CHURCH MATTERS: Membership Matters (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

Augusta National Golf Course

course is only open to public during Masters tournament

how to become member?

if ask, probably never will

membership only by invitation

1 of 300 resign membership then decide who to invite with their $40,000 initiation fee

it’s not about the money

it’s about the prestige

some of most powerful men (Warren Buffet and Bill Gates) and now 4 women (Condoleeza Rice one of first 2 in 2012)

perks

issued green jacket

access to all resort-type amenities (swimming pool, dining areas, golf course)

the idea of exclusive membership has crept into church

church is to serve me and my preferences

blank screen

Expectations vs. Commands

Francis Chan with church leaders

list things people expect from their church

really good service

strong children/youth ministries

certain style of singing

well-communicated sermon

conveniences (parking, clean church building, coffee, childcare)

list commands God gave the Church in Scripture

love one another as I have loved you

visit orphans and widows in their affliction

bear one another’s burdens

make disciples of all nations

which would upset people more…

if church didn’t provide things from first list?

OR

if church didn’t obey the commands in the second list?

would you get more upset that we change the color of this carpet to blue or that we are not making disciples?

when church gatherings are about me being served and getting my preferences

stinks to high heaven

we are here to serve, not be served

what if church were about outserving one another?

have you ever been in a room filled with humble people who count others more significant than themselves?

a-ma-zing!

when servants gather together, everyone is built up

who wouldn’t want to be part of that church?

that is what it looks like in a healthy church full of healthy members

Membership Matters

what is a church?

everyone present? no

saved people? yes

but all saved people in world? Texas? Nacogdoches?

saved people committed to other saved people who gather here? yes = members

clarity on membership before proceed

1. no one is saved by church membership or church attendance

2. church membership is a local church’s affirmation that the member is continuing to give evidence of genuine Christian salvation

3. church membership is a commitment to one other here

“We believe that the universal church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for pastoral care and discipline, making disciples and for evangelism.” FCC What We Believe

turn in your Bible to the 2nd book on church membership, chapter 12

so much of NT makes little to no sense w/o membership

obey your leaders for they will give an account (Heb 13:17)

one another passages

Paul wrote to A local church

a church is like a body made up of members

pew Bible # 1,139

God designed the local church to be one body with many members

God designed the local church

12:18

God is not borrowing “member” from a club

it is His idea

when criticize church, you are criticizing God’s work

like saying, “I like Jesus but not His bride”

it would be like you standing in front of a painting and criticizing

later to find out the artist is within earshot

God designed every one of His children to be a member of local church

member/part is in every verse except 12:13, 17, 21

thus being member/part of local church is being part of something God designed

not to be connected as a believer is unbiblical

God designed all members to be different, yet united in Christ

12:12-13

how are many members made into one body?

baptized by one Spirit

united in Christ

baptized by HS into universal church (invisible)

manifested by baptism in local church (visible)

NT assumes all Christians are physically baptized

when spiritually baptized, given spiritual gift for benefit of whole body (12:7)

at salvation, HS resides and gifts

a healthy church needs diversity in spiritual gifts

many members (12:12)

Jews, Greeks, slaves, free (12:13)

not one member but many (12:14)

diversity, not uniformity, is essential for a healthy church

but this is not natural

our society doesn’t celebrate diversity

any difference gives excuse to make fun of

clear we don’t have all the same spiritual gift

12:28-30

we desire unity amidst diversity

Nac NOW

universal church

visible on one night

united in Christ no matter our differences

BUT Paul writing to local church

Trinity—same Spirit (12:4); same Lord (12:5); same God (12:6)

1 God; 3 persons

thus, this should be reflected in the church—synergy

we are better together than we are individually

God designed all members to be equally important

what is the most important part of the body? head

then who is the head of the church? Christ

which member is most important?

not who you think…not the pastor

12:14-20

which member is most important?

all members are important

not all the same (12:19) one eyed monstrosity

different gifts

12:7

ask every new member how they plan to serve with their spiritual gift

do you know your spiritual gift(s)?

Spiritual Gifts Survey

mainly affirmed by fellow church members

you don’t determine your spiritual gift

you discern the gift God gave you

whether you like the gift of not

all members are needed

yet many members don’t contribute

many are consumers rather than servants

it works like this

put money in the offering plate

pays for staff salaries

staff do their jobs to minister to people

efficient and effect

just not what God wants

God wants you to serve the body with your spiritual gift

why do some members not contribute???

if you feel inferior or insignificant (“the church doesn’t need me”),

we need you

feeling insignificant doesn’t make you right

opposite of God’s design

without you we are not complete

for Corinth, it was those w/o spiritual gift of tongues felt useless

today, it may be that you are not as noticeable as other parts

not up on the stage

don’t think: I feel like the big toe so I don’t matter

you ever stubbed your big toe??? you need your big toe!

never think

my contribution is too small

I’m not using my spiritual gift on the stage, so I’m not important

we need you in the way the HS gifted you

mercy seems minor BUT empathizes and keep other aware

faith seems behind the scenes BUT encourages the whole church

all members are important but…

no member is more important than another

12:21-24a

if you feel superior/self-sufficient (“we don’t need them”),

don’t understand God’s design

others only seem to be weak

yet, God says they are indispensable (12:22)

unpresentable parts (private parts) are treated with greater modesty (12:23)

crazy thing, you are really dependent on them

in God’s economy

the lowly (clean toilets) are elevated

do we elevate those who seem to be insignificant? because they are significant

either way—if think insignificant (not needed) or if think superior (don’t need others)

then you are saying, “God, you don’t know what you are doing!”

12:18

it takes a monster-sized ego to say that God doesn’t know what He is doing

what happens when we neglect these principles from 1 Cor 12?

membership parable

we must celebrate different gifts in our church

then tongues

if didn’t have it, then felt useless or not part of body

now “showy” gifts where in front of people

if can’t utilize spiritual gift in front of a crowd,

then feel useless or not part of body

we will not be whole without you

limp along

arm doing legs job

ear doing fingers job

12:18

not only are all members equally important…

God designed a church body to have equal love for all members

12:24b-27

opposite of division is NOT unity, but equal love for all members (12:25)

if we fully grasp and implement this concept, then those outside the church will “drop their jaws”

at a baseball game, how do you know them? church

at a funeral, how do you know them? church

at a graduation, how do you know them? church

at the hospital, how do you know them? church

doesn’t have to be the pastor

equal love

helps prevent people from slipping through cracks or needs overlooked

less likely to turn the other way towards people in their sin

cliques will be destroyed

love for physical family…God wants in church family

you probably don’t geehaw with everyone in your family

no different in church body

BUT this equal love comes from above

breaks down walls

different race, age, interests, social status, hobbies, etc.

opposite of cliques or clubs, FAMILY of God

BEAUTY OF CHURCH—boundary crossing love that unifies

slave/free, Greek/Jew, hands/eyes/nose/big toe

this is God’s design for the church and it is beautiful

who wouldn’t want to be part of this kind of church?

we want to grow in our equal love

TODAY sit with new people at lunch

ask how long at FCC

get to know you questions (family, work, hobbies, etc)

pray for one another

membership directory with pictures

gotta know them (who are the members??? cause not everyone on Sunday)

gotta pray for each other

gotta love on them (more next week)

black screen

God’s design for the church is beautiful

do you believe this to be true?

if saved, what church are you a member?

pray if this is where the Lord wants you to unite

membership class 2/4

if member, are you serving the church body with your spiritual gift?

where do you need to grow?

in trusting Christ as Lord and Savior?

in valuing the local church?

in viewing your service to the church as important?

in viewing yourself as equal, not greater?

in loving your fellow members?