I was so blessed to have God fearing parents who loved Jesus more than anything else, and modelled a lifestyle of uncompromising spiritual disciplines. My parents would seldom miss attending Sunday worship services and midweek Bible studies.
In our family, it was not an option to go to church, it was not something we did if it was convenient or if something more “exciting” was happening that day.
For my parents, it wasn’t legalism or ritual, rather it was out of a love relationship with the King of Kings. It was a discipline born out of putting Jesus first in our family.
I so appreciate that it was modelled for me from a very young age.
Gathering with the Body of Christ, is putting Jesus first. I really believe we need to rethink our priorities as a culture and prioritize the discipline of gathering on a Sunday morning. Not “attending” via YouTube but actually being in the room with other believers.
If we were to get an honest answer from many Western church goers as to why they attend church, most people want community or a social gathering, not the living and active Body of Christ. If that offends you, then how can you explain that the average church member attends worship services 1.6 times a month?
As we have been looking at these last few weeks, church health is about healthy communities, proclaiming and living around the Gospel message. The message of the Gospel is what unites us and draws us into fellowship. The word Gospel comes from the Greek translation and simply means, the Good News.
One of the clearest descriptions of the Good News is found in 1 Corinthians 15, as Paul reminds the church of why they exist. Something we need to do time and time again.
1 Corinthians 15:1-6, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
That is the Gospel that Paul said is, “of first importance”. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died in our place, crucified for our sins. He was raised back to life, overcoming sin and death, paving the way for us to be able to stand in right relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Looking at verse 1, we have three key words regarding this message of the Gospel.
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand.”
- The Gospel must be Preached.
The role of the Church is to preach the Good News (See Romans 10:14).
We proclaim the Gospel through the ordinances of the church, Baptism and Communion – the Lord’s Supper. To proclaim and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Every time we partake of the elements of the bread and the cup, we declare the Gospel. It is anything but routine, it is a life-giving and essential part of a healthy church.
- The Gospel must be Received
We can hear the Gospel every day, but until we receive it and believe it, entering into a personal relationship with Jesus, it is not the Good News for us. The Gospel only becomes Good News when we personally believe in the name of Jesus for salvation.
- We Stand on the Gospel
It doesn’t matter what is happening in the Middle East, the White House, our bank accounts or the doctors report, we stand on the promise of the Gospel.
Writing about Spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6, Paul emphasizes the importance of standing firm (See Ephesians 6:13-14).
We stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ because in light of eternity, it is all that will ultimately matter.
A Warning
But we must always approach communion with awe and reverence. It is remembering the suffering of Jesus, it is holy.
Paul writes a warning to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32. We need to examine our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin, that we may repent and come to the table with clean hands and a pure heart (See Psalm 24).
How reverently do you approach the Lord’s Supper?