The Vocation of the Church
- To Worship God and to Glorify Him On the Earth:
Eph. 1:4-6—”According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.” - To Evangelize the World with the Gospel:
Matt. 28:19, 20—”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Acts
2; 5:42; 6:5-8; Eph. 3:8; Acts 15:7. - To Develop Each Individual Christian Until He Attains Unto the
Fullness of the Stature of Christ:
Eph. 4:11-15. Hence the gift of pastors, teachers, etc. Herein lies the
value of church attendance—it promotes growth; failure to attend leads
to apostasy (Heb. 10:25-28), cf. 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Cor. 12. - A Constant Witness for Christ and His Word:
Acts 1:8—”But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” 8:1,
4.
The Church had stated places of meeting: the upper room (Acts 1:13),
the temple (5:12), the homes of members (2:46, 12:12), and the
synagogue; stated times of meeting: daily (2:46), each Lord’s Day (20:7),
the regular hours of prayer (3:1; 10:9); a regular church roll: 120
(1:15), 3,000 (2:41), 5,000 (4:4); daily additions (2:47).
The Great Doctrines of the Bible.