Sermon Tone Analysis

*LIFE AS A BAPTIST*

*A BAPTIST AND HIS CHURCH*

*ACTS 2:37-47*

*6-11-06*

*GLC                                                                GRBC*

* *

* *

     Having just concluded our series in the book of Acts, I wanted to follow up that study with a message on the importance and meaning of church membership.

Church membership has lost its meaning for many people.

Some people have even suggested that we are moving into an “un-churched” age of Christianity.

In other words, there are people who don’t see the importance of church attendance and membership.

Some believe that can they stay at home and watch services on television and in doing so fulfill their obligation to God.

Others may attend a home Bible study and believe that it is enough, i.e. they don’t need to be affiliated with a local church.

Still others will attend a local fellowship but never officially join the membership.

Why is that?

Well, some people want the anonymity.

They don’t want to get too connected or be too obligated to any one fellowship.

In all honesty,/ it makes it much easier to leave when you want to/.

Then there are others who just don’t understand the nature and the importance of the local church.

They have been told by some Para-church organizations, and some inter and non-denominational organizations that the local church is of secondary importance.

They say, “ What is really important is the “/True Church/.”

In this final message of this series, I hope to correct any misunderstandings you may have about the local church, and encourage all those who are members, and those considering membership.

So, let’s examine */three elements /*concerning A Baptist and His Church.

*I.

UNDERSTAND ITS NATURE*

*    A.*

What the Church Is Not

1.

The church is not a */social club/*, although it is a     

     social place.

2.

It does not provide salvation.

It only */proclaims/*

            how salvation can be obtained.

*AMP:~/* Some people believe that they can be saved by */association/*, I.e. by being associated with Christians and attending church.

3.

Another thing that needs to be made clear is that  

    the church is not the kingdom of God, although

    the kingdom of God is present within the

    church.

*AMP:~/* What is the kingdom of God?  “It is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful childlike commitment to Jesus Christ.”

It is the rule and reign of God.

The Scriptures tell us several things about the kingdom of God:

 

The kingdom of God is *spiritua*l:

*John 3:3* (NKJV) 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The kingdom of God is *invisible*:

*Luke 17:20* (NKJV) 20Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; (it is not material)

 

The kingdom of God is *internal*:

*Luke 17:21* (NKJV) 21nor will they say, £‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’

For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

The kingdom of God is *universal*:

*Matthew 6:10* (NKJV) 10   Your kingdom come.

Your will be done, On earth as /it is/ in heaven.

The kingdom of God is *eternal:*

*2 Peter 1:11* (NKJV) 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

*B.*

What the Church Is

        1.

The *BF&M*(2000)puts it this way:  “A New

            Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an

            autonomous local congregation of baptized

            believers associated by covenant in the faith and           fellowship of the Gospel; observing the two

            ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws,

            exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges            

    invested in them by His Word, and seeking to                    extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.”

2.

“Church” in the Gk. is /ekklesia,/ which means “a

              called-out group.”

The church is not a social

              club; it is a */spiritual organism/*, an organization

              composed of people whom God has “called

              out of darkness into His marvelous light”

 

*AMP:~/*  The word “church appears over *110* times in the N.T. ---- *92* times is refers to the */local/* church.

E.g. the church at Ephesus,    the church at Philippi, the church of Galatia, etc.

The other *20 plus* times it is used in an abstract sense, like the (American Home, or the American Family).

*/Ephesians 1:22/*/ (NKJV) //22//And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, /

 The Bible speaks of the church as the Body of Christ, which includes */all of the redeemed/* of all */of the ages/*, believers from every tribe, tongue and nation.

3.

The church is an *organism*, vitally connected to

            Jesus Christ as the Head.

But it is also an

            *organization*, an assembly of “*/like minded/*”

            people acting under the Lordship of Christ.

*AMP: ~/*  What is the church to do?

It is commissioned to *preach the gospel*.

*Matthew 28:19- 20* (NKJV) 19Go £therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, /even/ to the end of the age.”

£Amen

 

It is to administer the *ordinances*:

*Acts 2:42- 44* (NKJV) 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

 

It is to carry out *mission work*:

*Acts 13:2-4* (NKJV) 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent /them/ away.

4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

It has pastors and deacons to provide *spiritual leadership*:

*Ephesians 4:11- 12* (NKJV) 11And He Himself gave some /to be/ apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

*Hebrews 13:17* (NKJV) 17Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.

Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

/But you must not only understand its nature you SHOULD. . .

/

 

*II.

UNITE WITH ITS FELLOWSHIP*

    *A.*

How Do You Unite?

        1.

Personal */faith/* in Jesus Christ as Lord and

            Savior.

2.

They are */baptized/*, as an expression of their faith

            and a testimony to the community of their

            identity in Christ.