SF903 - Let the Church Be The Church - 6 of 9 A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership (Hebrews 8 7-13)
Hebrews 8:7-13
Introduction
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
1) Expositional preaching, 2) Biblical church leadership, 3) Biblical church discipline, 4) Biblical theology, 5) a Biblical understanding of the gospel 6) a Biblical understanding of church membership, 7) a Biblical understanding of conversion, 8) a Biblical understanding of evangelism, and 9) A concern for promoting Christian discipleship and growth.
We are a society afraid to commit; the Christian faith is built and grounded on commitments.
In the Scriptures, these commitments are called covenants! (Hebrews 8:7-13)
The scriptures are filled with Covenants
Noah (Genesis 6:18-ff; 9:9-17)
Abraham (Genesis 15:18)
Moses (Exodus 24:8)
David (2 Chronicles 21:7)
Jesus
Matthew 26:28 (NASB) 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
All of our relationships are based on covenants.
Can a person, who is "commitment adverse," be a Christian at the same time? Can someone be a Christian without a commitment?
Three questions: What is a church, what does it mean to be a member of a church, why should you join a church?
1A. What Is A Church?
1B. A church is a fellowship
Acts 2:42 (NASB) 42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship…
The top priority in a fellowship is harmony and unity. (Ephesians 4:3)
Ø Therefore, any attitude that causes disunity is a sin.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB) 10Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Ø Therefore, we need a Bible-based structure that promotes unity and downplays differences. (1 Corinthians 11:17-18)
Ø We need to remember that voting tends to divide!
2B. A church is a family
1 Peter 3:8 (NASB) 8To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
Therefore, we are to operate on the basis of relationships not rules (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
Ø Do you vote on everything in your family?
We need to recognize that there are different levels of maturity in God’s family. (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
3B. A church is a body
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NASB) 27Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
Colossians 1:18 (NASB) 18He is also head of the body, the church...
We are a body not a business - An organism not an organization
Ø In an organization “maintenance” becomes the focus
Ø In an organism “ministry” is the focus
The NT teaches a simple structure so we can maximize ministry and minimize maintenance.
Ø The people are the ministers
Ø The pastors/elders are the equippers.
This is a structure for growth not control!
4B. A church is a flock
John 10:14 (NASB) 14“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
Therefore, it is cared for and led by shepherds.
John 21:16 (NASB) 16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said* to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said* to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Shepherds (elders) are to lead, feed, and protect God’s sheep.
2A. What Does It Mean To Be A Member Of A Church?
1B. Church members express their new life in Christ
By repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Christ
By publicly confessing their faith through the act of believers baptism
By affirming in writing the Church Covenant and Statement of Faith
2B. Church members protect the unity of their church
By acting in love toward other members
Romans 14:19 (NASB) So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Ø The phrase “one another or “each other” is used over fifty times in the New Testament.
By refusing to gossip
Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) 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, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
By following the leaders as they follow Christ
Hebrews 13:17 (NASB) 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.
3B. Church members share in the responsibilities of their church
By praying for its growth
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 (NASB) To the church…. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers
By inviting the unchurched to attend
Luke 14:23 (NASB) “… ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
By warmly welcoming those who visit
Romans 15:7 (NASB) Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
By giving regularly
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NASB) On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
Leviticus 27:30 (NASB) ‘Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S; it is holy to the LORD.
4B. Church members serve the ministry of their church
By discovering their gifts and talents
1 Peter 4:10 (NASB) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
By being equipped to serve by their pastors
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NASB) [God] gave…some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
By developing a servant’s heart
Philippians 2:3-5, 7 (NASB) …do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…[who] emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant…
5B. Church members support the testimony of their church
By attending faithfully
Hebrews 10:25 (NASB) not forsaking our own assembling together, …but encouraging one another…
By living a godly life
Philippians 1:27 (NASB) Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…
By being a Christian example in their home and community
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB) Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Titus 2:11-12 (NASB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.
3A. Why Should You Join A Church?
1B. A Biblical Reason: Christ is committed to the church
Ephesians 5:25 (NASB) 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
2B. A Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society
It flies in the face of our consumer mentality and church hopping.
It provides a witness to the reality of the Christian faith.
3B. A Practical Reason: It defines who can be counted on
Every team has a roster, every army an enlistment. Membership identifies our family.
Ephesians 2:19 (NASB) 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
4B. A Personal Reason: It demonstrates our faith and produces spiritual growth
John 14:21 (NASB) 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
5B. A Theological Reason: It glorifies God
1 Peter 2:12 (NASB) 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Application
Today is a historic day for Three Rivers Grace Community Church, each of us has an opportunity to participate by becoming charter members of God’s work.
You may ask how, according to our constitution…
To qualify for membership in this church, a person must be a believer in Jesus Christ who gives evidence of regeneration, who has been baptized, in obedience to Christ, following his or her regeneration, and who wholeheartedly believes in the Christian faith as revealed in the Bible. Each member must agree to submit to the teaching of scripture as expressed in the Statement of Faith and must sign the Church Covenant and promise to keep the commitments expressed therein.
We have each received a copy of the covenant, which begins with these words…
HAVING, AS WE TRUST, BEEN BROUGHT BY DIVINE GRACE TO REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE LORD Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other.
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH
Part 6 of 9-A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership
Hebrews 8:7-13
1A. What Is A Church?
1B. A church is a _________________ (Acts 2:42)
The top priority in a fellowship is harmony and unity. (Ephesians 4:3)
Ø Therefore, any attitude that causes ________________ is a sin. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Ø Therefore, we need a _____________-based structure that promotes unity and downplays differences. (1 Corinthians 11:17-18)
2B. A church is a ________________ (1 Peter 3:8)
We are to operate on the basis of relationships not _______________ (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
There are different levels of maturity in God’s family. (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
3B. A church is a ____________ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Colossians 1:18)
We are a ______ not a business - An organism not an organization
The NT teaches a simple structure so we can maximize ministry and minimize maintenance.
Ø The people are the ___________________
Ø The pastors/elders are the ______________.
4B. A church is a _______________ (John 10:14, 21:16)
2A. What Does It Mean To Be A Member Of A Church?
1B. Church members ____________ their new life in Christ
By ___________ of their sins and placing their faith in Christ
By publicly confessing their faith through the act of believers ______________________
By affirming in __________________ the Church Covenant and Statement of Faith
2B. Church members ___________ the unity of their church
By acting in ___________ toward other members (Romans 14:19)
By refusing to ______________ (Ephesians 4:29)
By following the leaders as they follow Christ (Hebrews 13:17)
3B. Church members share in the responsibilities of their church
By ________________ for its growth 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)
By inviting the unchurched to _______________ (Luke 14:23)
By warmly welcoming those who visit ( Romans 15:7)
By giving regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2; Leviticus 27:30)
4B. Church members serve the ministry of their church
By discovering their ____________ and talents (1 Peter 4:10)
By being equipped to serve by their pastors (Ephesians 4:11-12)
By developing a servant’s __________ (Philippians 2:3-5, 7)
5B. Church members support the testimony of their church
By _________________________ faithfully (Hebrews 10:25)
By living a ______________________ life (Philippians 1:27)
By being a Christian example in my home and community (1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 2:11-12)
3A. Why Should You Join A Church?
1B. A ________________ Reason: Christ is committed to the church (Ephesians 5:25)
2B. A Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society
3B. A _____________________ Reason: It defines who can be counted on (Ephesians 2:19)
4B. A ________________________ Reason: It demonstrates our faith and produces spiritual growth (John 14:21)
5B. A Theological Reason: It glorifies God (1 Peter 2:12)