Message by Mike Laughrun.
Membership Promises
Part 2
What does faithful church membership look like?
(41) So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (42) They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:41-42
The New Testament knows no Christians floating around in “just me and Jesus” land. Believers belong to churches.
Kevin DeYoung
PRINCIPLES…PRACTICES…PROMISES
We are defined as a church by the foundational PRINCIPLES that ground us, the core PRACTICES that guide us and the membership PROMISES we make to one another as God’s family.
God’s Glory
We exist for Him
WE PROMISE…to do all as a church to the glory of God.
I PROMISE…to do all as a Jesus follower to the glory of God.
Biblical Authority
The Bible is the ultimate source of truth
WE PROMISE…to affirm, teach, and adhere to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters.
I PROMISE…to affirm and submit to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters.
Principle #3
Gospel Sufficiency
Jesus is enough.
Who Jesus is.
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … (14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1, 14
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
1 John 2:1
What Jesus has done.
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Gospel Sufficiency
Jesus is enough.
We Promise
to make much of Jesus, keeping Him as head of our church and calling people to abide in Him.
I Promise
to abide in my Savior Jesus by resting in His saving and sanctifying work through faith and pursuing Him through regular Bible study, prayer, and the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines.
Together we ABIDE in Christ
We rest in our position in Christ.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
We are set apart to pursue Christ.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
(12) So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
We Promise
to make much of Jesus, keeping Him as head of our church and calling people to abide in Him.
I Promise
to pursue holiness by the grace of God, living a life of obedience to Scripture as an ambassador of Christ and representative of His church.
(15) but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; (16) because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” … (18) knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
1 Peter 1:15-16, 18
Principle #4
The Church
We are the body of Christ.
(4) For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, (5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:4-5
(22) And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:22-23
We Promise
to gather to worship with you.
I Promise
to gather with my church family to worship.
We GATHER for worship.
(24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25
Public worship occurs when the people of God assemble for the express purpose of giving to the Lord the glory due His name and enjoying the joy of His promised special presence with His own people.
Ligon Duncan
…and when we come together we constitute a place of worship where God manifests Himself in ways that He cannot manifest Himself when we are alone. Believers become the living temple of God, offering to Him spiritual sacrifices not possible anywhere other than in the assembly of the redeemed church.
John MacArthur
What takes place when we gather?
1. Preaching
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2
2. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
(20) When you come together, …”This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:20, 25-26 ESV
3. Prayer
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men…
1 Timothy 2:1
4. Reading Scripture
Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching
1 Timothy 4:13
5. Giving
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
6. Singing
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
How do we GATHER well?
Be Present
The first step to gathering well: Gather!
Be Early
Prioritize the gathering with your time. Don’t be late. It is a distraction and hindrance to your worship and limits your connection and ministry to others.
Be Prepared
Plan and ready yourself to set aside your stuff and turn your affections to God. Bible reading, prayer, meditation, singing, fasting, and praising are all good ways to prepare.
Be Uncomfortable
Sit with different people. Sing loud. Challenge routines. Gather on mission
Be Responsive
Don’t just be hearers of the word, be doers. Pray. Ponder. Repent. Change. Practice. Gather to be transformed.
How can we do this?
(10) And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. … (19) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, … (21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
… (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:10-23
(24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25