Why You Need the Local Church, Part 1: Shepherding, Care, and Prayer

The church is pre-eminent in God's program, a primary means of grace through which Christ is working in this age until He returns to gather up His church to Himself for a wedding
supper that will be the universe's greatest party ever! Christ promised to build His church – it's
the one institution on earth He has guaranteed and promised will not fail ultimately.
The church is called the flock of God which He purchased with His own precious blood. And
those who are His sheep need to be in a flock with under-shepherds reporting to the Chief
Shepherd. Sheep aren't designed to be independent of other sheep or shepherds. In the gospels
we read whenever Jesus saw sheep without a shepherd, it saddened His heart. There are multitudes in our country today who for a variety of reasons intentionally want to be sheep
without shepherds (Bible word for pastors/Elders). Many sheep aren't part of a flock, though
they may come and feed with a flock at times. It must sadden the heart of Christ again today seeing multitudes of sheep who don't put themselves under shepherds or treat lightly the church that Christ shed His own precious life-blood to redeem.
Any number of excuses may be given by independent sheep:

• they haven't found a flock where the sheep are enough like them
• they've had bad experiences in the past with sheep or shepherds
• they think the food being offered doesn't match their tastebuds
• the shepherd won't get on their agenda for which pasture is best
• the music doesn't match their style or former flock or favorites
• there's not enough different types of programs for my interests
  See sermon notes PDF for the rest