Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

Today we are officially ending our series entitled “Family Matters” with a final sermon on church membership.

I’ve titled this message the Meaning of Membership because in it I want to answer the question of “what does it MEAN to be a member of a local church?

Particularly, at Broadview Baptist Church, what are the expectations of membership and why should anybody really want to be a member of this local church?

Is it anything more than just “making it official” or “signing the dotted line?” (not that we have any dotted lines or require signatures for membership)

This message is the summation of a series we’ve been going through for about two months now.

After this morning we’ll resume our series in the book of Revelation.

Review of Series

If you’ll remember back to the beginning of this series we spend some time asking the question “Why do churches matter and what matters in the church?”

The answer to that question was pretty simple.

Churches matter because they are God’s PRIMARY vehicle for continuing the ministry of Jesus on the earth.

It’s his chosen institution.

This is made explicit in Ephesians 3:10-11

Ephesians 3:10–11 (CSB)

10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.

11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The church was purchased by Christ blood, entrusted with Christ’s authority and commissioned to carry on Christ’s ministry to the ends of the earth.

This is why Broadview exists and this is why every local church exists.

Thankfully, Christ has given the church particular gifts to help them accomplish this mission and live out their purpose.

We’ve listed four.

You could add more but not less.

The ordinances (baptism/lord’s supper)

The offices (pastors/deacons)

The Holy Spirit

The Word of God (particularly the Gospel).

We saw how the ordinances act as a door into God’s house.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are only available to those who are truly regenerate.

We saw how a healthy church has a healthy structure.

In a healthy church structure “Christ rules (he’s the senior pastor), the congregation affirms the leadership of Christ, pastors lead the congregation to know and discover Christ’s will and finally deacons serve the congregation to help the pastor in shepherding the church.

When it comes to the Word of God and the Spirit of God we saw that they are basically two sides of the same coin.

We want to be a church that is centered on God’s Word and filled with God’s Spirit.

When we do that, the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to transform us into the image of Christ.

My Disciple Statements

This is Christ’s design for the local church.

When it submits itself to this design amazing things begin to happen.

People, within that local church, will begin to be transformed more and more into the image of Jesus.

At Broadview, we have “marks” or “proofs” of that transforming work.

Sometimes we refer to them as the “my disciple” statements of Jesus.

We’ve examined several of them throughout this series.

They are all part of our vision frame we’ve used throughout this series.

Members of a healthy church, with a healthy structure, submitted to Christ’s design will have members who

Abide in Christ’s Word (The Gospel)

John 8:31 (CSB)

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.

John 15:5 (CSB)

5 I am the vine; you are the branches.

The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Love One Another

John 13:34–35 (CSB)

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another.

Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Bear Much Fruit

John 15:7–8 (CSB)

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

In other words, they will be people who abide in Christ’s Word, love His people and bear fruit in His mission.

As we saw last week, they will be a people of faith who express that faith though acts of love.

(Gal 5:6) Love for God, for one another, for the world.

The love that Christians have for one another isn’t a watered-down, wishy-washy sentimentality.

It’s a love the begins and ends in God himself.

It’s a love that celebrates and cultivates holy goodness in the life of the beloved.

Imagine a Church

Imagine a Church wherein that kind of love was given and displayed.

Imagine a church where truth is preached, Christ is experienced and people are changed.

Imagine a church where God’s power and God’s wisdom were perfectly displayed through an imperfect people.

That’s the beauty of the local church.

But for that to happen, every member must play his or her part.

In other words, there are “expectations” to membership in a local church.

When these expectations are met then you’ll see God begin to do amazing things in the life of a church.

So what does that look like?

What are the expectations a local church should have for their church members?

That’s what I want to spend the rest of our time talking about this morning.

Membership Expectations

Our membership expectations all flow out of our disciple-making pathway.

You hear me talk about it all the time.

Worship (in a Gathering),

Connect (in a Group),

Bless (others on a team).

Our church is committed to making these environments compelling and engaging.

They are the bread and butter of our local church.

But membership in a local church is a two way street.

We have certain expectations - particularly for our members.

Every one of our membership expectations flow out of our disciple-making pathway.

Here are the seven expectations in order:

Attend Regularly

Grow Continually

Connect Relationally

Give Generously

Serve Faithfully

Live Missionally

Walk Humbly

Attend Regularly

The first pillar is to attend regularly.

We can’t fulfill our purpose if our members are never/rarely present.

You will neither benefit nor effectively participate in church membership if you’re not physically present when we gather.

The New Testament is not unclear on this expectation.

Hebrews 10:24–25 (CSB)

24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The author of Hebrews is writing to a group of Christians who are going through a difficult season, had become spiritually immature and apathetic towards the things of God.