Week Three - The Body of Christ

The church is comprised of saved and baptized people committed to living for Jesus.

“But we must be careful about telling non-Christians the theological lie that they, in the most profound sense, belong. In the most profound sense they don’t, and we serve them if we tell them that. We should show unbelievers that there is something more than horizontal community or a vague sense of God’s presence in our congregations.”

The church is the body of Christ.

It is Christ’s body to carry out the mission of the church.

The mission of the church is the Great Commission.

Go • Win • Baptize • Teach

The church’s mission is both outward focused and inward focused.

The church reaches out by sharing the Gospel and bringing people to Jesus.

The church reaches in by teaching and maturing Christians in the faith.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:Ephesians 4:11-13

The church provides a people and a place for:

Corporate worship Corporate prayer Bible preaching and teaching Discipleship and continued spiritual growth Fellowship Accountability “In joining a church, we are asking our brothers and sisters to hold us accountable to live according to what we speak with our mouths. We ask the brothers and sisters around us to encourage us, sometimes by reminding us of ways that we have seen God work in our lives and other times by challenging us when we may be moving away from obeying him.”

Community Godly counsel and wisdom Edification, Exhortation and Rebuke Physical, emotional and spiritual assistance The exercise of spiritual gifts

Involvement in the church can be viewed from a consumer mindset or an investor mindset.

Many people want the benefits of the church without the commitment to the body of Christ.

Membership is a voluntary submission to the body of Christ and the leadership of the church.

Membership is an intentional commitment.

“Do you want to know that your new life is real? Commit yourself to a local group of saved sinners. Try to love them. Don’t just do it for three weeks. Don’t just do it for six months. Do it for years. And I think you’ll find out, and others will. too, whether or not you love God. The truth will show itself.”

Membership Requirements Service Opportunities Responsibilities of Members Responsibilities of Pastors Shepherding and encouragement Church Discipline

The body of Christ must be holy.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.Matthew 18:15-17

When a member rebels against God in open sin, we go to that person.

If they refuse to repent, we take one or two more.

If they refuse to repent, we tell the church membership and the person is treated as an unsaved person.

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.1 Corinthians 5:2-11

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.2 Thessalonians 3:6

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.1 Timothy 1:20

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.1 Timothy 5:20

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.2 Timothy 3:5

We Utilize Church Discipline

For the Good of the Person Disciplined For the Good of Other Christians, as They See the Danger of Sin For the Health of the Church as a Whole For the Corporate Witness of the Church For the Glory of God, as We Reflect His Holiness

The Church is a Family

God is our Father. Jesus is our brother. We are brothers and sisters in Jesus.