Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, January 9, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:

WHY I LOVE THE LOCAL CHURCH

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-28

Text: Acts 9:28

Acts 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Introduction: Before he was saved, Saul hated God, although he thought that he loved Him. He hated Christ. He hated Christians. He hated local churches. However, when he got saved, all that changed.

Even though he was saved, Ananias at first didn’t want to baptize him. When he moved into Jerusalem and tried to join the church, at first the church didn’t want him as a member. When they finally accepted them, though, he became one OF them. When the doors opened, he came in. When they closed, he went out. He was WITH them COMING IN and GOING out.

Every saved person ought to be identified with a local church. It should be the right kind of church — independent, Bible-believing, fundamental, Baptist. It should be the right church — a particular church in a particular location through which God wants you to serve.

Not all saved people attend church. They should. Not all saved people are church members, although they should be.

When I was saved in 1968, I became very “churchy.” I haven’t missed a Sunday morning, Sunday night, or Wednesday night service in a quarter of a century.

My oldest daughter, now 26, hasn’t missed more than a couple of church services in her life, including the times she has been in the hospital bearing children. My youngest daughter, 21, hasn’t missed a church service in her life, that we can remember. At our Watch Night service this year she was so sick with fever that she lay in the nursery during the break, but she was here.

One of the main decisions in life is to be in the right church. There is no perfect church, but there IS a church that is perfect for YOU. You should join it, and you should attend it.

I believe so strongly about this, that I think if your job hinders you from coming to every service of your church, you should change jobs. I believe that if where you live hinders you from coming to every service of your church, you should MOVE.

I don’t just go to a local church out of a sense of duty, although that is reason enough. I go to the local church because I LOVE IT!

I love church for, among other reasons, the things I found there. Let me mention a few of them for you today.

I. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MAN WHO FOUND ME

Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Luke 15:3-6 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

What is a real blessing is to learn that the reason you were looking for God is that God had already been looking for you!

A. The Sovereign found the subject

I was rebellious against the Creator!

B. The Spirit found the sinner

He reproved me of sin, righteousness, and judgment!

C. The Shepherd found the sheep

I had been going my own way – Isa. 53:6

I will give more details about how this happened in my next point:

II. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MERCY THAT FORGAVE ME

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

A. Through the providence of God

My family had never been church-goers.
My grandmother moved in with us. She was saved, and wanted to attend a good Bible-preaching church.
We visited one, and I heard God’s word preached.

B. Through personal soul-winning

That week, the pastor and another man visited our home. I got under conviction that night and would have gotten saved, if anyone had spoken to me.

C. Through the power of the Spirit of God

The Holy Ghost of God was working on my heart.
I was under conviction for days trying to get relief about my sins and my destiny!

D. Through the preaching of the gospel

It was at church on a Sunday morning that I really understood that Jesus died for me, and I trusted Him as my Savior!

III. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MATE WHO FIT ME

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

A. I met her in church

I sat beside this cute little girl in Vacation Bible School. She was (and still is) a knockout).

B. I married her in church (the same one)

C. I molded her (and me .. and our kids) in church

We never missed a service.
We took notes.
We got as close to our preacher and the people of God as we could.

IV. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MISSION THAT FOCUSED ME

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A. The will of the Savior for my life

Mar. 20, 1972 – I surrendered to God’s call to the ministry, in a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church of Havre de Grace, Maryland.
That summer it was through being a part of a local church that I came to the realization that I should get out of the Southern Baptist Convention!

B. The witness of salvation to the lost

I learned in church to go soul-winning!

C. The watching for the soon return of my Lord

V. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MUSIC THAT FILLS MY HEART

Ephesians 5:18-19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

A. I have a new setting for my music

B. I have a new structure for my music

C. I have a new subject for my music

D. I have a new source for my music

E. I have a new spirit in my music

VI. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MEDICINE THAT FIXED ME UP

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A. My joy is constant now

Someone has said that HAPPINESS depends on HAPPENINGS. But JOY just depends on JESUS! Amen!

B. My joy is clean now

C. My joy is constructive now

That is, my merriment of heart is intended to strengthen those who may be sad, depressed, or weak.

VII. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH I FOUND THE MESSAGE THAT FIRED ME UP

2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

A. Having it preserved fires me up

B. Holding it personally fires me up

C. Hearing it preached fires me up

It was in a local church that I learned about the Bible version controversy and discovered the truth about God’s preserved word in the King James Bible!

It was in a local church that I learned to rightly divide the word of truth!

It was in a local church that I learned to apply this Book to my life! It was in a local church that I learned to use the Bible to rear my children!

It was in a local church that I learned to preach and teach this Book to others!

I PLAN TO EMPHASIZE THE LOCAL CHURCH UNTIL I GO HOME TO GLORY!

IF YOU’RE SAVED, GET IN A LOCAL CHURCH AND ATTEND IT EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE OPENED! DON’T MISS A SERVICE! GET BUSY IN IT!

And, by the way, make sure that church is an independent, Bible-believing (AV 1611), fundamental, Baptist church!