Sermon Tone Analysis

Patricia (Meg Ryan), in the movie Joe Versus the Volcano, who wants Joe (Tom Hanks) to marry her before he jumps into the volcano.

I Don’t want to get married.

"What's the problem?

You afraid of the commitment?

You'll have to love me and honor me for about 30 seconds!

You can't handle that?"

When it comes to commitment… today, it seems that we can’t handle that.

An article was written in Scientific American calling out our culture as “commitment-phobes.”

It is a fear that in promising to do something good, we might miss out on something better.

It is a fear of missing out.

We want to live “keeping our options open.”

George Barna in his research found that only 43 percent of those who said that they were Christian were actually committed to the Christian faith.

This poll was in 1998.

Our new emerging generations are finding commitment difficult.

One “millennial” wrote… "Trying to live with somebody else and putting their needs first is more difficult when you have been raised to put yourself first."

It is interesting that the modern slogan and mottos of putting yourself first, the team of me, no Taunto for this lone ranger.

The only person I can depend on is myself.

In life I am a DIYer… Do it yourself-er.

I want a life of ease and simplicity so why complicate it with other people.

I may actually be a burden to others, and they are definitely a burden for me.

Why make any commitments?

Add to that… nobody tells me what to do.

The existential philosophy of our day asserts that making up our own mind on this is the only real freedom we have.

We are the only ones who can make anything in our lives meaningful.

Modern individualistic thinking fueled by Neizteche’s principle of will to power… suggest not only do you not let anyone tell you what to do you must not let anyone tell you what to do.

Right and wrong is defined by what you like and don’t like.

Even when an individual seems to go along with the majority, it is because they chose to go along with the majority.

Therefore authority goes out the window.

There just is no real submission anymore.

No one tells me what to do.

Even in the church when we see that submission is commanded… the response is… I will submit to you as long I as I agree with you.

Kinda goes against the definition of submission.

So if we have an issue with commitment and we have an issue with submission, then it is not surprising that we have an issue with the biblical concept of church membership.

And because of this the understanding of Church membership gets convoluted.

The church only wants members because they want our money.

The church wants members because they only care about numbers.

They only want members because they are trying to develop a social club.

Membership is about church elitism.

Membership is all about power and controlling people lives.

And all kinds of other inaccurate depictions.

But Shane how do you know that this is what people think?

I hear them myself.

And a SBC study was done concerning membership.

The typical SBC church has 233 members.

Only 70 is present on a Sunday morning church service.

So where are the 163 members?

What does this convey about our churches and Christianity to a world that is watching us?

What does this message give about the importance of Christianity in our lives?

As we continue with our series on the church… membership is what we do and lets find out why we do it.

When it comes to the gospel… Getting it right and getting it out.

When it come to church… getting it right and getting it done.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

Submitted

Committed

Members of Christ

The first thing we will look at today is the idea that we submit to a local church body.

The second principle to explore is that a Christian will commit to a local body.

And finally we will see that members of Christ are entrusted with the gospel.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world may cause us to lose sight of the importance of church membership due to our culture’s commitment and submission phobia, it is the truth of scripture and the power of the gospel that will cause us to love what Christ loves and hold on to what Christ holds on to.

I. Submitted

- We submit, we don’t join.

A. If we are looking for a “thou shalt be a member of a church.”

As far as I know there is not such a verse.

But through good and necessary consequence it can be deduced from the scriptures.

This is a clear principle of reformed exegesis.

Deduction from the scriptures.

There is nowhere in the scriptures that says that Solomon was the son of the king of Israel.

But we know by deduction that it is a truth alongside all truth.

We know he was the son of David.

And we know David was the king of Israel.

The simple A is B B is C therefore A is C. We can be positive that Solomon was the son of the king of Israel.

And this truth is binding.

You have to believe it.

Even though is is not stated directly.

B. With this in mind.

Many Pastors will discover something very clear in our study of the book of Hebrews and the sobering passage of scripture in chapter 13:17 and the 2 glaring questions.

C. Two questions, two glaring questions.

The first question, if there is no biblical requirement to be a member of a local church, then which leaders should an individual Christian obey and submit to?

- Second, and more personally, who will I as a pastor give an account for?

One day I will stand before God and give an account for the walk, journey, sanctification for Christians?

Which Christians?

D. In regards to the first question.

We all as Christians have to submit to our leaders.

We are commanded to submit.

This is the category of honoring father and mother.

We obey and honor those who have authority over us.

E. If there is no understanding of local church membership, then who are we to submit to?

Just who are we supposed to obey?

Is it anyone with the title “elder” from any church?

So we not gonna submit to just anyone who claims the title elder or deacon.

So who then?

For existing members… The one who you vetted, examined, tested, and who you decided to appoint to be your pastor.

For new members… the one who you vetted, examined, tested, and who you decided to submit you and family too.

This is called membership.

F. We know we need to be submitted to church leaders and a church body… it can’t be every single church body in the world.

It can’t be every single pastor in the whole world.

It can’t be every single deacon in the whole world.

It is your local church elders and deacons.

We picked one.

We have decided to submit to CBC.