August 22, 2025 • 8 mins
Do we still need the church, or is it an outdated institution? Let's discover the value of the church today
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, and welcome to Words of Truth, where we open
God's Word to find encouragement, wisdom and direction for life. Today,
I mark your host. I want to start with a
simple question today. Is the local church still valuable in
the world today? Well, some people would say that the
church has lost its influence. Others point to scandals or
(00:25):
declining attendance and wonder if the church is even necessary
anymore in society. But when Jesus said in Matthew chapter sixteen,
verse eighteen, I will build my Church, and the gates
of Hell shall not prevail against it, he wasn't talking
about a building or an institution, but he was talking
about his people, the church, alive and active, empowered by
(00:50):
the Holy Spirit, and friends in a world that's darker
and more confused than ever. I believe the local church
is more valuable today than it has ever been. And
today we're going to look at three ways the local
church matters deeply in the world. First of all, the
local church is God's design for spiritual growth. In Acts
(01:15):
chapter two, verse forty two, we read that the local
church devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching and the fellowship,
and to the breaking of bread and prayers. We can
see from that the very beginning believers gathered together to
grow in their faith. The local church is where we
(01:37):
learn God's word, find encouragement, and stay accountable to our
walk with Christ. Phesians four tells us that pastors and
teachers are given to the church to equit believers and
build up the body of Christ. And that means that
God designs spiritual growth to happen in community, never in isolation.
(01:59):
A lot of people today are saying they love God,
but they don't like the church very much. But you
know what, that's so contrary to what God intended for us.
The apostle Paul said it like this in First Corinthians
chapter twelve, fourteen to nineteen. For the body does not
consist of one member, but of many. If the food
(02:20):
should say, because I am not a hand, I did
not belong to the body, that would not make it
any less part of the body. And if the ear
should say, because I am not an eye did not
belong to the body, that would not make it any
less part of the body. And if the whole body
were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing?
(02:42):
And if the whole whole body were an ear, where
would be the sense of smell? But as it is,
God arranged the members of the body, each one of
them as he chose. If all were a single member,
where would the body be As it is? There are
many parts yeah at one body. In other words, if
(03:03):
you're a follower of Jesus Christ, that means that you
are connected to all the other members of the body,
and without them, guess what, you can't function as a
whole person. In fact, if you try, you will die spiritually.
Think about it. We don't expect a newborn baby to
survive on its own, and he's a family and in
(03:26):
the same way, Christians need a spiritual family to grow.
Barn A research found that Christians who are actively involved
in a local church are far more likely to read
the Bible regularly, pray consistently, and share their faith compared
to those who are not connected. So if you want
(03:48):
to grow in Christ, plug into your local church. Don't
just be a visitor, be a part of the family.
The local church is also God's witness to the world world.
Jesus said in Matthew chapter five, verse fourteen, you are
the light of the world, and in verse sixteen he
(04:10):
goes on to say, let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven. You see, the church
is meant to be a visible testimony to the Gospel.
The world should see something different in how we live,
how we love, excuse me, and how we serve. Jesus
(04:35):
also has said in John chapter thirteen, verse thirty five,
by this, all people will know that you are my
disciples if you have love for one another. You see,
when people see a community of believers, young and old,
rich and poor, from every background, united in Christ, it
makes them wonder, what do they have that I don't have.
(04:59):
After the two twenty ten earthquake in Haiti, about seventy
percent of the humanitarian aid that reached the people came
through guess what Christian organizations, most of them working directly
through local churches. They were first on the ground and
last to leave. You see, that's the church being the
(05:22):
hands and the feet of Jesus. Our own community should
be able to say, if our church disappeared tomorrow, this
town would feel the loss. So I asked you, I
wonder would your community feel the loss if your church
just disappeared tomorrow and Finally, the local church is God's
base from mission and outreach and Act chapter thirteen, we
(05:46):
read that the church at Antioch prayed, fasted, and then
sent Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries. Every missionary movement
in the New Testament began where in the local church.
Roman chapter ten, fourteen and fifteen says how are they
to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to
(06:07):
preach unless they are sent? Today we have missionary agencies,
but in reality, the local church is a sending place.
It's the launching pad for the Gospel to go out
to the ends of the earth. I read the other
day that the International Mission Board reports that over ninety
percent of global missionaries are sent and supported through local churches.
(06:32):
And that means that when you give, and when you pray,
and when you serve in your church, you're part of
taking the Gospel around the world. But don't miss this
mission isn't just overseas. It begins at the church door
and extends to your street, your workplace, in your neighborhood.
(06:54):
Every member has a rule, whether going, giving or praying.
And so let me sum this up, why do we
need the church in society today? Well, because the local
church grows believers in faith, and the local church shows
the world the love of Christ. Plus, the local church
(07:15):
carries the gospel to the nations. No wonder the Bible
calls the church the bride of Christ. Ephesians chapter five
says Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.
And so if Jesus loves the church that much, shouldn't
we friends. Don't just attend church, be the church. Commit
(07:37):
yourself with your prayers and your presence, your service, and
your giving. The church is God's plan to change the world.
Hebrews chapter ten, verses twenty four and twenty five tells us,
let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but
(07:57):
encouraging one another. And all the more you see the
day drawing near. And so let's value the local church
because God does. Thanks for joining me today on words
of truth. If this podcast encouraged you, share it with
a friend, and always keep walking in the light of
(08:18):
God's word.
Hi, and welcome to Words of Truth, where we open
God's Word to find encouragement, wisdom and direction for life. Today,
I mark your host. I want to start with a
simple question today. Is the local church still valuable in
the world today? Well, some people would say that the
church has lost its influence. Others point to scandals or
(00:25):
declining attendance and wonder if the church is even necessary
anymore in society. But when Jesus said in Matthew chapter sixteen,
verse eighteen, I will build my Church, and the gates
of Hell shall not prevail against it, he wasn't talking
about a building or an institution, but he was talking
about his people, the church, alive and active, empowered by
(00:50):
the Holy Spirit, and friends in a world that's darker
and more confused than ever. I believe the local church
is more valuable today than it has ever been. And
today we're going to look at three ways the local
church matters deeply in the world. First of all, the
local church is God's design for spiritual growth. In Acts
(01:15):
chapter two, verse forty two, we read that the local
church devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching and the fellowship,
and to the breaking of bread and prayers. We can
see from that the very beginning believers gathered together to
grow in their faith. The local church is where we
(01:37):
learn God's word, find encouragement, and stay accountable to our
walk with Christ. Phesians four tells us that pastors and
teachers are given to the church to equit believers and
build up the body of Christ. And that means that
God designs spiritual growth to happen in community, never in isolation.
(01:59):
A lot of people today are saying they love God,
but they don't like the church very much. But you
know what, that's so contrary to what God intended for us.
The apostle Paul said it like this in First Corinthians
chapter twelve, fourteen to nineteen. For the body does not
consist of one member, but of many. If the food
(02:20):
should say, because I am not a hand, I did
not belong to the body, that would not make it
any less part of the body. And if the ear
should say, because I am not an eye did not
belong to the body, that would not make it any
less part of the body. And if the whole body
were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing?
(02:42):
And if the whole whole body were an ear, where
would be the sense of smell? But as it is,
God arranged the members of the body, each one of
them as he chose. If all were a single member,
where would the body be As it is? There are
many parts yeah at one body. In other words, if
(03:03):
you're a follower of Jesus Christ, that means that you
are connected to all the other members of the body,
and without them, guess what, you can't function as a
whole person. In fact, if you try, you will die spiritually.
Think about it. We don't expect a newborn baby to
survive on its own, and he's a family and in
(03:26):
the same way, Christians need a spiritual family to grow.
Barn A research found that Christians who are actively involved
in a local church are far more likely to read
the Bible regularly, pray consistently, and share their faith compared
to those who are not connected. So if you want
(03:48):
to grow in Christ, plug into your local church. Don't
just be a visitor, be a part of the family.
The local church is also God's witness to the world world.
Jesus said in Matthew chapter five, verse fourteen, you are
the light of the world, and in verse sixteen he
(04:10):
goes on to say, let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven. You see, the church
is meant to be a visible testimony to the Gospel.
The world should see something different in how we live,
how we love, excuse me, and how we serve. Jesus
(04:35):
also has said in John chapter thirteen, verse thirty five,
by this, all people will know that you are my
disciples if you have love for one another. You see,
when people see a community of believers, young and old,
rich and poor, from every background, united in Christ, it
makes them wonder, what do they have that I don't have.
(04:59):
After the two twenty ten earthquake in Haiti, about seventy
percent of the humanitarian aid that reached the people came
through guess what Christian organizations, most of them working directly
through local churches. They were first on the ground and
last to leave. You see, that's the church being the
(05:22):
hands and the feet of Jesus. Our own community should
be able to say, if our church disappeared tomorrow, this
town would feel the loss. So I asked you, I
wonder would your community feel the loss if your church
just disappeared tomorrow and Finally, the local church is God's
base from mission and outreach and Act chapter thirteen, we
(05:46):
read that the church at Antioch prayed, fasted, and then
sent Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries. Every missionary movement
in the New Testament began where in the local church.
Roman chapter ten, fourteen and fifteen says how are they
to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to
(06:07):
preach unless they are sent? Today we have missionary agencies,
but in reality, the local church is a sending place.
It's the launching pad for the Gospel to go out
to the ends of the earth. I read the other
day that the International Mission Board reports that over ninety
percent of global missionaries are sent and supported through local churches.
(06:32):
And that means that when you give, and when you pray,
and when you serve in your church, you're part of
taking the Gospel around the world. But don't miss this
mission isn't just overseas. It begins at the church door
and extends to your street, your workplace, in your neighborhood.
(06:54):
Every member has a rule, whether going, giving or praying.
And so let me sum this up, why do we
need the church in society today? Well, because the local
church grows believers in faith, and the local church shows
the world the love of Christ. Plus, the local church
(07:15):
carries the gospel to the nations. No wonder the Bible
calls the church the bride of Christ. Ephesians chapter five
says Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.
And so if Jesus loves the church that much, shouldn't
we friends. Don't just attend church, be the church. Commit
(07:37):
yourself with your prayers and your presence, your service, and
your giving. The church is God's plan to change the world.
Hebrews chapter ten, verses twenty four and twenty five tells us,
let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but
(07:57):
encouraging one another. And all the more you see the
day drawing near. And so let's value the local church
because God does. Thanks for joining me today on words
of truth. If this podcast encouraged you, share it with
a friend, and always keep walking in the light of
(08:18):
God's word.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!