Church Matters: Membership Matters (1 Corinthians 12)

Philmont Scout Ranch

10-day hiking (all gear and food)

don’t like hiking

crazy idea: wake up early to see sunrise on Mt Baldy

optional to go up Mt Baldy

leave at 3:30???

I wasn’t having it

it was coolish, but not worth it for me

many churchgoing people likely feel the same way I did bout hiking in regards to church membership

INDIFFERENT

2 categories

essential (salvation; heaven/hell)

unimportant

if only 2 categories, then understandable that church membership falls in unimportant

many Christians don’t have a strong opinion of church membership 

but what does God have to say through His Word???

Church Matters: Membership Matters

no set passage that gives current practice

but so much of NT makes no sense without it

before we answer, what is church membership?

let’s start with the fundamentals—what is truly essential

you will see church membership is far from unimportant

what is a Christian?

a person who has lots of change going on in life

your relationship with God is changed

broken relationship with God due to willful sin

GOSPEL—“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15)

requires response

reach end of yourself

realize no hope in this life or beyond

repent (turn from your way of life)

believe (trust Jesus)

you???

result

declared righteous (imputation)

forgiven by God

reconciled to God

indwelling of Holy Spirit to live life pleasing to God

new way of life

surrendered to Jesus’ ways

assurance be with God in heaven because of what Jesus did for you

but that’s not it

your relationship with God’s people is changed

corporate not just personal

personal relationship with Jesus BUT more than that

Eph 2:11-16 pew Bible # 1160

fellow citizens (2:19)

members of the household of God (2:19)

no orphans

God called you into fellowship with the whole family

metaphors for church abound in NT

family

fellowship

body

bride

people

temple

never does NT give category for Christian existing apart from a local church

impossible to answer what is a Christian? without a conversation about the local church

our relationship with Jesus establishes a relationship with His body = the Church

God doesn’t mean for us to pick and choose the relationships with Christians “out there”

He means to establish relationships with actual flesh-and-blood, step-on-your-toes Christians that meet right here

what is a local church?

ἐκκλησία—ekklesia

Jesus uses in 2 ways

Matthew 16:18

universal (invisible) church

global community of Christian throughout time

Matthew 18:17

local (visible) church

Christians meeting at a particular location

overwhelming use in NT

FCC—what we believe

how does a Christian commit to the universal church??? pick and choose

how does a Christian commit to the local church??? far more clear NT intent

Hebrews 10:24–25

so much of our Christian life is lived out in the context of our local church

vague conception of universal church vs. flesh-and-blood reality of local church

local church most inefficient way to become more like Jesus because made up of sinners???

maybe so, but where else do you have “opportunities” to grow???

if you pick and choose who you commit yourself to, then easy

no one sits on the couch and builds muscles

if you bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2), then fruit of the Spirit are necessary

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

forgiveness is necessary

towards those who sin against me & those I sin against

because Christ has forgiven us and we want to display that gospel truth to others

we display the gospel far better together in ways you cannot alone

what is a local church? a group of Christians committed to Christ and one another

this definition is a reminder that a local church is made up of PEOPLE

easy to forget this

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25)

church is not a place or a building, but a people

if I let my preference on music style dictate my feeling about a church

I have looked past “the people” and made church more about “the place” or a “service”

Rodney Woo

when the music is more important than the people

we have made church more about a place or a service than the people

it’s not about what we want

but Christ’s glory

we should be committed far more to Christ and His people here

than to a place or our preference

the people of the church are not a hindrance to your growth as a Christian

you may think you can grow better apart from a local church

God’s Word over and over in the NT says otherwise

fellow members play a vital role in your spiritual growth

what is church membership?

is it Biblical?

God has defined His people continually throughout the Bible

Noah’s family in the ark

Abraham’s family marked off by circumcision

NT church through baptism of believers and commitment to one another

meant to represent God on earth

members of what?

Members of a Local Church Body (1 Corinthians 12)

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

God designed the local church

12:18 pew Bible # 1140

God is not borrowing “member” from a club—it is His idea

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

member/part is in every verse except 12:15, 17, 21

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

remember, Christ died for the church

not to be connected as a believer is unbiblical

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

12:12-14

baptized by HS into universal church

manifested by baptism in local church

NT assumes all Christians are physically baptized after salvation

Acts—believed then baptized

God designed all members to be equally important

12:15-20

only 1 head of the church

hint: the One that died for her — Jesus

all other members are important because all are needed

if you are a member, you are to be a contributor (not a consumer)

WE NEED YOU!!! YOU ARE A VITAL PART OF THE BODY!!!

no matter your spiritual gift (visible or not), we are not whole without you

no member is more important than another

12:21-24a

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

then you are saying, “God, you don’t know what you are doing!” (12:18)

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

12:24b-27

when the local church loves like Jesus instructed (John 13:34-35)

we will display the beauty of the gospel

we all minister to one another (not just the “paid professionals”)

a love that breaks down walls can only come from above

different age, interests, economic or social status, hobbies, etc.

opposite of cliques or clubs

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?

what is church membership?

a church is its membership

but who makes up that membership???

all people present on a certain day?

people who have been coming for more than 1 month?

a Christian’s formal relationship with a local church

not exclusive country club

but redeemed people bought by the blood of Jesus 

whom He is transforming into His image

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

we care about you if you are here

we are responsible for you if you are a member

elder care

who can become a church member?

Christian

repent and believe (Mark 1:15) repent and believe the gospel

not perfect people here

not moral perfection but opposite

people who know they are not perfect

and hunger for righteousness

personal relationship

not through family member, but personally responded to gospel

God has no grandchildren

Baptized as a believer

baptism not necessary for salvation

BUT one of first steps of the Christian life is baptism

baptism is where your faith goes public

Acts 2:41

baptized by local church representative into membership

local church affirms your salvation

if not, who affirms your salvation but you?

greater credibility when local church affirms you are a legit follower of Jesus

Believe like we do

What We Believe (statement of faith)

we don’t believe like some of the other First Christian Churches in E TX

clearest parts of the Bible that hold us together (eclectic bunch)

membership class (5/4 @ 9a)

current members / inquiring Christians (see process / what we believe)

unsure if member??? call or email church office

if baptized here, then definitely a member

but we may not have records

getting better at our records

contact church office (Pastor Mark or myself)

Church Matters: Membership Matters

not to boost our numbers

not to increase our coffers

but to be a gospel-centered church

where disciples are made

church membership is a vital part of your growth as a Christian

I often tell people this:

We hope you become a member here at FCC

but more importantly we want you to be where God wants you to be

are you a Christian?

are you a member of a local church?

is God leading you to unite with FCC, or could it be to another local church?

are you a member at FCC?

God will ask each member of the local church body:

Did you serve your fellow members?

(Is God moving you from being a consumer to a contributor?)

Did you rejoice with the other members of the body when they rejoiced?

Did you mourn with those who mourned?

Did you treat the weaker parts as indispensable,

and did you treat the parts that most think less honorable with special honor?

Did you give double honor to those that led and taught you?

Christian, are you ready for the day on which God will call you to account for how you have loved and served the church family, including your church leaders?

Matt Moody announcement:

The general board has given Matt Moody time away from his duties (like a sabbatical) for him to focus on his mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. As a church family we ask that you pray for him to grow closer to Jesus. We also want to love on his family while he is away, and we look forward to his return in June.