Belonging: The Church

Anthony Delgado

Belonging • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Belonging: Our word for belonging is church.

What is a church?

Why have a local church?

What is a church (fellowship)?

People who assemble ()

(CSB)

24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

eachotherness

Habit of neglect

“Watch out for” happens in meetings

“Encouragement” happens in meetings

People who are devoted ()

(CSB)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Study of the scriptures

Fellowship, eachotherness (regular meeting)

Lord’s supper (Jesus and the Gospel)

Prayer (ACTS, liturgy)

People who practice of Spiritual Presence ()

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.

Unity of the Body

Context (Church discipline/restoration, agreeing in prayer, agreeing with God)

When we gather to seek counsel of God, he is with us.

When He is with us, we can experience Him through the exercise of His power in us. (Not just feeling his presence).

How does the church operate? (governance)

The universal church (the GREAT congregation)

Elders, but specific kinds of elders.

Elders who pastor ()

(CSB)

What does pastor mean?

28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

Not democracy OR dictatorship.

Representative, but God does the appointing through His Spirit. — How do we know who God has appointed? We agree as the church (cf. bylaws).

(CSB)

Elders who pastor gently correct/rebuke withe the scriptures ()

2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

Elders who pastor lead by example ()

Able to teach ()

(CSB)

ABOUT THE ELDERS

5 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Encourage with scripture ()

(CSB)

7 As an overseer … he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.

Elders who administrate

Administration ()

(CSB)

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, various kinds of tongues.

to steer, to guide, to administrate (etymological sense is to manage, control, or superintend, latin administare [lit. to maneuver a ship]). NOT RUNING THE OFFICE. (but executive pastors?)

Elders who oversee

Obeying leaders (, )

(CSB)

7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

(CSB)

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

cf. Obey because of God’s appointment and the churches agreement.

The shame of disobedience (, ) MI

Elders who train ()

The folly of disobedience

(CSB)

13 I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my instructors. 14 I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community.

or listen closely to my instructors.

14 I am on the verge of complete ruin

before the entire community.

obedience isn’t about prestige or power; it’s about love for God’s people.

What is the church for? (worship)

What is worship?

Musical Worship

(CSB)

1 Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!

1 Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,

shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!

(CSB)

19 speak...to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,

(CSB)

12 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.,

I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.,

(CSB)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Worship through Communication of the Scripture (Preaching/Teaching/Reading)

(CSB)

4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

(, , , )

(CSB)

9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

(CSB)

Anthony Delgado, Study the Bible, n.d.

16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

(CSB)

8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

Worship through Administration of the Sacraments (Baptism, Lord’s Supper)

(CSB)

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(CSB)

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1 Co 11:33.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

(CSB)

33 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another.

Belonging.

Because of the significance of the local church, I would say membership or belonging is in many ways a sacrament as well.

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