Discover Membership

What makes today special? We have had these people with us for months or years. We have enjoyed having them worship with us, and serve with us in different ways. So, why is today special?

Today is special because they are making a commitment to truly join with us, and we are making a commitment to them.

What exactly is that commitment? Well, I will get to that in a moment.

Before we talk about the commitment, who is the “us” they are joining? And, what does it mean to join?

People join all kinds of groups: Civic Leagues, Gun Clubs, Gyms, Legions, Unions, PTA’s, Homeschool Groups, etc.

When joining a group, it is important to know what the group is, and what it is about. What does the group do? How do they function?

And if you join, or become a member, what does that mean? What is expected? What does a member do? How does a member function?

You want to know those things before you join a group. That is why we have a whole class about the church for people to take before they become a member. The next class will begin in January.

These people today are joining Evangelical Free Bible Church.

What does a church do?

How does a church function?

What does a member do?

How does a member function?

So today, I thought it would be good to summarize what the church is, what it does, and how it functions.

Then, we are going to summarize what is expected of members. What does a member do? How are members to function.

I believe this will be a good review for us who have been members. It will be a good kick-off for those who are becoming members. And, hopefully it will be an incentive for some who are attending here, who have not yet decided to become members.

What is the church?

Church is one of those words that we throw around a lot. It actually can be used in different ways.

Often, we refer to this building we are in as a church. That is actually short for ‘church building’. This is actually a building for the church.

So, what is the church?

The word church is the English word used for the Greek word ekklesia.

ἐκκλησία (ἐκ + καλέω | out of + call out)

The word used when the New Testament was originally written in Greek, was ‘ἐκκλησία’. This word was a combination of the root meaning ‘to call’, and a modifier meaning ‘out of’. Or, the final literal meaning of ‘to call out’. You might think of it like a militia is “called out” to come together for the purpose of defending a place.

This word in the the Greek New Testament was used for any group of people who came together for some reason or purpose.

For example, it was used for the rioting crowd in Ephesus when they were supporting the artisans who made the idols of their god, Artemus, and opposing Paul who taught about the One True God, Jesus Christ. This was a group of people who came together for a purpose.

An ἐκκλησία is a group that is called out, to come together for a common purpose.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit had the authors use this word for something that was new. It was used for the church.

An ἐκκλησία, or church, is called out by God, and comes together for one common purpose.

First, notice that the church is called out by God. A church is not something that someone just up and decides to join. No, people need to be called out of the world and into God’s kingdom.

The church is called out by God.

The church comes together.

The church has a common purpose.

Pay attention to those three things as we look at the following verses, and the rest of the verses we will be looking at this morning.

Romans 1:6–7 NIV

And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

Colossians 3:15 NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

These verses all point to the call of God. God is the one who called out to us to receive Christ as our savior when we still sinners.

God calls, and those who respond in faith He saves from sin. He forgives our disobedience to Him. He justifies, or declares us to be righteous, giving us the righteousness of Jesus Christ! He adopts us as His sons. He places us by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.

Colossians refers to the church—the called out ones—as being members of one body.

That is actually a good scriptural definition of the church.

The church is a group of people that are called out from among the rest of the world to come together for a common purpose. Specifically, we are called out to belong to Christ—to be the body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The church is the body of Christ.

The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, telling his body how to function, and what to do.

How important is the head to the rest of the body?

The head is all important! Without the head, the body does not live or function!

Jesus is the head. He is the one who tells us what we are to do. He is the one who tells us how we are to function.

And that finally brings us to the questions we started with.

What does a church do?

Or, what is a church to do? Jesus is the head, so what were His instructions?

Well, the last instructions he gave before returning to the Father in heaven after he died and rose again were these:

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What does a church do?

Jesus, the head, has all authority. So, as His body, the church should be listening to His directions. His directions are pretty clear.

We are to be going into the world, and making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded.

We see that happening in Acts.

It started with the apostles in Acts 2. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and proclaimed the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, so that whoever believes in Him will never perish!

When they did that, many people believed. In fact, that first day, 3000 people were saved.

So what did they do then? Well, they continued to follow Jesus’ instructions. They baptized those people, and then they began teaching them.

Acts 2:42 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They taught them all that Jesus commanded and all that Jesus had taught them when He instructed them from the scriptures. These people, the church, met daily for teaching!

They taught these believers to fellowship. That does not mean to have potlucks. Fellowship is working together, partnering. We see this in the early church when they were selling their possessions to help care for one another. Or later, when the churches in the area of modern day Greece and Turkey were collecting money to send to the believers in Jerusalem who were suffering through a famine.

They taught these believers to obey Jesus’ command to remember him with the bread and the cup, what we call communion.

They taught these believers to pray, and they came together to pray often.

What does a church do?

Obey the command of Christ to make disciples, baptize and teach.

The church gathers for teaching, fellowship (partnering and mutual encouragement), breaking of break and prayer.

How does a church function?

How is a church to do these things? I believe the key words in the New Testament are humility and unity.

Ephesians 4:1-4 really captures how we are to function.

Ephesians 4:1–4 NIV

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

As we do what Jesus commanded, we need to do it with unity, humility and love.

As we share the gospel it needs to be done in unity, humility and love.

Then, as people are saved, and we come together as God’s called out ones, we are going to have differences. We are different people who see and think differently. So, once again we need to have unity, humility and love.

We need to remember that we have one head, Jesus. We need to listen to Him and function as One body. This is accomplished as the body functions in unity. This takes humility and love.

What does a church do?

How does a church function?

So, what does a church do? A church follows the directions from the head, Jesus. We make disciples, baptize believers, and teach them to obey all that He commanded. That means we need to teach, work together (fellowship), remember Christ in breaking the bread, and pray!

How is a church to function?

In unity

In humility

In love

What is a member?

The church is defined as the body of Christ. He is the head, the church is the body.

So what is a member? Well, this comes from Romans 12. Read Romans 12:4-5 with me.

Romans 12:4 NIV

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

The Holy Spirit through Paul is laying out a great illustration of being a member. He refers to the parts of our body as being members. Each part is a member of the body. Not every part or member has the same function, but they are all needed for the body to function optimally as it was intended.

Romans 12:5 NIV

so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

In the same way, each member of a church has a function to play. None is more important than any other. And each part is needed for the body to function properly.

Just think of how important the parts are.

Consider walking or running.

What I find most interesting in this verse, however is the last phrase. “…and each member belongs to all the others.”

What does that mean?

In our society we are trained to think, and pride ourselves in being individuals. I don’t need you. I can do it on my own.

Too often we can take this kind of thinking into the church. I don’t need anyone else. I can take church or leave it. I am fine.

We also think of ourselves in that we tend to come to church for what we can gain. Are they singing songs I like? Is the teaching something I enjoy? Is the service a length that suits me? Are there things for me, specifically for me to enjoy?

I believe this verse, and actually the rest of the New Testament speaks against this kind of attitude.

Each member belongs to the others. We don’t come when I feel it is convenient for me, nor when I feel like it would be something I would enjoy. We come because we are members that belong to all the other members.

God has given each member a specific role and specific gifts to use. We are called by God to come together. We are commanded by God to encourage, instruct, partner with, and pray for one another. When we fail to do so, we are living in disobedience to God, and we will answer to Him some day.

Do we consider that?

I believe we need to get into the Word and realize that being a church member is a calling of God, who has given us a role, and gifts to use for the rest of the church body. We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to Christ who is the head of the church, to do what He the head says for the good of the whole body.

The church in America has gotten away from that. Let us not fall into the thinking of the culture that church is here for my entertainment when I feel like it. Church is what God has called me to. I belong to the others. I owe it to all the other members to be here and to do my part. If I do not, I will answer to the Lord when I stand before that Bema seat judgment, and find out that I have nothing to show for the life He called me to live here as all my selfish work and living burns up.

A member is put in place by God, for God’s purpose and glory. A member has a role and purpose determined by God for the good of the other members.

What does a member do?

A member does what the whole does. A member obeys the commands of Christ! A member individually fulfill the great commission.

We saw how it started with the Apostles, who collectively were sharing the gospel on the day of Pentecost, and many were saved. But it was not just the apostles. Each member was sharing the gospel as they went to make disciples, and then to baptize and teach.

Acts 4:31 NIV

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

This was after Peter and John were threatened to not preach the name of Jesus any longer, and the church gathered to pray for boldness. Notice that they all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 8:4 NIV

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

This is after Stephen was put to death, and persecution began for the whole church. Many were scattered, but they didn’t just run away. They went preaching and making disciples as they went!

Each member also partnered with the others, to care for one another.

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Each member is commanded to love one another.

We are to instruct and encourage one another.

Hebrews 3:13 NIV

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

We need to meet together regularly to share life, and spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Some people really do give this up. To do so is to break the command and call of God who calls us out to come together for mutual edification, for mutual encouragement as we live in this fallen world. we need each other to be encouraged, and to remind each other to live the way He would have us live.

So to recap:

What does a member do?

Make disciples

Love each other

Teach and encourage each other

How does a member function?

It is important also to keep in mind how we are to function. We need to carry out the calling of God in His power.

The apostles were told by Jesus to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before they began carrying out the command.

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

And, we are told in other passages that we need to use the gifts God gives us when He calls us to be members in His Strength.

1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

So, How does the member function? We need to function in reliance on the Holy Spirit, listening to the Lord, and doing His work in His power!

Another aspect of how the member functions is that each member needs to function in humility and unity. We already talked about how the church needs to function in unity and humility. This can only come about as each member strives to function in unity and humility.

Philippians 2:1–8 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

How does a member function?

In the power of the Spirit

In unity and humility

We have covered what the church is, what the church does, how the church functions, what a member is, what a member does, and how a member functions.

What a member does and how a member functions is summed up in our church’s member covenant.

Let’s look at it together.

I will protect the unity of EFBC by:

Acting in love toward others in the church family “Above all keep fervent in your love for one another…” 1 Peter 4:8

Refusing to gossip or use my tongue divisively “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29

Submitting to those in leadership “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17

I will share the responsibility of EFBC by:

Praying for its ministry and workers “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18

Supporting EFBC regularly and generously with my finances “And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service.” Exodus 35:21

Serving in EFBC with my gifts and talents “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

I will support the testimony of EFBC by:

Living a godly life “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27

Attending faithfully “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

We have a high calling to be members of a church. It is a high calling, but it is easy when it is carried out in the power and strength of the Lord. And, it is ever so rewarding.

The homework this week is to review what it is to be a member according to the scriptures, and to review our membership covenant. We want to continue to grow as a church. This mean we need to continue to grow as members. Let’s ask the Lord to work in our hearts to grow as members of His body this week.

Pray.

At this time we want to welcome the new members.

Homework

Read Romans 12:3-8. What is the first command in this passage? Why is this so important when being a member of a church? What is it to think of ourselves with sober judgment? What can we learn from this example of the body having members, and each member doing its function? What does it mean that each member belongs to the others? How important is that concept to the church? Do you and I come to church for what we can get? Do we come to church for ourselves? Do we tend to think, as our culture pushes, that we are individuals who come together to worship? How does the concept that you come to church because you belong to the other members change that kind of thinking? Does it give a sense of debt? We owe it to the other members to show up and do our part?

Review the church membership covenant. Take time each day this week to ask the Lord to examine your heart, and show you where you need to grow in fulfilling the calling He gave to you to be a member of his body, specifically this part of the body at Evangelical Free Bible Church. Are you doing what a member should do? Are you functioning as a member should function? Ask the Lord to make you a more faithful follower of Jesus, the head of the body, and follow through on these commands He gave.

I will protect the unity of EFBC by:

Acting in love toward others in the church family “Above all keep fervent in your love for one another…” 1 Peter 4:8

I will share the responsibility of EFBC by:

Serving in EFBC with my gifts and talents “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

I will support the testimony of EFBC by:

Living a godly life “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27

Attending faithfully “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

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