Put On Display

Background to passage: Give some history on Refocus and Sharing HOPE as a vision and as a strategy. Four week series on HOPE focusing on one component of each letter or pillar of the HOPE strategy. This week H - Church Commitments.

This is the only letter that specifically mentions the saints, the deacons, and the overseers (elders, pastors) in the title. Although it is only a greeting, it is representative of the comprehensive teaching of believers, deacons, and overseers in the NT. Not going to take the time to discuss a full church polity structure, but I want to spend a few moments discussing the church commitments that God expects of us in our growth of discipleship. Let us Honor His Plan. We will also demonstrate it by ordaining a new deacon today.

Philippians 1:1–11 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Opening illustration: The Church Covenant of Kiokee BC, Kiokee, GA

Main thought: This I am going to focus on church membership.

1) The Case for Membership (v. 1)

Philippians 1:1 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

1) The Case for Membership (v. 1)

Explanation: This one verse demonstrates the three groups in the one church in Philippi. There is a pattern in the NT of the recognition of people in the church. The word “member” may not appear, but the concept of those a part of the church vs. those not a part of the church is evident. Many deal with accountability and how to act toward sinning members or repentant members. Others deal with showing love, which must be done in community.

Matthew 18:17 ESV

17 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.

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV

5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:5–6 ESV

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,

2 Thess 3:6, Rom 16:17, 1 Tim 1:18, Rev 2:14, 22

Illustration: We know God has a list in the Book of Life, the church in Jerusalem had lists of widows, One Lifeway study a few years ago said the average SBC church had 233 members, 70 present at worship, what happened to the other 163?

Application: What kinds of things require long-term serious commitment? Marriage. Employment. Education. Money (bills, mortgage, loans). Some clubs require dues. Some boards require fundraising. Some hobbies require commitments. So, logically, what if all these things are simply day to day or week to week commitments. Walk away anytime. Money back guarantee. You would be unemployed, broke, no housing or transportation, out of school, fornicating or divorced, little community or community involvement.

If all these things require commitment, why wouldn’t you commit to the family of God? Honor God’s plan for your life by committing to a body of believers. Are you in or out. The believers at Philippi new who the saints were (probably only one church), knew their deacons, and knew their elders. They were committed to each other. They were committed to Christ’s body.

2) The Reasons for Membership (v. 1)

Philippians 1:1 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2) The Reasons for Membership (v. 1)

Explanation: We live in an anti-join culture. Statistics and trends indicate that Millennials and Gen Z have continued to decline in their willingness to affiliate with, commit to, find community in churches and other organizations. I relied on Mark Dever’s book A Display of God’s Glory for these five reasons for membership. So let me give you some reasons to join a church besides simply being obedient to a clear NT pattern.

Argumentation:

Illustration: Jesus loves the church, and so should you. We have confused things some with the association of the building that we meet in with “the church”

Application: It provides community, purpose, and glorifies God.

1) Accountability and assurance. You agree to have the congregation examine your life and receive correction and encouragement to help you persevere and grow. Your membership in the church is also our congregational stamp of approval on your testimony that your life gives evidence of being born again.

2) Evangelization of the community and the world. We can do much more together than alone. Committed members have a sense of ownership of mission. Everything from the food distribution to community backyard bible clubs, disaster relief, LMCO, OCC, and global missions. NAMB, IMB, seminaries.

3) Doctrinal purity. Together we can guard against false gospels and false teaching. Membership commits to a certain set of doctrines to protect the body and individuals in the body. Denominational loyalty is based on doctrine.

4) Edification of the Church. Committed church members build up the church as they volunteer to serve. They also find those committed to carrying out the “one anothers”. It helps us dig out the American individualism that pollutes our hearts, and encourages us to consider others. Discipleship of others takes place best where lives are most deeply connected.

5) The Glory of God. The text we heard read this morning testifies that God will use the church to put on display his manifold wisdom to spiritual realities demonstrating his glory. There is a sense of the universal church in this verse, but if it is universally true, how much more is He going to display Himself as glorious to human beings than the workings of that same local church.

3) The Requirements for Membership (v. 1)

Philippians 1:1 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

3) The Requirements for Membership (v. 1)

Explanation: My pastor in my home church always said that the church was made up of a born-again, baptized, body of believers. At WHBC there are some things required to make membership meaningful.

Argumentation:

Illustration: Clearing the rolls at New River, membership doesn’t mean much if it comes with no requirements

Application: 1) must be a believer. 2) must follow the Lord in obedience in baptism by immersion. 3) attend the Exploring Western Heights class - learn about who we are, our vision and mission, our ministries, and our confession of faith (what we believe), how we operate, and what you should expect of us as a church and what we expect of you. 4) submit a testimony worksheet. 5) be received by the church. 6) attend, serve, give, and grow. - live lives of holiness and faithfulness to the church and to Christ. Be helped and held accountable by other believers striving to live that way too.

Closing illustration: Covenant of WHBC, “I pledge to support and uphold by my prayers, my time, and my resources the Word of God and the mission and constitution of Western Heights Baptist Church.” Don’t you think we can do better than that? Would you be willing to formulate a covenant for WHBC and ink your name to it. Make a promise to one other to live in a certain way.

Recap