1 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:17,000 well, it seems as though we have often stepped in and out of our 2 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:22,000 Series in the book of Of second Timothy, in the past couple of 3 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,900 months, which is not ideal. When you were trying to 4 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:31,300 establish a flow of thought, in the book of the Bible. 5 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,400 But I can assure you that we are in a unique season as a church, 6 00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:41,100 that necessitates us to be able to communicate with the people. 7 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,900 Why it is that? We're doing what we're doing and 8 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:48,000 because we are in the infant stages of a Ministry. 9 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,900 We believe that is necessary to be able to explain from the 10 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:55,900 scriptures. Why we are growing in a certain 11 00:00:55,900 --> 00:00:57,900 direction. Why are we implementing certain 12 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:00,500 things? Why are we choosing to go in a 13 00:01:00,508 --> 00:01:03,400 certain way? And that is certainly true. 14 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,800 As you heard in the announcements for the milestone. 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,500 For this ministry, you've been hearing about and people have 16 00:01:09,508 --> 00:01:14,900 been asking about this concept. Of membership and perhaps that 17 00:01:14,900 --> 00:01:20,000 is a common concept to you and perhaps it is a totally foreign 18 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,000 one and what we desire to do as a leadership as help clarify 19 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:30,200 that that this organization, that this thing that puts 20 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,300 structure to the church is, in fact, supported with the word of 21 00:01:35,308 --> 00:01:38,300 God. It is not something that adds to 22 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:42,100 the word of God. It is something that is derived 23 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:44,800 with the principles and the wisdom and even the practices of 24 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,600 the early church. And so today you might be in a 25 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,400 place where you are wondering as you just heard that we are now 26 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,900 opening and receiving applications for people to join 27 00:01:56,900 --> 00:02:03,500 this church and to call it home. If this process is necessary, Is 28 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:07,700 it effective? What are the benefits? 29 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:13,600 Will they tamper with the organic feel that this church 30 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,500 has? And perhaps you're even tempted 31 00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:23,900 to think is this even biblical? And prayerfully after you hear 32 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:26,600 what God's word has to say, about the subject, you will have 33 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,700 a greater confidence that this ministry. 34 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:32,500 This church is applying membership because we desire to 35 00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:38,100 be as biblical as possible. So today we're going to explore 36 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:44,100 the wisdom of church membership and we are going to see how this 37 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:48,800 will only contribute to the health and the effectiveness of 38 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,600 the collective Saints, who would say this is where I desire to 39 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,500 serve, and this is the ministry that I want to be identified 40 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:59,500 with. But before we touch on those 41 00:02:59,500 --> 00:03:02,600 reasons, I think it is necessary for us to understand the 42 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,500 framework of the church to understand the function of the 43 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:08,200 church. And that is throughout the New 44 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,000 Testament. And you can even find principles 45 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,500 in the old, but we want to look to the head of the church 46 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:17,800 himself and what he said about his church, And so before we 47 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,400 explore that, let us pray and ask God for a Humble Hearts open 48 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,600 minds and the grace to learn as he speaks to us through his 49 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,600 word. Go, we ask that in this moment 50 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:32,400 that we would be tuned in to your voice. 51 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,500 And that Lord, this would be free from confusion, it would be 52 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:41,900 clear and not only will it be information, but it would even 53 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,200 draw our hearts closer to Christ. 54 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,300 It would Inspire fresh, love towards the head of the church 55 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:50,400 himself. Lord May the delivery of this 56 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,500 message be done in Integrity dignity and sound speech. 57 00:03:53,900 --> 00:03:58,900 Lord May our hearts be open to not just understand these truths 58 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:02,700 but to be willing to obey them whether we want to call this 59 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:05,900 church home or another place home, Lord, help us realize that 60 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:10,400 this is a step forward into greater obedience to your word. 61 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:13,600 We give you praise and glory. In Jesus name, we pray. 62 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:17,399 Amen. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 63 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:25,000 16 please. The Lord Jesus Christ mentions. 64 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,700 The church only twice in the gospel accounts. 65 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:34,200 Only twice. And in those two instances, 66 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:40,500 there are both found in the same book and each reference is Rich 67 00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:45,500 with understanding of the identity and the operation of 68 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:48,200 this institution called The Church. 69 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:52,900 And in the first place of this mention from the lips of the 70 00:04:52,900 --> 00:04:59,800 Savior, the Lord response to Peter's accurate, confession of 71 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,900 the nature, and the person of Jesus Christ. 72 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:07,000 When he declares after crisis, who do you say that I am? 73 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,200 What are people saying? Yes, but who do you think? 74 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:14,300 Who do you believe that I am and Peter as often as he does speaks 75 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:16,800 up. And he says, you are the Christ, 76 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,700 the son of the Living, God, And the response of Christ is first 77 00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:25,400 that he affirms that this is something that God had revealed. 78 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:31,200 And then he goes on to say this, in verse 18, and I tell you you 79 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:36,000 are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church. 80 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,900 And the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it. 81 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:44,400 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever 82 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,100 you bind on Earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatever you 83 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:49,800 loose on Earth. Shall be loosed in heaven. 84 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,000 And I'm sure you are aware of the great debate around this 85 00:05:54,000 --> 00:06:00,100 text and the debate is about who or what this rock really is. 86 00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:04,300 Jesus says he would build his church on and the Catholic 87 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:06,900 church for centuries. Have argued that this rock 88 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:11,400 symbolizes the person of Peter, And that God has given him a 89 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,100 certain Authority, and he was the first pope and Bishop, and 90 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:19,500 those who descend from him, are his successors and there are 91 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:23,800 great, great concerns with that interpretation, especially with 92 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:28,200 the authority that the pope claims to have over the church. 93 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,200 There's only one head and that's Christ. 94 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:36,500 But when we consider this text and compare it to other, texts 95 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:40,800 about the church, we see what Jesus meant here. 96 00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:45,100 Because scripture interprets scripture and in Ephesians 2. 97 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:49,400 We read that the church, the foundation of this institution 98 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,800 is built upon the apostles and the prophets while Christ 99 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,300 himself is the Chief Cornerstone. 100 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:59,900 Now, what does that mean? It doesn't mean that the 101 00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:05,000 apostles including Peter are The Rock when Jesus speaks to Peter 102 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,600 In This Moment, he addresses him as a representative of the 103 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:13,300 Apostles. And what he tells this man is 104 00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:17,100 that he and all who are the appointed vessels in that 105 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:21,600 Apostolic Ministry were the ones who are going to lay the Bedrock 106 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,300 of the church through their Spirit inspired preaching and 107 00:07:25,300 --> 00:07:30,000 teaching. It's not Peter. 108 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,100 Who is The Rock? It's the confession of Peter. 109 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:36,900 That is the rock. It is not the Apostle Peter nor 110 00:07:36,900 --> 00:07:39,500 the other apostles who are the foundation. 111 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:43,000 But the truth that they delivered is the very thing that 112 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,200 the church we built upon. If the church is built upon any 113 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,500 person, is the person of Jesus Christ and who he is in his 114 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:54,200 nature and his character, and his work, not a system of 115 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,300 papacy. And this is important to 116 00:07:57,308 --> 00:08:01,100 understand for many reasons, and let me give you one, If the 117 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:05,400 church is built upon a set of truths, concerning the person of 118 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,100 Jesus Christ, then those who make up the church or the ones 119 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:13,300 who adhere to these truths. In other words for somebody to 120 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:17,500 be a part of the church means that they are someone who 121 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:22,400 repents believes and confesses the truth of Christ as it is 122 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:28,100 laid out in the scriptures and that person becomes a living 123 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:32,100 Stone and that person now becomes a part of the spiritual 124 00:08:32,500 --> 00:08:35,799 structure, known as The Church of Jesus Christ, that is the 125 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:37,600 foundational application of what. 126 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,000 It means to be joined to the church. 127 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:42,900 It is upon a Shin it is upon faith. 128 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:47,400 It is upon belief. Peter's confession. 129 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,200 Let me reiterate, is the rock that the church will be built on 130 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:54,400 and those who hear this confession and believing the 131 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,600 confess. It themselves are numbered among 132 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,000 those who make up The Universal Church of Jesus Christ. 133 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,800 That's glorious, it's wonderful. But let me say this please, this 134 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:12,300 is not theoretical. This is tangible, being a part 135 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:16,400 of the church is not some invisible status that you get 136 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:20,000 because of your faith. It is not God seeing you 137 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,500 differently because of your faith. 138 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:29,600 It is practical it touches life and in fact, radically Alters 139 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:35,400 your daily activity, and that is proven not in the first mention 140 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,600 of the church, from the lips of Christ. 141 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,400 But in his second, Last time, which is just two chapters from 142 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,300 this place. So turn to Matthew 18. 143 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:54,400 Verse 15. Jesus says, if your brother sins 144 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,900 against you go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, 145 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,100 if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 146 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,800 But if he does not, listen, take one or two others along with you 147 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,300 that every charge may be established by the evidence of 148 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:12,000 two or three Witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, 149 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:17,300 tell it to the church and if he refuses to listen, even to the 150 00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:21,200 church, let him be to you as a gentile and tax collector. 151 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,600 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on Earth, shall be 152 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,300 bound in heaven and whatever you loose on Earth. 153 00:10:27,300 --> 00:10:31,900 Shall be loosed in heaven. This is another very familiar 154 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:34,300 passage of scripture, but we have to connect it to our 155 00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:36,300 previous text. In order to come to a 156 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:40,400 much-needed. Conclusion about the church when 157 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:45,600 you read, what Christ says here, you realize what he esteems and 158 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:51,700 emphasizes for his people. In Matthew 16, Jesus confirms 159 00:10:51,700 --> 00:10:56,500 that the church will be built upon a confession, a realization 160 00:10:56,500 --> 00:11:01,200 of who he is and accurate, understanding of who he is, but 161 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,000 in Matthew 18, Jesus instructs, those who make up the church, 162 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:11,200 what they are supposed to do when one of its members behaves 163 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,900 or believe something contrary to that confession. 164 00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:21,400 Christ cares about the purity of his church. 165 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:30,300 Christ is steams, the witness. Of his church Christ expects us 166 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:32,900 to be involved with each other's lives. 167 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:37,400 She, when you read this text, it assumes that being a part of the 168 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,500 church is not a status. That's in a hidden in your 169 00:11:40,500 --> 00:11:46,500 heart, being a part of the church assumes accountability. 170 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:52,400 It assumes responsibility. It assumes Authority. 171 00:11:55,900 --> 00:12:00,200 You can't read this. And not see how being a part of 172 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:05,900 the church touches people. Links people's arms, together. 173 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:09,700 Calls you to be involved because when you read something like 174 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:12,600 Matthew 18, the question is, well, how can something like 175 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,200 this be implemented? If the church is, made up by 176 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,500 different tribes and tongues and there are churches all across 177 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:20,400 the globe. And there are the people of God, 178 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,500 who make up the church who are distinct and their tribe and who 179 00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:26,200 live in different cities and communities. 180 00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:28,600 How can we do Matthew? 18? 181 00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:34,600 And the answer is very simple. If Matthew 16 Speaks about The 182 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,400 Universal Church, the Matthew 18 speaks about the local one. 183 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,600 Matthew 16 speaks about the mystical body of Jesus Christ. 184 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:50,100 How we are now joined as members and he is the head and we are 185 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:54,100 his body, but Matthew 18 is the manifestation of it. 186 00:12:56,300 --> 00:12:59,700 On the local level. Can I tell you something? 187 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,700 What this means is, here's the summary that if we are 188 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:10,100 identified with the church based on our confession, We make our 189 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:15,400 identity with the church known by willing to commit ourselves 190 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,200 to a group of believers who believe the same thing that you 191 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,200 do. In other words, you cannot claim 192 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,700 to be part of the Church of Jesus Christ, simply because you 193 00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:31,700 believe what he did for you and who he is without at the same 194 00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:35,100 time being able to point to people and say these are the 195 00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:38,000 ones that I am committed to serve and these are the ones 196 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:43,100 that I am accountable to. And that's why we see this 197 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:46,200 perfect marriage between Matthew 16 and Matthew 18, you have The 198 00:13:46,208 --> 00:13:49,300 Universal Church of one and you have the expression, the 199 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:53,400 manifestation the Quality. The real life on life in Matthew 200 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,800 18. And you have a lot of people who 201 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,700 believe they are part of the church, but they're not 202 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:03,300 committed to a local one, and they are not understanding what 203 00:14:03,300 --> 00:14:08,500 Jesus design and desire for them is, you see what church 204 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:13,200 membership does is an assist the individual believer to be able 205 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,900 to fulfill his duties as prescribed by the head of the 206 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:19,900 church himself. If you want a simple definition 207 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:23,400 of what church membership is though I cannot point to a verse 208 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,300 that defines it, there are many things that you and I even 209 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:29,500 believe and practice that are not necessarily explicit in the 210 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:35,300 scriptures, for example Trinity. And you may not find membership, 211 00:14:35,300 --> 00:14:39,000 but what you will find is organization structure 212 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:44,000 commitment, spelled out an example and instruction. 213 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,700 And so, here's a simple definition. 214 00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:51,300 It is a formal expression of one's devotion and commitment to 215 00:14:51,900 --> 00:14:59,400 the Church of Jesus Christ. And be comforted to know that 216 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,400 this is not an arrangement that conflicts with God's word. 217 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:05,900 And it can be if you go beyond the bounds of scripture and your 218 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:11,300 implementation of it nor is it nor is it something that carries 219 00:15:11,300 --> 00:15:14,500 the authority to deal with somebody's eligibility for 220 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:18,300 heaven? That's ridiculous. 221 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:23,200 It's simply a way for each of us to say including the leadership. 222 00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:26,200 These are the ones whom I serve. And these are the ones that I 223 00:15:26,208 --> 00:15:32,200 submit to. I hope every single person in 224 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,500 here knows the difference between attending a church and 225 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:40,300 joining a church. A preacher gave a beautiful 226 00:15:40,300 --> 00:15:42,000 illustration of this and I would like to share it with you 227 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,800 because of Minnesota to me. there's a difference between you 228 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:50,200 eating at a restaurant you eating at home, And every person 229 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,800 in this room either sees the church as a restaurant or they 230 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,400 see it as a home. And let me explain to you what 231 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,100 that means, you have people and perhaps even some today. 232 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:03,600 That they come. They want to. 233 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,900 They want to receive spiritual nourishment. 234 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:11,900 So they receive that service. They're willing to to give some 235 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:16,000 kind of contribution to show their appreciation but they're 236 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,800 not. There's no responsibility. 237 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:21,900 They're here to receive and in to leave, they don't know 238 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:24,000 anybody and just like at our favorite restaurant, you might 239 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,000 sit at the your favorite spot from time to time even though 240 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,000 it's your favorite eating joint, you might want to try something 241 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,800 new because this is so predictable. 242 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,900 So let me go to another place and eat there and then I'll come 243 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:38,400 back here. You don't know anybody. 244 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:43,000 Maybe some that also like to eat at this restaurant. 245 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,000 But you pick yourself up and you go and you move on and you'll 246 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,700 come again. But you're just there to receive 247 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:55,500 and you have you have no intention of giving At the same 248 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:57,500 time, there are others who see the church as a home. 249 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:05,599 They also eat you eat at home. I hope, but once they eat and as 250 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:07,900 they eat, they realize that they have a responsibility in that 251 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:12,200 house. They will contribute. 252 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,800 They will assist. They will restock. 253 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,700 They will clean, Etc. It's not a place that you visit. 254 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,800 It's a place where you identify with and I think this 255 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,000 illustration even as reflected in our language of how we speak 256 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:33,300 about the church. Let me put it this way, how 257 00:17:33,300 --> 00:17:34,500 many? And I've said it myself too. 258 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:37,500 And I know what people mean when they say this, but it says 259 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:39,900 something about our Biblical understanding of what the church 260 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:45,800 is, I am going to church. Will I see you at church? 261 00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:51,800 The church is not a place that you go to the church is not an 262 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:57,000 event that you attend. The church is you We are the 263 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,900 church and what the church does is like on this day on the 264 00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:04,000 Lord's, they the church assembles together. 265 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:10,400 The church gathers together Maranatha Bible Church is not in 266 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,400 Norwich Illinois necessarily, that's where Maranatha Bible 267 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:21,300 Church meets and worships and serves and praise And so, the 268 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,600 former, the former concept I will go to church. 269 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:29,600 This is where I go to church. Has that restaurant mentality? 270 00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:33,000 That's where I go to receive a service. 271 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,800 That's where I go to get my spiritual help and Aid. 272 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,800 But the latter, when you identify yourself with the 273 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:47,400 church speaks of family, one speaks of activity, the other 274 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,200 speaks of identity. One says, I'm a visitor. 275 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,400 The other one says, I'm a sibling. 276 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,300 I'm a son. I'm a daughter. 277 00:18:56,300 --> 00:18:59,100 I'm a father, I'm a mother. I'm a role here. 278 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,000 Is it church or restaurant to you? 279 00:19:05,300 --> 00:19:11,000 Or is the church a home? Do you see this place as a place 280 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,300 where you receive something? And once you get it you bolt it 281 00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:17,000 to your car, as quickly as possible. 282 00:19:19,100 --> 00:19:21,300 Never touching people. Never understanding what your 283 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:23,000 role is here. I'm not saying if you leave 284 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,800 early today, you don't consider this your home. 285 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,000 I'm speaking about an attitude that says, let me just get come 286 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:32,300 here to get what I need. And I'll come here consistently, 287 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:35,500 maybe but I'll also explore and go here and there. 288 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,500 It's not a restaurant. It's not a restaurant. 289 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:45,500 It's a place where you belong. It's a place that you identify 290 00:19:45,500 --> 00:19:49,300 with it's a people that you serve and membership 291 00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:51,700 establishes, the biblical understanding of the church 292 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:54,800 membership says, this is my family that I am committed to in 293 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,800 this life. As long as God calls me here, 294 00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:02,700 And to be in a family, whether it's here or elsewhere, I can 295 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:06,800 guarantee you will do this. It will provide a meaningfulness 296 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,700 to your Christian Journey. That a visitor will never know. 297 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,900 And so, what church membership does is it draws the line. 298 00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:22,100 Are you a visitor here or is this place church? 299 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:25,900 Are these people the church to you? 300 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:29,000 And I want to speak. Now from this point to 301 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,800 understand the wisdom of it. And the first point, I would 302 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,800 like to make is that membership. Not only makes that clear but 303 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,100 let's get to the details membership. 304 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:41,300 Makes church discipline possible, we just heard in a 305 00:20:41,308 --> 00:20:45,400 Matthew 18, Jesus sets, a high standard for his church. 306 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:49,200 I find it amazing that every time I come to this text, I 307 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,200 realized that Jesus only speaks about the church twice and out 308 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,100 of all the things that he could have taught about the church, 309 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:56,200 out of all the things that you could have mentioned all the 310 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,400 things that he could emphasize. As what he speaks about is how 311 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,100 we ought to confront one another. 312 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:05,700 When we find ourselves in sin, The shows you what he values 313 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,900 that shows you what he really wants us to realize that shows 314 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:11,100 you his heart for the Holiness of his people. 315 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:14,500 That shows me that Jesus believes in Repentance, not just 316 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:18,100 for the loss, but for the saved, It's barely mentioned today. 317 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,600 It's like a it's a word that scares people and it's a very 318 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:27,500 practice that Jesus expects from his people. when you read this, 319 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:32,800 you realize that Jesus On a foundational level of church, 320 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,100 has to understand that there is mutual accountability. 321 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:40,400 How can you do that with a drive-through service? 322 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:42,400 How can you do that? When even churches are 323 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,100 structured in which we don't want to get involved with you, 324 00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:48,300 just come attend, be entertained, received some 325 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:51,900 truths and I will see, you will see you at another time. 326 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:55,100 There are people that are satisfied with that from the 327 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:58,200 leadership standpoint and from the attendees standpoint and yet 328 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:02,200 Christ says, you have brothers and sisters that you do life 329 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,100 with. And the point that I want to 330 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:08,800 bring up is that in church discipline that deals with a 331 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,300 series of actions that have to take place when there's somebody 332 00:22:11,300 --> 00:22:15,500 who's in sin, but refuses to repent of that sin, the final 333 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:19,300 step of that discipline is that, that person who professes to be 334 00:22:19,300 --> 00:22:24,100 a Christian, but contradicts that confession has to be in 335 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:28,300 some way. Removed from a fellowship 336 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:33,000 removed from those who are in that place because Christ 337 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,200 clearly teaches you can't hold onto your sin and hold onto the 338 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:40,600 blessings of my people. Understand how serious that is. 339 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,100 Because what is church membership have to do with this? 340 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:46,500 Well, if there is such thing, as putting someone out asking 341 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,000 somebody, listen, you are affecting the purity of this 342 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,200 church, the testimony of the church. 343 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,900 The health of this church? You are not proving that. 344 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:57,200 You are someone who really believes in the lordship of 345 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:01,300 Jesus Christ. How can that putting out be 346 00:23:01,300 --> 00:23:03,800 possible if there's no understanding of being in? 347 00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:11,100 How can you say you can't be, you can't be in when there's no 348 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,700 clear idea of what it means to be in. 349 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,600 Jesus uses that language. There is an out and there is an 350 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,700 end Paul uses that language and my, am I to judge Outsiders. 351 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:25,400 He says, in First Corinthians 5, I am called. 352 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,800 And you are called to judge those who are inside. 353 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,200 Well, how do you determine who's inside and who's outside? 354 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,200 Where's the barrier? Where's the boundary? 355 00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:36,800 And this is where church membership helps and makes that 356 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:42,200 distinction. It provides that kind of arena 357 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,400 in our understanding. And that's what Jesus meant 358 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:47,500 here. When he said, if a person 359 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:52,300 refuses to repent, then let him be to you as a gentile and a tax 360 00:23:52,300 --> 00:23:53,900 collector. What is a gentile in the eyes of 361 00:23:53,900 --> 00:23:55,700 the Jewish people? Somebody who is outside of the 362 00:23:55,700 --> 00:24:00,200 Covenant, somebody does not share in what Israel had at the 363 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,900 time. Somebody who is outside and what 364 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:06,300 is a tax collector to the Jew. If you were a Jew and you're 365 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:10,400 attached, like your traitor. And what Jesus is saying here, 366 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,800 if somebody refuses to repent, they are traitor to the truth. 367 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,300 And treat them accordingly and there's a fracture there. 368 00:24:18,500 --> 00:24:22,800 There is a surrender of Fellowship because Jesus wants 369 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:27,200 his people once those within his church, to feel the price of 370 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,700 sin. You cannot hold onto your sin, 371 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:34,300 and hold on. To The blessings that come from 372 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:37,800 the family of God, and there are blessings to be a part of the 373 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,600 family of God. But I also want you to see it 374 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,100 this way. Listen to this that without 375 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:47,800 membership, not only is discipline and distinction, 376 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:54,900 diluted but restoration is not as Redemptive Christ in his 377 00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:57,700 wisdom, gives these instructions so that people can realize. 378 00:24:57,700 --> 00:25:01,500 If I go in this direction, I will not know the warmth. 379 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:03,100 I will not know the encouragement, I will not know 380 00:25:03,100 --> 00:25:06,100 the nourishment that comes from the church. 381 00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:10,100 And what this says is if you want to live like Satan is your 382 00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:12,300 master, then go into Satan's domain. 383 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:19,400 But it also does something else. It also gives a sense of reward, 384 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,000 after being restored, when somebody does repent. 385 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,500 There is a shared Mercy, there's a shared forgiveness. 386 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:30,000 There is a shared excitement when a brother or sister who has 387 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,100 been deceived for a while Who has been callous for a while 388 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:37,500 comes back and we joined the attitude of the father who 389 00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:41,700 rejoices when a sinner repents and we know celebration how can 390 00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:44,600 you know that without an understanding of being in? 391 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,400 And without the consequence of being out. 392 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,600 Membership. Lays that format, it lays that 393 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:56,700 framework for the church. But secondly membership 394 00:25:56,700 --> 00:25:59,700 establishes a clear relationship between leaders and laymen. 395 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:14,300 So join with me in Hebrews 13. The New Testament presents a 396 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:16,700 blueprint of how the church should govern itself. 397 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,600 They are responsible for and those two realities are 398 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,400 perfectly merged in. This one. 399 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:44,600 Verse in Hebrews, 13:17 obey your leaders and submit to them 400 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,700 for their keeping, watch over your souls as those who will 401 00:26:48,700 --> 00:26:52,600 have to give an account, let them do this with joy and not 402 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,000 with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 403 00:26:56,900 --> 00:26:59,700 Now this is interesting. You see the charge here for 404 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:05,400 Christians to be able to obey and submit to their leaders 405 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,000 because God has gifted the church. 406 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,200 God has called certain men to be Elders. 407 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:15,500 Who would govern the church in love and in humility and they 408 00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:19,600 are expected to feed the flock. Pray for the flock Council. 409 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:24,100 The flock be by their side, provide wisdom through the 410 00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:29,100 scriptures. And this Authority, that is 411 00:27:29,100 --> 00:27:34,300 exercised. Will be determined by God at the 412 00:27:34,300 --> 00:27:37,900 end of it all to see if they were faithful and exercising 413 00:27:37,900 --> 00:27:40,800 that role. But it's in this command that 414 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,600 you and I see what membership provides a way for the people of 415 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,800 God to identify who their leaders are. 416 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:52,900 This is not saying you know you should have in mind people that 417 00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:55,500 you appreciate who preach and teach the word of God. 418 00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:59,000 This is not encouraging you to have a list of your favorite 419 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,200 conference speakers or theologians it's much more 420 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,900 profound than that. Leaders are not the ones that 421 00:28:05,900 --> 00:28:08,000 you watch on YouTube. Leaders are not the ones that 422 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,200 write books that you love and is and just are encouraged by 423 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,200 leaders. Are the ones that you say. 424 00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:20,400 Here are those here are the set of men that I joyfully obey and 425 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:25,700 Trust. I'm sure you're wondering as 426 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:29,500 you're sitting there today that that word submit is kind of 427 00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:32,700 intimidating. What does it mean to submit? 428 00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:35,100 Well, I can come for you with this truth. 429 00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:37,600 That leaders don't have the Liberty to demand things that 430 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,800 are contrary to God's word. The only Authority that leaders 431 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,400 have is what is in the word of God and to communicate that to 432 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,300 people. But what it does mean, when it 433 00:28:47,308 --> 00:28:50,900 says submit to leadership is that leaders organized the 434 00:28:50,908 --> 00:28:53,300 Ministries, within a local church, the elders have that 435 00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:56,700 Authority, they have that call, they have that responsibility, 436 00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:59,500 through the wisdom of God's word. 437 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:03,000 And what the author is saying here, is that the members should 438 00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:08,300 willingly, and joyfully submit to support, and to work with 439 00:29:08,300 --> 00:29:10,600 them by yielding to their instruction. 440 00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:14,400 And that's why he goes on to say, let them do this with joy 441 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,300 and not with groaning. Don't make their job more 442 00:29:17,300 --> 00:29:24,300 difficult than it needs to be. There's an attitude that says as 443 00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:25,600 long as God has placed these out. 444 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,400 There's I discerned that there God-fearing men and I trust that 445 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,300 God is leading them and I will pray for God to give them wisdom 446 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:35,300 and guidance so that they can they can guide me and my family 447 00:29:35,300 --> 00:29:39,800 and my brothers and my sisters. And this is why membership is 448 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,100 not popular because it demands things like this and we want our 449 00:29:43,100 --> 00:29:46,700 independence. Who are you to tell me what to 450 00:29:46,700 --> 00:29:51,900 do? I'm just reading the text. but 451 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:55,900 at the same time, look at the second part of the verse For, 452 00:29:55,900 --> 00:29:58,000 they are keeping, watch over your souls as those who have to 453 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:03,200 give an account. Tread lightly, when you 454 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:05,900 entertain being a leader in God's house. 455 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,700 Because there is a severe responsibility with it. 456 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,300 And God will look at these men who are Elders, who are called 457 00:30:15,300 --> 00:30:19,300 by him, and he was say, what did you do with your position with 458 00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:24,200 your Authority? but this implies that there are 459 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,900 souls, that leaders are particularly responsible, for 460 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:33,200 our pastors, responsible for The Universal Church, our elders, 461 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:38,100 supposed to give their same energy and focus and service to 462 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,500 anybody and everybody who is to be a Christian who claims to be 463 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,500 a No-No, our elders, even within a local church in this 464 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:48,400 technology age supposed to give that same special attention to 465 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:53,400 even those who watch online consistently and Older support? 466 00:30:54,200 --> 00:31:01,600 No, they're not. because first Peter 52 tells us when the 467 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:06,000 Apostle Peter instructs, the elders, Shepherd, the flock of 468 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:13,200 God among you, Not just anybody who's a Christian. 469 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,700 But those who are in close proximity those. 470 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:20,900 Who say, I recognize your leadership, I recognize that God 471 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:23,200 has called you, and I'm willing to join with you. 472 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:25,600 Those are whom the shepherds are in charge of. 473 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,300 But here's the question. How is a leader supposed to 474 00:31:27,308 --> 00:31:31,800 know? And so let's ask these questions 475 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:36,800 together congregation church who are your leaders? 476 00:31:39,300 --> 00:31:41,300 Who are your late-night, your favorite pastors and 477 00:31:41,300 --> 00:31:43,700 theologians? Who are your leaders? 478 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,700 Who are the ones that you say, these are the men that will 479 00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:50,400 receive my spiritual nourishment from. 480 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:54,100 Not not exclusively, but these are the men that I trust to wash 481 00:31:54,100 --> 00:31:56,200 the word. Over me to couch me to preach to 482 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,100 me, to pray for me to support me. 483 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:02,600 These are mostly trust my family to be under. 484 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,800 These are the men that I will pray for support. 485 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:09,600 These are the men that I will not be stubborn with and 486 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,300 self-will. These are the men that I say, 487 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,200 let's pray and this is not encouraging, Yes. 488 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,100 Men, it's not encouraging just people to keep their mouths shut 489 00:32:17,100 --> 00:32:18,600 and whatever you say you it goes. 490 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,900 No, not necessarily, but there's a partnership there. 491 00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:26,600 And my question is to you, who are those men in your life? 492 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:32,000 and at the same time, this verse is pointed to leaders who are 493 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:38,100 the souls That you oversee. who are the ones that the elders 494 00:32:38,100 --> 00:32:45,300 have MBC have to dedicate their energy to the prayers toward 495 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:49,000 their service, their spiritual gifts. 496 00:32:50,900 --> 00:32:54,800 You see when God instructs this, there's a wisdom and there is 497 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,100 manifold wisdom. And here's one of them that this 498 00:32:58,100 --> 00:33:02,100 helps Channel pastors to be more effective. 499 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,300 And to reserve what God has deposited in them for a 500 00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:11,200 particular localized. People is so in this verse, 501 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,300 there is a demand from both sides. 502 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:19,800 I have to be able to identify the elders in my life and the 503 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:25,300 elders are supposed to identify who the Sheep is. and it's not 504 00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:27,800 everybody, it's not even everybody who comes into a 505 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:35,700 building to hear a sermon, it's not It's a mutual agreement so 506 00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:38,700 you see membership helps with that. 507 00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:42,100 It is cyst that it makes that more possible with a form of 508 00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:46,300 Covenant that says, as a member, I discern that you are called by 509 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:49,500 God to be an elder and I willingly choose to support your 510 00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:52,500 leadership at with a submissive attitude for the glory of God 511 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:57,000 while also committing my gifts and resources to these fellow 512 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:02,000 brothers and sisters of mine as my primary Arena of service. 513 00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:07,800 And then the elders looked back. And they say, as God's ordained 514 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:12,199 leaders, we with humility and in the fear of the Lord, we promise 515 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,000 to lovingly serve and guide you to intercede for you to 516 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:20,600 encourage you to correct you And to labor in the study of God's 517 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,500 word to feed you, for your good, and for God's glory through your 518 00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:28,900 life is in this beautiful. Isn't this so much more profound 519 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:33,100 and meaningful than just going somewhere to hear a sermon. 520 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:36,100 And when you're bored of that preacher, you go to another 521 00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:37,699 place. And because the worship is 522 00:34:37,699 --> 00:34:39,699 better here and it's not as strong there. 523 00:34:39,699 --> 00:34:42,500 I'm going to, that's not the way it was designed to be. 524 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:45,699 And pastors. When I called to preach to 525 00:34:45,699 --> 00:34:51,100 audiences and large crowds and boast about how many numbers 526 00:34:51,100 --> 00:34:54,000 they have, they are going to be held accountable for specific 527 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:57,300 Souls, that the Holy Spirit has ordained them to overlook and 528 00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:02,300 watch. And so of membership says 529 00:35:02,300 --> 00:35:05,300 anything. It says that the people are 530 00:35:05,300 --> 00:35:08,200 serious about obeying God, in the leaders are serious because 531 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:09,600 they know they will stand before. 532 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:15,800 God, I knew of a pastor. Many years ago. 533 00:35:17,900 --> 00:35:21,800 Who is the lead pastor and he would travel most of the year to 534 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,400 preach at conferences and to travel the world. 535 00:35:25,900 --> 00:35:30,300 While neglecting his church doesn't matter how sound his 536 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:33,100 teaching may have been this matter how well sought after he 537 00:35:33,100 --> 00:35:40,100 is that his unfaithfulness That is unfaithfulness to the role of 538 00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:43,200 a Shepherd as an Under Shepherd, in the Church of Jesus Christ. 539 00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:49,500 And so there is an understand. As you heard earlier, there is a 540 00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:51,800 discernment that's provided through this. 541 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,200 Who in this place is actually serious about being a follower 542 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,600 of Jesus Christ who we want to know. 543 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:03,000 We want to know who just enjoys hearing messages and maybe some 544 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:08,100 snacks downstairs and who says I actually want to serve God and 545 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:13,200 serve his people. And I don't want to, I want to 546 00:36:13,207 --> 00:36:16,900 want one area of my life where I'm I'm not sure if I'm actually 547 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:19,500 following it, we want to know and that's why things like 548 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:24,100 baptism is important. Do you actually want to obey 549 00:36:24,100 --> 00:36:26,300 Christ? Are you willing to do anything 550 00:36:26,300 --> 00:36:29,000 to love him and to to follow him? 551 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:33,300 Tell us what the gospel is. We want to know how did Jesus 552 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:40,800 Christ save you? Because in part, Membership. 553 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,600 Actually is a public affirmation of someone's authentic, faith. 554 00:36:46,100 --> 00:36:50,500 How can you say that? I didn't say membership gets you 555 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,700 into heaven. Or kicks you out. 556 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:57,600 I said membership is a way for a church Community. 557 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,300 Say, we know that this person believes the gospel, they 558 00:37:01,300 --> 00:37:04,300 understand, the gospel, and they have been transformed by the 559 00:37:04,300 --> 00:37:07,700 gospel. And we affirm that and there 560 00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:10,700 were church discipline does at the final stages. 561 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,200 We have evidence to believe that. 562 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,400 This person's confession may not be true. 563 00:37:17,300 --> 00:37:20,200 Because they are not repenting, they're not humbling themselves, 564 00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:23,000 they're not surround. So, now, as Jesus said, tell it 565 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,800 to the church who who's the church? 566 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,000 The just people that come in? No, no. 567 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,100 Tell it to those who have joined this localized body and plead 568 00:37:32,100 --> 00:37:34,800 for them to plead for that person, that brother that sister 569 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:40,200 to repent and to come to Christ. You can't do that. 570 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:43,600 If you have a surface level structure that just has 571 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:47,400 attendance, how do we reach out? How do we call the church 572 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,500 together? How do we say we need now a 573 00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:52,700 collective effort to reach that lost sheep. 574 00:37:54,900 --> 00:38:02,200 Membership helps with that. But lastly, we see another 575 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,000 important component of membership. 576 00:38:04,900 --> 00:38:07,000 You've heard that membership makes church discipline 577 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:08,900 discipline possible. You heard that membership 578 00:38:08,900 --> 00:38:11,300 establishes? A relationship between the 579 00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:14,000 leaders and the Layman. And lastly, among many other 580 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:17,600 things, membership sets the table for Mutual edification. 581 00:38:19,100 --> 00:38:23,900 It sets the table for Mutual edification as much as people 582 00:38:23,900 --> 00:38:26,700 should know who their leaders are and leaders should be able 583 00:38:26,700 --> 00:38:29,600 to describe this thing which who their service is dedicated to 584 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,500 membership. Also solidifies our mutual 585 00:38:33,500 --> 00:38:39,700 service to fellow brothers and sisters. when you read the New 586 00:38:39,700 --> 00:38:43,300 Testament and you see these commands toward one another, 587 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,300 Pray for one another build up. One, another encourage one 588 00:38:47,300 --> 00:38:52,700 another. That indicates a specific 589 00:38:52,700 --> 00:38:55,800 focused effort. The holy spirit is not speaking 590 00:38:55,800 --> 00:39:00,900 in generalities here. if you have been deposited with certain 591 00:39:00,900 --> 00:39:06,900 gifts and abilities, then the Lord expects you to Target them 592 00:39:06,900 --> 00:39:13,700 towards someone or or group of people, in fact and to say that 593 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,800 our gifts can be loose and they can be free roaming and they can 594 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,400 be undefined. It's contrary to the Bible. 595 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,900 So you're in Hebrews. Now let's go to another 596 00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:34,600 familiar, passage and 10:24. And let us consider how to stir 597 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:36,800 up one another to love and good works. 598 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,900 Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some but 599 00:39:41,900 --> 00:39:45,500 encouraging one, another and all the more as you see the day 600 00:39:45,500 --> 00:39:50,200 Drawing Near, okay? You are hearing very familiar 601 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:53,400 passage of scripture. And here's another one. 602 00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:59,100 And this set of verses is often quoted to show The Importance of 603 00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:02,200 Being in a physical church and to not neglect attendance. 604 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:05,400 But it is Much more significant and serious than that. 605 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:09,500 The instruction here does not speak about going to a sacred 606 00:40:09,500 --> 00:40:13,000 building that has pews that has a large cross behind the 607 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:17,600 preacher know. It is speaking about a heartfelt 608 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:22,300 partnership and involvement to a specific group of Christians. 609 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:27,300 Listen, he says, do not neglect to meet together, neglect to 610 00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:31,000 meet together, implying. What there's consistency. 611 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:37,900 There's consistency and just like you have a choice about who 612 00:40:37,900 --> 00:40:40,400 you will obey and submit to as leadership. 613 00:40:40,500 --> 00:40:45,800 You also have a choice. Of who you will walk this 614 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:49,500 journey with. The same way, we are each called 615 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:51,500 to have localized in particular leaders. 616 00:40:51,700 --> 00:40:55,300 You also are supposed to have a localized in particular group of 617 00:40:55,300 --> 00:41:01,200 people that you congregate with. On a regular basis. 618 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:07,100 So, this, this doesn't encourage you to just show up somewhere. 619 00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:10,000 No. It actually encourages you to 620 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:16,200 call a place home. This is where I go and and God 621 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:23,200 has called me to be here. Consistently and if I fail to do 622 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:29,900 so consistently, if I fail to be present with my gifts with my 623 00:41:29,900 --> 00:41:34,500 resources, with my time, with my energy, with my wisdom, with my 624 00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:38,900 prayers, then I'm not being faithful as a member of Church 625 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:43,900 Christ Church. And this membership cons of 626 00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:49,900 invites people to decide. These are the ones that I will 627 00:41:49,900 --> 00:41:54,000 serve. These are the ones that I will 628 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:58,300 determine to encourage with my presence, my gifts, my service, 629 00:41:58,300 --> 00:42:02,500 my words, my singing, my hospitality, and my consecrated 630 00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:09,000 life. And there's so much more that 631 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:13,000 can be said. But let me just ask you again. 632 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:14,400 Where is that? Whether it's here or another 633 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,900 faithful Bible preaching. Bible-believing place, where is 634 00:42:17,900 --> 00:42:22,100 that? To you, who are those? 635 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:29,000 That you're committed to. And so membership draws out your 636 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:34,100 gifts and it helps you be able to be more concentrated and then 637 00:42:34,100 --> 00:42:36,400 being concentrated more effective. 638 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:41,600 As you do, what God's called you to do in that place with those 639 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:44,500 people. I'm sure there are many. 640 00:42:45,900 --> 00:42:48,000 Many thoughts running through people's minds. 641 00:42:49,500 --> 00:42:52,100 And one common thought, and one common temptation. 642 00:42:53,300 --> 00:42:56,500 Would people have a hesitation about this idea of being joined 643 00:42:56,500 --> 00:43:01,500 to a churches? I have just been hurt way too 644 00:43:01,500 --> 00:43:07,400 much. I've been disappointed one too 645 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:11,300 many times. Man structure you with something 646 00:43:11,300 --> 00:43:17,100 may, I give you some some wisdom from God's word as you consider 647 00:43:17,100 --> 00:43:20,900 as you pray for Lee. See God to know where it is that 648 00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:25,100 he and who it is, that he has called you to be walking. 649 00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:28,100 This journey with, do not expect the congregation filled with 650 00:43:28,100 --> 00:43:34,100 seraphim and cherubim. Because you will never find a 651 00:43:34,100 --> 00:43:37,100 church on this side of Glory. That will be perfect. 652 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,400 But if you are going to do anything, I would I would say 653 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:49,300 this study the leadership. Study the leadership. 654 00:43:50,500 --> 00:43:54,100 What do I mean by that? You're not going to have a 655 00:43:54,107 --> 00:43:55,300 church. That's going to be tailor-made 656 00:43:55,300 --> 00:43:56,600 for you. Remember, we're not a 657 00:43:56,607 --> 00:43:57,600 restaurant. We're home. 658 00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:04,400 But you do have a responsibility because you are making a choice 659 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:08,400 of who you will be serving with and who you will be trusting. 660 00:44:09,100 --> 00:44:12,500 So study the leadership, how do they handle God's word? 661 00:44:13,700 --> 00:44:16,100 How do they preach it? How do they teach it? 662 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:21,600 How do they apply it? And in from that place, look at 663 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:25,500 the people who sit under God's word, being declared from that 664 00:44:25,500 --> 00:44:30,600 leadership and ask yourself do this people tremble at God's 665 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:33,700 word. Do they tremble? 666 00:44:33,700 --> 00:44:37,300 At God's word? Is there a reference? 667 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:44,300 Is there a seriousness? Talk to them after the service. 668 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:50,200 Get to know them a little bit, ask people's testimonies and 669 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:53,100 figure out what kind of people make up this church. 670 00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:59,400 You have every right to do that. But don't expect Flawless 671 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:03,000 Saints. Who have somehow tapped into 672 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:07,700 glorification before the resurrection. because I want to 673 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:13,200 tell you this, if you're willing if you're willing to love God by 674 00:45:13,200 --> 00:45:17,600 being part of his church, you know what God will do because 675 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:24,000 God desires to place you somewhere to mature you Timothy 676 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:27,300 material, you and your gentleness, in your mercy, and 677 00:45:27,300 --> 00:45:29,900 your forgiveness and your peacemaking. 678 00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:34,200 In your listening rather than speaking. 679 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:43,800 He wants to stretch your soul. He wants to actually exercise 680 00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:47,300 what you sow, love and sing about and profess and that's 681 00:45:47,300 --> 00:45:52,600 unconditional love. And the primary place where God 682 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,200 will do that in your life, is in the local church. 683 00:45:57,900 --> 00:46:01,800 As she invites you and I use that word invite. 684 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:05,800 But actually commands is the better word as he commands you 685 00:46:05,800 --> 00:46:10,900 and I to come into this place. It's not just so you have a 686 00:46:10,900 --> 00:46:15,200 check in your conscience that this is where I call home, more 687 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:16,900 than that. This is where God is going to 688 00:46:16,908 --> 00:46:21,900 sanctify. You And this is where blind 689 00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:24,600 spots in your life are going to be exposed for your good. 690 00:46:25,300 --> 00:46:28,100 And this is where you will know a comfort and you will know an 691 00:46:28,100 --> 00:46:31,400 encouragement, you know, a building in a stirring from 692 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:37,100 other people who are walking the same Journey with you. and if 693 00:46:37,100 --> 00:46:40,100 you're going to avoid being a part of the church because of 694 00:46:40,100 --> 00:46:46,400 hurt because of disappointment, And just say imma I'm just going 695 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:50,600 to preach or listen to a preacher rather who speaks well 696 00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:52,800 and run out of the door as quick as I can. 697 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:56,800 You will not know how God can chisel Christ into your 698 00:46:56,800 --> 00:46:59,600 character. You will not know how God can 699 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:04,500 mold you and melt you. Because his primary means 700 00:47:04,500 --> 00:47:06,400 through that. Yes, is your personal Devotion 701 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:08,600 to the word of God, but I was even thinking about this other 702 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:09,700 day. What's the point? 703 00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:13,000 What's the point? If I, if I shut myself in my 704 00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:17,800 room and I memorize Ephesians, about loving one, another 705 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,400 forgiving one, another, if I'm not going to put into practice, 706 00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:23,500 what's the point? If I'm, if I'm just a sermon 707 00:47:23,500 --> 00:47:26,700 junkie and I listened to this preacher and that preacher and 708 00:47:26,700 --> 00:47:29,900 over and over again, and it doesn't translate through my 709 00:47:29,900 --> 00:47:31,500 life. And where's the supposed to 710 00:47:31,500 --> 00:47:33,200 translate? Here. 711 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:38,200 With other imperfect people who are striving on to Perfection 712 00:47:38,700 --> 00:47:41,100 with other people who want to be conformed to the image of 713 00:47:41,100 --> 00:47:44,600 Christ. And as in this place by God's 714 00:47:44,600 --> 00:47:47,200 design that those things that he wants to. 715 00:47:47,200 --> 00:47:50,700 So radiates from your life, but we possible. 716 00:47:50,700 --> 00:47:54,600 But I have to say this is a very simple message, but I have to 717 00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:57,300 say it because Pete many people are not convinced of this that 718 00:47:57,300 --> 00:47:59,700 can never happen if this is a restaurant to you. 719 00:48:01,900 --> 00:48:07,600 And not at home. It's very easy, it's very easy 720 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:09,700 to not see the imperfections of people or your own 721 00:48:09,700 --> 00:48:12,100 imperfections. If you just come one hour and a 722 00:48:12,100 --> 00:48:16,400 half, pay for your food and walk out and give a smile to your 723 00:48:16,400 --> 00:48:18,300 waitress and she treats, you really nice. 724 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:25,000 But join a family move into a house. 725 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:29,300 Filled with others. And see what will come out of 726 00:48:29,300 --> 00:48:32,200 you and see what will come out of them. 727 00:48:33,900 --> 00:48:37,200 But what membership does is no matter what as long as it is in 728 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:39,200 line with the word of God, as long as the people have a 729 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:42,100 humility and a hunger for this and acknowledge their weakness 730 00:48:42,100 --> 00:48:45,100 and their flaws. I will commit myself here. 731 00:48:47,100 --> 00:48:50,600 To grow to encourage others, to grow until God calls me. 732 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:53,700 I'll swear because this isn't some exclusive thing where 733 00:48:53,800 --> 00:48:55,600 you're never allowed to leave. Once you say, yes. 734 00:48:57,400 --> 00:48:59,100 Well, there's so many things that can be said. 735 00:48:59,600 --> 00:49:02,600 There's so many things that can be expounded upon, but as we 736 00:49:02,600 --> 00:49:07,600 prepared to say now let's see who will join the church if God 737 00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:09,400 hasn't called you here. That's okay. 738 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:13,300 We're not the only church but of God does. 739 00:49:15,900 --> 00:49:18,200 The leadership is convinced through the word of God that 740 00:49:18,200 --> 00:49:25,600 this will this will inspire a health and a fruitfulness and a 741 00:49:25,600 --> 00:49:31,000 mutual building up. Like we haven't seen before. and 742 00:49:31,000 --> 00:49:33,200 we are excited to know how God will move your heart, whether 743 00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:36,500 it's here or elsewhere, and whether it is here or elsewhere, 744 00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:41,700 just know this don't just attend join. 745 00:49:43,300 --> 00:49:46,100 Don't just use Matthew 16 to say you are part of the Church of 746 00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:48,500 Jesus Christ because of a confession, which is 747 00:49:48,600 --> 00:49:51,900 foundational. But moved to Matthew 18 and say 748 00:49:51,900 --> 00:49:55,000 these are my brothers and sisters that I am accountable to 749 00:49:55,000 --> 00:49:56,400 and that I will hold accountable. 750 00:49:58,100 --> 00:50:00,800 And we trust that the Holy Spirit the same Holy Spirit. 751 00:50:02,300 --> 00:50:05,400 Who fills us to love. Christ is the same one who fills 752 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:08,500 us to love the bride. Let's pray. 753 00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:33,500 Again Lord, we come before you and we acknowledge that you are 754 00:50:33,500 --> 00:50:37,000 building this place. You are building your people. 755 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:42,200 And Lord, we are comforted by the truth that you said I will 756 00:50:42,200 --> 00:50:48,500 build my church. And no one can stop you. but we 757 00:50:48,500 --> 00:50:53,500 submit to your headship unless the Lord builds a house, those 758 00:50:53,500 --> 00:50:57,500 who labor labor in vain and then we thank you for this next 759 00:50:57,500 --> 00:50:59,700 building. Block for this ministry. 760 00:51:01,800 --> 00:51:05,000 And Lord, we ask that our hearts would be impressed by the 761 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:07,900 revelation. Of the difference between 762 00:51:07,900 --> 00:51:13,800 attending and joining. I've just eating. 763 00:51:14,900 --> 00:51:19,100 But also participating and sharing in the responsibilities. 764 00:51:21,600 --> 00:51:26,100 And so God we just ask you to please help us be reminded about 765 00:51:26,800 --> 00:51:30,700 what is asked of us. If we were to be identified with 766 00:51:30,700 --> 00:51:35,600 your church, And Lord, we just pray that you would give every 767 00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:38,500 single person in this place, the wisdom and the clarity to know 768 00:51:38,600 --> 00:51:42,100 whether it is here or elsewhere, Lord as much as we have 769 00:51:42,100 --> 00:51:46,100 emphasized in in your presence today, the importance of the 770 00:51:46,100 --> 00:51:48,800 local church, we also recognize The Universal Church. 771 00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:53,100 That your people are stablished in the four corners of the 772 00:51:53,100 --> 00:51:56,000 Earth. And as long as they love this 773 00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:58,500 word, preach, this word submit to this word and they are our 774 00:51:58,500 --> 00:52:04,300 brothers and they are extended family. and so Lord, with with 775 00:52:04,300 --> 00:52:08,400 these truths being reminded, And being rehearsed. 776 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:12,700 This this afternoon, help us now, put it into action, help. 777 00:52:12,700 --> 00:52:15,200 The leadership of this church be faithful in their roles of 778 00:52:15,200 --> 00:52:18,400 serving, the people of God. Help the people of God in this 779 00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:22,500 church partner with the leadership so that we can 780 00:52:22,500 --> 00:52:26,700 advance the gospel together and that we can display the 781 00:52:26,700 --> 00:52:30,100 character of Christ as members of one body. 782 00:52:32,300 --> 00:52:35,500 So give us strength and give us Grace. 783 00:52:35,500 --> 00:52:39,100 And these next few weeks we ask in Jesus name. 784 00:52:39,400 --> 00:52:42,000 Amen, we stand in Worship the Lord together.