WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.660 Please take out your copy of God's Word and have it at the ready. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:12.800 Across the past five weeks, we preached topically through the five solas of the Reformation 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:18.980 ! and looked at their implication and application for the church today. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:25.440 We are very close to Advent season, and as we've done in the past, we're going to do again this year. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:32.200 We're going to preach through the five Advent candles, the topics, and consider Christ's coming 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:36.859 and what that means for us. So we have a couple weeks in between. 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:44.880 This past spring, we started a sermon series that we just said we were going to kind of sprinkle across time 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:50.420 called Why We Do What We Do and Why We Do What We Do the Way We Do What We Do. 00:00:50.680 --> 00:00:55.040 Some of you may have been here and remembered that. The very first one that we did was 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:02.399 about our musical worship, why we do music the way that we do music. And of course, 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:08.299 I hope you know us well enough now to know that we root that explanation in the Scripture itself. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:14.599 So today, we're going to kind of pick back up on that and hopefully across time continue to do so 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:20.599 and consider today church membership and church discipline. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:27.439 So why and how do we see people into the life of our church? 00:01:28.339 --> 00:01:31.719 Why and how do we correct people in the life of our church? 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:37.439 And why and how do we see people out of the life of our church? 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:44.259 This sermon is for those of you who are not members of a local church 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:49.480 or are not in the process of becoming a member of a local church. 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:54.600 Of course, I can always allow some exception for those who are looking for a fellowship, 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:59.500 taking some time to see what's in an area as they're new to an area, 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:06.180 or for those who are working through the steps of becoming a member of a local fellowship. 00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:11.040 Not only is this sermon for those who are not members of a local church, 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:13.020 but it is also for those who are... 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:22.060 We need to always give careful consideration to the degree of our commitment to our local fellowship. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:25.580 It is one thing to say that you are committed. 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:29.819 It is another thing all together to be committed. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:38.819 Those of you who are members of our church also need to be able to make kind and compelling cases 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:47.680 to your friends, roommates, classmates, co-workers, and family who profess to follow Jesus Christ, 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:51.919 but are not members of a local fellowship. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:55.979 We need to be able to make that case. 00:02:55.979 --> 00:03:00.819 I need your help in making that case in our fellowship. 00:03:01.399 --> 00:03:05.799 So, this sermon is for everyone in the room, myself included. 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:11.939 Before I can make a convincing case to you of your need of church membership and discipline, 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:17.799 I think it's necessary to make a case to you what the church is. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:21.739 There's a lot of misunderstanding about that in our day. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:30.540 Far too many people for far too long have thought of the local church as nothing more than a club. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:36.379 Far too many people for far too long have thought that to be a member of a local church 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:40.400 means that you show up at significant meetings, 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:42.680 that you pay your dues, 00:03:42.920 --> 00:03:46.280 and that you believe in the cause of the organization. 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:50.879 Far too many people for far too long have joined local churches 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:54.879 because the church agreed with their political ideology 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:57.859 or met some stylistic preference 00:03:57.859 --> 00:04:01.180 or offered them an affinity-based friend group 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:05.180 or made them feel good about themselves. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:10.159 Beloved, the local church is not a club. 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:14.280 It is not a fraternity or a sorority. 00:04:14.579 --> 00:04:18.100 It is not a campus organization. 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:24.960 The church is not an organization that puts on events and supports causes 00:04:24.960 --> 00:04:28.320 and your participation is optional. 00:04:29.580 --> 00:04:32.760 The church is God's people 00:04:32.760 --> 00:04:39.480 called together by grace through faith around an event, 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:41.920 a single event, 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:45.379 the completed work of Jesus Christ. 00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:54.060 And because God's global church cannot meet under the same roof each and every week, 00:04:54.240 --> 00:05:01.060 we gather in local fellowships to worship God in word and deed. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:05.279 Jonathan Lehman, who I mentioned earlier in the introduction, 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:07.519 is quoted saying, 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.120 The local church is not a club. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.039 It's where we Christians, quote-unquote, 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:16.839 go public to declare our highest allegiance. 00:05:17.659 --> 00:05:26.639 It's the outpost or embassy giving a public face to our future nation. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:33.639 Turn with me, please, to 1 Peter 2, verse 9. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:35.579 Get your fingers nimble. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.979 We're going to flip a lot together today as we consider this thematically. 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.399 1 Peter 2, verses 9 and 10. 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:55.879 Peter writing here to churches as this letter was distributed around, 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.079 but he's speaking to a church as he says, 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:05.319 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:08.100 a people for his own possession, 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:13.060 that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:14.959 into his marvelous light. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:20.139 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:26.120 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:32.539 So, beloved, we are a people called together around this completed work of Jesus Christ, 00:06:32.659 --> 00:06:40.860 an event, right, in order that we might make that event known to everyone, everywhere. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.659 On your bulletin, the quotation today from Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:52.100 he said, we must cease to think of the church as a gathering of institutions and organizations, 00:06:52.640 --> 00:06:58.580 and we must get back to the notion that we are the people of God. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:07.640 A Christianity devoid of life in the local church is found nowhere in the Scripture. 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:11.740 Even in those cases of frontier mission work, 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:16.379 the missionaries are commissioned and prayed for by the church, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:20.019 the missionaries are starting churches, 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:24.620 and the missionaries are received back to their sending church 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:27.519 to hear the account of God's working. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:33.439 Mission, without the church, is missing the main ingredient. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:36.939 Christ died for the church, 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:41.779 and it is his intention to make himself known through it and by it. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:48.339 God intends for the world to be able to look around and say of a people, 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:49.540 church, 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:51.899 and to say of another, 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.259 not church, 00:07:55.220 --> 00:08:00.779 which frames our concern for church membership and church discipline. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.220 So let's begin by looking at church membership 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:06.300 and ask a series of questions. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.380 First, what is church membership? 00:08:11.940 --> 00:08:13.740 I'm going to define it in this way. 00:08:13.900 --> 00:08:18.040 Church membership is a formal relationship 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.900 between a local church and a Christian 00:08:20.900 --> 00:08:25.660 in which the church affirms the Christian's profession of faith 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:31.500 and gives oversight of the living of that faith, 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:34.000 or of their faith. 00:08:34.660 --> 00:08:37.480 It is through church membership 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:42.519 that we do the one another's of Scripture, right? 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.860 By people's estimation, 50 to 60 or so New Testament, 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:48.680 one another's of Scripture. 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:51.019 Let me give you a few examples of those. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:52.560 Mark 9, 50. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.479 Be at peace with each other. 00:08:55.979 --> 00:08:56.919 John 15, 12. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.759 Love one another. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:00.219 Romans 12, 10. 00:09:00.319 --> 00:09:03.359 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.139 Romans 12, 10. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:06.159 That's Romans 12 again. 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:08.619 Honor one another above yourselves. 00:09:08.719 --> 00:09:09.579 That might be the wrong reference. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.179 Romans 12, 16. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:14.179 Live in harmony with one another. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.259 Romans 15, 7. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.479 Accept one another then just as Christ accepted you. 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:22.159 Romans 15, 14. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.759 Instruct one another. 00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:25.360 1 Corinthians 12, 25. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:27.560 Have equal concern for each other. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:29.139 Galatians 5, 13. 00:09:29.460 --> 00:09:31.759 Serve one another in love. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.000 Ephesians 4, 2. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:36.360 Be patient, bearing with one another in love. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:37.879 Ephesians 4, 32. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.000 Be kind and compassionate to one another. 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:42.920 Ephesians 5, 21. 00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:46.639 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.360 Colossians 3, 13. 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:52.139 Forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.460 1 Thessalonians 4, 18. 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:58.120 Encourage each other. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:05.879 And these are just a sampling of all the many things that were meant to do with one another. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:16.360 If church membership is not membership in a club, then it must be meaningful membership. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:24.200 That is why we call our membership here at Christ Family Church covenant membership. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:28.559 We're trying to raise that idea above simple club membership. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:33.240 Simple sign a card, show up occasionally, pay your dues. 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:35.799 Covenant membership, right? 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.679 You make promises to us. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:45.299 And we make promises to you when you join our fellowship. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:54.980 So covenant membership, in summary, to make it meaningful, has four points to it. 00:10:55.860 --> 00:11:00.340 First, covenant membership is amongst the regenerate. 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:11.120 Those who have, in fact, placed faith in Jesus Christ, as far as we can tell, have believed on Christ. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.399 We are saying to one another, church. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:23.899 You are part of this thing that Christ has created called church because Christ has worked renewal in your heart and in mine. 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:33.720 Secondly, covenant members are regular attenders and partakers. 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:37.799 Those who are in covenant relationship with one another want to be together. 00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:41.360 And we want to be together whenever we can be together. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:43.680 And so we make plans for that. 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:45.560 We put it on the calendar. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:47.320 We note it down. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:51.279 We prioritize our lives so that we can come together. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:56.500 Because the things that God has given us to do in our gathering are weighty. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:59.139 And we should want to take them up. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.259 Their privileges and responsibilities. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:08.440 Not only are they regular attenders, but they are partakers together. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:15.659 We come together to practice ordinances, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:22.179 Third, covenant members are regular contributors. 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:28.679 Covenant members come and give to the church in various ways. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:33.500 First, and related to the second point, with their time. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.719 They give of themselves. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:41.159 They give of their talents, the ways that God has gifted them to give. 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:47.099 You see so often particular prominent ways of service, preaching, music. 00:12:47.099 --> 00:12:50.359 But there is a multitude of ways to serve. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:58.100 As many as there are you in the room, there is some place in which you can offer your talents to the life of our fellowship. 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:01.080 And also we give of our finances. 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:08.800 We pull together resources so that we can take the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:12.419 Covenant members are also responsible. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.580 Pick up the responsibilities of being members of a church. 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:23.500 They participate in the process we call church discipline, which we'll talk about at length momentarily. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:36.000 They are carefully listening to what's being taught in the church and making sure that it is sound, that it is consistent with scriptural truth. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:42.200 So they are taking up the responsibility of contending for the faith once for all delivered. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:46.759 They are protecting the doctrine of the church. 00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:53.799 And they are also concerned about how those things, the things that we believe to be true, work out. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:57.440 Do we do what we say we believe? 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.340 So the direction of our church, if you like to alliterate. 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:12.020 The discipline, the doctrine, and the direction are responsibilities that covenant members pick up and exercise together. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:16.160 Now, I'm going to read our church covenant. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:22.559 I hope this will be of benefit to those who are already members who may have not looked at this document in some time. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.799 I want you to know that as I'm reading this, I'm not upset at any of you. 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.919 I love you all very, very much. 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:29.419 Right? 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.620 So this isn't aimed at anybody in the room. 00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:33.600 But I just want you to stop and consider. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:36.839 Like, am I doing the things that I promised to do? 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:46.259 And then if you're not a member of our church, I want you to consider, right, the full expression of Christian living that's found in a document like this. 00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:48.100 Now, this document's not in any way authoritative. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:51.320 But it's thematically pulled from the Scripture. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:56.360 What do we see God instructing us to do together in the Scripture? 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:00.519 And so we've summed it up in this way. 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:08.240 Having been led by the Spirit of God to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:16.079 And in profession of that faith, I most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with Christ Family Church. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.980 To make promises together. 00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:19.039 There's seven of them, right? 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:28.100 To love the Lord God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and to treasure Him above all else. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:34.759 To love my family, the church, and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:43.820 To promote the edification and sanctification of the church by sharing God's work in my life and praying for the church. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:49.600 To devote myself and my family to the only standard of truth, God's holy Scripture. 00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:54.200 And to adhere to the statement of faith of Christ Family Church only as it accords with Scripture. 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.200 To hold myself and the brethren to the standard of Scripture. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:05.560 Submitting myself freely to the discipline of the church for my restoration and spiritual gain. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:11.120 To contribute to the work of the church with my talents, time, and finances. 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:14.680 To live to the glory of God, upright and blameless. 00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:18.720 In the example that Christ has set for us through His sinless life. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.820 I enter into this covenant together with Christ Family Church. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:30.340 Under the common goal of obedience to, glorification of, and joyful satisfaction in Jesus Christ. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:37.139 Because I believe and assert with the rest of the body that we need one another's help to do so. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:42.460 As believers and disciples of Jesus, we have entered into a covenant relationship with God. 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.639 Who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:50.939 The blessings and promises of this covenant have been freely extended and given to us. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:55.740 Therefore, out of wonder, love, thanksgiving, and reverence. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.460 We hereby accept and take up these covenant responsibilities. 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:03.779 Which accompany said privileges together as a covenant family. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.759 Sentence diagram, that one. 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:10.539 This is our reasonable service and we should do nothing less. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.779 God help us all. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:19.440 We rely on His grace alone and hold fast to His promise that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:22.960 May His grace provide for all that He commands. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:30.480 So high commitments, right, that we are intended to make together. 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:35.319 Jesus Christ died for the church. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:40.519 There is no such thing as an individualistic Christianity. 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:46.940 This whole notion of personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:50.599 While I have a relationship with Jesus, like Augustine. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.960 Jesus is now my friend. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:57.759 But Jesus came to save a people for His possession. 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.319 Right? 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:01.180 He saved us, beloved. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:08.200 And He draws us into commitment with one another to live the Christian life together. 00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:09.900 So that's what membership is. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:14.100 The second question I want to answer is, 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:17.039 where is church membership found in the Bible? 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:17.480 Right? 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.940 See, those of you who are wondering and waiting for it. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:28.600 The Bible speaks of us being members of one another in Ephesians 4.25, Romans 12.5, and 1 Corinthians 12.25. 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:38.500 Although each of these texts speak to our unity as a local fellowship and not necessarily formal relationship called membership. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.100 Right? 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:42.659 So I'm telling you where we see the word member in the New Testament. 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:52.579 But it's talking about the way we're united in Christ and could have application both for local and universal fellowships. 00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:58.039 In order to note the formal relationship of membership in the church, 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:02.299 we must draw conclusions from other places. 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:02.719 Right? 00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:06.980 And I hope that the following five will be satisfactory for you. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:12.440 So, first, turn to Matthew chapter 18, verse 15. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.559 Matthew 18, 15. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.920 I'm going to read through 17, but I'm going to kind of read this abridged, 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:29.200 because we're going to look at this text in a little more detail in just a little bit. 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.680 So I'm going to kind of skip over some things. 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:37.160 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.820 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.140 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:52.480 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:57.779 That is to say, don't consider him any longer part of your fellowship. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:00.940 Jesus says in Matthew 18, 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:08.139 if a brother is unwilling to repent of sin, then no longer consider him a brother. 00:20:08.879 --> 00:20:11.220 Christians take sin seriously. 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:17.839 Christians experience the conviction that the Holy Spirit brings by the Word of God. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:22.559 Under its authority, works in our hearts the conviction of sin. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:28.659 So if someone is unwilling to repent of obvious, egregious sin, 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:33.139 then we should no longer consider him a brother. 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.639 This is what Jesus is teaching here. 00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:49.720 So, the ability to exclude someone from the church presupposes that it's known who belongs to the church as a member in the first place. 00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.419 How do we know? 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:58.400 We have counted you amongst us in order for us to no longer count you amongst us. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:04.759 We once had a confidence, but we say in church discipline, we no longer have a confidence anymore. 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:09.480 So we can read in this that membership happens. 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:14.259 Some formalization of the commitment that we have to one another. 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:17.800 Secondly, turn to Acts chapter 5. 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:28.619 Here in Acts 5, the heat has been turned up on the church, right? 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:32.159 Persecution has begun happening in the church. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:36.440 This is not quite the rosy days of just following Pentecost now. 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.919 Beginning in verse 12, Acts 5. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:44.900 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles, 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:48.680 and they were all together in Solomon's portico. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:58.200 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:06.519 So, people faced the decision of whether or not they would join the church in Jerusalem, right? 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:09.519 They're still gathering together in Solomon's portico, 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:14.160 and people had to decide whether or not they were going to be counted amongst them. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:22.600 This joining is more public and definite than an informal association, right? 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:29.380 They were called church as they were gathered together to worship Jesus Christ. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:34.680 Okay, third, 1 Timothy chapter 5. 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.800 Go there with me, please. 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:47.919 In 1 Timothy 5, verses 9 through 12, Paul gives Timothy instructions 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:53.839 for enrolling widows on the list of those receiving support from the church. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.119 And he says, 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:59.639 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than 60 years of age, 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:02.019 having been the wife of one husband, 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:06.740 and having a reputation for good works. 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:08.339 And he goes on a bit more. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.539 And so, while this isn't conclusive evidence for formal church membership, 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.359 to be absolutely clear, 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.359 it's very tough to imagine that the church in Ephesus 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:21.000 would have kept a list of widows, 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:27.980 but not have any formal means of identifying everyone who belonged to the church, right? 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:30.960 To compare the list of widows to the list of church members 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:35.299 to be sure that the widow in question was actually a member of the fellowship 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:39.660 and therefore receiving benefits from the church. 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:41.500 Number four. 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.319 1 Corinthians chapter 5. 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.680 You can do it. 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.600 The pages are getting quieter. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.100 Go, go. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:24:00.419 1 Corinthians 5, verses 12 and 13. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:06.799 This is following a pretty severe rebuke 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:11.339 for not disciplining a brother in the church, 00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:13.000 someone who claimed to be a Christian, 00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:15.500 who was sleeping with his mother-in-law. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.980 You want to read all of chapter 5. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.159 So that's what's going on here. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.500 Paul says, 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:22.620 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:29.060 Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:33.160 God judges those outside. 00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:37.380 Paul called upon the Corinthian church 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:40.620 to judge those who were inside the church, 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:43.560 not those who were outside. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:46.319 Now, can we clearly, right? 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:48.819 We're not talking about being judgmental, right? 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:52.639 We're talking about holding someone's life up to the standard of Scripture. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.319 The authority that God has given to us to say, 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:58.240 this is what the Christian life looks like, right? 00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:00.200 And as we see people in egregious sin, 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:03.319 like in a lustful relationship, 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:05.379 cheating with their mother-in-law, 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:07.859 we go, whoa, man, that's not okay. 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.799 That's what we're talking about here, right? 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:11.619 Having removed the plank from our own eye, 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:14.500 we see clearly to remove the speck from our brothers. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.299 This seems like a pretty big speck to me, 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:20.839 but this is what he's talking about here. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:26.319 We are responsible to one another inside the church, right? 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:30.339 Do not misunderstand Jesus' teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, right? 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:35.680 Do not let it be twisting you up the way so many have, right? 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:38.000 We're meant to do this, right? 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:45.259 The church of Corinth were responsible for the testimony of those who belonged to the church. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:50.039 They were not responsible for the testimony of those who didn't, right? 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:53.860 What have I to do with judging outsiders? 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:59.460 Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:07.340 This passage makes no sense if the Corinthian church didn't have some public formal means 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:12.440 by which people identified themselves with the church, 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:16.559 professed to be followers of Jesus Christ. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:21.460 Okay, fifth and last, 2 Corinthians chapter 2. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.900 And verse 6. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:34.600 Paul is writing concerning a man the Corinthian church had excommunicated. 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.400 And he says in verse 6, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:41.680 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:45.700 So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:50.320 or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:53.320 Paul is saying the man that's been put outside the church 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:57.460 continue to be loving toward him, right? 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.680 It's the proper thing to do. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:03.319 But the thing I want to point out is that this man's exclusion from the church 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:06.200 was a punishment by who? 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.519 The majority. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.299 The majority. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:13.440 You can't have a majority unless you have a definite set of people 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:16.220 from which a majority can be determined. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.380 You with me? 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:21.360 Like, how do we know that the majority put this man out of the church 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:25.179 unless we know it was in fact a majority? 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:30.539 So we read out of the activity of the early church, right? 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:34.419 The implication that there's some formal process 00:27:34.419 --> 00:27:39.240 by which people became members of a local fellowship. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:42.680 So my third question, I think. 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.579 Yep, third question. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:47.240 Who should join a local church? 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.759 And it has a simple answer and then a defense. 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:53.620 Anyone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ. 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:57.279 So if you profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, 00:27:57.479 --> 00:28:01.379 you should be a member of a local church. 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:04.539 Let me make this case to you from a couple of places. 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:06.639 First, John chapter 17. 00:28:06.979 --> 00:28:08.000 Yes, please turn there with me. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:09.679 I want you guys to see all of these texts 00:28:09.679 --> 00:28:13.839 because half of you in this room are not members of a local fellowship. 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.319 And the other half of you need to help those. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:25.740 John 17, beginning in verse 20 and following. 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:30.659 He's been praying for the apostles and he says, 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.480 I do not ask for these only. 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:35.480 John 17, verse 20 is where I'm starting. 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.200 If you're not there yet. 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.359 I do not ask for these only, 00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:40.839 but also for those who will believe in me through their word. 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:45.939 That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me. 00:28:45.939 --> 00:28:47.059 And I in you. 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:49.339 That they also may be in us, 00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:53.099 so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:56.339 The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, 00:28:56.379 --> 00:29:00.099 that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:02.359 I in them and you in me. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:05.519 That they may become perfectly one, 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:07.700 so that the world may know that you sent me 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:11.819 and loved them even as you loved me. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.019 You see all that language, 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.339 that we would be together, 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.819 that we would be united. 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.539 Why? 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.180 Right? 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:22.680 Because we're meant to display the triune nature of God 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:25.200 in the way that we're together. 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:29.799 Jesus established the church to publicly declare 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.839 those who belong to him 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:35.359 in order to give the world a display 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:38.539 of the good news about himself. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:40.839 Now, practically at this point, 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.440 you could say, 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.700 isn't he talking about the entire church, 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.259 that what we call the church universal? 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.220 And I would say, 00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:48.539 yes, he absolutely is. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:51.019 But how does that church gather 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:53.579 practically as one 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:55.559 in a local fellowship? 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.319 Right? 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.299 Are we united with all of our brothers and sisters 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.159 across the world this morning? 00:29:59.359 --> 00:29:59.799 Yes. 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.240 Undoubtedly, yes. 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:03.420 Those who have placed believing professions of faith 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.940 in Jesus Christ? 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.779 Absolutely, yes. 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:07.880 But how are we physically, 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:08.840 actually, 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.660 practically, 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.660 ecclesia, 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:11.580 church, 00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:13.440 gathered together, 00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.019 right? 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.620 We're here this morning, 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:18.140 gathered as one. 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:22.880 How is the world to know 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.860 who belongs to Christ 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:27.120 and who doesn't? 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:57.099 We're here this morning,