Commited to the Church
The Mission and Values of Vista Baptist Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Last time we considered the first commitment of a biblical vision for Vista Baptist Church, namely how we must be committed to the Christ. Indeed, we must be committed to the Christ because Vista Baptist Church is owned by Christ. Flowing from this first commitment comes the next two commitments. Tonight we will consider one. We must be committed to the church.
Body
Body
Big Idea: Vista Baptist Church is loved by Christ, so we must be committed to the church (Revelation 1:4-7).
Big Idea: Vista Baptist Church is loved by Christ, so we must be committed to the church (Revelation 1:4-7).
Exposition
Exposition
The Greek word usually translated as church (ἐκκλησία) appears 114 times in our New Testaments.
2 times it refers to the Old Testament congregation.
3 times it is used of a secular assembly.
6 times it is employed in a general way to convey an assembly of people.
13 times it refers to the universal church.
90 times it refers to a local church or a group of local churches.
The universal church is made up of all true believers everywhere. It includes every person who has the Lord Jesus Christ as their head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:22-33) It is unquestionable that Jesus loves the Universal Church, as He gave His life for her and it is her that He has promised to build (Matthew 16:18).
But does He love local churches? Yes, He does. Before I demonstrate this fact consider what a local church is. A local church is visible, organized, and formal assembly of professing believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:9; Acts 2:37-38; 1 Cor 5:12-13; 1 Tim 5:9; Heb 13:17). It is in the local church that the universal church is made visible and it is through the ministry of local churches that the universal church expands.
Now I want to show that that Jesus does love local churches. To do so look again at the text we read in the beginning. Revelation 1:4-7:
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
John is writing to the seven local churches in Asia Minor. He wishes them grace and peace from the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit—described here as the seven spirits. He then moves into doxology describing the work of Jesus on behalf of those who make up the membership of these seven local churches. Look at the second part of verse 5 and 6, “ To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Following this introduction of the audience John shares the vision and instruction of Christ to these local churches dealing with each according to their specific issues. In verse 5, John says that Jesus loves those to whom the letter is sent, including Himself as a recipient of that love. The recipients are local churches. Thus, Jesus loves the local churches to whom this letter is sent.
Vista Baptist Church, we are a local church. We strive to be a church made up of professing and regenerate members. Thus, as I said early: Vista Baptist Church, that is the members of it, is loved by Christ. If Christ loves the this local body we call Vista Baptist Church, we must be committed to it and to the growth of the church universal. That latter part will be taken up in the next sermon. For the remainder of our time this evening I want to point out five distinctives that we must embrace to be biblical, Baptist, and committed to the church.
Application/Distinctives
Application/Distinctives
1. We must to commit to the church by being Christ ruled.
1. We must to commit to the church by being Christ ruled.
This distinctive is a restatement of the commitment we looked at last time. We must be committed to the Christ and this in turn must lead us to acknowledge and live in light of the fact that this church and the people who make up its membership belong to Christ. We shall “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:3). The doctrines we confess, the elements of worship we observe communally, and the constitution of our formal church membership and polity shall all come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and we must test all things we do and say by His Holy Word.
2. We must commit to the church by being congregationally governed.
2. We must commit to the church by being congregationally governed.
To be congregationally governed means that our church operates under the Lordship of Christ through a democratic process. In other words, matters and decisions of the church do not find their decision among the officers but in the congregation. The officers are selected by the church. The judgment to admit and remove members is decided by the church.
Such a form of government is suggested in both church discipline passages (Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). It also is implied by the selection of deacons for the church of Jerusalem in Acts 6:1-16. Assuming that the letters written to Timothy and Titus were not merely for them, but also for the church more broadly, the qualifications laid out for officers give a good guide for finding and appointing qualified persons to be officers (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-7). Baptist have believed our congregational approach to church government is also consistent with the reformation principle of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Out of prudence our forefathers also left budget and major financial expenses to be voted upon by the body.
Though the Bible teaches a Christocracy mediated through a democratic process in the congregation, it is also true that Scripture does give both functions and qualifications for at least two offices that continue after the passing of the apostles. To them we now turn.
3. We must commit to the church by being deacon served.
3. We must commit to the church by being deacon served.
Deacons are those qualified men who are recognized and appointed to the work of freeing the pastors/elders/overseers to tend to the spiritual needs of the members (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Their concern should primary concern themselves with the benevolence needs of the congregation and even more particularly of widows, orphans, and others who may not have help outside of the church (Acts 6:1-7). They must have sound Christian Character that is shown in there individual walk, family constitution, and church relationships (1 Timothy 3:8-13). They must be sound also in doctrine (1 Timothy 3:9). While they do not need to be able to preach and teach they should know the faith and live it out.
It is a dignified offices of great importance and only qualified men should be appointed to it. It is a subservient office to that of pastor in that it lacks the requirements and expectations to both teach and rule well. Also, the office of deacon itself came after the first teaching office of the New Testament church of apostle and is always listed after the more ordinary teaching office that continues, namely that office of elder/overseer/pastor (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:1-7; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2). It is concerned mainly with the temporal and physical aspects of caring well for the membership. Moreover, it is clear that it is distinct from the office of pastor/elder/overseer.
One way to summarize the work of of a deacon is provided in a helpful little book titled, Deacons, by Matt Smethurst. He list expounds the three major functions of deacons.
Deacons should spot and meet tangible needs of the congregation (Acts 6:1-7).
Deacons should protect and promote church unity (Acts 6:1-7).
Deacons should serve and support the ministry of the pastors/elders/overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 8-12).
Deacons should be esteemed by the congregation and valued by the pastors. Their labor is not vain and their office is important. Therefore, deacons take your office and duties seriously and congregation encourage and pray for your deacons.
That said, deacons are not the only continuing office in the New Testament church.
4. We must commit to the church by being elder led.
4. We must commit to the church by being elder led.
Elders are those men who crave the offices (1 Timothy 3:1; 1Peter 5:2), are competent for the office (1 Timothy 3:1-7;Titus 1:5-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:17-38), are confirmed in their calling to the office by the local church and other officers of it (Proverbs 11:14; 15:11; 18:1; 24:6) and are consecrated to the offices by the local church (Acts 1:12-26; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:19-23). An internal call or desire for the office is insufficient. The calling and competence must be evident to a local church that then appoints such a person to it.
Pastors must teach and preach to the congregation. Pastors must pray for and with the congregation. Pastors must tend primarily to the spiritual needs of the congregation. You see how the two continuing offices Christ has given to the church complement one another. Both care and serve the congregation in ways that complement one another.
What shall a pastor or pastors do in church life?
Pastors must know the flock. By this I mean that a pastor like myself should seek to know you as much as a finite individual can know the people of the flock. This knowing requires visitation, contact through various mediums, and counseling when necessary.
Pastors must lead the flock. A pastor must lead by example, instruction, and persuasion. The pastor or pastors of a church are not kings who can make unilateral decisions. They must take time to teach and patiently persuade the congregation to follow a biblical course of action or believe a doctrine.
Pastors must feed the flock. The pastor or pastors must preach and teach in corporate gatherings, private interactions, and intentional mentoring or counseling meetings. They must pray for the spiritual food they are to deliver to the flock and deliver food that is given to them by the Great and Good Shepherd Jesus Christ derived from the written Word.
Pastors must protect the flock. This means protecting them from both false teachers and themselves if necessary. It means exposing false teaching and correcting it. It means rebuking the wayward member and correcting them with gentleness. It means equipping them with the truth and showing them what a life looks like that accords with the truth.
How should a church respond to their pastors?
They shall respect them (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
The shall obey them (Hebrews 13:17).
They shall bless them (1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6)
They shall not spuriously remove them (1 Timothy 5:19-21).
The relationship of a pastor or pastors of a church with the congregation must be one built upon mutual love and trust.
Now we must deal with what is assumed by all the prior distinctives and that is the distinctive of regenerate church membership.
5. We must commit to the church by practicing regenerate church membership.
5. We must commit to the church by practicing regenerate church membership.
Baptist believe the bible requires that a member of a local church must be person with a credible profession of faith which is then followed by baptism. Baptists have historically drawn this principle from various places of Scripture. Consider the following places.
Consider how in acts it is after conversions that the New Testament Church is formed and how only those who convert are considered to be added to the church.
Consider how the New Covenant states that all of those who are members of it are genuinely converted (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Consider how it is only after one is made a disciple that someone is to be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20).
Consider how a local church is assumed to be a people who are truely converted and saints (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1).
Consider how it is in the sign of baptism that union with Christ and the body of Christ signified (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Consider how church discipline is given to the church as a means of maintaining a regenerate church membership (Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20; Jude 22-23).
Consider the one another commands and prohibitions
One another commands:
“Love one another” (John 13:34–35, 15:12, 17, Romans 12:10a, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8, 1 John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11–12, 2 John 5)
“Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10b)
“Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16, 15:5–6)
“Welcome one another” (Romans 15:7)
“Instruct one another” (Romans 15:14)
“Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 5:14)
“Wait for one another …” (1 Corinthians 11:13)
“Have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25)
“Comfort one another” (2 Corinthians 13:11)
“Agree with one another” (2 Corinthians 13:11)
“Serve one another” (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10)
“Bear one another’s burdens …” (Galatians 6:2)
“Bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2)
“Be kind to one another …” (Ephesians 4:32)
“Forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19)
“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21)
“Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16)
“Increase and abound in love for one another” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
“Encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Hebrews 10:25)
“Build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
“Seek to do good to one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
“Exhort one another every day” (Hebrews 3:13)
“Stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24)
“Confess your sins to one another” (James 5:16)
“Pray for one another” (James 5:16)
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9)
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5)
“We have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7)
One another prohibitions:
“Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer” (Romans 14:13)
“To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you” (1 Corinthians 6:6)
“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15)
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another …” (Galatians 5:26)
“Let us not become conceited … envying one another” (Galatians 5:26)
“Do not lie to one another …” (Colossians 3:9)
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers” (James 4:11)
“Do not grumble against one another” (James 5:9)
Considering the biblical data it seems that Baptist have carried on the reformation to its logical end, namely local churches made up of baptized believers. It is Scripture alone that has final authority in matters of doctrine and practice. The local church in its worship, polity, membership, and mission must be regulated by the Word of God. To be committed to the church we must seek to be a church made up of members that are truly united to Christ, exercising care in who we admit to membership and disciplining those who walk in ways contrary to their profession of faith.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Vista Baptist Church is owned by Christ, therefore we must be committed to the Christ.
Also, Vista Baptist Church is loved by Christ, therefore we must be committed to the church.
We have focused on the second commitment this evening. I believe all of us who call this church family home and participate in church life do desire to commit ourselves to Christ and His plan for the local church. I believe we are moving in many health directions. That said, let us remain humble, patient, and faithful. Let us look to our Head and Redeemer. Let us love one another. Furthermore, let us not only look upward to Christ and inward to our membership and practices. Let us also look outward at the mission Christ has given us. This mission we will consider next time. For now Vista Baptist Church we are committed to the Christ, the church, and the commission. Let’s pray.