Comments on: Inward, Upward, or Outward?

By: The Red and Black Redneck

The Red and Black Redneck — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:36:32 +0000

In the chapter on the authority and the duties of the church, Robert L. Reymond argues in his Systematic Theology that the first duty of the church is to worship and to serve God. (P. 868.) Second is the duty to bear witness to divine truth, a subset of which is the duty to evangelize and to grow the church. (p. 880). Next is the duty to administer the sacraments and the duty to minster to the saints. (p. 885). I suspect that Dr. MacArthur’s assumption about the majority of evangelicals is true: they believe that fellowship is the primary purpose, which is unfortunately, simply another way of saying “me and my felt needs are the primary purpose of the church.” I agree with Dr. Reymond: worship is first and utmost. From that, God uses the church to evangelize. I would say worship is the primary purpose while evangelism is the primary mission.

By: Erik Pattison

Erik Pattison — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:01:30 +0000

Thank you for the post but I wonder if this is not too neat. The emphasis on “heaven” does not quite match the teaching of scripture.

According to David the best place to praise God is on earth. (Psa 115:16-18). Heaven is the place where the perfected spirits of the redeemed await the day of resurrection.

There is also a very close link between praise and testimony “I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.”
Psalms 108:3 (KJV)

Indeed worship which has no element of witness or confession of truth would be very impoverished.

The churches may dwell in earth the way Abraham dwelt in Canaan but like him we are living as a sign and testimony of the time when we shall inherit the earth..

By: donsands

donsands — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:11:07 +0000

This post made me think a little.

The #1 thing for a newly converted Christian would be the Word. I truly believe when the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, He leads this found sheep to pasture, and this is God’s Word.

Most importantt thing is to listen to God. Then with just as great impotance, but secondly, is to pray to God.

Surely being witnesses is imperative, and taking the Gospel to the world is our charge, but without a foundation in God’s truth, and even deep truths, the devil will hinder and scheme, and the next thing you know, you’re either discouraged, or worse, you have a “purpose driven” group of people that grows and grows without the meat of the Word.

Good post as usual from John MacArthur.

By: Sandy Martin

Sandy Martin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:49:17 +0000

Lord, inscribe our hearts with the simple Truths of Your Word.

Thank you for this article. It states in 10-11 paragraphs what the P.D.Life took 40 days to try to reveal. This is one I will print and share with my church family.

By: KC

KC — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:12:24 +0000

Amen! I grew up in a small missionary baptist church and this was understood by all-back then. But now, finding a church that is mission minded is not hard, there are numerous ones who support foreign missions (that is others who seek and save the lost) but finding one that follows the truth of the word as John stated “Fellowship, teaching, and praise are not the mission of the church but are rather the preparation of the church to fulfill its mission of winning the lost” is becoming rare.

I have left two churches in the last ten years and visited many many more who’s purpose was to grow at any cost. I actually had become very discouraged until about six months ago when I found a church who’s pastor graduated from the Masters in 2004 and served at Grace Community. And I thank God for the work and preparation being done there.

By: Joyce Burrows

Joyce Burrows — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:11:50 +0000

(hope the half-post didn’t make it through)

Missionary…or mission field? “Pressing toward the mark” involves upward and onward…and inward and outward. Awesome post.