Weakness
in the Church

The church is divine in design.

Its earthly work is handled by frail human beings.

Paul gives the balance.

• The treasure is divine.
• The vessel is human.
• The gospel is perfect.
• The workers are not.

The church can be glorious and troubled at the same time.

The weakness is not in God's plan.

The church is strong in its divine design.

God did not build something defective.

• Christ did not purchase something unworthy.
• The Spirit did not reveal an incomplete pattern.

"This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ephesians 3:11

If the church came from God's eternal purpose, man has no right to redesign it.

"Shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

Acts 20:28

If Christ bought it with blood, no man gets to run it like he owns it.

"He is also head of the body, the church."

Colossians 1:18

The church cannot move by human preference.

• Opinion is not authority.
• Custom is not Scripture.
• Method must not replace obedience.

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

1 Corinthians 3:16

The local church is not common ground.

It belongs to God.

The church is weakened when human pride controls what Christ owns.

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."

James 3:16

The treasure is divine, but the vessel is fragile.

Holy things must be handled with humility.

"Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say."

3 John 9

When one man tries to run the church by force, weakness is wearing a loud voice.

"Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he?"

1 Corinthians 1:13

When loyalty to people becomes stronger than loyalty to Christ, fellowship turns into faction.

Some become experts at criticism and strangers to service.

The Lord calls every member to work.

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

James 1:22

The church is weakened when members neglect the work God put in their hands.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth."

1 Corinthians 3:6

God gives the increase.

He still expects His servants to plant and water.

"How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?"

Romans 10:14

If the gospel is not being taught, we cannot blame angels.

God put that work in human hands.

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Mark 16:15

"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved."

Mark 16:16

"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."

Acts 2:38

The church is weakened when the gospel is softened, hidden, assumed, or replaced.

"Make disciples… baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you."

Matthew 28:19–20

A congregation can look active and still be weakening.

Truth must be taught, learned, loved, and obeyed.

"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58

The church is weakened when members give employers their best and God their leftovers.

The church is weakened when worship loses authority, reverence, and heart.

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 4:24

Spirit without truth becomes self-will.

Truth without the heart becomes empty form.

"Offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them."

Leviticus 10:1

Worship is not governed by what man finds meaningful.

Worship is governed by what God has authorized.

"Singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."

Ephesians 5:19

The act named is singing.

• The melody is in the heart.
• An aid helps the command.
• An addition changes the action.

When God specifies the act, faith does not search for additions.

Faith submits.

"This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me."

Matthew 15:8

The Lord's Supper is not a snack.

• Singing is not filler.
• Prayer is not a transition.
• Giving is not tipping God.

"Let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe."

Hebrews 12:28

Careless worship does not expose a weak pattern.

It exposes a careless heart.

The treasure is not weak.

The vessel is.

Come back to Christ.

• Back to Scripture.
• Back to worship.
• Back to service.
• Back to reverence.

If you are outside of Christ, the gospel is before you.

• Hear the word.
• Believe in Christ.
• Repent of sin.
• Confess Christ.
• Be baptized for forgiveness.

If you have been part of the weakness instead of part of the work, repent.

The church belongs to Christ.

The treasure is holy. The work is in our hands.