In Conrad Mbewe's sermon, 'The Church Christ's Method,' the church is highlighted as essential for individuals and families, as it aligns with Christ's method of disciple-making. The Great Commission, which involves making disciples, baptizing, and teaching, is central to the church's mission. The church serves as a place for nurturing and instruction under the guidance of shepherds and elders, who ensure the teachings of Christ are upheld. It is also a community where believers encourage one another and find respite from worldly pressures, fulfilling the biblical call for fellowship as described in Malachi. The church's importance is repeatedly emphasized in nurturing faith and promoting obedience to God's commands.
I can never overemphasize the place of the church in individuals and families simply because that's Christ's method. He made the point quite clear before ascending to heaven that we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe or to obey everything that I have commanded you. That's the great commission that was given to the apostles and it's replicated as the church has been multiplying across the entire globe. The point there being therefore that the church is that place where again, individuals, families get together to be instructed in the ways of the Lord. The Lord Jesus made it very clear that he was going to leave his people under shepherds.
And the shepherds were the ones who were to ensure that the people of God are nurtured. And so you have a lot of that under elders right across the book of Acts, into the epistles and so on. And their role is again to ensure that the crown rights of Christ are applied and upheld in the lives of those who come to the place of worship. It's also a place where again individuals and families get to interact with one another, to be encouraged by one another. The words that we find towards the end of Malachi, chapter 3 going to chapter 4 about those who feared the Lord spoke to one another and God listened and took note of not just what they were saying, but of them.
And he says in the end that they shall be mine when he will be bringing judgment upon the rest of the world. So It's a place where God's people come away from so much of the pressure that is there in the world to meet for fellowship, to encourage one another, and to hear the preaching of God's Word. I say Again, I cannot overemphasize the place of the church in that respect.