Becoming Committed

James Watson

Better Together: Becoming the Church • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Hebrews 10:24–25

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Introduction: There are a variety of teams. Sports teams, chess teams, bands are a type of team, many of you work on teams at work. There are clubs to join. Throughout most of our lives we have probably had it hammered in our heads that teamwork is essential to success. And in many cases those teams become family. Even to this day, I am still connected to people I played football with in high school.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Alone we go fast but together we go far.

However, I like the idea that we are better together.

When I lived in Livermore, I was a member of a cycling team…a Christian cycling club. With that membership came certain expectations. People took it very seriously. And on the road, we looked our for each other. And as we had opportunity we shared the gospel with people on the road.

Many of you are part of organizations, clubs, or even have careers that imply expectations.

The church is a family . Most of the books written on Church membership that I could find have all been written within the last 25 years. Why? Because prior to that, it seems to have been taken for granted.

Some may wrongly believe that church commitment is not biblical. Some may say that “I am a part of the universal church, why do I need to be a part of the local church”

But we have to look at what the Bible teaches about how Christians are to live and interact with one another. It shouldn’t take us long to wee clearly that without church membership, certain aspects of the Christian life just don’t make sense.

John Piper state that Church membership is implied in the Bible in 5 specific ways:

By the way a church is instructed to discipline its members. (Matthew 18)

By the way a church is instructed to submit to and honor its leaders. (; )

By the way, pastor/elders/leaders are instructed to care for their flock. (Acts 20:28)

By the metaphor of a body. ()

By the way churches are instructed to dis-fellowship with members who, even after discipline and correction, refuse to receive correction leading to repentance. ()

Transition: Therefore, if we are to accept that church commitment is God’s design and plan, what then does commitment to the local church look like? And what is it’s intended purpose? Let’s read

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews

I feel like Hebrews is in some way a critique on the early church’s lazy view of their church relationships. People had one foot in and one foot outside. The author of Hebrews wanted people to commit.

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Big Idea: Be Committed to Jesus and One Another

Big Idea: Be Committed to Jesus and Each Other

1. Commitment to Jesus is commitment to each other.

is an assurance that we are accepted by Jesus because of His sacrifice on the cross. Not because you’re good enough. Not because of your money. And not because you just love Jesus so much. You have access to Jesus by faith in what He did on the cross. And with that confidence comes expectations…to other Christians.

In the context of a team, commitment almost always implies a commitment to the team. That only together we can achieve our goals. And anyone who has ever served on a team knows the devastating effects even one person can have when they aren’t truly committed.

Now I think many of us get this when it comes to a sports team. A work team. A club. But what about the church. When it comes to church, I think we need to define what exactly we are committing too. Is it to a building? An hour and a half on Sunday morning? A doctrinal statement? A person? Not just the pastor but the guy who comes because of the pretty girl. Children because their parents make them.

Anything short of total and complete commitment to people in this room is not commitment to Jesus. Why because the church is a family and a community and based on the relationships that are built here. The accountability that we have with one another.

The bible is filled with talk about relationships in the context of church.

John 13:34 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.

Romans 12:5 ESV

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:10 ESV

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

Romans 12:5 ESV

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:15 ESV

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians

Galatians 5:13 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

James 5:16 ESV

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Now let’s make this clear, “one another” refers to followers of Jesus. While there are many in the world who have issues and problems, our priority is the body of Christ. With the world we give the gospel.

Commitment to one another necessarily means that we learn to depend on one another not just for help in a time of need but accountability in a time of laziness and sin. So much of the theological error running rampant in the church today would have been averted had a close friend spoken up and rebuked his or her friend for spouting nonsense.

Some of you might be asking, should I be more committed to the church than my own family? Well that depends on if your biological family is a part of the community of faith. As followers of Jesus, we should have the

THE HARD TRUTH: I have more in common with an African Christian whom I have never met and whose language I don’t speak than a family member that rejects Jesus and His church.

Are you truly committed to people in this room? Now some of you are visitors and I don’t expect you to commit to people in this room....yet. But know that if you should make this church your family, God expects you to be fully committed.

Now, before we go any further, I want to say, that no church is perfect. North Hills is no exception. There are areas where we are doing well and areas where we seriously need to work together to get better. And in order to get better in these areas, it will take everyone committing to doing their part.

2. Commitment to each other helps us all better commit to Jesus.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Teams are by their very definition selfless. In that the team works for the betterment of everyone involved. It’s usually a single goal or end. You get a lot out of it, but in the end it’s not about you. It’s about the team. What is the end goal of being a part of the community of faith?

Now the goal of the Christian life is not to be a part of a great church. It’s not to find a godly spouse. It’s not to have fun on friday night or even to have friends. The goal of the Christian life it to become more and more committed to Jesus. And I’ve never met anyone in my life who could honestly say, they have a thriving relationship with Jesus and did all on their own. The truth is we need one another. To stir us up to love and good works.

Reflection: What will you change in your life so that you can better commit to those in this room?

First and foremost, we need to determine if we are truly committed to Jesus. Have we embraced Jesus? Have we recognized that it was our sin that separated us from God? And then we must recognize that what Jesus did on the cross is the only way to restore that relationship

But then, we have commit to His people. Both those who are here and those who aren’t, but should be.

As a parent of young children, we tend to watch the same movie over and over and over and over and over. Right now we’re watching Boss Baby. Spoilers: The entire movie is about a kid who doesn’t want a litter brother because he doesn’t want to share his parents.

In the beginning there is this scene where the parents (with mom clearly pregnant) asks their son Tim if he wants a baby brother. And he says, “No thank you! I’m enough.”

There are those who don’t want to see the church grow because they wonder if there is enough for everyone. Love from a pastor. Power. And some people worry that they won’t know everyone. Or how can I commit to everyone if there are too many of them.

Let us never have the idea that our job isn’t to tell the world about Jesus and add to his family.

Thabiti Anyabwile descibes a healthy church member as:

An expositional Listener.

A Biblical Theologian.

Gospel Saturated.

Genuinely converted.

A Biblical Evangelist.

A Committed Member

One who seeks discipline.

A Growing Disciple.

A Humble Follower.

A Prayer Warrior.

At North Hills we have identified that the Marks of a Biblical Disciple are:

A Mind for Truth.

A Mouth for Encouraging.

A Heart for God.

A Spirit of Unity.

Hands for Serving.

Feet for Going.

Knees for Praying.

Committing to a church is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Joshua Harris gives us some questions to help evaluate whether a church is worth joining:

Is this a church where God’s Word is faithfully taught?

Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?

Is this a church in which the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?

Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel?

Is this a church where leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?

Is this a church where people strive to live by God’s Word?

Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?

Is this a church where members are challenged to serve?

Is this a church that is willing to kick me out?

Is this a church I’m willing to join “as-is” with enthusiasm and faith in God?

“It’s not wrong to want a church with a lot of people your age or to prefer a certain style of worship music - but these are secondary concerns.” (Harris, Stop Dating the Church, pp. 82-83.)