The Church Building & It’s Place in Our Work

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2000017

Subject: work of the church; authority

Preached Originally: 03/12/00 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.      1 Cor. 3:9 – the church is God’s building.  Wd “church” comes from ekklesia and means “the called out body.”

1.    The Corinthian church (individual Christians) was considered to be God’s building.

2.    3:16 – this building is called a temple & can be defiled.  (3:17)

3.    The foundation of this building is Jesus Christ.  (3:11) We also see that men can build on this foundation & will be held responsible for how/why they build.

B.      The church of Christ = people.  Individual Christians who come together to serve/worship Almighty God.

1.    Throughout the book of 1 Cor. We see that the Christians were required to come together.

2.    1 Cor. 11:18, 20, 33-34, 16:1-2.  Note the term come together used throughout chapt. 11.

3.    As a place for these gatherings – churches all over the world have provided buildings – meeting halls – assembling halls.

C.     Let’s spend some time tonight discussing some things about the meetinghouse.

1.    Is there authority w/in the Scriptures for Christians to construct a church building? 

2.    What about having classrooms w/in a meetinghouse?

3.    Is the meetinghouse something that is HOLY in & of itself?

4.    Once constructed, what can the church building be used for?

D.     Hope that this lesson will be of benefit for you.  The subject we are discussing tonight is one full of controversy in COC’s over the last 150 years.

 

I.  Biblical Authority for a Meetinghouse.

A.    Two kinds of authority.  Generic/specific.

1.    Specific:  something prescribed/spelled out exactly in Scripture.

a)       Ex. – God has specified that Christians give of their means on the first day of the week.  1 Cor. 16:1-2.

b)       Ex. – God specified that Noah use gopher wood in the ark – not pine, cottonwood, or birch.

2.    Generic:  something commanded in Scripture – but not specifically directed as to how to carry out the command.

a)       Ex. – go teach the gospel – Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16.

b)       In what manner we go teach the gospel NOT specified.  Can “go teach” by taking a car, bus, airplane, boat.  As long as I am going “to teach” I am fulfilling the gospel of Christ.

B.    1 Cor. 11:18, 20, 22-23; Heb. 10:24-25 – The Lord requires an assembling.

1.       Since the Lord requires Christians to assemble – one may necessarily infer that there must be a place of some kind to meet. 

2.       w/o a place there can be no assembling.  This fact undeniable.

3.       The authority for a place is in the command to assemble.  Any suitable place will do.

a)     Acts 2:46 – Church at Jerusalem met temporarily in the temple.

b)     Col. 4:15; Rom. 16:5 – FC churches met in homes – where adequate.

c)     Acts 19:9 – Ephesians met in a school.

d)     Acts 20:2-9 – church at Troas met in an upper room/loft.  Evidently they were meeting on the 3rd story – 20:9

4.       No particular place is bound.  If so, then we would be obligated to make sure the commands are fulfilled as specified.

5.       In our present culture, having a meetinghouse is a desirable and convenient thing to have.

 

II.  Is there Biblical authority for classrooms in building?

A.     Certainly.  Some have objected to this in the past.  Say it divides up the assembly.

B.     Authority for Bible classes & having individual class rooms – comes from the generic command in Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16.  Here we see that we are to teach.  We are to edify according to Eph. 4:15-16.

C.    Classrooms are an expedient (a helpful means) to fulfill a commandment of God.

1.    They = a tool for teaching.

2.    Just as an overhead projector; songbook; pew, etc.

 

III.  Is the church building (the meeting house) holy?

A.     Denominational world has long indicated that the building itself = holy.  Some call it a sanctuary.

1.     Ex. 40:34; 2 Chron. 7:16 – in OT times the temple was holy because God’s presence was there.

2.     However, in NT times & today – God no longer dwells in temples made w/hands.

B.    Eph. 5:22 – God dwells w/in Christians (His building – 1 Cor. 3:9) and NOT in the meeting place for the church.

1.     1 Cor. 3:9 – Paul talking to individual Christians – not about the structure they meeting in.

2.     mtg house not sacred & holy.

3.     Does not mean that we shouldn’t care for & take care of mtg house. 

a)     Appearance of bldg/grounds is a DIRECT reflection to the Christians that meet here.

b)     How are we doing in this regard?  Keeping inside cleaned?  Outside mowed? 

 

IV.  For what can the meetinghouse be used?

A.      Some quick to conclude that since it (the bldg) not holy – it can be used for nearly anything desired.

1.    Is that so?  Is that the way God would want it?

2.    Use of the bldg must be determined on the basis on how the bldg is justified to begin with.

3.    Why is the building built to start w/?  It is built to carry on required religious activity.  It should be used for that & that alone – if one wishes to respect the silence of the Scriptures.

B.      What about eating in the building?

1.    Specifically:  are water fountains, restrooms, etc. justified in a church building?

a)    Certainly. 

b)    Restrooms; parents out of necessity having to feed children; preacher/workers eating in building during week are incidentals.

2.    Isn’t there a difference in doing these things incidentally to assembling on the one had & in building places designed to eat/drink; playgrounds, etc. 

C.     Building places designed for social events are NOT the work of the church.

1.    Work of the church is:

a)    Evangelism – Mk. 16:15-16

b)    Benevolence – 1 Tim. 3:15

c)    Edification – Acts 2:41

2.    Where does church financed, sponsored meals & building of fellowship halls fit into the above?

3.    It impossible to justify the meetinghouse as a place to eat/drink (as a social meal).  According to 1 Cor. 11:20-22 this belongs in the home.

D.     Does this mean that we shouldn’t meet together for social meals & good times?

1.    Certainly not.  I believe we have a responsibility to do this.  We are commanded to be hospitable to each other. 

2.    Eph. 4:31-32.

 

Conclusion

A.    Summed up:  let us remember that in order to have a church bldg there must be some authority.

1.     When we justify the existence of the bldg for some use – let us use it that way.

2.     Let us not abuse the use of the bldg.

3.     Make sure we do all things together in spirit & truth.

B.    Must make sure that we do all things in spirit & in truth.

C.   I N V I T A T I O N