On Being Church
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and transformation within the church as a body of believers.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature of Christian faith and the church, highlighting that the church is a collective of individuals united in Christ, each with unique responsibilities. He argues that improvement within the church comes from the growth of its individual members rather than through external committees or collective efforts. Tozer illustrates that each person is born, judged, and healed individually, stressing that the Holy Spirit works on each believer personally. Misunderstanding the church's nature leads to ineffective solutions for its challenges. Therefore, true transformation must begin within each individual believer.
Text
First, they misunderstand the nature of Christian faith. . . . Second, they misunderstand the nature of the church. You see, the church is a body of individuals united in Christ but having separate individual responsibilites. Thus the body is improved only as we improve the individuals that compose the body. The Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost on approximately 120 people. But it fell on them individually, and if any had hardened themselves they would have been passed over. Each person is born individually even if he or she is one of a set of triplets.
We are born one at a time, and we die one at a time; we face judgment one at a time and, if we as Christians are sick, we will be cured one at a time.
The body is composed of individuals, and to say, "All right, let's form committees to look into it," is trying to do by a dozen people what God cannot do for one person--fix the problem by external means. It does not work, and it will never work. Because we misunderstand the nature of the church, we misunderstand how to solve the problem.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Misunderstanding the nature of Christian faith - The importance of individual responsibility - The role of the Holy Spirit
- II points: - Understanding the church as a body - The significance of individual improvement - The limitations of collective solutions
- III points: - The process of individual judgment - The necessity of personal transformation - The impact of individual actions on the church
Key Quotes
“The body is improved only as we improve the individuals that compose the body.” — A.W. Tozer
“Each person is born individually even if he or she is one of a set of triplets.” — A.W. Tozer
“It does not work, and it will never work.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize your individual role in the church and strive for personal growth.
- Engage with the Holy Spirit personally to foster transformation.
- Avoid relying solely on group efforts to address spiritual issues; focus on individual change.