Today will be the second sermon in our series on partnership.
! The series on partnership will be required listening for anyone who wants to become a
! partner or member of our church.
When I say partnership, we use the word partnership and membership interchangeably here at Christchurch.
partnership is how we do membership here at Christchurch.
So, how important is partnership or church membership to you?
Does it really matter?
What's your disposition towards partnership?
Are you neutral about partnership or membership?
Are you embarrassed by partnership or membership?
Or are you convinced about partnership or membership?
Conviction is the state of being convinced of the benefit of something.
And we need people who are convinced of the benefit of partnership.
We need partnership enthusiasts.
Those who champion partnership.
We need people who are sold on the idea of partnership.
So, in light of that, I'm going to talk about 10 reasons to be convinced of the importance of church partnership or membership.
So, today's message is why partnership?
Okay?
Number one.
Membership is God's idea.
1 Corinthians 12, 27 says,
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
So, that concept of membership, it's not a man-made, made-up thing.
We find this in the scriptures.
In 1 Corinthians 12, you have this whole section about the church being a body.
And because we're a body, that means the body is made up of members.
You are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
The best way for people to be sold on an idea is for that idea to actually be God's idea.
And membership is God's idea.
So, the church being a body with members is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
The interdependence of each member and each member's effect on one another is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
Being careful how you build, that's God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
Excluding certain people from the church is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
Holding people accountable and giving people specific responsibility is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
Elders, pastors, shepherds, caring for the church, paying careful attention to the flock,
and keeping watch over souls is God's idea.
It's not a Christ church idea.
Church discipline.
You're never going to guess this.
God's idea, right?
It's not a Christ church idea.
Judging the fruit of other believers.
That's God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
Submission to leaders is God's idea.
It's not a Christ church idea.
Refreshing people through people is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
And the church being a specific kind of people is God's idea.
That's not a Christ church idea.
These are God's ideas taken from God's words.
So the question is, are you proud of those things?
Are you embarrassed or ashamed of those things?
Do we have confidence in the word of God?
Mark chapter 8 verse 38 says, whoever is ashamed of me and of my words.
That's an important thing that it says there.
A lot of people think, oh yeah, I don't ever want to be ashamed of Christ.
Right?
I don't ever want to be ashamed of Jesus and who he is.
But it says, not just that.
Mark 8 38 says, whoever is ashamed of me and my words.
Sometimes people say, well, I'm not ashamed of Jesus.
But we're a little bit embarrassed by the way Jesus talked.
We're a little bit embarrassed by the words he actually used.
And he says, whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
of him will the son of man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.
2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 15 says, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
So don't be embarrassed or ashamed of a church being committed to the concept of membership.
This is God's idea from God's word.
Okay, so that's the first one.
Number two, why partnership?
We must be able to count on the parts.
1 Corinthians 12 26 says, if one member suffers, all suffer together.
One member suffers, all suffer together.
Okay, to build anything, you must be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part.
All right.
So to build a good sports team, you must be able to count on all your players to do their part.
To build a sturdy house, you must be able to count on all the materials to do their part.
To build a good business, you must be able to count on all the employees to do their part.
To build a healthy body, you must be able to count on all the members to do their part.
And to build a healthy church, you must be able to count on a specific group of people to do their part.
We have to be able to count on the people to do their part.
1 Corinthians 12 multiple times talks about that we are part of the body.
And that 1 Corinthians 12, 20 says there are many parts, yet one body.
Romans 12, 4 to 5 says, as in one body we have many members,
and the members do not all have the same function.
So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another.
Ephesians 4, 16 in the NIV says,
From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.
So we want the body to be built up.
We want the body to grow and to build itself up in love.
Well, how does that get done according to the Bible?
According to the Bible, the way that gets done is that each part is doing its work.
That's Ephesians 4, 16.
We need a group of people to build with who we can count on to do the work.
Can you be counted on to do the work?
Each part or each partner, or another way you could say it would be part owner,
are the ones we count on to do the work.
A healthy body is one where each part does its work.
In order for the body to be healthy, we have to be able to count on each part.
2 Corinthians 8, 4 expressed this kind of, I think, the right attitude towards this.
In 2 Corinthians 8, 4, it says that there were people who begged Paul earnestly
for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.
Begged to Paul earnestly for the favor of taking part.
What is your attitude about taking part?
Being your part.
Are you begging earnestly for it?
Just let me be my part in the body.
Let me do stuff.
Let me give.
Let me give more.
I can't wait to give more.
Are you begging earnestly to do your part?
Well, they were here.
They were here.
Membership is how we effectively mobilize people for mission and discipleship.
The church should obviously be mobilizing people, each part doing its work,
so that mission happens, and so discipleship happens.
And in order to do that, we have to be able to mobilize people to do their part.
One of the hindrances to that is disqualifying yourself or disqualifying others.
We also see in 1 Corinthians 12, you see these two phrases,
I don't belong or you don't belong, right?
And so one of the ways the body can become handicapped is some of us can say,
well, because I'm not so-and-so or so-and-so,
I'm not this part of the body or I'm not that part of the body,
I don't belong, so we can reject ourselves.
And when we reject ourselves and we say, my part isn't important,
that's a problem.
It handicaps the body.
So that's the one way.
The other side is to say, well, actually, my part's really important.
Yours not so much, right?
I belong to the body, but you don't.
You're not, your part isn't important.
So we can either say, I don't belong, or we can say, you don't belong,
but both of them are going to hinder the body to function the way it's supposed to function.
Membership is God's idea for equal care of one another.
1 Corinthians 12, again, 24-26 says,
God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
that there may be no division in the body,
but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together.
If one member is honored, all rejoice together.
So don't be embarrassed by requiring each part to do its work.
This is how the body grows and builds itself up in love
and has the same care for one another.
God is not honored by a handicapped body.
Amen?
Okay, number three.
Why partnership?
Because we must be careful how we build.
We must be careful how we build.
If we have to be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part,
then that means that we need to be careful how we build.
Okay?
You know, if you're building a house,
and you kind of need that thing to stay up, right?
You don't want to be laying in your bed and have the ceiling collapse on you.
No one wants that.
So you have to be able to count on the materials that you use
to do what they were meant to do,
to do their part, so to speak.
Okay?
So you're not just picking any old material.
You're picky.
You're careful in how you build,
and you're careful with what you build.
You know, if someone,
you know, if Michael says he's got a contractor that you really got to use,
you're saying,
well, I'm going to find out for sure.
Make sure.
This is my house, you know.
I'm teasing Michael.
Okay?
You don't just want anybody building your house.
You got to make sure that it's the right guy, right?
And then when you get the right guy,
you got to make sure is he using the right materials.
I heard somebody once,
they built their whole deck,
beautiful deck.
They're using treated lumber.
It looked awesome.
It was great.
And when they finished the deck,
they realized that all the nails they used were not galvanized.
Well, if you know anything about how nails work,
and how treated lumber works,
treated lumber is filled with chemicals
that will literally eat those non-galvanized nails up
so that the nails will just disintegrate.
Well, what happens to a deck when all the nails disintegrate
that are holding it together?
It's not going to stay up.
In other words, materials are important.
And this is the same thing with God's church.
You see this in 1 Corinthians 3, 9 to 15.
Okay?
It says,
We are God's fellow workers.
You are God's field, God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a skilled master builder,
I laid a foundation.
Someone else is building upon it.
And then he says this,
Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one's work will become manifest,
for the day will disclose it,
because it will be revealed by fire.
And the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives,
he will receive reward.
If anyone's work is burned up,
he will suffer loss,
though he himself will be saved,
but only as through fire.
Are we building with the right materials?
Gold, silver, precious stones?
Or are we building with wood, hay, and stubble?
Why are we so careful how we build?
Why are we so specific in what we require?
Because we want what we build to survive the fire.
We want it to last.
We want to build with gold, silver, and precious stones,
not with wood, hay, and stubble.
We can't just build with anyone in any way.
We need specific expectations on a specific group of people
so that when we build, it's healthy and sustainable.
Don't be embarrassed by being careful how we build.
It's not loving to give someone something that will not last.
Did you hear that?
That's important.
It's not love.
There's no love in giving someone something that's not going to last.
That's not loving.
So don't be embarrassed by that.
Number four.
Why partnership?
Okay?
Because we must exclude people in order to include people.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What's that one all about?
Let's take a look.
Okay?
We must exclude people in order to include people.
If we're picky about how we build and who we build with,
then that feels like we're excluding people.
Yes.
But until what?
Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion.
If we include everyone on their terms,
then we create something that no one desires to be a part of.
And if we only include certain people on God's terms,
then we build something that people desire to be a part of
because what we build builds others up.
I want to say that again.
Okay?
Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion.
If we include everyone on their terms,
on their terms,
then we create something that no one desires to be a part of.
If we only include certain people on God's terms,
then we build something that people desire to be a part of
because what we build builds others up.
Okay?
I've witnessed a lot of anger over the years
over not accommodating people's different views
so they can feel included.
Especially those who want community without responsibility
or accountability.
Those who want church on their own terms.
I've seen people get all upset about this.
Thinking that they have a right
for us to accommodate all their views and all their terms.
The common mentality is,
I have a right to be welcomed into your community on my terms.
Not understanding that the terms themselves
are what make the community desirable to be welcomed into
in the first place.
Do you hear me on that?
The terms themselves are what make the community desirable
to be welcomed into into the first place.
In our church,
there are things that everyone is invited to
and there are things that some people are not invited to.
It's really important to get over your fear
of explaining to a newcomer that a meeting is exclusive.
There's great value and importance
in certain meetings being exclusive
and it's really good for people to feel
left out of those things.
Where am I getting this from?
Acts chapter 5, 12 to 14.
It says of the early church,
it says they were all together in Solomon's portico.
And then it says,
none of the rest dared join them,
but the people held them in high esteem.
And more than ever,
believers were added to the Lord.
Multitudes of both men and women.
But what's happened now in today's church
is we have it backwards.
Everyone dares to join the church
and not many believers are added to the Lord.
It's backwards.
And our effort to include people
we end up dumbing down what it means to be a part.
And then there's nothing beneficial about being a part,
which creates no incentive to be a part.
We end up working against ourselves
and we have a fear of not including people.
People feeling left out in many ways
is what gives value to being a part.
Because there's something there that is deep
and real and committed.
When you dilute that,
then being a part doesn't mean anything.
Exclusion gives the opportunity to include.
To exclude no one
is to have nothing to include people into.
Letting someone in out of fear
of leaving someone out
dilutes the potency and power
of what you are letting them into,
thereby not really loving them.
To love is to guard the whole
by not letting people in who are diluted.
By protecting the potency of the whole,
we love those who are excluded
because we now have something of value
to offer them
that can change their lives
for their good and God's glory.
Inclusion without regard for dilution
is unloving.
We exclude people for the sake of people.
This is why we can't have partners
just recommending people for partnership
just because he's a nice guy
who brings good food to potluck dinners
or because she's been coming around
for a long time
and everyone likes her.
They have to have fruit of partnership.
So people say,
well, I don't want to make it about a checklist.
And although the fruit of partnership
on the website is not a complete list,
it's most definitely a minimum required list.
Remember that Jesus was exclusive.
In Luke 14, starting verse 25,
it says,
Now great crowds accompanied him
and he turned and said to them,
If anyone comes to me
and does not hate his own father and mother
and wife and children
and brothers and sisters,
yes, and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not bear his own cross
and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
And verse 33 says,
Any of you who does not renounce
all that he has
cannot be my disciple.
Jesus excluded people from discipleship
based on whether or not
they believed these things
and it fleshed out with specific fruit.
So much so that in John chapter 6,
in verse 60,
when many of the disciples heard Jesus
and what he had said,
they said this,
This is a hard saying.
Who can listen to it?
After this,
many of his disciples turned back
and no longer walked with him.
One of the problems with the church nowadays
is that many people don't listen
to what the preacher
or the church is saying
and come away saying,
This is a hard saying.
Who can listen to it?
And yet that's what people said about Jesus.
So are we making it easier
for people than Jesus?
Are we lowering the bar
below what Jesus had?
We should not.
And we cannot
if we're disciples of Jesus.
Truly after this,
many of his disciples turned back
and no longer walked with him
because it was hard sayings
that he said.
The early church was exclusive as well.
2 Corinthians 6, 14 says,
Do not be unequally yoked
with unbelievers.
For what partnership
is righteousness with lawlessness?
Or what fellowship
is light with darkness?
2 Thessalonians 3, 6 says,
Now we command you, brothers,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you keep away
from any brother
who is walking in idleness
and not in accord
with the tradition
that you receive from us.
Verse 14 says,
If anyone does not obey
what we say in this letter,
please take note of that person
and have nothing to do with him,
that he may be ashamed.
Do not regard him as an enemy,
but warn him as a brother.
Exclusivity.
Titus 3, 10 says,
As a person who stirs up division
after warning him once
and then twice,
have nothing more to do with him.
1 Corinthians 5, 9-13 says,
I wrote you in my letter
not to associate
with sexually immoral people,
not at all meaning
the sexually immoral of this world
or the greedy and swindlers
or idolaters,
since then you would
need to go out of the world.
But now I'm writing you
not to associate
with anyone
who bears the name of brother
if he is guilty
of sexual immorality or greed
or is an idolater,
reviler,
drunkard,
or swindler,
not even to eat
with such a one.
For what have I to do
with judging outsiders?
Is it not those
inside the church
whom you are to judge?
Wait a second,
I thought we're not
supposed to judge.
He says,
Is it not those
inside the church
whom you are to judge?
God judges those outside,
purge the evil person
from among you.
So we see here
in the scriptures again,
God is telling us
to look at specific fruit
and to exclude certain people.
Romans 16,
verse 17 says,
I appeal to you brothers
to watch out
for those who cause divisions
and create obstacles
contrary to the doctrine
that you have been taught.
Avoid them.
For such persons
do not serve
our Lord Jesus Christ
but their own appetites
and by smooth talk
and flattery
that deceive
the hearts of the naive.
One more verse on this.
2 Timothy 3,
1-5.
But understand this,
that in the last days
there will come
times of difficulty.
For people will be
lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud,
arrogant,
abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful,
unholy,
heartless,
unappeasable,
slanderous,
without self-control,
brutal,
not loving good,
treacherous,
reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance
of godliness
but denying its power.
Notice,
these are the people
having the appearance
of godliness,
probably people professing
to be Christians,
but denying its power.
What does he say
to do with these people?
Avoid such people.
I would say
you don't be embarrassed
to exclude people
who want to join
on their own terms.
The terms themselves
are what make the community
desirable to be welcomed into.
Everything that people
desire to share
and to be a part of
only exists
because we don't just
let anyone be a part.
Number five,
why partnership?
Because there's no community
without responsibility
and accountability.
There's no community
without responsibility
and accountability.
Okay?
So many people say,
oh, I'm looking for community.
I'm looking for community.
Great.
That's awesome.
I think most people
are looking for that.
But do you want
responsibility
and accountability?
Do churches have the right
to require certain things
of their members?
I would say
there's a better question.
The better question would be,
do churches have
the responsibility
to require certain things
from their members?
Again, everyone says
they want community,
but there's no community
without responsibility
and accountability.
Do you say,
I want community?
And my question is typically,
well, do you?
Do you really want community?
You want community.
You don't want community
if you don't want responsibility
and accountability.
You can't have one
without the other.
You can't have one
without the others.
If a church doesn't require
responsibility
and accountability,
then a church doesn't have
any community
to offer people.
And there's no accountability
without judging
people's fruit.
1 Corinthians 5, 12,
what we read before,
is it not those
inside the church
whom you are to judge?
Matthew 12, 33 says,
a tree is known
by its fruit.
John 15, verse 8 says,
by this my Father
is glorified,
that you bear much fruit
and so prove yourselves
to be my disciples.
Fruit proves discipleship.
Never be embarrassed
or feel the need
to apologize
for requiring responsibility
and accountability
to people looking
for community.
There's no other way
to give it to them.
There's no other way
to give it to them.
Number six,
why partnership?
For care,
careful attention,
keeping watch,
and building up.
Church leaders
have the right
and the responsibility
to require certain things
from their members
in order to
pay careful attention
to all the flock
and to care
for the church of God.
This is Acts 20, 28.
Okay?
People want
to be cared for.
They want careful attention.
They want to be cared for
in the church of God.
Then church leaders
have the right responsibility
to require certain things
from their members
so that this can be done.
Okay?
And so that they can
keep watch over their souls.
Hebrews 13, 13, 17.
The Bible goes on to say,
let them do this with joy
and not with groaning,
for that would be
of no advantage to you.
So making it difficult
for elders to do this
is of no advantage.
Making it so that
there's no joy in it.
So in order for there
to be joy in it,
there has to be
some level of organization.
There has to be
some means and way
for shepherds
to be able to
shepherd the flock.
And having a group
of people we can count on
to do their part
is also the best way
to care for all the parts.
Okay?
If we have a body
that's not healthy,
then we know
that there's not going
to be parts,
we know there's going
to be parts
that aren't cared for.
And that's not okay.
Membership lets the elders
know who they are
responsible for
and lets the members
know who they are
responsible to.
Membership is an
official recognition
of the elders'
responsibility
to keep watch
over a member's soul
as those who will
have to give an account,
an official recognition
of a member's responsibility
to obey and submit
to the elders' authority
for building them up.
St. Corinthians 10,
verse 8 says,
the reason that
authority is given
is to build up.
A lot of people
will talk about
abuse of authority,
which is definitely
something that happens.
But very rarely
do people talk about
underuse of authority.
And if authority
is given for the
building up of the body,
to not use that authority
is to forfeit
the grace that God
has given to build up.
And that is also
a travesty.
Of course people
shouldn't abuse authority.
That's wrong.
That's not how
authority should be used.
But sometimes
in an effort
or because of a
trigger reaction
to abuse of authority,
we recoil at all authority
when authority
is a gift given by God
to build up
his church.
So authority
must be used.
Authority must be used.
It's used to give up.
And we
are against abuse,
but we're also
against underuse.
Our partners
are the ones
whom elders
are accountable
for leading
and who in return
are accountable
to elders
for growing
and participating
in the mission
of God.
So don't be embarrassed
by your leaders
using their
God-given authority
and requiring
a lot from people.
That's what the Bible
calls caring for people.
The kind of leadership
you should be embarrassed
by and apologize for
is the kind of leadership
that doesn't require
what God requires
of them
because that's a leadership
that doesn't care.
That's a leadership
that doesn't pay
careful attention.
And that's a leadership
that isn't keeping
watch over your soul.
And that's not the right
kind of leadership.
Number seven,
why partnership?
To be refreshed.
Bilemon 4-7
says,
I thank my God
always when I remember
you in my prayers
because I hear
of your love
and of the faith
that you have
toward the Lord Jesus
and for all the saints.
And I pray
that the sharing
of your faith
may become effective
for the full knowledge
of every good thing
that is in us
for the sake of Christ.
For I have derived
much joy
and comfort
from your love,
my brother,
because the hearts
of the saints
have been refreshed
through you.
Okay?
So I have derived
much joy
and comfort
from your love,
my brother,
because the hearts
of the saints
have been refreshed
through you.
He says,
he thanks God
whenever he even
thinks of them.
Okay?
What does it mean
to be refreshed?
What's the definition
of refresh?
Synonyms of refresh
are restore,
strengthen,
revive,
replenish,
reinvigorate.
When's the last time
you thought of being
with the saints
doing those things?
Okay?
The antonym of refresh
is exhaust,
tire,
drain,
deplete,
weary,
wear out,
burden.
Okay?
A while ago,
I heard of a pregnant woman
who said to someone
that she really wanted
to go to the monthly
partners meeting
because she knew
at the time
that she'd be missing
church gatherings
soon after she gives birth
and she loves to worship
and be with God's people.
But a lot of times
I've also heard
people say
things quite different
from this pregnant woman.
They might say
something like,
I'm staying home
because I have
so much going on
or
I'm staying home
because I'm exhausted,
tired,
drained,
depleted,
weary,
worn out,
or burdened,
which is all the antonyms
of refreshed.
People say,
that's why I'm staying home.
I'm not going to
gather with the saints
because I'm exhausted,
I'm tired,
I'm drained,
I'm depleted,
I'm weary,
I'm worn out,
I'm burdened.
Basically,
I'm staying home
because I'm not refreshed,
right?
Is that fair?
I'm staying home
because I'm not refreshed.
But let me just say,
this is important.
If you're doing that,
you're skipping the wrong thing
and you have a fundamental
misunderstanding
of the church.
Okay?
Remember,
Philemon 7 said,
I have derived much joy
and comfort from your love,
my brother,
because the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed
through you.
Do you have a view
of the church
that when you're tired
and weary
and broken
is actually
you're refreshing?
There's a worldly experience
of church
that attends gatherings
and meetings
out of a religious obligation
and deserts them
whenever needing refreshment.
And there's an experience
of church
that does its best
to come together often
out of longing
to be with one another
so that they might be refreshed.
Which is the version
of church that you see?
Do you see it
as some religious obligation
that when you're tired
and weary
you avoid?
Or do you see it
as something
that is a people
that you long for
to be with
so you can be refreshed?
This is the biblical view.
Philippians 4.1
says,
My brothers
whom I love
and long for
my joy and crown
stand firm thus
in the Lord
my beloved.
You know,
you're never going to be refreshed
by people
that you don't love
and long for.
But when you do
love and long for people
it's refreshing
to see them.
And if you've never
experienced church
in such a way
that when you see people
you feel filled up.
You feel
ah,
it's good to see you.
I miss you.
Seeing you
gets me excited.
Seeing you
makes me feel
rest.
Seeing you
being with you
singing with you
worshipping with you
is a relief.
It's a joy.
Some of you
maybe have never
known church that way
but I know
from experience
there is church
that way.
There is church
that way.
And in my experience
some of the most
refreshing thing
I've ever experienced
Christ
is the body
of Christ.
And at my lowest
times
my most weary
and discouraged
times
the people of God
putting on
the character
of Christ
have been
my most
greatest refreshment.
And if you
have never
experienced that
my hope
and my longing
is that you would
because this is
the way God
meant the church
to be.
Not just a
series of religious
obligations
that you avoid
when you're tired
but actually
a group of people
that are your
refreshment.
When you think
of refreshments
what do you think?
That's another word
for a drink, right?
You take a drink
to refresh yourself.
I would hope
the church
would become that
to one another.
Hebrews 10
24-25
says
Let us consider
how to stir up
one another
to love and good works
not neglecting
to meet together
as is the habit
of some
but encouraging
one another
and all the more
as you see
the day approaching.
Okay?
So that's what
it's to be a group
of people
that are encouraging
one another
which is why
it's so important
that the church
isn't just a group
of people
who are gathered
on their own terms
because if everybody
is looking for
their own terms
and their own desires
and their own
what I want
then no one
gets blessed
and no one
gets refreshed.
That's a great way
to build a church
in so much so
that it doesn't
refresh anybody.
And some of us
experience church
like that.
It's about as lame
as lame can be
and I have zero
interest in it
and I know you
do too.
So let's build
a church that
refreshes.
Well, we believe
we do that
through partnership.
Don't be embarrassed
by requiring people
to meet together.
Don't be embarrassed
by what God
designed to truly
refresh one another.
Number eight.
Got three more here.
Number eight.
Why partnership?
Okay?
Because the people
are the attraction.
The people
are the attraction.
Some of you
have come from
or are used to
or have only known
a form of church
where essentially
products and services
are the main
attraction for the church.
What I oftentimes
call the holy trinity
of church planting.
Right?
The worship,
the child care,
and the charismatic
preacher.
Right?
And so,
it's like,
what draws people
to the church?
Well,
it's because,
man,
that preacher,
he's a charismatic guy.
He knows how to really speak.
He's a great speaker.
That worship team
is incredible.
They're talented.
They're a well-oiled machine.
And man,
have you been to
the child care ministry?
It's amazing.
The kids love it.
It's over the top.
And that's what's
drawing people.
And so,
basically,
it's products and services
that are consumed
by the masses.
All right?
But,
that's not what
we're going after.
We're not going after
products and services
provided by a few.
We're actually going after
a demonstration
of the kingdom,
the king and the kingdom
by all.
Okay?
Let me say that again.
We're not looking for
products and services
provided by a few.
We're looking for
a demonstration
of the king
and the kingdom
provided by all.
That's what the church
should be.
Okay?
That's why we need
partnership.
Because without partnership,
you have a few people
doing all the work.
And instead of participants,
you have consumers.
A bunch of people
coming to get,
rather than a bunch of people
coming to give.
Which is why we,
at Bella Costa,
sending church
that sent us out,
we used to call
membership just membership.
And we realized that
everyone's view of membership
nowadays in our
Costco gym membership
culture just says
you get a membership
and it's like,
hey,
what do I get now?
What do I get?
And we're like,
no,
that's not what
we're trying to do here.
And so we started using
a different biblical word,
partnership,
to describe our membership
because that's really
what the Bible
is teaching when it's
talking about membership.
And that's what we're
trying to get across.
That actually when you come
and become a partner
or a member of our church,
we're saying,
hey,
what can I give?
How can I lock arms?
How can I become
a part owner
in what's going on here
and provide value
for people?
And that in and of itself
becomes the thing
that attracts.
We hope to build
a church
where
the people
are the attraction
because everyone's
participating.
quality.
It's quality,
you know,
and the old kind of way
of thinking about it,
it's the quality
of the service
versus the quality
of the people.
At the end of the day,
we want to have
good quality services
on Sunday mornings
and whenever we gather.
But, you know,
sometimes some aren't
maybe as good as others,
but at the end of the day,
we can always fall back
on the people.
We can always fall back
on the people.
If your service sucks
and your people suck,
well,
then you're in big trouble.
Right?
So, but hopefully
you're not just relying
on the service
because the service
can go bad.
But with people,
if Jesus actually lives
in a group of people
and those group of people
are connected to one another
in the right way,
we should benefit
and we should be blessed
by the people of God.
Okay?
It's also the difference
between just meeting-centric
Christianity
versus all of life
where the meetings
are what attract people
rather than just
people in the everyday
stuff of life
around dining room tables
and living room couches
and that kind of thing
and backyards
and front yard porches.
It's the difference
between gifting and character
where gifting is what
draws people
rather than character
and make no mistake,
what you build with your gift,
you can destroy
with your character.
And many of us
have seen that.
We've experienced that.
We don't want to draw people
with our giftings.
We want to draw people
with the character of Jesus.
And so,
we don't want a couple
charismatic superstars
to win everybody
to our church.
We want the person
of Jesus,
Jesus himself,
manifested in the body
of Christ
to be the one
that draws people.
I was drawn to Jesus
in a people.
That's what we want
people to say.
And this really,
when done this way,
you avoid hypocrisy
because if you have
products and services
disconnected from character,
you very much open yourself
up to hypocrisy
versus the character
and community
of a people,
if it's the character
and community
of the people
that are the drawing point,
then there's no room
for hypocrisy
because either God
or you don't.
Whereas if you're
trying to draw people
with products and services
disconnected from character,
you can have the
dog and pony show
pull off
and not have character
and you can draw people
and then disillusion them
with the fact
that there's no character
behind your good production.
And that's dangerous.
And then when you go
church shopping,
you can shop for products
and services
or you can shop
for a people to partner with.
And that's what we're after.
We want anyone who's here
who's not a partner,
we're saying,
don't just shop for products
and services.
And at the end of the day,
we can't compete
with products and services.
There's way better churches
with better products.
But I would hope
that where we can,
where we do have something
to offer,
is that there's
a quality people
and there's a people
that you can partner with.
And that's the goal.
One is volunteers
on your terms.
The other is disciples
on God's terms.
Okay?
John 13, 35 says,
by this all people
will know
that you are my disciples
if you're in love
for one another.
Right?
We'll know they are Christians
by their love.
We want people
to be attracted
to our church
because of the love
we have for one another.
Well, you can't do that
apart from partnership.
There has to be commitment
to one another
in order for there
to be love
for one another.
So don't be embarrassed
by a church
that values character
over gifting,
that aims to attract
people to Jesus
rather than to a few
charismatic superstars.
Okay?
Number nine,
why partnership?
Church discipline.
Matthew 18, 15-17
says,
if your brother
sins against you,
go tell him his fault
between you and him alone.
When if he listens to you,
you have gained your brother.
But if he does not listen,
take one or two others
along with you,
that every charge
may be established
by the evidence
of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen
to them,
tell it to the church.
And if he refuses
to listen even to the church,
let him be to you
as a Gentile
and a tax collector.
So this is in the Scriptures.
This is church discipline.
We believe in church discipline.
We exercise church discipline.
But there's no church discipline
of excluding someone
from your church
because of the fact
that they're not willing
to repent of sin
if there's nothing
that you've ever
included them into.
And there's something
about that
that causes someone
to be shaken
and it's ultimately
unto restoration.
We don't do church discipline
to put a scarlet letter
on someone.
Every step of church discipline
from the first confrontation
to the two people
confronting
to the telling it
to the church,
which is an all-hands-on-deck,
everybody love
and reach out
to this person,
to even excommunicating
a person
is all ultimately
unto restoration,
that their soul
might be saved.
Every step of the way.
It's not an,
it's not,
it's exclusion
for the sake of love
in the end,
for restoration,
for them to see their need.
It's turning them over
to Satan
so that their soul
might be saved.
So that their soul
might be saved.
That's the goal.
All of the goal
of church discipline
is that.
Partnership
allows that
to be executed.
James 5, 19-20
says,
My brothers,
if anyone among you
wanders from the truth
and someone brings them back,
let them know that.
Whoever brings back
a sinner from his wandering
will save his soul
from death
and will cover
a multitude of sins.
And that's what
we want to do.
Don't ever be embarrassed
by a church
that loves people
enough to discipline them.
A church that doesn't
hate sin
and its power
to damn and destroy
enough to discipline people
is a church
that doesn't really
love people.
Never apologize
for loving people
the way God
says to love.
Number 10.
Why partnership?
Last one.
The indispensability
of unity.
The indispensability
of unity.
1 Corinthians 1, 10
says,
I appeal to you,
brothers,
by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ
that all of you
agree
and that there may be
no divisions among you
and that you may be
united in the same mind
and the same judgment.
That's some pretty
inclusive language there
as far as like,
hey,
we've got to be together,
right?
All of you agree,
no divisions among you
and be united
in the same mind
and the same judgment.
This is why we do partnership
to help foster that,
to help build that.
Amos 3, 3
in the New King James
says,
can two walk together
unless they're agreed?
It's a rhetorical question.
No, they can't.
You can't walk together
unless you're agreed.
Partnership is saying,
hey, we agree on these
specific things
so we can walk together.
Mark 3, 25 says,
if a house is divided
against itself,
that house will not
be able to stand.
Okay?
A house divided
against itself
cannot stand.
It's not just agreement
in word,
but it's agreement
in action.
Okay?
So,
if we have different
priorities,
then we can't partner.
If you treasure one thing
and I treasure another,
then our hearts
will be going
in different directions.
Matthew 6, 21,
where your treasure is,
there your heart
will be also.
So,
if we don't treasure
the same things,
if we don't have
the same priorities,
then we'll be going
in different directions.
Partnership is shared
priorities.
All right?
And if we have
different visions
of how our priorities
flesh out,
then we also can't
partner with one another
because we have
two visions
or die vision.
Die means two.
And a house divided
can't stand.
Partnership is
shared vision.
Saying we have
the same priorities
and we have
the same vision
of how those priorities
should be fleshed out.
And it's based on
1 Corinthians 15, 58.
Always give yourselves
fully to the work
of the Lord.
So we have a vision
of it being fleshed out
always fully
in all of life.
Okay?
And then lastly,
if we have the same
priorities and the same
vision
of how those priorities
flesh out,
but we don't share
responsibility,
then we can't truly
partner with one another.
If one of us thinks
that we don't belong
or that we don't need
each other,
then we can't partner
because we're alone
and partnership
is together.
Partnership is
shared responsibility.
It's not just a few
people doing the work.
It's everybody doing
the work and doing
their part.
Never be embarrassed
to require unity.
It's never loving
to offer people
a house that will
not stand.
It's never loving
to offer people
a house that will
not stand.
And if you've ever
been a part of a
church split,
you really know this
one.
I have.
Trust me,
I don't ever want
to give someone
a church that's
going to split.
Now,
no one has control
over that completely,
but being in unity
is a good helper
for that, right?
Being in unity
is a good helper
for that.
So,
it's never loving
to offer people
a house that's
destined to fall,
that's destined
to not stand.
So,
let's be unified
together.
In conclusion,
closing this up,
wrap it up.
Partnership conviction,
we believe,
is extremely important
because it's God's
idea from God's
word.
And if we're ashamed
of his word,
he'll be ashamed
of us.
Indifference and
embarrassment is not
an option.
We need all of us
to be convicted
and convinced
of the value
and importance
of partnership.
Amen?
Amen.
Let's stand.