Lecture. Covenant membership

Why join a local church?

Give reasons....

Theology of Ekklesia

We talked about this a couple of weeks ago as we discussed the biblical foundation of what church is in the bible.

Does anyone remember the two foundational pieces of Ekklesia?

Identity:

Identity: The church’s identity is primarily and wholly based on the truth that we are called by God

First, the identity was primarily and wholly based on this truth…that they were called by God.

the root word for ekklesia, is Kaleo…yeah you are getting your greek in. It means Called. Ekklesia quite literally means the ones assembled that were called by God.

the identity of these groups had nothing to do with what the people looked like, where they met, who their specific leader was, where they had rock and roll worship band or choral and incense, identity was not based on how nice they were (though they should be), or how great their missions was or childcare and children’s ministries....the identity began with those people are called by God. Individually and collectively they are a community that has seen God and is responding to God.

Purpose:

Mission: The church is built and shaped by a shared purpose

the other thing we get from the biblical understanding of ekklesia is that they shared a purpose, God’s purpose.

The only time in the gospels that Jesus speaks and this word ekklesia shows up is in Matthew. When Jesus tells the 12 and Peter that it is upon them that he will build his church he is declaring the calling to “become a light to the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Is. 49:6)

Giving and service:

What we didnt get into here is the joining of resources here. This is why we talk about local church giving and the importance of it.

Theology of the body

Then there is the theology of the body. All throughout the NT there is this analogy of the body of Christ. Christ is the head, members are connected to one another. This analogy talks about different gifts that are given and provided through members of the body and the call for communal service:

Romans 12:4–8 NIV

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Sanctification

Again this is a body passage but look where it goes....

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head

Wesley:

“I was more convinced than ever that the preaching like an apostle, without joining together those that are awakened and training them up in the ways of God, is only begetting children for the murderer. How much preaching has there been for these twenty years all over Pembrokeshire! But no regular societies, no discipline, no order or connection. And the consequence is that nine in ten of those once awakened are now faster asleep than ever.”

Not only local church here but specifically into more localized discipleship groups. Classes and bands.

A subset of sanctification is accountability:

Accountability

Long passage here but look at some key parts that Paul begins to highlight about accountability and even not being in community with those that are not striving after Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:1–13 NIV

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Let me talk about one more. I wont build the biblical case for pastor, overseer, etc. But that is there is well. The NT establishes order for these gatherings with Spiritual oversight:

First calling of the pastor

1 Peter 5:1–4 NIV

1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

And the accountability of the pastor

Hebrews 13:17 NIV

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

I am not showing this to you so that I am getting an opportunity to say “hey respect my authority.”

But let me pose a challenge in the day that we live in....

Recently, I was asked if I could go and visit a member’s family member in prison because something critical was going on…I also had a full day of hospital visits.

This is further compounded when you consider the fact that so many that attend church do not join the church.

Church membership clarifies for me who I am spiritually responsible for.

As a church, and as leadership, we need to know who is a part of the covenant community.

What local church should I join?

Well I put before you, that it should be more theological than preferential.

Too much of church is focused on things that are not important. Billy Abraham talks about evangelism as the initiation into the kingdom of God. He says there are historical, theological, realities that are present when we come to Christ:

“It is said that we are born again, that we have been fully justified or acquitted before God, and that we have been raised from death to life. We are like someone who has been awakened out of a deep sleep, we are converted from darkness to light, and we have experienced the firstfruits of the age to come. We have been adopted into the family of God, we have entered into the new covenant, and we have become members of the body of Christ. We have been incorporated into the kingdom of God, we have been initially sanctified and set aside for the service of God to the world, and we have become bond-slaves of Jesus Christ. We have repented of our sin, we have been enlightened and convicted of the Holy Spirit, and we have come to trust not in ourselves or our merits but in the mercy and grace of God. We have been saved from our sins, we have been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ, and we have been given the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. We have been set free to love God, we have been sent forth to love our neighbor as ourselves, and we have been equipped to stand up against the forces of evil that would hold us in bondage. We have been baptized with water, and we have tested the powers of the age to come.”

Join a church where this is the primary thing. Where this is cultivated in you and through you. Where you are joined to others on this path and this work is cultivated.

Where are you being joined and confirmed into the image of Christ.

Secondarily, know what your church believes.