Church Membership.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Alright again, if this is your first time here, I want to thank you so much for being here [0:04] It’s always a privilege and a joy to be here with God’s church and you are the church make no mistake [0:12] This is a building [0:14] You are the church and I’m so thankful and grateful when we’re able to gather when we’re able to thank the Lord [0:20] For each and every blessing that he gives us and especially time to kind of study his word [0:26] But before we start I want to talk about two things. The first thing is

[0:30] This coming Saturday when we have our membership matters [0:33] Class together. I want you to be there. Hopefully what we talk about today may urge you to be here for that [0:41] But i’m going to ask you to do me a favor and go on the church website and rsvp for that [0:46] We’d really like to know the number of people that are going to be here [0:50] We’d really like to know how many of you would need child care and on the what’s happening section of the website [0:56] You can go on there and you can fill it out and some of you have already done that and I want to thank those of you that have done that

[1:01] But for those of you that have not [1:04] If you have nothing else going on [1:07] You should be here if you have something else going on you should cancel it and be here [1:13] For that [1:14] You’re it’s God’s gonna do some great things. We’re all gonna study the word together [1:19] See who we are as a church see what we are as a church

[1:23] If you have your bibles go ahead and open them up to romans chapter 12 romans chapter 12 this morning [1:29] But I want to talk to you. Um, the second thing I want to talk to you about before we get into god’s word [1:32] This morning is the reality of what it is to serve in the local church on august the 4th [1:39] We’ve been talking about it for a while. You got the handouts this morning for the cow tipping series [1:43] We’re going to be going back [1:45] To two services on that day. All right

[1:47] And what’s going to be really significant about going to two services again [1:50] Is that when we do two services that means we need two times the volunteers [1:56] That we do when we have one service and I think sometimes when we think about [2:01] Volunteering I think sometimes it can become a little bit of a weight on us [2:05] Sometimes it can become a little bit of a burden on us [2:07] And what I want to do is I want to take a moment and try to shift our

[2:10] Our understanding of what it means to be a volunteer of what it means to come and serve as the church [2:17] Body together because I think sometimes it’s very tempting for us [2:22] To simply want to be here want to rest want to not really be burdened down by the responsibilities because we all have responsibilities [2:30] Day in and day out for the rest of the week and sometimes this is just a great place [2:34] To come and sit and come and rest and not really have any commitment because we’re so committed everywhere else in our lives [2:44] But one thing that’s happening to us really as a culture around us is that our commitments are drawing us away

[2:50] From what I really believe as your pastor god would have you to commit your life towards [2:56] I want us to understand that serving is worship [3:00] That part of worship is praising god through song part of worship [3:04] Is being here with your spouse and sitting under the study of god’s word and the preaching of god’s word together [3:10] But that must cause something inside of us that must really become a kindling to the fire of worship [3:17] Rather than how we see the fire of worship actually happening

[3:21] When we come together and we sing and when we come together and we hear the word of god [3:25] God has programmed those things to really urge us on to something greater something bigger than ourselves [3:32] That we are here week in and week out gathering together [3:36] To hopefully push the mission of jesus forward in our lives, but also push the mission of jesus forward in the lives of others as well [3:44] And when we serve we get to take a part [3:48] of that

[3:50] I’ve been uh by god’s grace [3:53] uh in [3:55] The life of the local church for well over 30 years now [4:00] And i’ll tell you along the way there were people I think [4:05] Miss ann williams [4:07] I think of people like miss lorraine. I think of people like miss jane. I think of people like mr. Chris

[4:13] Week in and week out these people were serving at the church [4:19] They had no idea [4:21] That there were people much younger than they were watching them [4:26] They had no idea the legacy [4:29] That they were extending [4:30] Some of them were my sunday school teachers

[4:33] Who week in and week out the one thing that I could count on was that I was going to see them [4:38] And they were going to be there and they were going to welcome me

[4:43] and legions [4:44] of other young people [4:45] I think about the ushers with their powder blue coats and you ushers here. You better be thankful that we don’t do that

[4:55] But week in and week out [4:57] They were there to direct people to their seats a thankless job people would be irritated because they couldn’t sit where they wanted to sit [5:04] You probably experienced that here [5:06] Get here earlier. That’s all I can tell you [5:08] But but seriously if you get here at 10 10 [5:12] You’re gonna get what you’re gonna get. All right, i’m just picking on you. I’m sorry. I love you

[5:20] But week in and week out I watched these people thanklessly [5:24] Serve the lord [5:27] Oftentimes those may be only once or twice a year or didn’t see him. That’s when they were on vacation

[5:35] But it wasn’t just a part-time gig for them it wasn’t just when i’ve got time i’ll serve

[5:43] I remember my sunday school teachers painstakingly calling me on friday nights [5:48] Making sure I was going to be there sunday morning [5:51] And I remember them being there and I remember the legacy that that extended to me [5:56] Not that it was a drudgery to be at church, but it was just a joy for them to serve the lord [6:02] Just regular everyday people [6:05] Who worked everyday jobs?

[6:07] These weren’t theologians. These weren’t seminarians [6:10] These weren’t people who were in vocational ministry full-time [6:13] These were people that just loved the lord and were looking for an outlet to show that to others [6:18] We’re looking for the best way that they knew how

[6:24] To follow jesus christ and help others [6:27] Follow jesus christ as well [6:30] They had the idea that they weren’t there to consume [6:33] Something as much as they were there to contribute something as the body of christ [6:38] That’s why in [6:40] this series

[6:41] Our focus is on understanding that church is not a place that we go [6:46] The church is a people that we are [6:50] We don’t go to church we are [6:54] The church and when we gather together [6:57] God is glorified by the corporate church coming together for the specific purpose to serve [7:05] one another

[7:07] And I think about weekend and week out the people that come and the people that serve the people that commit themselves to one another [7:16] And I think about my children [7:18] And I think about the legacy that’s going to be extended to them someday [7:22] And then for some of you I think about your children [7:25] And I think about the legacy that is extended to them [7:28] That the church is a place that we go to contribute and the church is a place that we go to serve one another

[7:36] And i’m thankful right now that there are people out there serving my children there are people out there teaching [7:42] My children what it is to be a follower of jesus christ [7:46] And I don’t want us to be bogged down that this is something that’s got to be added on this is a weight [7:52] That’s got to be put on us [7:54] But rather what I want it to be [7:57] Is a privilege

[7:59] For us to come together [8:01] That god allows us by his grace [8:06] To be a part of the history that he is writing [8:10] in our lives [8:11] The lives of our children who by prayer in the next generation will grow and they will see moms and dads [8:19] who served

[8:21] They will see moms and dads who were committed to something that they [8:26] Preached was greater than themselves and they did not just show it by their words [8:32] But rather we showed it as a church of people who combined our efforts to serve side by side [8:39] People who cannot wait to come and welcome children into village kids [8:43] People who cannot wait to come and help someone find a seat when the pastors have chosen to make the room way too dark

[8:52] You can blame me for that because I like it that way

[8:57] We look up on sunday morning and see smiling faces [9:03] Waiting to shake their hand or give them a hug [9:07] Whom quite often we don’t know what that person’s been through that week and what that smile means to them [9:12] Maybe the first smile they saw all week [9:15] Maybe the first embrace [9:17] That they felt all week and I have to remind myself day in and day out of that

[9:23] They cannot just take for granted that I will remember the mission of jesus christ [9:27] Because there are often saturday nights when I want to make sunday morning all about me [9:32] And the holy spirit has to work inside of my heart to remind me no no no [9:37] You are there contributing to the entire body [9:40] You’re just a part steve [9:43] And so this morning what I want to invite all of you to do is I want to invite you to take part

[9:48] I want to invite you to be a part of what god is doing in the lives of other people [9:53] And quite frankly if all that we do week in and week out is show up and sit down and walk out [9:58] We’ll never know [10:01] Those conversations [10:03] That may happen after five years of serving where someone [10:06] Opens up to you about what god is doing or what they think god wants to do in their lives

[10:12] It can’t happen if we’re not chipping in [10:15] Sure, it’ll happen to someone else [10:18] But I believe god wants it to happen to you personally [10:22] And I know this morning and I made mention last week that we’ve all had rough experiences at church one time or another [10:28] Trust me. It’s been three decades for me. I’ve seen my fair share

[10:33] But the reality is that sometimes to serve the lord we have to believe the gospel for things that are done to us [10:41] Not just for things that we’ve done [10:44] Because those hurts that keep us from committing to a local church we need to understand that jesus christ died for those hurts [10:51] Jesus christ took those sins to the cross [10:54] And when we refuse to believe that proactively in our lives [10:59] Quite frankly, we’re refusing in part

[11:03] Not to believe the gospel for specific situations in our own lives

[11:08] So as august approaches [11:11] I’m, not asking you just to be a volunteer [11:16] I don’t want you to think about it that way. I’m not just asking you to do some work [11:21] I believe god is inviting us to be a part of the story that he’s writing [11:26] Something that’s far larger than you and far larger than I

[11:31] So this morning what I want us to do is I want us to study god’s word [11:35] As to what it means to be a member of god’s church [11:39] pray with me father

[11:44] We have a great history behind us

[11:49] A history of your servants those [11:52] Who believe your gospel [11:56] Lived and some died [11:58] To further this great message this good news [12:02] That jesus christ has come and jesus christ has died for the sins of the world offering us an eternal relationship with the god of the universe [12:12] Lord may we never lose

[12:15] The greatness of what that means

[12:19] May we forever [12:21] And god, I thank you that it will be forever [12:25] Live to worship you through our attitudes as well as our actions [12:33] May you in village church form a people for your own possession

[12:40] Who find their joy in you and I pray that you would find your delight in what we do [12:46] Lord may everything that we do this morning be in worship of you or give me words

[12:52] Or give me power holy spirit speak [12:56] In the name of jesus, I pray amen the culture around us

[13:02] Has this amazing commitment to individualism [13:05] I don’t know if you’ve noticed that I don’t know if you’ve been a part of the culture that surrounds us much but [13:10] Is this this commitment this innate belief that there is a limit [13:17] To how much we will allow those who are outside of us to exert authority on us [13:23] But when we come into contact with a relationship with god our individualism and our individual nature this [13:30] Self-authority that we all yearn for as someone who lives in the culture of this world at this present time

[13:37] It kind of comes into conflict because there’s a god who says no you are not the captain of this ship rather god is [13:46] And he makes some interesting demands on our lives in light of the grace of jesus christ

[13:54] Sometimes I when I think about the culture around us and I think about the extenuating circumstances that this innate [14:00] Joy and individualism that we all find puts on us. I think about the institution of marriage

[14:07] And I think about sometimes the way in which marriage is portrayed in our culture and marriage sometimes the way that we seek it out [14:13] and act within it [14:16] shows our [14:17] just commitment to individualism [14:20] That we love the activities of marriage. We love the organic [14:26] nature of romance and the feelings that well up inside of us when we think about the one

[14:33] To whom we call our beloved but then when we start calling it an institution [14:38] And start laying some guardrails and some boundaries about what it means to be married [14:44] Well, then sometimes those good feelings well, they start to kind of go away and then marriage becomes these crazy words like covenant [14:53] commitment

[14:56] And it’s not just a romantic notion any longer

[15:02] It’s about the reality that there’s this thing called fidelity that shows love far more than a feeling on a saturday night will ever know about

[15:13] And so sometimes

[15:17] We would rather flee than be faithful [15:22] Because isn’t my happiness what’s most important

[15:28] And see that’s what god has done with many things in our lives [15:32] He’s put down some guardrails [15:33] He’s put down some boundaries for us to know what love really is for us to know what joy [15:41] Really is for us to understand what faithfulness and fidelity and legacy and things of that nature are all about [15:48] And frankly that is what god has done in the institution [15:54] of the church

[15:56] We love the activities that lend towards discipleship feeling really good [16:02] Those moments of worship where the minor key hits [16:05] And we want to raise our hands those moments where we read a portion of god’s word and we finally get it and we’re like [16:12] Oh, that’s good. I know exactly what to do here

[16:18] But then when we get to places of commitment

[16:24] Commitment faithfulness fidelity and that crazy word authority [16:29] And an even crazier word submission [16:33] Well, then the local church takes on a far less organic feel and it begins to feel a little bit more like an institution [16:40] And while we get a little more uncomfortable than that

[16:45] Because then something that’s not necessarily going to come naturally to me [16:52] Begins to make some demands of me

[16:56] And well, then we all say well, who do you think you are asking me to break my routine?

[17:05] Because I got my own plan and i’m not deviating from it [17:09] Well, sometimes when we think about the church, it’s hard [17:13] Because it’s not necessarily just one person that we can look at [17:16] It’s not necessarily just one thing that we’re going to submit to but rather it’s an entire body of believers [17:23] That god has called us to bring in and be a part of our lives and we are called to submit to those people [17:31] Look in romans chapter 12. This is what the word is going to tell us about it this morning starting in verse 4

[17:37] God’s word says through the apostle paul for as in one body [17:41] We have many members and the members do not all have the same function [17:44] So we though many are one body in christ and individually members of it [17:53] In the original language paul uses this idea of members [17:57] oftentimes [17:59] And when he uses it, the metaphor is quite often frankly the members of our body

[18:04] And when he talks about the members of our body, well, he’s talking about our arms [18:07] He’s talking about our hands talking about our feet. He’s talking about our legs [18:12] That all of these members join together to form one body [18:18] But individually each member plays a part [18:22] When I think about members, sometimes I think about something as insignificant as my thumb [18:27] And that trying to hold a cup is quite difficult without that guy

[18:31] He plays a big part [18:34] I think about my big toe and walking without that guy [18:38] Well, I’d probably fall a few times [18:41] I sprained my ankle when I was over in east asia last year. I really valued him those two weeks and he let me down

[18:49] It was painful [18:52] I think about this one time where I had to have my gallbladder removed this tiny little organ inside of me [18:59] But when he got stones inside of him [19:02] It’s the worst pain i’ve ever felt in my life [19:05] So i’m expecting this giant half of my midsection to come out. No, he’s about like that [19:12] A little bitty guy caused a whole lot of problems

[19:18] And sometimes when we’re thinking about the body of christ and that’s what god calls his church over and over in the new testament [19:25] We struggle to think about the individual aspect that each and every one of us play [19:30] Because it’s far easier to see the big picture [19:35] It’s far easier to stand outside of the forest and see all of it in its great beauty [19:41] Than it is to go inside and see the little seeds [19:46] That started it

[19:48] To see the little things the intricate details that make it thrive [19:54] And so when paul ends verse 5 and he says that you are individually [19:58] Visually [19:59] members one of another he’s getting inside of the church and taking a view and helping us understand that when we [20:07] Gather together as a church and when we form relationships inside of the church with one another [20:13] We are to look at one another and say I am connected to you

[20:17] And you are connected to me through this great thing that god is doing through the gospel of jesus christ [20:23] And we are members together [20:25] We cannot be disconnected and function exactly the same

[20:32] But often that’s not how we view the church

[20:36] Because I mean quite frankly if something goes wrong in here, can’t I just go to the one down there?

[20:42] Everything will be all right [20:45] But the question is is that how god would have us view the local church? [20:51] Or would he have us [20:53] View it as something that’s far larger than ourselves [20:58] Something that’s far greater and something that if we disconnect ourselves from [21:05] While we’re missing out, but also the church itself

[21:09] Is missing something that makes it work and function properly the way in which god designs it [21:17] So in this passage what I want us to understand is number one that membership in a local church [21:21] presents a picture [21:23] Of your membership in the universal church [21:26] We looked last week in revelation chapter 7 a picture of the church when god calls us home [21:32] There were people from all tribes all tongues in all nations and it’s very tempting just to see that picture

[21:37] But not see the part that we play in bringing it there [21:42] That god has not designed us to be disconnected in a metaphysical church [21:47] But rather he’s called us to be completely connected in a physical church [21:53] That when he uses metaphors [21:55] Like members of the body he wants us to take those inside of our lives and realize that this is a physical union [22:03] The term that is used in axe chapter 5 for joining the church is the same term that is used

[22:10] To discuss the union that we actually have with jesus christ himself

[22:17] It’s not just a small thing but rather it is something that god himself [22:21] Has joined us with it is the thread that he has put throughout each and every one of us [22:26] To bring us together so that we will view ourselves as members one of another [22:32] He uses the same metaphor in first corinthians chapter 12 starting in verse 13 when he says for in one spirit [22:38] We were all baptized into one body [22:41] Jews or greeks slaves or free and all were made to drink of one spirit

[22:45] This big picture of the body of christ of all people for all time brought together and put together as the church [22:54] All nations all tongues no differences in jesus god’s torn down the walls of ethnicity and brought us all together [23:02] But then the metaphor takes a turn and then down in verse 27 [23:06] He says now you are the body of christ and individually members of it [23:12] After he has spent the last [23:14] 15 verses

[23:17] Unpacking what it means to be the hands and feet of jesus christ in the church [23:24] There’s no insignificant part [23:27] But rather the parts that we see as mattering less god says no show honor to that which seems [23:33] Insignificant to you the one who thinks he doesn’t have a part plays a bigger part than you would understand [23:41] And is worthy of all honor

[23:45] In the new testament god gives us a picture of his church [23:50] But more so he gives us a picture of who we are in his church [23:57] That it is not a professional endeavor for those that are ministry professionals [24:04] That is not something that you come and it’s like you’re at a business meeting [24:07] Rather he describes it as an organism that if we were to disconnect ourselves from it [24:13] We would disconnect ourselves from the very lifeblood of what it means to be a disciple of jesus christ

[24:20] God’s vision for us is that we be a new people who live out the example of a united participation in his mission [24:27] of reconciliation [24:30] With god by living out this mission of redemption together as his church [24:35] And he says that it’s going to be a dim picture, but while it’s a dim picture. This is what love looks like [24:42] Us throwing aside our differences and coming together to unite around the one thing that is objectively truer [24:49] Than anything else and that’s the gospel of jesus

[24:54] Now we are the church [24:57] And individually we’re members of it

[25:01] And that that is what the world must look at and see as love

[25:09] The world [25:11] Is to see [25:13] the work of the church [25:14] Doug ponder puts it this way that the role of the church and the mission of god [25:19] To make his goodness love grace and glory known to all the world [25:23] Necessitates that we see our life in christ as something

[25:29] Inseparably connected to the lives of his people [25:32] Practically this means that we should probably think about our lives [25:36] In terms of we and us and not I and me [25:41] If the point of the gospel is the creation of the church, then some things have got to change [25:47] We must begin to see that active membership in a healthy church is one of the key signs that someone is in right relationship [25:55] With god

[25:56] We must see that living together in community to edify each other and to glorify god is not a nice bonus [26:04] But rather it is the entire point of the christian life

[26:09] That what we do as the church is not just a part [26:15] Of discipleship it is discipleship [26:20] That you are not on a journey alone [26:24] It’s interesting that [26:26] Ephesians chapter 5 says that a marriage founded through the gospel of jesus christ is going to represent the relationship that jesus has with [26:33] his church

[26:38] Jesus’s work is about far more than you [26:42] Jesus’s work was about you with others making up the church [26:48] Jonathan lehman writes that a local church is a group of christians who regularly gather in christ’s name [26:54] To officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in jesus christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching [27:03] And gospel ordinances that there is something that god calls us to participate in together [27:10] That this is to be a shared community of grace

[27:16] That god has called us in our sin to himself through jesus who bore our sin for us [27:24] And we come together with others who believe that in order that we may grow in that and through our [27:32] Relationships with each other learn what it is to be gracious [27:38] Learn what it is to forgive [27:41] Learn what it is to serve [27:44] Learn what it is to live for more than ourselves

[27:48] Because apart from jesus, that’s what we have we have life for ourselves [27:54] But with jesus we have a great example of the one who justifies us the one who suffers for others

[28:03] And then in following christ’s example [28:08] To believe him [28:10] Is to live in order to serve others [28:15] And that it is not an outside thing that we just hope will happen at some point [28:20] But something that god calls us to be intentional about [28:25] Because secondly this morning church membership shows submission to discipleship according to god’s design

[28:36] The church shows a people who have a revealed allegiance [28:41] To the work of the gospel [28:43] god defines [28:45] That the gospel will be advanced by his church in this present age all through the book of aphesians and then beyond [28:52] And we live as those who represent the values of his kingdom [28:55] That is to come so that the world may see us and ask of the hope that is within us

[29:01] But the question is why do we need something like church membership for that to happen? [29:07] Why is something like formalized church membership and a covenant of membership together important for that? [29:13] Well, the new testament presents the church as a people who gave structure to the work of god [29:19] So that the mission could go forward and people could be served and led properly [29:25] From aphesians chapter 5 and onward [29:28] We see that which god just made organically happen through the power of his holy spirit begin to need

[29:35] Structure for it to function properly

[29:40] What’s interesting about us oftentimes is that we will put structure to all sorts of things [29:46] I mean i’ve been to some people’s house where their backyard [29:50] Landscaping is the most structured thing that i’ve ever seen in my life [29:54] We put structure to the way that we raise our children [29:57] We have a planned date night so that we will not disconnect from our relationship with our wife like [30:03] Quite often when we get busy men, especially are prone to do

[30:08] We’ll put structure [30:10] To our education we’ll put great structure to our career [30:14] We will obey when they say clock in and out because our paychecks are structured [30:20] But then when we have the audacity to say that god would structure his people well that’s taking it too far

[30:29] No, if you look at the new testament they even had structure to how they cared for widows [30:34] They made them sign up on a sign-up sheet [30:38] And then had qualifications read titus first and second timothy [30:41] acts chapter 7 saw them [30:44] Unable as apostles to care for all of the needy within the church [30:49] So they made structure and qualifications to appoint deacons who were members of the church

[30:54] In acts chapter 5 we saw the first institution of church discipline [30:59] Where ananias and sephirah lied to the church and god struck them dead [31:05] And then in chapters chapter 5 verses 12 and 13 we see them joining together the apostles doing signs and wonders [31:12] in the temple [31:15] And it says in verse 13 that many would not dare join the church [31:21] For two reasons number one they just seen the example of ananias and sephirah

[31:26] So being in the church brought expectations and then number two these people had the audacity to risk their lives by doing [31:32] miracles inside of the jewish temple [31:34] I’m not going to risk my life by joining together with them and in that term [31:38] It’s not just joining standing beside but it is that greek term that is used in first and second corinthians to describe [31:45] Joining together in union with jesus christ himself [31:48] So this is a committed joining together that they’re experiencing right there

[31:53] But then in hebra’s chapter 13, I want us to focus here [31:58] Hebrews chapter 13 is written to the church that is suffering and he writes this [32:03] Obey your leaders and submit to them right there in the first stanza of the text. We have two dirty words that no one likes [32:11] obey and submit [32:14] For they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account [32:20] Let them do this with joy and not groaning

[32:24] please [32:25] For that would be of no advantage to you [32:30] I want to think once you think about this text in two ways when you’re thinking about the local church and membership within it [32:36] All right. First. I want us to see the side as a member then I want to talk about the side as a leader [32:42] All right. Now as a member of the church it says to obey and submit to your leaders [32:49] But here’s my question what leaders?

[32:56] All pastors [32:58] Of the church down the street as well as this one the people on tv who are telling you to send money in [33:04] The people at the church that are completely legalistic [33:08] And would have you wear even bonnets on your head to come to worship [33:12] The ones that you would say they’re completely wrong are you to submit to them? [33:17] What about the false teachers that when you go to the scriptures?

[33:22] And you say no, they’re completely wrong, but they’re a pastor. They’re a leader of a church [33:27] And that’s specifically what he’s talking about here in verse 17 [33:31] Are you to submit to them? [33:33] What about the guy who just meets in his house with his wife on sunday morning and has proclaimed himself a pastor? [33:39] with no one approving of him with no [33:42] qualifications or anything

[33:44] Are you to submit to that guy? [33:47] Hopefully he doesn’t live next door to you or you’re in trouble

[33:51] So the question is what leader? [33:54] And I would say he’s specifically talking about the local church [33:58] He’s talking about one church when he’s writing to them [34:02] They are to have someone in mind that they are connected to that they know of whose leadership they trust [34:09] Who’s really living out the scriptures who’s meeting the qualifications of an elder as set forward in first timothy in titus and in the book of acts [34:18] That’s who he’s talking about

[34:19] He’s not talking about some far out leader that they have no connection with who can just come in [34:24] At some point during the week and make great [34:27] Demands of their lives and then leave immediately [34:31] He’s talking about someone that there’s a relationship someone that you know [34:35] Someone that you see [34:37] He’s talking about the pastors of the local church and he’s saying

[34:41] They have your best interest at heart if they’re following the new testament if they’re following the scriptures [34:46] If they’re following the holy spirit in jesus christ and he’s giving you a road map as to see [34:51] How to know if your leaders are doing that? [34:55] It’s his word and his holy spirit that indwells each and every one of you [34:59] If I go off the tracks you guys are going to know it because the holy spirit is going to tell you through his word

[35:05] The demands that I can make of you are limited to that

[35:10] But here’s the second thing I want you to understand

[35:13] Who are the leaders going to be held accountable for? [35:17] This is a text that makes me far more uncomfortable than it’s going to make you [35:22] It says to obey and submit to you, but then it tells me that i’m going to be judged

[35:28] All right [35:29] Responsibility on leaders and the pastors of this church is to keep watch over the souls [35:34] Of the flock that jesus christ loved to the point of death [35:39] I’ll be held account as to how I lead [35:42] And so will the other pastors so will the other leaders [35:46] There’s a question

[35:48] Who is it? [35:50] Is it those crazy people that protest funerals and they’re deplorable?

[35:56] I hope not [35:58] No, it’s the local church that we lead over [36:02] And just as I lead over a local church you obey and submit within a local church [36:08] But see we get very uncomfortable because it calls into question our [36:13] Self-authoritarian lifestyle [36:17] We just come and go do as we please we’ll show up when we feel like it we won’t as we don’t

[36:25] Church membership [36:27] Because of things like this [36:29] Is about commitment and responsibility

[36:34] Membership isn’t about [36:36] A name on a list membership is about a life that we lead and growing god’s church together

[36:45] Membership clears the blurry lines [36:50] That exist without them

[36:54] I’ll talk about two ways [36:57] That church membership is going to aid us in living for the gospel this morning [37:02] The first one is that church membership gives clarity to the truth of the gospel [37:09] It gives clarity to the truth of the gospel church membership really puts all the cards on the table [37:15] That’s what it does now. There are churches that have formal membership [37:19] There are churches that have informal membership and I think there are great churches that do both

[37:23] But we here at village we do formal membership [37:26] We have a membership covenant that is signed by the elder as well as the individual and and we think it’s helpful [37:33] I believe it’s also biblical, but I think it’s helpful because it throws the cards on the table

[37:39] It says here here’s what it is. I’ll be completely open and honest with you [37:42] There are no backroom meetings here where we can be like, okay [37:45] Here’s what we’re gonna do with the members now, huh? They’re not gonna see that coming

[37:51] So in my belief, I think it kind of helps you more than it helps me [37:57] Because then you have something to point to and be like nah

[38:00] Nah, we’re gonna have to talk about this Steve [38:04] We throw the cards out on the table and we understand what it means look back in our romans 12 verse 5 where he says [38:10] So we though many are one body in christ individually members of another [38:15] Of one another rather and then look in romans chapter 12 verse 10 [38:18] Just a few verses later. He says love one another with brotherly affection outdo one another in showing honor

[38:27] Outdo one another is so convicting that phrase [38:31] Then galatians chapter 6 verse 10 [38:32] He says so then as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone and especially to those who are of the household of faith [38:40] Who are they?

[38:43] Then in first peter chapter 5 verse 5 [38:45] He says likewise you who are younger be subject to the elders clothe yourselves all of you with humility toward one another [38:52] For god opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

[38:56] Church membership reveals truth in action [39:01] See and in these texts we are able to identify with our family members [39:07] We have many people who are committed to in this life who are in our church family [39:12] The truth of the gospel is to be seen by our agreement with one another to be a family in which the gospel is the basis [39:20] for our economy with each other [39:22] In other words being members of a church when we look at texts like this

[39:27] It actually puts names to those who we are outdoing one another and showing honor towards [39:34] It puts names to the household of faith [39:37] When we try to live the mission and our flaws are pointed out, which are many [39:42] We can look to the text and have an objective reality that we point to with our lives as to how we’re obeying jesus christ [39:50] We have people that we can intentionally love who have said I will also intentionally love you [39:56] It aids us in our obedience and scripture in showing

[40:01] Objectively the truth have you ever read a verse like galatians 6 10 [40:05] Where it says especially those of the household of faith and you’re like I can’t think of a single person i’m doing that towards [40:11] Because who are those people? [40:14] Membership adds clarity [40:17] to that [40:18] membership adds some boundaries

[40:19] To help us and actually being able to hold ourselves and others accountable to the commands of love that god makes in scripture

[40:31] The church also lays boundaries of what is truth

[40:41] What creates [40:43] the family [40:44] That god talks about that we are members one of another well, it’s the truth of the gospel of jesus [40:49] Membership is a revelation that we have beliefs as a people that sets us apart from the rest of the world [40:55] The leaders of this church have set out parameters of belief. This is a function of the church [41:00] This is a function of elders as we give an attempt to give you a correct understanding

[41:05] Of what it means to live a proper life in the gospel of jesus christ through the body of the church [41:11] Which goes out into our lives in the culture around us in membership [41:15] You may not understand all of the beliefs on the level that leadership does but you submit to the leadership in them

[41:25] In other words god has given us the church to throw some guardrails around truth and error

[41:32] And our membership in that gives cohesion and clarity to that as well [41:38] For a church to experience unity in relationship. There must be common beliefs [41:44] For a church to function as a people united in jesus [41:47] We must have theological unity in which we can equip one another to live the mission of jesus and to do this [41:54] We must have unity in what we believe about the bible what we believe about jesus what we believe about god [42:01] And here at village we call those closed-handed and open-handed issues

[42:05] And i’m gonna get really specific about that this coming saturday as to what those issues are [42:10] That we will keep in a fist and we will not negotiate on those and what it is that yeah [42:15] It’s kind of an open-handed issue. You can believe a few a little bit differently than we do but don’t go too far brother

[42:24] Theological unity within the church is very important for the church to be in relationship with one another [42:33] In our day, you cannot assume that we all have the same beliefs [42:37] But it is our task as leaders to convince you who do not agree [42:41] Here at the village we we have those closed-handed and open-handed issues so that we can lay down boundaries [42:47] To protect the church and keep people from error [42:52] Because when we go off by ourselves

[42:55] Sometimes we’re tempted to err i’m no different than you are [42:59] But when we come together and unite with others [43:03] We come together for the purpose of glorifying god in truth for who he is [43:10] And also protects us from those false teachers on the outside [43:15] We’ll talk a lot more about that next saturday [43:18] Finally this morning church membership gives clarity to the work of the gospel

[43:23] It’s not just the truth of the gospel, but it is also about the work of the gospel [43:29] It is the duty of the church to show the world who is a christian and who is not a christian [43:35] God gives the church the responsibility for identifying those who are and are not true followers of jesus christ [43:40] The only way to do this frankly is through membership [43:44] Matthew chapter 18 presents an example [43:47] That we will reference next week of

[43:50] next sunday rather as well [43:52] Matthew chapter 18 reads this way if your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault [43:59] Between you and him alone if he listens to you you have gained your brother [44:04] But if he does not listen take one or two others along with you that [44:08] Every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses [44:11] If he refuses to listen to them tell it to the church

[44:14] And if he refuses to listen even to the church let him be to you as a gentile and a tax collector [44:19] Truly I say to you whatever you bind on earth [44:22] Shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven again. I say to you if two or three [44:28] Excuse me if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask it will be done for them by my father in heaven [44:34] For where two or three are gathered in his name there am I among them

[44:40] Here’s the reality I wish there was a verse in the new testament that is like here’s what church membership is [44:46] There there is it. It made my job a lot easier [44:50] All right [44:51] But I will tell you that church membership is something that’s presupposed [44:55] in the new testament [44:57] Because here’s the reality Jesus himself makes it very personal there

[45:01] And then he refers to something that we talked about last week two chapters earlier in matthew chapter 16 [45:06] The keys to the kingdom binding and loosing [45:09] And here’s what he’s talking about there. He’s saying that when you come together [45:13] When you bring two sinners [45:16] Together at some point there’s going to be a disagreement [45:18] All right at some point there’s going to be a fault at some point sin is going to enter into the picture

[45:23] He’s talking about sin in someone’s life at this point sin that’s greater [45:28] Uh than maybe some other forms that are just kind of minor in nature [45:32] But this is something that’s so serious that he needs to be confronted with it because it is a serious sin [45:38] It’s kind of like a first john thing where we’re putting them out or in titus where they need to be put out [45:42] And he’s talking about a sin [45:45] That’s egregious to the point where it calls into question whether or not they’re a follower of jesus christ

[45:50] We saw in the text of first john any unrepentant sin that you feel no conviction over and you just continue to run headlong into [45:58] When that’s happening in your life and you feel no conviction and you take joy and sin [46:03] Well, quite frankly that calls into question whether you’re a follower of jesus christ or on first john would say you can’t be a follower [46:09] Of jesus christ and not feel conviction for sin [46:11] You’re going to continue to struggle with it, but you’re going to want to repent [46:15] And he’s talking about that type of situation. He’s saying at first

[46:18] Go to him talk to him in love [46:21] Then there’s no repentance [46:23] Take two or three people with you that love them as well

[46:27] And finally if there’s just unrepentance and this is a person that’s claiming to be a part of the church of jesus christ

[46:34] You have to take it to the church and then in the church’s hands [46:40] Is the authority if they will not repent [46:44] To put them out of the church and say this is not a follower of jesus christ [46:49] I say well that does not sound very loving

[46:54] Friends the unloving thing is to let someone continue to proclaim that they are a follower of jesus christ and you know that they’re not

[47:05] That’s unloving because you’re allowing someone the license number one [47:10] To redefine what it means to be a follower of jesus christ when jesus christ himself has the authority to do that [47:16] And what he’s saying is the church has the responsibility of laying out boundaries as to what it is to be a follower of jesus [47:24] And those boundaries are clear in scripture [47:28] And if we do not define those boundaries others will take the authority on themselves to define those boundaries [47:36] But the keys to the kingdom are in the hands of the church so the church plays the role in discipline

[47:44] To show you what the work of jesus is to have the authority to define that through the scriptures [47:51] But then secondly it also protects us from ourselves

[47:56] Protects us from convincing ourselves of lies [48:00] Protects us from entering into sin without someone there to confront us with it [48:07] Quite often we do not see in the mirror very clearly [48:11] And we need others to help us along the way. That’s the role of a discipleship [48:16] Is that us coming together in relationship to help one another follow jesus? [48:21] Here’s the reality you can’t disciple yourself

[48:25] Can’t do it it’s impossible [48:28] We lead through scripture to make disciples who form environments to move the gospel forward in the best way [48:35] possible [48:36] We do this through seeking to obey scripture and share the grace of jesus together as a community

[48:46] That final part in matthew chapter 18 shows us the reality of what god is doing in his church [48:53] And we’re going to clear that up a lot more next week when we talk about church discipline [48:58] But the reality is is that the church has a responsibility [49:02] together [49:04] To help one another and to love one another for the sake of the gospel [49:11] Because sometimes we throw that word love out there

[49:14] And it does not have a gospel centered definition as a me centered definition [49:21] That is not love that is not the gospel and that is not [49:27] Being members of the church

[49:34] Church membership is not so much something that you join as much as it is something you submit to

[49:43] That’s the vision of scripture [49:47] It’s coming saturday we’re gonna unpack the whole shebang [49:52] I invite you [49:55] But more than that I want to invite you here and now [49:58] To understand what it is to have a relationship with jesus

[50:03] God gives us two signs as a church of what it means to really [50:09] Come into relationship with jesus [50:13] As the band comes up the first one is baptism [50:17] Baptism represents the forgiveness of sins and the purification from your sin [50:22] But more than that it is a picture of you coming into relationship with the church

[50:29] Reconciliation isn’t just something that you experience with god rather. It’s something you experience with other people

[50:35] But then secondly there’s another picture that god gives us and that is communion [50:40] The broken body and the shed blood of jesus represented in the bread and the cup [50:46] It represents what jesus did to form for himself a people [50:52] And that if we are his people we will live lives of repentance and sometimes repentance is not about [50:59] Some immoral activity in my life as much as it is just about my commitment to myself [51:06] That god calls me not to live for me god calls me to live for more than even my family at home

[51:14] God calls for me to live for his family [51:18] God calls for me to live for that truth which he reveals [51:22] Which quite frankly sometimes comes into conflict with the truth that I want to reveal [51:28] And I know you’re in the same boat as I am on that one

[51:32] That we need as a people to understand that we’re dealing with the god of the universe [51:38] He loves us to the point where he took the penalty of sin onto himself [51:44] So that we could be called his people [51:46] But in that redemption in that reconciliation that we experience with god through faith and trust in jesus

[51:56] He changes our lives [51:59] He changes our identity [52:02] He says you represent me in this world

[52:08] With my people the church

[52:13] And I want you to relish that identity this morning [52:17] Your citizenship in the kingdom of god is far greater than your citizenship anywhere else

[52:26] And that we need to form the guardrails [52:31] As to what it looks like to be a citizen in the kingdom of god [52:37] And it is not a drudgery [52:40] It should be a joy [52:43] That we have faith towards

[52:47] If you’re a follower of jesus, I invite you to proclaim the gospel with his church to one another [52:54] Through communion [52:56] If you’re not a follower of jesus this morning, I want to invite you to repent of your sins and trust in jesus [53:02] As your god and savior [53:05] He’ll forgive you right now [53:07] If you’ll trust him

[53:09] And you can be with him for eternity i’ll be right over here [53:13] I’d love to pray with you [53:15] I’d love to chat [53:16] When you’re ready come