WHAT IS RIGHT WITH THE CHURCH 1
                           Eph.5:25-27

We are constantly hearing the wrong of the church.  I could give you a variety of things that are
wrong.  You could too.  Most of the things we call wrong are really criticisms and criticism is a
poor substitute for service.  "I don't go to church because of this or that."

There are more things "right" about the church than there is "wrong."

I.  THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION.
     A.  Matt.16:18 and 1 Cor.3:11.  The church is built on Christ not sinful Peter.
     B.  The perfect foundation enables the church to withstand storm after strom.
           1.  Holy Spirit issues.
           2.  Miracles today.
           3.  Marriage/divorce/remarriage.
           4.  Liberalism.

II.  THE CHURCH IS RIGHT IN ITS MEMBERSHIP.
      A.  Membership in the church depends on one obeying the gospel.
      B.  Members do not vote as to who is added.
      C.  God adds saved people to his church - Acts 2:47.  After they have obeyed the plan of         
            salvation.
      D.  There are no unsaved people in the church.

III.  THE CHURCH IS THE MOTIVATING INFLUENCE FOR GOOD.
       A.  Education.
       B.  Always fought for right against the wrong.
       C.  Women have a higher standing.
       D.  Homes for dependent children - Js 1:27.
       E.  Practical Christianity.

IV.  THE CHURCH IS RIGHT IN THAT IT HAS THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
        A.  It is the message of redemption and hope.  The message of salvation.
        B.  The message is the same today as when it was first given by the Holy Spirit.
        C.  Why change what God approves.
        D.  The message is God's love for man - John 3:16.
        E.  The message is Christ coming to be our saviour - Isa.53.
        F.  The message is man's response to God's love - Acts 2:37-38.
        G.  The message is the gospel - Rom.1:16.
        H.  There are facts to be believed and commandments to be obeyed and promises to be had.
        I.   The message offers light - Col.1:13.  The lamplighter will light a street lamp and go on    
              to another leaving the light.  Ps.119:105.
        J.  The message brings us to the cleansing foundation - Acts 22:16.  We know our sins are    
             many but Jesus washed them white as snow - Rom.6:4.
        K. This is the message the worlds needs.
V.  WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO THE CHURCH?
      A.  Too many of us treat the church lightly - Acts 20:28.
            1.  We need to get into the church - Be born of water and spirit - John 3:3-5.
            2.  The person who says church membership is unimportant is saying the church is of no   
                 value to him.
            3.  A Christian is somewhat life a ship which comes to port and has been anchored tied to 
                 the shore or it will drift away.  Unless we are active we will drift away.
     B.  We need to pray for the church.
     C.  We need to be faithful to all of its services. Heb.10:25.
     D.  We need to support its work.  You are in the greatest work on earth.  It must make you       
          feel good to be a minister, said a member.  But the preacher said, you are also in the            
          ministry.
     E. We can share the blessings of the church with others.
          1.  We have been saved - share that message of salvation.
          2.  We can be a light in a dark world.
                a.  A farmer awakened one morning and found that several inches of snow had fallen.   
                     He saw a car near his gate.  Arriving at the car he found two frozen bodies.  He         
                     said, as long as I  live I'll always keep a light burning so no one will ever be lost in   
                     the darkness again.
               b.  Do not light your light go out - Matt 5:13-16.

     D.