carry out God’s Commission (Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20). The church exists to make disciples of all nations, to edify believers, to glorify God, for teaching, for godly fellowship, to be the salt/light of the world, etc.

2. Misuse of Institutional Church

There are practically unlimited ways/means/opportunities to serve and to help one another towards these common purposes. Due to our fallen nature, however, we often end up being like the Pharisees’ self-serving intention (Matthew 23: “everything they do is done for people to see… they love the place of honor and the most important seats… they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces”) Or let our egos come in the way of exercising gifts, Or just play it safe by being on the sidelines etc.

3. Humble Workers Are Few

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve”. Jesus continues in Matthew 23: “do not be called Rabbi…do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”. It is due to our lack of this understanding (not due to lack of skills/gifts/talents), “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37).

4. Purpose of the Church

The primary purpose of the church gatherings is for edification and to equip one another to obey God and to authentically represent Christ.