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“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”
Romans 16:1
The series
Messages on questions our church family asked to hear preached, taken straight from the Scriptures.
Membership is not “in the Bible.”
Jesus’ teachings and the early Christian church serve as the biblical foundation for church membership.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Matthew 16:18
Acts 2:42–47 lays the groundwork for church membership.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.Acts 2:42-47
1 Corinthians 12:27 Paul highlights the bond between believers in the passage, comparing it to being a part of a single, cohesive body.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.1 Corinthians 12:27
Hebrews 10:24–25 emphasizes the value of participating actively in a local Christian community.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Hebrews 10:24-25
Membership clarifies the distinction that redemption creates.
Local church membership is not the only way we clarify the distinction between the world and the church, but it is one way we make it visible and plain.
God models membership.
Just two months after God redeems his people, he counts them.
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.Numbers 1:1-3
God himself practices and models for us a form of membership. And God continues to practice membership in the form of “the book of life”.
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.Philippians 4:3
Practicing local church membership is one way we “be imitators of God”. Maybe this is one reason the early church practiced it, too.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;Ephesians 5:1
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Acts 2:41
Membership applies biblical metaphors for the church.
The Bible sees local churches as flocks of sheep.
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.1 Peter 5:3
Paul tells Timothy that the local church in Ephesus is like a family with members.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.1 Timothy 3:15
Membership allows for discipline.
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 18:17
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 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.1 Corinthians 5:1-5
Is Jesus telling the disciples that anytime any professing Christian remains unrepentant, that every Christian in the world should be told about it? No, he’s referring to the local church.
The purpose of church discipline is restoration not condemnation.
Membership facilitates the pastoral accountability to God.
Our church leaders “will have to give an account” for how they watch over our souls. But how can they give an account if they don’t know whose souls they’re responsible to oversee?
Certain people are allotted by God’s providence to be in a particular church, under a particular pastor, at a particular time.
These people made up “the flock among you” which the pastors were to shepherd. They weren’t to shepherd every flock. Just the flock “among you”.
Membership expresses love and obedience to Jesus.
By calling yourself a Christian, you’re saying that you submit to the kingship and authority of Jesus. But Jesus has delegated some of his authority to his under-shepherds, pastors and elders of local churches.
In Acts 9 Jesus identifies himself so closely with the local church that he considers himself persecuted when the local church is persecuted. What about you? Do you identify yourself with the local church?
Membership facilitates ministry.
To bear one another’s burdens, spur one another on to love and good deeds, consider each other more important than yourselves, bear with one another in love, exhort one another, and all the rest, it seems we need to be together in the same place.
In joining a church you make visible your commitment to Christ and his people.
Being committed to the local church makes powerful statement in a low-commitment culture.
Even though it is against our prideful nature, church membership keeps us accountable to each other, to the pastor, and ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joining the church will help your pastor be a more faithful under-shepherd because he can’t do all that needs to be done alone.
Joining the church gives you an opportunity to show others how serious you are about being a follower of Jesus Christ.
1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. 11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Romans 16
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