THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

Transcription

1 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam THE WORK OF THE CHURCH Perry B. Coam About e auor... Perry Coam was born to Christian parents January 5, He was baptized at an early age began preaching soon after in 1929 at e age of 17. He entered Freed-Hardeman College (en a junior college) in September, 1929 and graduated in June, He en entered college at his hometown of Murray, Kentucky and graduated from Murray State University in June of While attending college he preached for several of e area churches and conducted meetings. October 1934 Perry began full time local work wi e church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He had a prosperous work, wi a new congregation being established. While ere he did much radio preaching and conducted meetings in e area. This he did in oer places later in local work. Perry was married to Teresa Overby (e daughter of a well known gospel preacher) in Muskogee, Oklahoma on June 25, The Overby family was formerly from Murray. (Teresa passed away January 7, 1998). Broer Coam has two sons and one daughter, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. After moving from Shawnee, Perry did local work in Oklahoma City and Wewoka, Oklahoma, Paris, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Duncan, Oklahoma and Grand Prairie and Big Spring, Texas, in at order. In 1972 he and his wife moved back to Grand Prairie so he could be engaged in full time, word-wide evangelistic work. Perry has preached in all of e fifty states of America and in all e inhabited continents of e world, including about 70 nations. He has held several debates, two of which are in print. He has written sixteen gospel tracts which have been widely distributed roughout e world. He has also helped to buy and distribute ousands of Bibles in different dialects, besides distributing his debate books on e Holy Spirit and miracles today. Perry continues to make his home in Grand Prairie and to do much preaching. He at times assists Brown Trail School of Preaching in teaching some special classes, but his main work is to preach and distribute tracts and Bibles in all parts of e world. Many ousands have been baptized during his many years of ministry. The Lord s church is e greatest institution on ear today, and e Holy Scriptures plainly declare ere is a work for e church to do. The apostle Paul, writing to e young evangelist Titus, who was on e island of Crete, to instruct him of his duties as a preacher of e gospel, spoke of Christ who gave himself for us, at he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people [a people for his own possession, ASV], zealous of good works (Titus 2:14, emp. supplied). Hence, Christians are Christ s own possession; ey belong to Him; ey form His spiritual body, which is e church, and over which He is e only head (Ephesians 1:22-23). They are to be zealous of good works. They are to maintain good works for necessary uses (Titus 3:8,14). Furermore, Peter said e children of God are a purchased people and are to show for e praises [excellencies, ASV] of him who ha called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Thus, e church of e Lord is at body of saved people, who have been added by e Lord to His church (Acts 2:47), and ey are to do e works of God. These works are good works because ey bring good to mankind. The ings done by Christians, from e right motive, as auorized by e Lord, will help oers. This comes as a necessary result of Christians having been redeemed. Their influence on mankind is great. It means e eternal salvation of souls. So when people ask: What is e work of e church; what purpose does it serve in e world? we are happy to give an answer, as Peter asked us to do (1 Peter 3:15), to is all-important question. Many do not really know eier what e church of Christ is or of e work of e church here Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 1 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

2 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam on ear. The church Christians are to shine as lights in e world; holding for e word of life (Philippians 2:15-16), in e midst of a dark and sinful world (cf. Acts 26:18; 1 John 5:16). Christ s disciples, in living e Christian life, show for e virtues (by word and by good deeds) of e glory of e Lord. In e language of e New Testament at Christians are e Lord s choice, care, and delight, ere is perhaps an illusion to e Hebrew people of e Old Testament period as eir being e chosen people of God. Moses said to his people: For ou art an holy people unto e Lord ey God: e Lord y God ha chosen ee to be a special people unto himself, above all people at are upon e face of e ear (Deuteronomy 7:6; cf. Exodus 19:5). Thus, each congregation of Christians is an independent group of believers. Wi Christ as its head, ey work and worship togeer in e church under e oversight of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:28). Each congregation is composed of baptized believers who are commanded to do e work of e church in e world no matter wheer e congregation be large or small in number of its members (Acts 2:37-38, 41-42, 47). THE WORK OF INDEPENDENT CHURCHES The mission of e church is to do all to e glory of God (1 Corinians 10:31; Ephesians 5:25-27). The plan to accomplish is mission at e Lord has given to e church is five-fold: (1) evangelism, (2) benevolence, (3) edification, (4) worship, and (5) right living. In summary, e work of e church is to teach e gospel of Christ and live e Christian life at souls may be saved at last in heaven. Evangelism Christ charged His disciples to go into all e world and preach e gospel to every creature, to teach all nations, baptizing em is e name of e Faer, and of e Son, and of e Holy Ghost (Mark 16:15; Matew 28:18-20). We call is evangelism. The church is declared by Paul to be e pillar and ground of e tru (1 Timoy 3:15). If e pure gospel of Christ is preached to e world, unmixed wi e doctrines of men, e Lord s faiful disciples must do it. The pagan and idolatrous world will not do it; religious cults and man-made denominations will not do it (alough ey may claim to do it). Religious sects (denominations) teach a perverted gospel (cf. Galatians 1:6-9). The tru of God which has been divinely given and recorded has been entrusted to e church. The church is to teach it, to defend it, and to proclaim it in every right way possible from age to age to e end of time, just as God gave it. The Bible has not changed (cf. 1 Timoy 6:20-21). Every congregation should, erefore, feel its responsibility in is work wi deep conviction. The church is e support of e tru just like a pillar is to a building. The tru is upheld in e world by e church. The church is e ground of e tru; e tru rests on e church just like a house does on its foundation. The church is to proclaim is tru to e whole world. The gospel is e power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The world needs to hear e gospel, e good news, because all have sinned, and come short of e glory of God (Romans 3:23). Paul s expression at e church is e pillar and ground of e tru does not mean, Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 2 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

3 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam however, at e auority of e Scriptures depends upon e church, as some teach. But, nevereless, Christians should be careful to keep and preserve e tru. Buy e tru and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23) means do not part wi e tru under any consideration. Christians must proclaim e tru, e whole tru, and noing but e tru, and likewise train faiful men to teach is tru to future generations (2 Timoy 2:2). The world now has over six billion people. The vast majority of em have never once heard e name of Christ. There are untold millions who are yet untold. What are we doing to reach e lost before time runs out for em and for us? The early disciples of Christ were faiful to e charge at e Lord gave, for wiin about irty-five years e gospel had been preached to every creature which is under heaven (Colossians 1:23). Alough is great work of evangelism rests upon all e churches of Christ in e world, is does not imply at all e churches are faifully doing it. Many congregations are not using eir money as ey should to do is work, and many individuals are not actively engaged in trying to teach oers (Acts 8:4-5). Too, ere seems to have been a change wiin e lasts few years of works being done not auorized in God s Word. The church is not auorized to provide physical recreation, entertainment, or pleasure for its members or for oer people. This work belongs to e families and institutions of e world. However, not wrong wiin emselves, is is not e work of e church. The word of God is to be preached to e whole world, in all of its purity, for e salvation of souls (James 1:18). The power to convert and to edify e saints is not in entertainment and gimmicks. Why should a church spend a huge amount of money to build a large gymnasium while ere are ousands dying every day in is world wiout e knowledge of e Savior who died for em? It is e whole duty of e whole church to preach e whole gospel to e whole world (cf. Acts 8:4,12; 11:14; 7; 3 John 5-8). One elder expressed his concern over e entertainment craze at seems to be sweeping among some congregations in ese words: When e church goes into e entertainment business, it is a sign at spirituality is very low. Some congregations have eased over into e softball business, e basketball business, e entertainment business, and oer such like ings, inking is is e work God has assigned em to do. We all need some entertainment, but it is e duty of e church to stick to spiritual affairs and not to entertainment. The church is e pillar and support of e tru and not entertainment (Turner 4). Entertainment, however, and getting e crowds, seem to be e popular ing to do today among e large denominational megachurches in America. But gospel preachers have often stressed e point at if we are not preaching e gospel and converting souls to Christ, en we are missing e work of e preacher; at our primary goal is to make disciples and change people; at we change e culture one heart and one mind at a time, and at is can only be done by e power of e word of God, preached and taught in love (Ephesians 4:15). The Christian Dispensation began on e day of Pentecost following e resurrection and ascension of Christ (Acts 2). It is world-wide in scope and age-lasting in duration. However; ere are two parts to e spreading of e gospel: e going and e sending. Some go and preach, and oers help em go and spread e word. God expects Christians to give eir early treasures to enrich heaven wi e souls of men. One soul saved is wor more an e whole world (Matew 16:26). I ank God at more people are now going to more places an in all of my eighty-eight years Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 3 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

4 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam on ear. My plea is: let preachers go, and let churches send! Let us do all at we can! Now unto him at is able to do exceeding abundantly above all at we ask or ink, according to e power at worke in us unto him be glory in e church by Christ Jesus roughout all ages, world wiout end (Ephesians 3:20-21; cf. Philippians 4:16). Benevolence Every churches commanded to help care for ose in need. The church in Jerusalem helped provide for e widows. Seven men were selected to serve tables (Acts 6:1-4). Later, Paul in his missionary travels urged e churches to help ose in need. In e Roman letter he stated: For it ha pleased em of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for e poor saints which are at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26). He also said at Christians are to give to e necessity of saints (Romans 12:13). Concerning is collection being made for e poor, Paul wrote in his first letter to e church at Corin: Now concerning e collection for e saints, as I have given order to e churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon e first day of e week (every week, NASB; every Sunday, McCord; every week, Macknight) let every one of you lay by him in store, as God ha prospered him, at ere be no gaerings when I come (1 Corinians 16:1-2). This money was being given by Gentile Christians for e relief of e poor Jewish Christians of Palestine who were in great distress. (See 2 Corinians 8-9 for Paul s teaching on e need of and e blessings of liberal giving.) Of course, breren must use extreme wisdom in determining ose who are truly wory of help. There are ose who will provide not for his own, and specially for ose of his own house (1 Timoy 5:8). Laziness is condemned in e Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28). But helping ose in need at times can lead to e salvation of souls and e strengening of Christians. The Lord s Parable of e Good Samaritan has led many to have a heart of love and compassion to ose in need (Luke 10:25-37). This is certainly what e Lord wants His church to do (Matew 25:31-46). We are to visit e sick, and weep wi em at weep (Romans 12:15). We are to show love and kindness unto oers (Matew 5:7; James 2:13). Edification That it is e duty of e church to provide for e edification of all its members is evident from several passages of Scripture. Paul admonished e Christians at Rome: Let us erefore follow after e ings which make for peace, and ings wherewi one may edify anoer (Romans 14:19); Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification (Romans 15:2; cf. 1 Corinians 14:3; Ephesians 4:16). To edify means to build, to build up, to confirm, as to building a house on a good foundation. In a general sense, when applied to e church, it includes everying which in any way serves to enlighten and improve spiritually e members at compose e temple (Ephesians 2:20), e body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:20), for e eternal salvation of eir souls. The church is to provide such help which will benefit em in eir Christian life. This will include association, advice and counsel, bo publicly and privately, as needed all for e edification of every child of God (cf. Galatians 6:1-2; Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 4 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

5 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam James 5:19-20). For such edification surely each member in every congregation needs to be regularly and systematically instructed in e Holy Scriptures. Wiout is ere can be no building up of e body of Christ. The word of God is e food for e soul. Jesus stated: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word at proceede out of e mou of God (Matew 4:4). Paul told e elders of e church at Ephesus at God s word is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all em which are sanctified (Acts 20:32). Thus, e early Christians, as Luke records, continued stedfastly in e apostles doctrine [or, teaching, ASV] (Acts 2:42; cf. 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 17). Peter urged young converts as newborn babes, to earnestly desire e sincere [spiritual, ASV] milk of e word, at ye may grow ereby (1 Peter 2:2). The word of God, however, will not nourish e soul if it is adulterated wi various human doctrines of men. Hence, one needs to be fed on e pure word of God, in bo private study and in public teaching, for proper edification. Peter told e Christians in e previous chapter at ey had been born again by e word of God (1 Peter 1:23-25), and now he tells em at e word is also able to provide for em food by which ey can grow to spiritual maturity. The word, erefore, is bo at which spiritual life is produced and e food by which it is nourished. Gospel preaching is necessary for religious edification. But is is not all at is necessary to is end. Unless e members of e church are induced to study e Scriptures for emselves, e most eloquent preaching from e pulpit, or teaching in e class room, will accomplish very little. Each member should diligently and regularly study e Bible for himself (cf. Psalms 1:2; 119:11, 28, 47, 97, 105; 73:24; 2 Timoy 2:15). Then after learning God s will, e members should be like Zacharias and Elizabe, walking in all e commandments and ordinances of e Lord blameless (Luke 1:6). Christ must be seen in em (1 Peter 2:21-22). In edifying a congregation every one of its members should be actively engaged in some way in doing good. It is a mistake to suppose at e preacher, along wi e elders and deacons, are to do all e work emselves. Most every member can, and should, do someing. God wants all of His children to grow, and to remain faiful to e end of life s journey (Revelation 2:10). Proper exercise is necessary for grow. Spiritual grow cannot come wiout e proper food and exercise. Worship It is likewise e duty of e church to provide places and times for public worship for e spiritual grow of e church. The early Christians, under e direct guidance of e inspired apostles, met upon e first day of e week to break bread (Acts 20:7). This example of e church at Troas meeting to worship on e Lord s day (Revelation 1:10) is to be followed by all congregations everywhere. This, too, is for e ultimate salvation of souls in heaven. Members should attend ese worship periods for eir own spiritual good and to also set a proper example before oer members and e people in e community. To e Hebrew Christians e writer admonished em in ese words about eir forsaking e assembly: And let us consider one anoer to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking e assembling of ourselves togeer, as e manner of some is; but exhorting one anoer: and so much e more, as ye see e day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). Alough it was a time of persecution for many disciples, e Lord designed ese services to be for e good of all e members. No wonder, en, at e Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 5 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

6 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam writer exhorted em not to forsake e meeting wi eir breren for public worship. On e first day of e week Christ arose from e dead and us brought life and immortality to light rough e gospel (2 Timoy 1:10). On is great event are suspended man s hopes of happiness for time and for eternity ( 1 Corinians 15:12-28). On e Lord s day e Lord s people assemble and eat e Lord s Supper (1 Corinians 11:23-29). They also engage in oer acts of worship as singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16), praying (Acts 2:42), giving of eir material weal (1 Corinians 16:1-2), and preaching God s trus (Acts 2:42; 20:7). The early Christians not only assembled togeer on each first day of e week but ey also celebrated e Lord s Supper on every first day of e week and engaged in ese oer acts of worship. It is e duty of every Christian, erefore, to assemble wi e saints to worship God in spirit and in tru (John 4:24). For one to fail to do is for any selfish purpose, when he has it wiin his power to us obey e Lord, is sinful (Hebrews 10:26). Christianity is a spiritual system. One of e objects for which e Corinians came togeer was to eat e Lord s Supper, but, nevereless, it seems at ey had so far perverted e original design of is institution at eir manner of eating was virtually not to eat it at all. So Paul said to em: When ye come togeer erefore into one place, is is not to eat e Lord s supper (it is not possible to eat e Lord s supper, ASV) (1 Corinians 11:20). It should be done in a reverent way. Formalism today can easily become one of our besetting sins. Thus at all times our worship to God, if it is to benefit our souls, must be in reverence, wi godly fear and awe. God is greatly to be feared in e assembly of e saints, and to be had in reverence of all em at are about him (Psalm 89:7). Paul told e Corinians at eir worship service should be done decently and in order (1 Corinians 14:40). This rule is still applicable in guiding us in regard to our worship of God. May e Lord help us to never be guilty of profaning e Lord s Supper or neglecting to worship as prescribed by Him and cause us to lose our souls in eternity (cf. Hebrews 12:28-29). Moreover, faiful churches of Christ reject e use of mechanical instruments of music in eir worship because God s law of exclusion excludes eir use. Singing is auorized (Ephesians 5:18-19). Hence, instrumental music is sinful in worship for e same reason at it was sinful for Nadab and Abihu to offer strange fire before e Lord He had not commanded em (Leviticus 10:1-2). Right Living Finally, for is present study, it is e work of e church to provide teaching and encouragement to all members to live good, upright, righteous lives all of e time, and ereby glorify God. We must always keep in mind at e work of e church is to save souls. In e Sermon on e Mount, Jesus said to His disciples, Ye are e salt of e ear Ye are e light of e world (Matew 5:13-14). Writing from his prison cell in Rome, Paul admonished e Philippians: only let your conversation [your manner of life, ASV] be as it become e gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). That is, live as good citizens of e Lord s kingdom, and set a good example before oers. Peter, in his first epistle, urged Christians to live a good life: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to e former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which ha called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conservation (living, ASV); because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 6 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

7 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam holy (1 Peter 1:14-16; cf. Leviticus 11:44). Then in his second letter he wrote admonishing em to add to eir fai virtue, knowledge, temperance [self-control, ASV], patience, godliness, broerly kindness, and charity [love, ASV] (2 Peter 1:5-7). These good qualities were necessary en, and now, for faiful children of God to be granted an entrance into everlasting kingdom of our Lord, heaven (vs. 8-11), and are taught in e New Testament from e beginning of Acts to e end of Revelation. However, let us note briefly a few ings about each one of ese seven so-called Christian graces : 1. Virtue. This means heroism, courage, manliness, moral excellence. 2. Knowledge. This refers to e knowledge of God s Word. Hosea told e Israelites ey were destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). The Lord has given to us in His Word all ings at pertain unto life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The great need in e church today is Bible training. 3. Temperance. Solomon wrote: He at is slow to anger is better an e mighty and he at rule his spirit an he at take a city (Proverbs 16:32). To rule one s passions is greater an being able to conquer a city (cf. Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3: 12-15). 4. Patience. This means endurance, standing up under trials. If trials are properly endured, ey can develop stronger Christians. Blessed is e man at endure temptation [i.e., trials, hardships]: for when he is tried, he shall receive e crown of life, which e Lord ha promised to em at love him (James 1:12; cf. Revelation 21:7). Behold, we count em happy which endure. Ye have heard of e patience of Job, and have seen e end of e Lord; at e Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:11; cf. Job 23:10; 13:15). 5. Godliness. This refers to piety, wi love, reverence, and gratitude to God, and a desire to be godlike. 6. Broerly kindness. The Lord s church is a family, and all of its members are related to each oer as broers and sisters in Christ and us should cherish each oer in tender love and affection (cf. Romans 8:16-17; 12:10, 17-1; John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:11-18; 4:7, 11, 20-21; Hebrews 13:1-2). 7. Charity. This means love for all men. A Christian wants to do good to all men as he has e opportunity and e ability (cf. Matt. 5:43-48). Love is e crown and jewel of all graces (1 Corinians 13:13; Colossians 3:14). Christians are to give all diligence to add ese graces to eir lives knowing at God helps ose who help emselves. Paul said to e Philippians: work out your own salvation wi fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) Conclusion What a grand and glorious work e Lord has given for His church on ear to do evangelism, benevolence, edification, worship, and right living! Christianity, as revealed in e Scriptures, is e only divine religion, and it offers to e world e only hope of eternal life to all who will obey e Lord Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 7 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055

8 The Work of e Church Perry B. Coam (Hebrews 5:9; Revelation 22:14). May e Lord help us to so live at one day we may, by e grace of God, walk e golden streets of e New Jerusalem. This our plea to e world. How beautiful heaven must be! Let us do, erefore, e Lord s works! Christ has no hands but our hands To do His work today; He has no feet but our feet To lead men in His way; He has no tongue but our tongues To tell men how He died; He has no help but our help To bring em to His side. Auor unknown Works Cited Turner, Charlie. East End Bulletin Vol. 11, Issue 20,. McMinnville, TN: East End Church of Christ (n.d.). Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 8 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055