We are the church!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Growing
Growing
Growing, we are all growing, either growing closer in our walk, or growing more distant. This series has been about growing a closer walk with thee. Today is no different we are looking at growing closer as the church, with focus on local church vs. universal church.
Growing in grace and true knowledge helps us mature in a closer walk.
Knowing who we are in Christ helps us to know who we are in Christ as the church and what the church is.
Both are vital if we want to have a closer walk with thee.
No man is to be a christian island, we were born to be in fellowship with one another, we need each other and we grow together as we grow closer to thee personally and then as the church.
It is a blessing to be a fellowship of believers, to be the church and by utilizing the blessings and knowing and applying our responsibilities it will aid us in our being a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
(Transition): Today we are going to look at just a couple of things.
What is the Church?
What is our responsibilities in the church?
What is the Church?
What is the Church?
Pretty basic question isn’t it? But to have a closer walk we need to have a good definition and understanding of “the church.”
Definition of Church (Act2:47; 1Tim3:15)
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
and look at
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.
But how about definition?
Merriam Webster - it is “a building used for public worship” also says, house of God, Lord’s house, House of prayer.
Strongs from Greek word Ekklesia from preposition Ek = “out of” and Kaleo = “to call” - so it is the called out one’s
The most common definition these days comes to be His church, His assembly, congregation or family as you just saw in the verses used.
The universal church (Mt16:18; Eph5:23; Col1:18)
Church is primarily used in two senses, the universal church and the local. In the universal sense it is the entire body of believers throughout the world.
Look at what Christ said.
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Oh wait, if we were all in one place you would not let me get away with that, one verse.
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The church, the body of believers that is built on the belief of who Christ is, the Son of the Living God!
Paul says:
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
So, believing in Jesus makes it now that Jesus is the head of the church. As Paul correlates the church to a marriage.
(Transition) You can look up Col1:18 about Christ as the head of the church there too. Now, how many churches? In looking at the passages it is all singular use of the word “church” but let me show you another to help us fully understand there is one church.
We are one church (Eph4:4-6, 1:22-23)
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
one body, one church, now look at this
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
One body is the church!
What church is made up of (1Cor12:27; Eph2:19-20)
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
The church is made of individual members who collectively are the church.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
We are fellow citizens with one another who have been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, and of course Jesus Christ being the cornerstone!
(Transition): from the universal church built on Jesus Christ with all the saved (Ekklesia) to the local church.
The local church (1Cor1:2; Rev1:11; Rom16:16)
The local church as exampled in
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Or even look at
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
So a local church like in Corinth, or all the churches, meaning there are other bodies of believers. This can be further evidenced by.
There are many (Gal1:2)
2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Even in a local area there can be various local churches (bodies of believers).
What local church is made up of (Php1:1; Act14:21-23)
1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
The church is comprised of
Saints
Overseers; Bishops, Elders, Shepherds
Deacons
You can read more on that in (Act14:21-23)
So there will be more that will follow on this in a few minutes
In the Acts passage you may see that the local church can exist without Elders until Elders can be appointed. But I was not originally going to post the Acts passage but thought maybe I better now.
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
(Transition) - So, we have the church defined as the body of believers, the called out. The church is both universal and local and we have looked at that, we have looked at what the church consists of too, now may we move on to:
What are our responsibilities in the church?
What are our responsibilities in the church?
No man is an island, we were created to have fellowship, as the church as mentioned before. Now as many members that make up the one body we do have some responsibilities.
Fellowship with local church (Act2:47; Heb3:12-14; Heb10:24-25; Act2:42)
Only the Lord adds to the numbers of the church (universal)
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
We should join ourselves to a local church (body of believers) when enjoined to a local body of believers (church) it provides opportunities to be of service to one another.
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
We need one another so we do not fall away (expand on this, what the problem was with the body then and how relates to today)
Another good example is found, for encouragement and for warning too.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
To stimulate one another with a purpose (expand on that so to keep in context)
To follow the pattern as the early church did (Act2:42)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
They, that is the body of believers, the church were doing these things, remember we were born to be in fellowship with one another.
(encouragement) - find a local church not just to attend, but to plug into, check them out, are they bible teaching, bible following? If so, bring your gift, your talent to the body.
(Transition) so the local church is what we are looking at now and there are things the local church consists of, that is leaders.
Work, cooperate with leaders (Act20:17, 28; Tit1:5-7; 1Pt5:1-2)
Leadership in the developed church is for Eldership, which in Act, Titus, Peter words are used as (elder, pastor, bishop, overseer, shepherd) they are interchangeable. I will speak of Elders a little more in a couple of minutes.
Recognize and respect (1The5:12-13; 1Tim5:17-20; Heb13:17)
12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
Here is another passage well worth considering
17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.
Understand who leaders are (1Tim3:1-7; Tit1:5-9; 1Tim3:8-13; Eph4:11)
(Elders picture inserted here)
Elders a quick look (1Tim3:1-7; Tit1:5-9)
Qualifications can be seen in 1Tim; Tit1.
in brief one who desires the position
Is blameless, husband of one wife
Temperate, sober-minded
Of good behavior and hospitable
Able to teach, not a wine bibber nor greedy you can read more on the general qualities of an elder in the passages in Timothy and Titus.
(insert Deacon picture here)
Deacons (1Tim3:8-13; 1Tim3:13)
With deacons the qualifications, qualities are much like that of the Elder as seen in 1Tim3.
Reverent, not double tongued
Not given to much wine, again not greedy,
Have understanding of the mystery of faith and serve with a pure conscience
They are to serve and be seen in a good standing within the church (body of believers) and demonstrating a boldness of faith!
(Evangelist picture inserted here)
Evangelists and teachers (Eph4:11)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Evangelist focus is to teach the truth to the lost through the gospel
Teacher focus is on helping to mature the body through teaching and edification
You may hear them as one, Evangelist/preacher/teacher
(Transition) So from God’s planned leadership from Elders, Deacons, Evangelist and teachers they are due respect for the position in which they have been entrusted. Now that brings us to the next item of responsibility to the local body
Contribute to the work of the local church (Mt28:19-20; Eph4:11-16; 1Tim5:16; 1Cor16:1-2)
There are different works that the contributions to the local church do. They aide in
Evangelism
In Mt28:19-20 we know the commission to evangelize and baptize making disciples
Edification
The gifts for to the church, for the church to help build up and edify the church but I need to you a part of the Ephesians passage of Eph4:11-16 as noted in the outline
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
and that leads to one more area that contributing to the local church does.
Benevolence
taking care of those who are in need
within the brotherhood first then outside
The when, how to give is outlined briefly in 1Cor16:1-2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
Our financial support, our purposed giving with a cheerful heart helps us to accomplish the work that God has given us to do.
(Transition) Giving is good, but it is not everything at all, we all need to contribute by doing our part within the local church.
Do our part for the local church (Eph4:15-16; Rom12:3-8; 1Pt4:10-12)
Each of us has gifts, talents, callings within the body.
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
You can look at Rom12:3-8 for more info on that, but in trying to finish this message this evening so you can get to your supper, you can read that on your own.
It is essential though that you know your part and bring your part, and do your part to help us to know and grow for we are the church! And how we do it matters
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Involvement brings, protects unity (Eph4:1-3)
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(transition) I think that passage speaks well so want to press on. I want to be diligent to present the unity of the message too so as we are looking at “we are the church” what we do, meaning how we live, is going to speak volumes of the church, either in a good way or a bad way.
How we live speaks of the church, either well or not (1Tim4:12; Tit2:7-8; 1Pt2:12)
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
So, speech, conduct, love, faith, purity be an example!
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
add to the previous with purity of doctrine, dignified, beyond reproach, and what is the result according to this passage? There will be nothing bad to say about us as the church.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Now, as Christians we are not perfect, but are being perfected. We need to chose daily to strive toward the goal, to be Christ like, to be transformed.
Our purpose as the church is to love God and love others for we are the church a light, a city set on the hill! Let us shine bright for the Lord.
(transition to close) - here are a few questions to ponder before we close.
(Questions to ponder picture inserted here)
As a member of the universal church am I committed to the local church?
As a member of the local church what does my commitment look like, is it biblical?
Do I honor and respect and trust our leadership to lead us closer to the Lord as we continue to pray for Elders and Deacons for us one day again.
Do I know my placement and function within the body and am I fulfilling it?
One last question, if every member of the local church were as faithful as you, what kind of church would we be?
(I am the church picture inserted here)
Don’t just be a member o the church, don’t just go to church (the assembly) be the church today!
Pray