07/07/2026
The Purpose of the Church
Rev. Theresa Bell
Scripture: Matthew 16:13–20
Sermon text: Matthew 16:19
Introduction
The Church was never established to simply make us feel good. God formed the Church as part of His comprehensive plan, a plan shaped by grace, purpose, and Kingdom responsibility.
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1. God’s Comprehensive Plan
• God’s plan is comprehensive—meaning it touches every part of our lives.
• His will is exclusively tailored to us; nothing He does is random or irrelevant.
• Yet, we have become complacent—drawing closer to our own desires instead of drawing closer to Him.
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2. The Church’s Responsibility
• We are responsible for carrying out the Kingdom agenda.
• Jesus teaches that whatever is bound or loosed on Earth is also bound or loosed in Heaven—God works through His Church to bring His will into reality.
• We are not passive reflections of God’s purpose; we are active participants in His mission.
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3. Faith in Action
• The question becomes:
Are we inactive in this world, or are we exercising our faith?
• Scripture calls us to action:• Micah 6:8 — Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.
• James 1:6–7 — Faith without wavering.
• Romans 12 — A transformed life of service.
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4. Unity, Discipline, and God’s Justice
• We must leave room for God’s wrath, because vengeance belongs to the Lord, not us.
• Our calling is to work together for the advancement of God’s plan.
• The Church is meant to be the foundation of the Lord’s work on Earth—steady, faithful, and unified.
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5. Salt and Light
Jesus asks us to examine ourselves:
Are we light? Are we salt?
• Salt preserves truth.
• Light reveals Christ.
• The Church must embody both.
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Closing Challenge
The purpose of the Church is not comfort—it is Kingdom ex*****on.
It is not passivity—it is faith in motion.
It is not self-focus—it is God-focus.
The Church must rise, act, and shine.
