Why Should I Join the Church? - Cameron Jungles - 10-6-2013 AM

“Why Should I Join the Church?” (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/October 6, 2013)

Main Idea
The New Testament expectation is that Christians will commit to belong and serve as part of a local congregation of believers.

1. Church membership is assumed from the Bible’s teaching on church discipline.

"If your brother or sister sins, goand point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.  (Matt. 18:15, NIV)
But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'  (Matt. 18:16, NIV)
If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  (Matt. 18:17, NIV)

But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (1 Co. 5:11, NIV)
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  (1 Co. 5:12, NIV)
God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."  (1 Co. 5:13, NIV)

2. Church membership is assumed by the meaning of the word “join.”

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
(Acts 5:12, NIV)
No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. (Acts 5:13, NIV)

3. Church membership is assumed by the meaning of the phrase “the whole church.”

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?  (1 Co. 14:23, NIV)

4. Church membership is assumed by the instructions to elders regarding pastoral oversight of the church.

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Tim. 3:1, NIV)
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
(1 Tim. 3:4, NIV)
(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)  (1 Tim. 3:5, NIV)

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: (1 Pet. 5:1, NIV)
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; (1 Pet. 5:2, NIV)
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:3, NIV)
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.  (1 Pet. 5:4, NIV)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Heb. 13:17, NIV)

5. Church membership is assumed by the biblical metaphors used to describe the church.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Co. 12:12, NIV)
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  (1 Co. 12:20, NIV)
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  (1 Co. 12:25, NIV)
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  (1 Co. 12:26, NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Co. 12:27, NIV)

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  (Rom. 12:4, NIV)
so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  (Rom. 12:5, NIV)

6. Church membership is assumed by the numbers used to describe those who became part of the church. 

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41, NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42, NIV)

7. Church membership is assumed based on the existence of other rolls and lists for specific groups in the church.

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, (1 Tim. 5:9, NIV)
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. (1 Tim. 5:10, NIV)
As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.
(1 Tim. 5:11, NIV)

8. Church membership is assumed based on the fact that the universal body of Christ has a membership roll.

Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.  (Phil. 4:3, NIV)

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.  (Rev. 20:11, NIV)
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (Rev. 20:12, NIV)
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.  (Rev. 20:13, NIV)
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev. 20:14, NIV)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15, NIV)

Main Idea
The New Testament expectation is that Christians will commit to belong and serve as part of a local congregation of believers.