Do you have questions about the function and role of the church today?

The Well, many people do. And here in the Prophecy Watcher studio to discuss that question with me is Andy Woods. Good to see you again, Andy.

It's always a privilege to be back, and thanks for having me.

It's a privilege to talk with you because I should mention right up front that Andy is the author of this book,

The Coming Kingdom, which I consider to be an extremely important book,

because it deals with a question that I just asked.

The function and role of the church today is often, I think, misapplied, misinterpreted. I know you do too. And I'd like to spend some time talking with you about your view of the church. What's the church doing? I know what I'm doing. I am awaiting the return

of the Lord Jesus Christ at any moment. And of course I'm doing other things in the meantime.

Let's go into this subject and kind of open it up.

Well, one of the things the church is not doing, we could start there I guess, is the church is not setting up the kingdom on the earth. And that's a shock to a lot of people because when you look at people's marquees and mission statements and vision statements in their Christian activities,

you almost always see the word kingdom.

You know, I'm the kingdom man or I'm a kingdom builder or kingdom this, kingdom that.

But the reality of the situation is the kingdom, as defined in the Bible, is not something that man

can set up. It's something that only Christ can set up. That's why chapter 19 of Revelation

comes before chapter 20 of Revelation. Chapter 19 is the return of Christ. Revelation 20 is the

kingdom that follows. So since Christ himself is going

to set up the kingdom, I don't really waste my time trying to set up the kingdom. What I think

the role of the church is is to fulfill the great commission, which is basically to reach and teach

and evangelize and disciple.

And I think the church basically has three purposes.

Number one, to glorify God.

Number two, Ephesians 321.

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