Membership Matters

Jason Shirk

Rediscover church • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Acts 1:13–15

Church Membership

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If we are going to be healthy and grow as Christians, we must be a member of a local church.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction:

Many in today’s culture cringe when they hear terms like church membership or belonging to a church. Maybe you have heard or thought the following statements:

The church is corrupt its just about money and the pastor’s ego

I love Jesus, its the church I have a problem with

When you organize a church it loses its power

The church is the people so we don’t need to belong to any specific church

I just attend church, but there is no need to join one

The bible doesn’t say anything about joining a local church

Questions to ask if there is no church membership:

What leaders am I to obey Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Do I submits myself to anyone who claims to be an elder or pastor? Does this mean I need to obey Joel Osteen or how about the nuts at Westboro Baptist Church who pickett soldiers funerals and hold up signs that say God hates fags.

What people am I going to give an account for? Hebrews 13:17 I am accountable for the people at the church next door and what they teach and believe or where they give their money to. No God has given me this local church that I am accountable for.

What about church discipline? How do you discipline a visitor at church? To kick someone out of the fellowship they have to actually have joined the fellowship.

As we saw in 1 Peter we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people- Our identity and citizenship is in heaven. We belong to the Kingdom of God, but we are strangers and Pilgrims not living in that kingdom right now. Churches are like embassies representing that royal government here on earth.

What is church membership?

-the formal relationship or covenant between a church and a Christian characterized by the church’s affirmation and oversight of a Christians discipleship and the Christians submission to living out his or her discipleship in the care of that Church. - Jonathan Leeman

Church Membership is like a marriage covenant in a way where you say “I do” to your spouse. You are making a covenant to join yourself to a relationship with the church. This decision is voluntary because you do not have to join our specific church, but if you are going to be obedient to Christ, you must join some church.

I. Biblical Basis for Church Membership

A. Acts 1:13-15 “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)”

This is a portion of text in-between two larger stories in Acts 1. And yet it has some heavy truth that we do not want to ignore. This is going to be our primary text tonight, but we will be looking at other texts along with this one.

Vs 12 After the ascension the disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost came upon them. It says that they traveled back to Jerusalem about a sabbath’s days journey which is approximately 3/5 of a mile. This distance was determined by rabbis based on the distance they had to walk in the temple. By this time, some had found a loophole in the regulations by placing food at the end of the distance. If you ate food in a shelter it could be considered a lodging and then you could travel another sabbath days journey from there.

Vs 13 While they waited, they stayed in an upper room, possibly the same one where Jesus had appeared to the disciples. The list includes all the disciples (except Judas )and the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers.

Vs 14 tells us what they were doing while they waited: with one accord- they were united, of the same goals and mind about things. prayer and supplication- they continued in prayer together. There is an implication from this text that women can pray with the men during corporate prayer.

Vs 15 is our key text here. This verse serves as an introduction to the next text. While they were doing these things in those days: prayer and unity, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples. Now there is a parenthesis here that I don’t want you to miss. A parenthesis means that Luke is interjecting a piece of information that isn’t directly related but helps explain what is being talked about. the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty- Not only in this passage did they keep an account of how many people were in their group, but there is a list of names accompanying it. There was an official roll of members in this group.

According to a blog article by Gene Vieth in 2021 quoting a Gallup poll, church membership had fallen below 50% for the first time in American history which is surprising considering 70% identify as evangelicals. That implies that nearly 20% of Christians do not belong to a church.

There is a strong tendency among younger Christians to not value being a member of a church. This is the result of many different factors.

First among them in my opinion is that church is viewed as either entertainment or something I consume. The subtle philosophy is that church is for me: it is intended to feed me and I am here just to receive what they give me. This causes us to devalue what I can do for the church and the benefits of being an actual committed member of a church.

Second among the factors that lead to a decline in membership is the Emergent church movement which is the operating philosophy for many mega nondenominational churches today. Emergent church comes in three different varieties but one thing they all seem to share is a belief in a centered-set membership model. In this model, membership is unofficial. The goal is to have Christ as the center and He will draw men into closer fellowship, but there are no limits to membership in the church. In fact, men and women could be anywhere on the spectrum of lost, seeking, and saved. There are benefits to this model however it does not follow the example that we see in the scriptures. It leads seekers to devalue the necessity of salvation because they can belong without accepting Christ.

The third factor leading to a decline in church membership has been a long standing factor. There are some denominations that just don’t believe in actual church membership. These could include the Brethren churches and many of the house church movement. In these churches official leadership within the church is also downplayed. This is attractive for a lot of people who don’t like authority or accountability.

B. Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” There was a numerical record kept of those who had joined the church at Jerusalem. Notice a key word here added. After these members were saved and baptized, they were added to the church.

C. Acts 6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” The church held some sort of elections to nominate the first deacons.

D. 1 Tim 5:9-13 “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” A specific roll was kept for those who were eligible widows for support. Is it too far fetched to believe they kept other official rolls of members especially since these widows were members of the church. On top of this, it shows that the Ephesian church was organized and had a plan to take care of the widows.

E. 1 Cor 5:12-13 “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” In dealing with church discipline in the Corinthian church, Paul makes a clear distinction between those who are not members of the church and those who are members. With this man who was guilty of incest with his mother-in-law, Paul commands them to kick him outside the church.

Michael Mckinley gives this illustration:

“I cannot be removed from the Northern California Left Handed Golfer’s Association because I have never been a member of such an organization. Now according to their website, the NCLHGA will remove people from membership for several reasons (like right-handedness, perhaps?). But I am in no danger of being subject to such an action, because you can’t kick a person out who was never a member to begin with.”Histori

II. Historical Basis for Church Membership

While history is not the authority on what we believe and practice, it does help reinforce the teachings of scripture. Irenaeus (120-202 AD) speaking of people who were cleansed from demons as “believing in Christ and joining themselves to the Church” and “those who do not join themselves to the church” as “defrauding themselves of life”

III. The Importance of Church Membership

A. Community Acts 2:46-47 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” We will look at this passage in more detail as we progress through the book of Acts, but the early church was characterized by a deep sense of community. I googled the definition of community and the second definition seems to define what we are talking about here: “a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common interests, attitudes and goals.” the Greek word for this throughout scripture is κοινονια (koinonia) or our English word “fellowship”

1. How often did they fellowship: daily- Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” I understand that being together every day might be harder in our cultural context, but the real issue is our hearts. Do you want to be around other Christians? Are you looking for opportunities to spend more time with them? Sometimes we feel burnt out on church activities. When Katy did her teaching internship at Independent Baptist Church in Maryland Pastor Mike Creed’s church, she was required to be at every church and school activity which ended up being every day of the week on top of teaching and then grading school work. I would say this is too much, but I think the real reason we feel burnt out is because these activities are just another task we need to complete rather than the refreshing time of fellowship we need in our lives. We don’t necessarily need to have an activity every day of the week, but how many times during the week are we interacting with our brothers and sisters in Christ to lift them up and strengthen them in the Lord?

2. How did they fellowship: worshipping together, sharing meals, enjoying time together (gladness), praising God

3. Community is not the most important thing- the main thing in the lives of the believers was that they were with one accord praising God in Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” their focus was on worshipping the Lord. If community were the most important thing in the church, then we would not have church discipline. True community is accomplished when we exalt Christ. Those who love Him will be drawn together.

B. Accountability Matthew 18:15-20 “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

1. Accountability to the Church: Church discipline is an essential function of the church. If you havre any doubts about this, just take a look at the Southern Baptist convention’s recent scandals where men in ministry were accused or committing acts of sexual misconduct and never held accountable. Would you want a man who is accused of child molestation to get off scott free and nobody say anything. Now there is a Biblically ordained method for dealing with Church discipline, but in the end the authority lies in the local church.

1 Cor 5:1-5 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

2. Accountability to the Leadership: 1 Peter 5:2 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” commands the elders of the church to take the oversight thereof. Oversight of the spiritual feeding of the flock.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” says that the pastors must give an account for you. They aren’t to command your obedience to satisfy their own lust for power, for your benefit. This verse says that they may do it with joy… for that is unprofitable for you.

Being a member means being accountable to the church and to the leadership of the church. It is a necessary part of how the church should function. Imagine trying to practice church discipline on a visitor. It does not work. When you join a church, you are voluntarily putting yourself under the authority of the church.

C. Service Each member has an obligation to use their spiritual gifts for the benefit of other members of the body. If you are not part of a body, you do not have the opportunity to use these gifts. 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” God has not called you to sit, He has called you to serve. Every member of a local church has been gifted by the Holy Spirit with a spiritual gift that they are to utilize to serve God and edify the church. That means that God expects a 100% level of people serving in the church. They say statistically that 20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church. I once did the math and God has blessed us with a large percentage of people who are not just consuming but are serving in the church. 1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” We all are priests before God and we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

D. Growth Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” One of the purposes of assembling ourselves together is to provoke one another to love and good works.

Provoking carries the idea of stirring up and is used to talk about a sharp fight between two people. In order for growth to occur, sometimes you have to stir up the ground in order for things to grown. Farmers till the land, if you let it lie fallow; it will not grow. Hosea 10:12 “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground: For it is time to seek the Lord, Till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Our job as believers is to stir up that unused, dormant ground in people, to push them forward to two things:

love

good works

We are also to exhort or encourage one another. Some have argued that this text does not prove you should be in church every time the doors are open because the author of Hebrews says not to forsake which means abandoning the assembling. They are right but they miss the point of the verse right after that: as believers we should be gathering more and more to provoke and encourage each other; especially as we get closer to the Lord’s return. This verse while not commanding you to attend all services is not recommending less church attendance either. Rather, it is saying we should take every opportunity we can to be assembled with other believers.

E. Protection

Paul in Acts 20 met with the elders of the church at Ephesus for the last time before he was taken to Rome and he gave them this challenge and commended them to God.

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Pastors are supposed to take head- watch over- the flock that they have been given. They are to oversee the flock and to feed the flock. Oversight of the flock includes protecting the flock. Much as a shepherd watches over his flock to keep the predators away, a pastor must protect his flock from the wolves.

Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Wolves will try to come in and attack the flock. When I think about this image, all that comes to mind is the looney tunes episode where the wolf is trying to get some sheep so he dresses as another sheep, but the shaggy old, sheep dog catches him every time. Wolves do not want what is best for the church.

Acts 20:30 “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” These wolves will come in teaching twisted false doctrine and try to draw people away from the church.

Conclusion:

Thoughts by Jonathan Leeman to consider:

Each metaphor teaches us something different about the church: family speaks of intimacy and shared identity, body speaks of mutual dependance and roles; temple speaks of where God dwells and identifies himself. Each of these metaphors gets put into practice in a local church not a universal church.

Our experience is often that we don’t feel that sense of community, interconnectedness, growth, protection. Churches sometimes feel completely the opposite.

“Regardless of whether they are believers or not, the members of my family will go to lengths for me like no church family ever would. And so honestly, I no longer buy that family and community picture the way I bought it before. The family Ive been born into and the friends Ive had for a lifetime will be the people I can truly count on.”

We often fail each other and this is sin that must be repented of and forgiveness sought, but ultimately, while this family may fail you at times, Christ who is the head of this family will never fail you. Let’s be the type of family that people can rely on to fall back on when we have a need.

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