The Role of The Church - Part 2: Edification

Introduction

Without raising your hand: Who here has been hurt by the church, or someone in the church?

If you have, I bet there’s someone that immediately comes to mind. I’m sure the longer you have been part of a church, the more likely you are to answer yes, to that question.

In my past, there were two men that I cared very deeply about. They were leaders in the church, and they had a disagreement and there was a falling out, and I felt as if my parents had just divorced. This was early in my Christian walk and I was still under the impression that, because we were Christians, we were all filled with love for one another all the time and we always got along and we were always one big happy family. So when there was a rift between two Christian men that I cared so deeply for - it was a big splash of ink across this beautiful painting I had envisioned of how the church was supposed to be.

I wasn’t the only one affected - and some just got up and left the church and never came back.

And if you have been a Christian for a number of years, you’ll all have witnessed this in some regard.

The longer I myself reflected on this question, the more instances and stories I recall having witnessed or having heard.

Some people may have been so offended, they just left the church all together, never to go to another church.

Just this week, I heard a pastor recall an encounter he had: Someone had said to him that they were d-o-n-e with Christians and the church. That they were all just a bunch of hypocrites.

The pastor responded with a question about music, because this man was a musician. He asked, “If a pianist, during a recital, messes up Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, does it mean that Beethoven wasn’t a good composer?”

I thought that it was a perfect analogy.

Don’t judge Jesus by the flaws that are evident in his people. Church is not for the healthy, but for the sick. It is not for the self righteous, but for sinners.

Mark 2:17 ESV

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, it’s because you know you are a sinner. There is no forgiveness without confession first.

But knowing that we are a church full of broken people doesn’t mean that we don’t still feel the pain of resentment and hurt when someone in the family of God lets us down.

This is the third message in this little series I wanted to do, answering the question, “What is church?”

So far we’ve looked at who the church is: The ekklesia, the called. Those who have heard the good shepherds voice. We are the bride of Christ.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

And we began looking at the role of the church: Three

Ministry to God: Primary role is to worship God

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

We worship God by being a people of the gospel. We preach the gospel and we are a people that live out the gospel in our lives.

Ministry to believers: Edification

How do we take care of and treat one another?

Ministry to the World:

What is our role to those outside of the church?

When we were looking at what or who is the church, we looked at a number of different ways the Bible gives us metaphors to help us understand who we are.

A family - God the Father, the church are his adopted children

The temple - we are the temple of God in which his Spirit dwells

A vine - Christ is the vine, we are the branches

A flock

The bride of Christ

The body of Christ

The Body of Christ - Paul uses this image in two ways

Ephesians and Colossians: use the image to refer to the universal church

We should see ourselves as the body of Christ and he is the head

Romans and 1 Corinthians: the body is the local church and it refers to how we relate to one another

How does God want us to behave as His children. If God is our good Father and he has adopted us as sons and daughters into the family of Christ, as children, we look to God to know how we are to behave.

And that leads us to our passage this morning: Romans 12:1-10

In reality, I know that it’s not possible to cover this theme in one sermon. The whole of the Bible, but especially the NT is written for us to know who the church is and how the church is to behave. The letters to the churches are all written to give direction to us so that we can learn what is God’s will for us. Most of the letters, if not all, are written to correct wrong teaching about Jesus and the Christian life. And point us towards how we are to live in light of what Christ has done for us.

But this morning, looking at Romans 12 I want us to see how we are to minister to one another.

The role of the church:

Minister to God: through worship

Minister to one another: through edification or edifying one another.

Edification Definition

The word used for “edification” in the New Testament is oikodomé, which translates literally as “the building of a house.”

Dictionary: the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually. Uplift

Piece by piece - not all in one shot

Part 1: Discern the will of God (12:1-2)

v.1 Paul begins with an appeal - in earnestness he tells us to “present your bodies” your whole self as a “living sacrifice.”

Living sacrifice: everything you do, do in the service of Him

spiritual worship: reasonable service (KJV); rational service

In light of what Christ has done, this is not unreasonable to ask of you or to expect

You have been bought with the blood of Jesus

v.2 Through the transformation of our minds - our thinking, we will come to know and understand and agree with God’s will for us.

Gospel-changed minds

This is how Paul sets us up for the verses to follow

Part 2: Belonging to one another (12:3-5)

v.3 Sober judgement

In this discernment - perceiving the will of God, we view ourselves rightly, with “sober judgment”

has nothing to do with drinking alcohol

In light of who we are in Christ, we don’t think more of ourselves than we ought to

We do not boast in our wisdom and understanding - “sensibly”

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We think of ourselves with “sober judgment” “sensibly”

Be careful not to build ourselves up in our own self-importance

“Where would the church be without me?”

“You need me!”

Don’t permit your prideful thoughts to betray you

v.4,5 Belonging to one another

This is how we are to think of ourselves with regard to one another

sensible, sober judgment, thinking with a clear head about ourselves, we view ourselves as members of the body of Christ

The Body of Christ

A body has arms and hands; legs and feet; eyes, nose and ears

Paul uses the same metaphor in 1 Cor 12

1 Corinthians 12:14–19 ESV

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?

We are not merely individuals, we are members of “one body.” We are united in Christ, and because we are all united to Christ, we are united to one another. (12:5)

I belong to you - and you belong to me. We are connected. If one of us suffers, the rest of us should feel that suffering

1 Corinthians 12:24–26 ESV

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

We cannot live the Christian life alone thinking that we can just read our Bibles and have a full understanding of who God is, who Christ is, and what Christ has called us to do and how we might walk the Christian walk.

The Christian life is not meant to be one of solitude. Camped out at home, reading our bibles, thinking we have everything we need to live a full, Christian life in relationship with God.

God has placed people in our lives to help us build one another up. He has gifted men and women within the church with different abilities and strengths that we all may be built up (oikodome)

If you are separated from the body, the body feels it, and you who are absent should feel it, too.

Have you been apart from your brothers in Christ and sensed that longing to rejoin them? Do you miss it when you are away from Church a Sunday or two?

Sometimes, once in a while, it’s good to be away. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Part 3: Using our gifts to build one another up

So,

having presented our bodies as our “reasonable service” to God, and

having been transformed by the renewing of our minds,

in the will of God,

thinking of ourselves with sober, clear-headed humility towards one another as members of the body of Christ, and

belonging to one another

we build one another up.

God has given each of us gifts. Here Paul lists some of them, but it’s not an exhaustive list

[12:6-8]

I see many of you here, and I know that many of you have gifts that are not listed here. The list is inexhaustible. Just because you don’t feel you have one the gifts listed in the many verses that list the gifts of the saints, don’t feel like you are less than someone else. Every saint has something to contribute - maybe there’s something in there that God will reveal to you - maybe you are using your gift to bless others and you’re not even aware your doing it.

“if prophecy, in proportion to our faith”

Prophecy does not mean divine revelation from God - it does not mean hearing God’s voice in your mind and revealing new truth from God

All of God’s revelation given to us is here in God’s word. No one may add to it or subtract from it.

66 books: full revelation, inerrant, sufficient

The gift of preaching or teaching properly what God’s word says.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

KJV: “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

(12:7) serving - we serve one another in all kinds of ways

Meals, cleaning, maintenance, helping one another

Teaching in YG and children’s ministries, men’s group, ladies group

exhortation: encourage one another, uplift and urge along the path

Contributes: gives generously

Leads with zeal as a servant leader - not as someone who desires to lord it over everyone else

Doesn’t take offence and become defensive whenever someone disagrees with them

acts of mercy - showing kindness without judgment

Not helping only those you deem worthy of help

Strong words to myself and everyone else:

Building one another up explicitly means we are not tearing one another down. We are not looking to seek to have our own way. We are not gossiping behind one another’s backs. We don’t grumble and cause division within the church. We don’t stamp our feet because we don’t get our own way. This type of behavior is prideful and selfish and destroys the unity of the church. There is no room for this among God’s people. We have been transformed by the gospel and we leave that stuff behind. That is the attitude of the world. Turn away from it.

Instead, what does Paul say?

[12:9, 10]

Romans 12:10 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:10 CSB

Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.

We are united to Christ - and we are united to one another. We are connected to one another as your hand is connected to your arm is connected to your shoulder. When we build one another up - we build up ourselves. When we tear one another down, we tear ourselves down. We should seek to “outdo one another in showing honor.” Not just when you deem our brother or sister deserves it.

Are we to judge one another? Of course!

Are we to keep one another accountable? Of course! We don’t overlook flagrant, willful sinning within the body of Christ.

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

We are not running around looking at one another’s behaviour with a fine-tooth comb, ready to pounce when your brother or sister commits the slightest sin. But if your brother or sister is willfully sinning in a public or private way that is destructive to his or her family or the church, then we approach them in a spirit of gentleness and love. Still seeking to server them - “taking the lead in honoring one another.”

Sin that is overlooked within the church pollutes the body of Christ. Those who are more mature Christians - especially those who are in leadership roles within the church are to be under stronger scrutiny. As the leadership goes - so goes the church. Sin. if overlooked, has a way of spreading within the flock.

Remember:

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

We should flee from sin in our lives. If we desire to be like Christ - we should hate sin just as He hated it - that sin which He gave his life to pay for and took upon himself.

My brothers - I want you to keep me accountable.

Membership

Distilling all of this down:

As a living sacrifice, discerning the will of God, belonging to one another, submitting to one another, honoring one another and building one another up, and keeping ourselves accountable to one another.

If we call ourselves a Christian and proclaim Jesus as Lord over our life - we should seek membership within the local church.

We are a collection of broken people in need of a savior.

There are some of you here who have not made that decision to put your faith in Christ. You have heard the gospel and maybe you’re sitting on the fence. You’re unsure. I implore you to take the offer of the gift of salvation and new life seriously before it’s too late. Make a decision for Christ today and call on him as your savior and Lord of your life.

To my brothers and sisters in Christ: We have been united together in Christ. There is bond between us that cannot be separated. In trying to honor Christ and be obedient. If you are not member of this church I’d ask you to seek membership.

Some will say that church membership is not biblical. That is false. There is no way to be a part of the local church that is described in the New Testament without membership. If you desire to be part of a church that honors Christ and is obedient to Him, that church will have membership.

The strongest argument for church membership are the verses we already read earlier from Matthew 18:15-17

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

How can someone be removed from the local church if you don’t know who is in and who is out?

In joining church membership I am declaring that I want my brothers and sisters in Christ to keep me accountable. If I commit an egregious sin, I should be held accountable and, in love, a brother should confront me so that I might be broken hearted about it and repent.

Who will keep me accountable if we don’t know who are members and who are not? Do we want non-Christians disciplining Christians? The person who walks in off the street for the first time this week.

Do we want non-Christians voting on who the pastor is?

Do we want non-members voting on whether of not a church needs to take out a loan to do major repairs or deciding how the budget should be spent? Which missionaries to support. Every decision that we make as a local church should be Christ centered and gospel focused.

Membership is not about voting on what colour the walls should be painted and how the chairs should be arranged in the sanctuary. It’s much, much deeper than that. It’s about being fully committed to Christ and committed to each other.

Conclusion

Having presented our bodies (whole selves) as our “reasonable service” to God, and

having been transformed by the renewing of our minds,

in the will of God,

thinking of ourselves with sober, clear-headed humility towards one another as members of the body of Christ, and

belonging to one another:

we share our gifts with one another

we build one another up

and keep one another accountable.

We share one another’s burdens. We walk arm in arm and we keep our eyes focused on Christ and we look forward to that day when we will all be together looking to the face of God.

[12:1-10]

Pray...