Healthy Church: Design & Call
Flesh and Blood • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsHealthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
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sermon || lead pastor || Joe Brantley
message: Healthy Church: By Design & Call
main text: , ; ; ;
“...it’s easy to want the benefits but not the responsibility of belonging-”
“...it’s easy to want the benefits but not the responsibility of belonging-”
We
We live in a culture (Western Culture) that affects all of us. Movie stars, Music, Netflix, has more control on shaping culture than the local church. Advertisers appeal explictly to our narcissism: we are a “Burger King” culture… “have it your way!” and “You’re in the driver’s seat.”
We live in a culture (Western Culture) that affects all of us. Movie stars, Music, Netflix, has more control on shaping culture than the local church. Advertisers appeal explicitly to our narcissism: we are a “Burger King” culture… “have it your way!” and “You’re in the driver’s seat.”
We live in a culture (Western Culture) that affects all of us. Movie stars, Music, Netflix, has more control on shaping culture than the local church. Advertisers appeal explicitly to our narcissism: we are a “Burger King” culture… “have it your way!” and “You’re in the driver’s seat.”
“With all this in the air...
it’s easy to want the benefits but not the responsibility of belonging—friendships, marriages, where we work, and certainly church… ‘Quick and easy’ has beaten ‘tried and tested.’ ...Rapid growth and numbers has [set the new bar for success and is] counted more than slow growth in grace —Jonathan Leeman, Church Membership
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
our probing question: What is a Healthy Local Church?
1. Healthy vs. Unhealthy: The Body
The church is a body of believers. Ultimately, the individual members (Spirit-filled, baptized-converts, who have repented, and follow Jesus) make up the body and are held accountable by God and each other for the healthy or unhealthy way (culture) in which they represent Christ to the community and the outside world.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
1 Cor 12:12-2
:12-25
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
prayerfully consider: If you are a Covenant Member, what does this mean for how you and your family represent Christ and His local Church? Have you considered how your lack of faithfulness affects the body of Christ? Have you considered what your faithfulness to the local church communicates to other members and unbelievers? Do you promote health in the body, or do you hurt the body?
prayerfully consider: If you are a Covenant Member, what does this mean for how you and your family represent Christ and His local Church? Have you considered how your lack of faithfulness affects the body of Christ? Have you considered what your faithfulness to the local church communicates to other members and unbelievers? Do you promote health in the body, or do you hurt the body?
“Church Membership begins when we commit to a particular body. Being Christian means being joined to a church…Church membership is not simply a record of a body we once checked. It’s not a sentimental feeling. It’s not an expression of affection toward a familiar place. It’s not an expression of loyalty or disloyalty towards parents. It SHOULD be the reflection of a living commitment [to Christ and His people], or it is worthless. Indeed it’s worse than worthless; it’s dangerous…” — Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?, 95
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
2. Healthy vs. Unhealthy: The Design
2. Healthy vs. Unhealthy: The Design
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The design of a healthy church is given to us in the Scriptures. First to be a “Covenant Member” one must belong to Christ. Devoted Christians make up the Church. A Christian is someone who has been reconciled to God through Christ’s finished work; have been convicted by the sin against God and become repentant to God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (). A Christian has also been reconciled to God’s people. Everyone else who has also been reconciled to God (). ; The Apostle’s Creed
The design of a healthy church is given to us in the Scriptures. First to be a “Covenant Member” one must belong to Christ. Devoted Christians make up the Church. A Christian is someone who has been reconciled to God through Christ’s finished work; have been convicted by the sin against God and become repentant to God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
. A Christian has also been reconciled to God’s people. Everyone else who has also been reconciled to God (). ; The Apostle’s Creed
A Christian has also been reconciled to God’s people. Everyone else who has also been reconciled to God.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Ephesians 2
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Col 3:9-17
The Christian Life is marked by devotion (to God and his people—the church)
; The Apostle’s Creed
The Apostle’s Creed
prayerfully consider: Do you consider yourself a Christian? If so, are you devoted to Christ and His church? If not, how have “Christians” you know represented what following Christ looks like to you? Are they committed? By this definition of devotion would you even consider them Christian?
I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
prayerfully consider: Do you consider yourself a Christian? If so, are you devoted to Christ and His church? If not, how have “Christians” you know represented what following Christ looks like to you? Are they committed? By this definition of devotion would you even consider them Christian?
“If you are an orphan, you don’t adopt parents; they adopt you” (Dever, 25). If you are Christian you have been adopted by Christ and bear the name of who adopted you (). “Now you’re part of the whole family of God []." — Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?, 25
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
3. Healthy vs. Unhealthy: The Call
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.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Christians have been called by the Scriptures to "assemble regularly so that we can regularly rejoice in our common hope and regularly spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Dever, 95).
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.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
prayerfully consider: Do you “assembly regularly” with other believers of the local church? What do you consider regular? If you don’t “assemble regularly” as the Scriptures call us as Christians to do, what is the reason? Business? Busyness? Family commitments? Sports? Hobbies? Seeking personal rest? Do any of these reasons hold up as a proper excuse to Christ and His Church?
If you are Christian what sacrifices do you need to make to answer God’s call to be the Church?
If you are a Covenant Member of Concord, based on your devotion to our local church, is Concord healthy or unhealthy? What must you do to help make Concord healthy; what must you repent of? Would you consider repenting (turning from your sin and excuses today) and commit yourself to being part of Christ’s local Church?
“The practice of church membership among Christians occurs when Christians grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love. By identifying ourselves with a particular local church, we are telling the church’s pastors and other members not just that we commit to them, but that we commit to them in gathering, giving, prayer, and service. We are telling them to expect certain things from us and to hold us accountable if we don’t follow through.” — Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?, 95”
I believe in GOD THE FATHER Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth.
And in JESUS CHRIST his only (begotten) Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell [Hades, spirit-world];2 the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the HOLY GHOST; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body [flesh];3 and the life everlasting. Amen.
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
Healthy local churches are people who gather often and increasingly reflect the character of God. - (paraphrased quote) Mark Dever
Now ask yourself…does this define you and the impact you are making with other’s in the Church in which Christ died for? Many claim they are saved…yet it you are not devoted to Christ’s Bride, you must ask yourself, am I truly? Because if I was wouldn’t I want the things Christ wants?
Christ does not call us to join a church, He calls us to submit to His local church.
Christ does not call us to join a church, He calls us to submit to His local church.