Your Part in the Church

Let’s focus on developing a biblical understanding of your part in the church by looking at 1 Corinthians 1:1-3.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to a group of born-again believers riddled by division caused by selfishness and a reliance on hierarchies and social status, somewhat confused about how following Jesus played out into daily living. In the first three verses of chapter one Paul reminds them he was called by the will of God, just as they were called by the will of God to be in Christ (1 Cor. 1:23, 30). He writes to God’s church not that of any individual. That was part of their problem identified in chapter 3; they were divided around leaders rather than the Leader Jesus. He points out an often neglected truth in the church today. He wrote to those who belonged to the church at Corinth, a church, who along with all believers (all who in every place call on Jesus) the Church. The primary implication: every person who is a part of the Church needs to be a part of a church.

1st Question: What is the Church? It is All who believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, and who trust Him as their Lord and Savior, All believers throughout the world baptized into Christ and indwelt by His Spirit; the entire body, everyone who knows the Lord. All true born-again believers in Christ – justified by faith alone in Christ alone by God’s grace alone for God’s glory alone. We are all one in Christ no matter what local church or fellowship we belong to.

2nd Question: What is a church? Little c. A community of born-again believers, under qualified leadership, who gather regularly for worship, growth and outreach. A localized expression of the Body of Christ living daily in relationship in a community; obeying the head of the church, Jesus and engages in preaching, teaching, baptism, Lord’s Supper, discipline. The true church of Jesus Christ, wherever it organizes and gathers, organically speaks of Christ in a local way – and collectively impacts the world globally. Think globally, live locally.

3rd Question: Is church membership biblical? Is a formal, definable process by which a church’s leaders identify who is a part of that particular assembly something the Bible speaks to? It is not explicitly commanded so many see it as an option, not necessary. Here are 9 reasons that seem to imply the existence of a definable membership; a formal commitment to each other on the part of believers in a local church.

1st the existence of church leadership. Assumes they know who they are leading. Leaders need to “know their sheep”, who they are accountable for. Acts 20:28, 1 Cor 4. Titus, elders in every city. 1 Peter 5.

2nd The existence of church followership. Accountability to leadership – must be an identifiable group that is accountable. Heb. 13:17. Churches Acts 16:5, 1 Cor. 14:33.

3rd The existence of church lists. They kept a list of widows. 1 Tim. 5:9. The church in Jerusalem chose from among themselves, Acts 6. How were they to know who is committed and counted among them?

4th The existence of a formal decision making process. Acts 6; 2 Cor. 2:6.

5th The existence of a formal welcoming process, bringing one into fellowship (right hands of fellowship, Acts 9 Barnabas advocating for Paul and the church receiving him.).

6th The existence of a formal dismissal process. If you can be formally put out of something, it implies that you were formally put into it. There is always a bit of a margin of error, the man in 1 Cor. 5 thought he was saved.

7th The existence of the one-another’s. You can’t do these alone or with people you are not associated with. These are ongoing disciplines, actions, effort put forth in close community with other believers.

8th The ordinances imply belonging. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are literally invitations to membership –to know and be known; recognized in a certain location by the people of God – giving testimony of your faith and living consistently before a group of like-minded people.

9th The body metaphor and the proper exercise of spiritual gifts. Rom. 12:4, 1 Cor. 12:5, 18, Eph. 4:25. Possibly the strongest explicit argument, 1 Cor. 12 speaks of members of the body, Paul refers to a local not universal Body, a specific church, when body is used w ref to the church it usually refers to a local assembly of believers. Being a member of a body is a church’s public affirmation of a person’s conversion. The Body is handicapped if all are not engaged – all have essential, necessary gifts.

4th Question: Why belong to a church? In one sense the 9 reasons listed above answer the question but in more relational terms, why should every believer be engaged, committed and accountable to a church? Why join a church, not just casually being a regular attendee? Why link arms with a church and say for now, until God leads otherwise, I am here as a part of this body, committed to common life together in this community. These are my people, this is my family of faith?

You are a part of the body and the body missing parts is incomplete. Think of this: Grace Church has everything God wants it to have today to fulfill His purposes in this community. Jesus saying “Follow Me” means join a group of disciples who together are God’s people, the household of God, the family. Sanctification is a community project. In fact You cannot be sanctified apart from the church. Heb. 10:25 Don’t neglect meeting together. We can't obey all the biblical commands or use our gifts or accomplish what God wants us to without being part of a church.
You need the help of others in the body of Christ. building one another up, teaching one another the Word of God. We are not to be lone ranger Christians. We need to be connected in this way if we are to fulfill our calling in the world.
You need to be equipped for ministry. Eph. 4:11-12. Involvement based on your God-given spiritual gifts. We build other believers with our gifts, and we witness for the Lord through our gifts.
You need the protectiononly the church can give. Heb. 13:17. Elders to watch over your soul. Accountability.
You strengthen the church by your presence rather than criticizing it in your absence. Remember, you join a house full of sinners saved by the grace of God. It is not enough to say I am a member of the universal church and leave it at that – you need the accountability and support of a group of people who can get to know you and vice-versa. It is what obedient Christians do. Regenerated people seek out membership (whether formal or informal – whatever the leadership of a particular church has identified). Over forty years ago the founders of Grace Church decided to have a formal, definable membership. We believe it a healthy practice to have a formal, definable membership. It is how we know who is with us. The main idea of church membership in a local body of believers centers on the idea of committed love and accountability.

5th and last Question: What are the signs of a healthy church member? What should a church expect from its members?
You show up. Attend regularly. Heart, mind, body, soul. Love the Lord and your neighbor as yourself. Depend on and trust God. Hunger for His Word. Engage with His people. Get on board.
You support others. Do the one another’s. Know others, allow yourself to be known, get involved in lives. Give of your time, talents, treasure. Use gifts, skills, resources in serving, encouraging. Seek Peace. Pursue reconciliation. Pray. Love as if you’ve never been hurt. Get in a group.
You Serve together from your giftedness. On mission in the community and world – active ambassadors of Christ. No fence sitters. Get out and serve. Train people up and set them loose for active ministry. Speechless – best example of teamwork. 50+ in unison. Our model.

You are either a Member of a church in name and function operate in a healthy way in the body; Keep doing that. Or a Member in name only, not functioning meaningless membership. You need to do some soul searching. An inactive member is an oxymoron – you don’t need your right foot? Or a Member in function but not in name have never officially linked arms with us in the way the leadership has set up; its simple – just do it. Or uncommitted to the church. You may not be able because you are not a believer. You can’t join with us, you can be present, enjoy relationships, but the life in Christ we have is foreign to you, we love you, we care about you and we want you to know Jesus and be a member of the family. You need to turn from your sins to Jesus and believe. You may be a believer that for some reason remains uncommitted to this body of believers. Joshua Harris’ book Stop Dating the Church – observes church daters are often me-centered, independent and critical, short on allegiance and quick to find fault, coming with a consumer mentality – looking for the best product for the price of their Sunday morning, as a result are fickle and not invested for the long-term. Ask yourself these questions...is the gospel affirmed, preached and lived here? Is the preaching faithful to Scripture? Would I want to find a spouse brought up under this church’s teaching? Do I want my kids to grow up here? What picture of Christianity will they see? Biblical or a lot like the world? Can I minister and serve here?

We all need to know how important the church is and to know our place in it. Those who believe Jesus Christ is God, who trust Him as Lord and Savior, are members of the Body of Christ. We welcome them as our brothers and sisters in the Lord, & invite them to identify themselves with our fellowship at Grace Church. I hope you will decide it is time to link arms and put your name on the line with us. That will be exciting.

Soli Deo Gloria