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Church Membership

If someone said, “The Bible nowhere says that God is a Trinity.” How would you prove that person wrong? No verse in the Bible says, “God is a Trinity.” So, could you demonstrate it from Scripture? Of course you can! You would take all that the Bible says about the nature of the Father, The Son, and The Spirit, and when you put it all together, the only way to make sense of it all is the doctrine of the Trinity. Sunday, we will see the same is true with church membership.

Last week, we discussed the authority and responsibilities that Christ has given to every local congregation. We highlighted that every local congregation has the authority and responsibility to protect right doctrine, install and remove officers, and protect its membership and ministry. This Sunday, I will explain why we have formal church membership at FBC and why churches throughout Christian history have believed it scriptural. While it’s true that there isn’t a specific verse saying, “Thou shalt join a local church,” the concept of an identifiable membership in a local congregation is everywhere in the New Testament. The word “member” is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, as Paul describes the local church in Corinth as the body of Christ there. However, we often associate the word “member” with joining a club. When we look for that kind of membership in the New Testament, we certainly don’t find it. The New Testament picture of a local church’s covenant membership is more akin to embassies of a grand kingdom rather than a club or organization. When all of Christ’s commands for the local assemblies are brought together, having a defined, mutually understood membership is necessary for a church to obey all that Jesus commands for the gathered congregation.

Church Polity: Who Has Authority?

This Sunday, we continue our study on the doctrine of the church and how we are called, as a congregation, to make disciples for God’s glory. If you have not heard the previous two sermons on the church, I would encourage you to listen to them on the podcast or the church’s website. The first sermon dealt with the nature of the church, and the second, the church’s mission and purpose. Each of these sermons builds upon the previous foundation. This Sunday, we examine what Scripture says regarding church polity, a crucial aspect of our understanding of the church. Polity refers to the church’s organization and governance. If you surveyed 100 churches, you would find vast differences in how the church is organized and governed, even among godly, Bible-preaching churches. If we all read from the same Bible, why is this so?

Simply put, two sets of texts speak of human authority and governance in the local church. One set speaks of the congregation as the earthly authority, and the other speaks of the pastor or elders’ authority, calling the congregation to submit to them. There is so much variation in how churches govern themselves because some elevate the congregational texts over the texts that speak of elders. Therefore, some churches refuse to follow the pastors that God has given and are characterized by divisions and disunity. These churches fight or split because of the carpet color, the photocopier, or any number of day-to-day decisions.

On the other side, some elevate the texts about the pastor - elders’ authority over the congregational texts, and you have pastors who rule like kings. The pastor’s word is law and imposed on the church, which leads to cult-like dictatorships and often ends in leaders abusing authority & damaging the church in a myriad of ways. This is not the model of authority that Jesus intended for His church. This Sunday, we will take the biblical texts regarding congregational and pastoral authority and show how they harmonize with one another to give us the complete picture of Jesus’ commands for the polity of the local church. Christ has given the local church as His instrument to make disciples; therefore, seeing the whole picture is imperative. This Sunday will be far more informational than exhortative as we examine the authority and responsibility Jesus has given us all in order that we may function as a body, every member working together.

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The Mission & Purpose Of The Church

Last week, we examined the nature of the church and saw that the New Testament overwhelmingly stresses the local church rather than the universal in its teachings. The Bible does speak of the church as the invisible, worldwide, universal body of all believers everywhere, but never to the exclusion of the local churches, which are the only place the exhortations, commands, and blessings can actually be lived out. We also studied several descriptions of the church (body of Christ, bride of Christ, temple of God) and saw how they apply to both the universal and the local church. This Sunday, we ask, "What is the church’s mission," and, "Why does the church exist?" Jesus succinctly gave the church’s mission right before He ascended into heaven. At the very end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus provides the church with her marching orders (Matt. 28:18-20). We are to make disciples. That is the church’s mission. Therefore, everything we do must contribute to that mission or spring from it. Sunday, we will discuss what making disciples means and how we do that as a congregation, not just individually. Making disciples is our mission, but that is not why we exist as the church. Our purpose in all things is to glorify God. God created everything, including His people, to glorify His name. To demonstrate this, we will examine several passages (Isa. 48:9-11; Eph. 1:3-14) but focus on 1 Peter 2:9-10. There, Peter calls the church God’s chosen race, His royal priesthood, and His holy nation - Then, he tells us why the church has been given these titles and responsibilities. "...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (v.9). Finally, we will see how the church makes disciples and glorifies God as a congregation in the example of the first local church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47). I understand this is a lot of information to absorb in one sermon, and I tend to talk fast. So, below, I have given my outline and verse references (also attached to this email in printable form) if you want to take notes easily or study the passages beforehand. May God be glorified in our hearts and assembly this Sunday

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The Nature Of The church

For the next few months, we will be doing something very different from our regular practice at FBC. Over the past seven years (with a few pauses), we have worked expositionally through the books of the Bible. The preaching of God’s word in this way must remain the steady diet of the church as we strive to feed on the whole counsel of God. That is not going to change. But, for some time, I have been convicted about neglecting to teach what Scripture says about the church, who we are called to be, and what we are responsible for doing as a congregation. So, over the next seven or eight weeks, we will examine what the Bible says about the nature of the church, its governance, its mission, offices, ordinances, membership, and discipline. To do this, instead of taking a book and work verse by verse, we must do "systematic theology." Systematic theology is examining a subject or doctrine that is taught progressively all through the Bible by bringing all the relevant texts together to understand it as a whole. This approach, while necessary, is not without its challenges. It is easy to take verses out of context when we are not studying straight through a book. But this type of study is necessary to get a full orbbed, view of what the Bible says about certain truths. One of which is the church. Our ultimate goal in this series is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the church as revealed in the Bible, and to be faithful to what God has called the church to be and do. Jesus is passionate about His church and we must be too, for the church is God’s chosen instrument to glorify Himself in the world. In Ephesians 3:9-10, Paul says that God appointed him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, and continues saying, "9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

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Hebrews 13:18-25 Equipping Us To Do His Will

On October 22, 2023, we began the book of Hebrews. This Sunday, almost a year later, we come to the final passage in the book. Throughout the book, the author shows Jesus’ superiority over all things. With exegesis of multiple Old Testament passages, he proved that Jesus fulfills God’s purposes in the Old Covenant and His promises in the New Covenant. Then, the Hebrew Christians were urged to run with endurance and endure suffering as God’s loving discipline because Jesus is better. Chapters 12 & 13 were filled with commands demonstrating what it means to live like Jesus is better. If Jesus is better, let brotherly love continue, aid those in prison, honor marriage, and obey your leaders. In 13:18-25, the final section, through the author’s request for prayer and his prayerful benediction, he explains where the power comes to live like Jesus is better. Though we are to emulate godly examples and understand right doctrine, the power to follow Christ faithfully comes only from God. Before concluding his "word of exhortation," the author himself asks these readers to pray for him and his companions because they desire to act honorably in all things. Even the author, who has been exhorting these wavering Christians in truth, knows he cannot live faithfully without the power of Christ and the prayers of the saints. In the same way, he prays that God would "equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever" (v. 21). In this benediction, we see that the faithfully maturing Christian life (that endures hardships as discipline and acts honorably in all things) only grows strong as it grows more aware of its weakness and more dependent upon Christ in all things. "Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things" (v. 18).

I. Pray For One Another (v. 18-21)

II. Depend Upon God’s Power In Christ (v. 20-21)

III. Closing Remarks That Reveal His Heart (v. 22-25)

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Hebrews 13:7-16 We Have An Altar

As we begin winding down the book of Hebrews, the final chapter is filled with exhortations and commands that show us how to live like Jesus is better. The last verse of chapter 12 told us to offer acceptable (pleasing) worship to God. In Hebrews 13:21, the author prays that God would equip the reader to do what is "pleasing" in His sight. Between these two ideas of living and worshiping in a way that pleases the Lord, the various commands show us what that looks like. In verses 13:7-16, we are instructed in what to do and shown where the strength to endure in these things comes from. The Hebrew Christians are told to remember those who taught the word to them and to consider the outcome of their way of life (v. 7) Many have endured faithfully to the end, and we can draw encouragement from their example because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (v. 8) The same Jesus that enabled past saints to end well is with us as we hold firm to our faith through trials. Moreover, the writer shows us how to be "strengthened by grace" (v. 9) by going to our "altar" (v. 10), which is the cross of Jesus Christ. We have an altar that the Old Covenant priests cannot eat from (v. 10). "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured" (v. 13) By grace, we can endure to the end as we:

I. Emulate The Faithfulness Of Godly Examples (v. 7-8)

II. Be Strengthened By Grace From Our Altar (v. 9-14)

III. Continually Worship With Spiritual Sacrifices (v. 15-16)

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Hebrews 13:1-6 Living LIke Jesus Is Better

As we begin Hebrews 13, the final chapter in the book, we are confronted with many short, rapid-fire commands that seem contextually disconnected from each other. Hebrews 13:1- 17 sometimes feels like the author has run out of space, so he throws a bunch of commands in at the end. This is certainly not the case. At the end of chapter 12, the readers are exhorted to "offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." The same word translated as "acceptable" is translated as "pleasing" in 13:16 and 13:21. These commands are interconnected by showing the readers what offering acceptable ("pleasing") worship/service to God. The commands of Chapter 13 may seem disconnected, but the author is actually showing the Hebrew Christians (and us) what running with endurance looks like practically as individuals and as a congregation. Sunday, we will study the first six verses as we see the author’s application of the theological truths he presented throughout the book. If we truly believe that Jesus is better and seek to run with endurance as we offer pleasing service to God, this is what it looks like. We certainly aren’t perfect in our running, but (after showing us the finish line toward which we strive (12:18-14), Hebrews concludes by showing us what should characterize our present running in a hostile world.

I. Be Characterized By Love (v. 1-2)

II. Care For The Oppressed (v. 3)

III. Honor Marriage (v. 4)

IV. Be Content In Faith (v. 5-6)

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Hebrews 12:18-29 Comfort In The Consuming Fire

This Sunday, we come to the book of Hebrews’ thematic climax. The author draws together all the book’s theological truths and reminds the Hebrew Christians of the glorious reality Jesus has imparted to them. They are suffering and persecuted. They are wavering in faith and being tempted to go back to their old lives. So, the author shows them (and us) how to “lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet,” (v. 12-13). We must firmly believe in where we stand to run this race with endurance. To show this in verses 18-29, the author tells these Hebrews where they “have not come” and where they “have come.” To illustrate their position in Christ, the author shows two ways to come to God, pictured in two mountains. Mount Sinai was a mountain of fear and dread as God’s terrifyingly holy presence thundered upon it. The other is Mount Zion, characterized by joy and peace, with a mediator whose blood speaks peace and atonement rather than justice. The author of Hebrews reminds the reader to which mountain they have come. In Christ, they have already come to Zion, the picture of God’s perfect salvation throughout the Old Testament. By remembering where they stand, the readers are encouraged to offer God praise and thanksgiving, even amid their trials. Because they already occupy Mount Zion, their future glorification is sure. Quoting Haggai 2, he says, “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (v. 26). Since the world and all its tempting comforts are passing away, it is foolish to hold onto what is “shaken” and forsake the true kingdom that remains forever. Refusing to follow Christ to gain relief from our worldly suffering is not worth the cost. All the things of this life are temporary. Yet, like Esau (v. 16), the temptation to trade our birthright for temporary satisfaction is a continual snare for us. Therefore, we are warned, “25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.”

I. Remember Where You Are Standing (v. 18-24)

II. Remember Where You Are Heading (v. 25-27)

III. Remember Where Your Treasure is (v. 28-29)

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Hebrews 12:14-17 Pursuing Peace & Holiness Together

Hebrews 12:14 begins the final section of the book. Most of the remaining sections instruct the Hebrew congregation on living out the church’s calling together in a hostile environment. The author gives many short commands regarding how these professing Hebrew Christians are to respond to the deep theological truths of Jesus’ sufficiency and excellency. Because Jesus is better than all things, fulfilling all God’s promises and sufficient to secure their inheritance, the last section of Hebrews shows them how to live out these truths as the body of Christ. After speaking extensively about their sufferings and trials being the discipline (training) of a loving Father and calling for them to see their difficulties as such, v. 12-13 told us - "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." We saw that the text says, "Lift THE drooping hands and strengthen THE weak knees," meaning we must lift our own drooping heads but also lift one another’s as well. This is confirmed as the author shows us how we do that as a congregation. V. 14-17 gives explicit instruction about what our focus must be as we run this race with endurance. We are to strive (chase after) peace with everyone (specifically within the body of Christ) and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. In this section, the writer gives some difficult realities of the authority and responsibility of the local church congregation. We are indeed our brother’s keeper. Sunday, we will look at that pursuit of peace and holiness and the three responsibilities necessary to faithfully pursue this peace and holiness in the body.

I. The Pursuit: Peace & Holiness (v. 14)

II. The Responsibility: Help One Another Endure (v. 15)

III. The Responsibility: Guard Agaisnt Defiling Division (v. 15)

IV. The Responsibility: Hold One Another Accountable (v. 16-17)

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