Purpose of the Church
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Church is God’s Plan
Why should we go to church, and what is the point of church, anyway? If you love God, why do you need to go to church?
The Bible answers these questions decisively… Church is God’s plan to reach the world. He has set it up to be the only hope of the world – really! It is supposed to be that good!
God’s plan was to create local communities who love one another deeply and reach out to their communities and the world with the love of Jesus and His incredibly good news. Every church is meant to have local and international impact.
Serving Each Other
Church is the only organization that exists primarily for the benefit of its non-members. A recent national research survey shows that most of those surveyed erroneously believe that the church exists to meet their needs. While it is true that we do have our needs met in a local church, its purpose is to be the place where we grow up in our faith and learn to serve Jesus by serving others.
The ideal is for all Christians to know who they are in Christ, know their specific calling and have a heart for reaching their communities and the world with the message of God’s grace. Church is where we learn to live in all the freedom and blessing God intended so that we can help reach the world for Jesus. So to make that all happen, God prepared some special servants who could equip each member to fulfill their God-given destiny.
We say at Northlands Church that our vision is to be:
“an oasis to refresh and equip people to fulfill their God-given destiny”.
The Family of God
The church is the family of God because the Bible teaches that when we come to faith in Jesus, we are born again into the family of God and can then call God our Father.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3
Church is a believer’s spiritual family and is called to function like a healthy natural family where people can care about each another. Just like a family is supposed to do, the church is where we serve one another in love by…
- Getting to know each other,
- Sharing in each other’s lives,
- Helping each other in practical ways,
- Encouraging one another, and even,
- Holding each other accountable.
“God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15
Environment for Faith in Action
The church provides a unique environment for Christians to express their faith in love towards one another. Jesus is our example for what a life of faith in action is like.
During his time on earth, Jesus behaved as no one else had ever done. He rejected the empty religious establishment of his day. He spent time with people on the fringes of society. He turned conventional spiritual wisdom on its ear.
But you could always tell where he had been. People left in his wake were healed of all kinds of sickness: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Financial and practical provisions appeared. The dead were raised to life. Even storms quieted at his command. And through all the Gospels, like a mighty river, rushing, quiet, but pervasive, there is a sense of joy.
People who were rejected began to feel loved. People who had hidden terrible secrets let them go – and moved on with life having come to know God’s forgiveness. Disciples who were foolish, moody and vindictive became wise, strong, generous and loving.
How was all this possible? Jesus gave the answer when He explained that… “I spend time with my Father. Then I say what my Father says and do what he does… And anyone who has faith in me will do what I’ve been doing, and even more.”
We endeavor at Northlands Church to create an environment for faith in action, where we are living out what we know to be real, following the example of Jesus Christ.