God’s Plan A – ‘The Local Church’

What is the Purpose of the Church?

Light travels - 5.87 trillion miles per year

Milky Way - 587,000 Trillion miles across

Milky Way = 100 billion stars

But why on earth did God make it?

For His Glory!

Circa 1 Million galaxies

What is the Purpose of the Church?

1. God created everything for his glory

‘For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.’

Colossians 1:16

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.’

Isaiah 40:25

What is the Purpose of the Church?

1. God created everything for his glory

2. Israel was called for God’s glory

"You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendour."

Isaiah 49:1-3

‘I bound the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to me,' declares the LORD, `to be my people for my renown and praise and honour.

Jeremiah 13:11

"I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.“

Exodus 9:16

‘When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his

mighty power known.’

Psalm 106:7-8

What is the Purpose of the Church?

1. God created everything for his glory

2. Israel was called for God’s glory

3. Jesus lived and worked for God’s glory

‘He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.’

John 7:18

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"

John 12:27

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you’

John 17:1

‘If it is possible let this cup pass from me; never the less, not my will but yours be done!

Luke 22:42

What is the Purpose of the Church?

1. God created everything for his glory

2. Israel was called for God’s glory

3. Jesus lived and worked for God’s glory

4. The Purpose of the church is to glorify God

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace’

Ephesians 1:4-6

‘In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise

of his glory.’

Ephesians 1:11-12.

What is the Purpose of the Church?

1. God created everything for his glory

2. Israel was called for God’s glory

3. Jesus lived and worked for God’s glory

4. The Purpose of the church is to glorify God