Church Membership Romans 12:3-13
Notes
Transcript
Introduction - Describe membership to a loyalty group - the Dandy Stache They give and serve - we take!
Turn over for membership to the church - we give and serve - others receive.
But what is membership?
Church membership, in Christianity, is the state of belonging to a local church congregation, which in most cases, simultaneously makes one a member of a Christian denomination and the universal Christian Church.
The big question is: Is membership biblical?
But is membership the 11th commandment - thou shalt be a member! No but was does Paul say about it?
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
There are many things here that points to membership. Vs 4-5 says that we are a part of a body with a purpose in that body. Vs 6-8 says we have spiritual gifts which should be used for the glory of God. V 10 says we are part of a family - be devoted to one another in brotherly love! and vs 10-13 says there are things we can do in the church which hare not easily done outside the Church, especially persevering in tribulation and prayer.
Besides this there are three other points which make membership in the local church biblical.
Membership is Implied
Membership is Implied
1. One way it is implied is unity in Christ Jesus.
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
The Implication is that there must be something to persecute. That something is the believers, the church, whoever persecutes Christ’s body also persecutes the Christ.
2. Another way it is implied is that we are a family. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 says:
1 Timothy 3:14–16 (NASB95)
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
We are a household - even the US government recognizes people who live in the same household as a family. As a member of the household we should act in a certain way and we should be recognized in a certain way - that certain way is membership. A declaration of commitment to the family and a declaration of acceptance by the church.
Membership is Caring
Membership is Caring
In John 10 Jesus tells the story of the Good Shepherd. In that story He says that the good shepherd knows his sheep and knows them by name. John 10:14-15 says:
14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
If Jesus knows His sheep then the shepherds within the church should know their sheep and know which to tend and care for. We want to care for all the sheep - but sometimes we need to worry about the ones we know. Not the ones on the outside.
2. We must shepherd the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3 says:
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
3. Who is in and Who is out: How can we shepherd the flock if we don’t know who is in and who is out? 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 says:
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
There may come a time when the leadership needs to know who is in the church, as a member, and who is not. Not necessarily for the sake of discipline but for the sake of a vote which must be made. There are decisions which must be made only by those who have submitted to membership.
Speaking of submitting to membership -
Membership is Submission
Membership is Submission
1. Letting leaders lead - By uniting with the church body we are submitting to the authority of the duly elected leadership. We are saying that we will accept their authority as long as it is Godly in its ways and not worldly as if lording over others. Hebrews 13:17 says:
17 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.
Submission is an act of humility not one of rolling over and letting people take advantage of you.
2. Accepting discipline - By uniting with the church body we are submitting to the authority of the duly elected leadership to discipline us when it is necessary. No one is perfect and some times we make mistakes. We should be willing to accept the discipline of the elders when we go astray - it is there to keep us on the correct path. Matthew 18:15-17 says:
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
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.
Is someone who isn’t a member going to accept this kind of treatment?
3. For whom do we give an account?
In Romans 14:12 it says:
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
However in Hebrews 13:17 it says:
17 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.
What does it mean to give an account?
— a record or narrative description of past events; especially for the determination of accountability.
So in Romans we will each give an account for ourselves and our own past actions. But, Hebrews says that the leaders will give an account of the souls who were placed in their care. So if I’m going to give an account to God for the souls of others as a Pastor which souls will I be required to give an account of to God? Who is my flock? Everyone sitting here before me? Or, is it just the ones who have confessed Christ Jesus before the Elders of the Church and submitted to my leadership? Make it easy on me and the Elders - become members of this church.
Help us lead with joy and not with grief. Become a member and be counted.
So why haven’t you become a member? Is it a fear of commitment? Are you afraid you will be put in charge of a committee or forced to do something you don't want to do? Think of this as a wedding when you say “I do” to the Church through membership you are saying “I do” to the local body of Christ. A place where you can use your Spiritual gifts and live in community with Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.