Sermons

Descriptions of the church in scripture include house, body and army. The army analogy brings to mind the accomplishments of Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general. In 215 BC during the Second Punic War, he marshalled 90,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry, an army drawn from many nations. He held them together for a world-encompassing (at the time)campaign against Rome that saw him conquer most of Italy. Likewise, the church embarks on a world-encompassing campaign with workers drawn from may nations. Their method does not use force, however, but it is assembled by a sort of roll call placing the workers in a variety of roles. These include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, following their greatest role model--Jesus, who equips them to carry out their roles. Church membership is not a spectator sport. The church calls the roll to engage in works of service to build up the whole body. The world should see our unity and maturity. We must strive to please Christ, not each other. If we revert to our previous role as children or into our past life before salvation, we will be tossed to and fro by error. Since it is easy to revert, growth is essential. We must constantly be in God's Word. If we revert, we become a drag on Christ's work. We are the church's building stones. We should speak to one another in Psalms and other spiritual phrases, making allusions to scripture. Thus we will have true fellowship in Christ, functioning as a unit. Also, by good works come growth. We are not randomly stuck together; our harmony is in Him. Our strength and harmony cannot come from our pastors, only from Christ. Christ showed ultimate love on the cross, anticipating the joy that was before Him, in the church.