Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE CHURCH AND SALVATION

1. An ever present question during forty years of public evangelism:
2. Many people have an apathy toward the church. To them the church is just another human organization which, at times, exists for exploitation:
3. There are some thought provoking reasons for a hostile attitude by some toward the church:
   1. Carelessness of some professed members of the church - their light has gone out.
   2. Lack of correct information about the church is still another reason for the opposition of some people to the church.

1. The book of Acts gives us some very enlightening information on our relationship to the church:
   1. In Acts 2:47 we read, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
   2. If we had no other information on the subject before us, this text would be sufficient to answer our question in the affirmative.
   3. God would not add people to the church to be saved if He had another way to save them! John 10:1-7
   4. The big reason for being added to the church is to be added unto the Lord - Acts 5:14. So to be added to the church is the same as being added to the Lord.
2. Christ and the church:
   1. His attitude toward the church -
      1. He loves the church - Eph. 5:25
   2. He gave himself for it - Eph. 5:25
      1. He says, "I am married unto you" - Jer. 3:14; Rev. 19:7, 8; 1 Cor. 11:1-4
   3. He is the builder of the church - Matt. 16:18
   4. He is the Head of the church - Eph. 1:22; 4:15

1. This is a very important point in the consideration of our subject:
   1. The church is God's way of sheltering His people against the enemies of the church.
   2. Christ speaks of it as "a sheepfold" - John 10:15, 16
   3. The church is God's depository of His truth - 1 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
   4. Paul calls the church, "the pillar and ground of truth" - 1 Tim. 3:15
2. The importance of the church is indicated further by:
   1. The gospel ordinances pointing into the church -
      1. Baptism - 1 Cor. 12:13
      2. Feetwashing - John 13:1-17
      3. The Lord's Supper - 1 Cor. 10:15, 16; 11:22-28
      4. Prayer for the sick - Jas. 5:14-16
   2. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are in the church - 1 Cor. 12:1-28; Eph. 4:11-18
   3. Paul compares the church and its members to the human body, which is a very important truth to consider - 1 Cor. 12:17- 25; Eph. 4:16
3. Must a person be a member of the church to be a Christian or to be saved?
   1. God says "yes" - Acts 2:46, 47
   2. Christ says "Must" - John 10:15, 16
4. Christ is the Head of the church; how then could we be connected with Christ and not with His mystical body?
5. The church of God has been entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ to save our souls; how then can we accept the gospel and yet refuse to be members of the church?
6. What would our lives be like or what would the world be like if it were not for the church of God?
7. It is an honor to be a member of the church, the finest group of people in this sinful world.