Chapter 2: Who Can Belong to a Church?

Matthew 16:18 CSB

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

INTRO—

Tribe…Language…People…Nation [Revelation 5.9]:

“The Tribe has spoken.”

“Now, you’re speaking my language.”

“Hello, my peeps!”

“We are…we are…the youth of the nation.”

Revelation 5:9 “And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Who can belong to a church?

…AND a word about attending and belonging… [“A Christian without a church is a Christian in trouble.”]

BELONGING — How?

“You must be born again.”

John 3:3 “Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

[This is rather straightforward…]

John 3:5 “Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

[…yet one Jesus was careful to reemphasize even in the immediacy of this conversation with Nicodemus.]

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

[P. 32 Par. 1 & 3…]

[This is the simple, straight-forward Gospel witness…There is no other name given among men by which we can be saved—Jesus Christ, alone!]

“What is your Gospel story??” — If your not sure you have one, we need to talk.

BELONGING — Blessing

“Adopted as sons and daughters.”

‘Family Photo’

God, the Father — Planned our adoption

Ephesians 1:5 “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

God, the Son — Our true older brother

Galatians 4:4–5 “When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

God, the Spirit — Bears witness to our adoption

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,”

Sooo, what about us?

[God chooses to bring us into his family—this is the very definition of adoption!—and the blessing is amazing!!]

Romans 8:17 “and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

Ephesians 1:11 “In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,”

[[Ephesians 1:14 “The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.” ]]

BELONGING — Opportunity

“Set apart.”

Jeremiah 31:33 ““Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

[P. 41 Par. 2…]

1 Peter 1:14–16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”

Adoption impacts us…we are now—His children! Called to follow our Father (actions, words, attitude…; HOLY!)

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

CONCL—

INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS!!

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”

Belonging isn’t assimilation into universal uniformity…We are members of this local body of believers—a community (singular plurality)…AND, we are individuals who bring a unique identity to this family!

From every tribe…language…people…nation.

INVITATION:

Salvation

Encourage Belonging

Invite to Belonging

Revelation 5:9–10 CSB

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.