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Key verse: Matthew 16:18 "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."
Biblical truth: Because Jesus formed it and because of the Great Commission that He gave it, every born again believer should want to be an active member and participant in a local New Testament church. It is the body of Christ and it is His organism for carrying out His work in this world.
What is a New Testament Church?
The church is a group of called out believers that are organized to carry out the Great Commission. The study of how the church functions is a study of how Jesus led His disciples and how the New Testament church leaders and writers of the epistles instructed the churches what to do.
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ has the following characteristics.
a. It is a local body of baptized believers.
b. This local body of baptized believers is associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel...
c. They observe the two ordinances of Christ.
i. Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41) Baptism is part of the believer's profession of what Jesus has done in his life. It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and the believer. The believer now walks in newness of life.
ii. The Lord's Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-34) The Lord's Supper is a time of reflection on what Jesus did for us already (his death and shed blood are symbolized with the bread and juice) and also to recognize that He is coming again for us. It is also a time of self-examination.
d. The body is committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word.
e. They seek to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.
f. This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
g. In such a congregation members are equally responsible.
h. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
According to Hebrews 10:25 the church is an assembly. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.
a. A building is never a church. The New Testament church didn't even have dedicated buildings for their meetings. We are actually the temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
b. The church is referred to as the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:27, 12-13, 17-27)
i. Each member (part) of the body of believers has a different function - each ministering to each other's needs as a whole.
ii. No one member can function alone - we need each other! When a Christian is not committed to others, especially to other believers, then they are hindering Christ's work in the world today.
iii. Each member's contribution is vitally important to the well-being of the entire body of believers - we can't go it alone!
iv. A properly functioning body operates as a single unit - unified.
c. Jesus is the Head of the church. (Ephesians 5:23)
How important is church membership? How important is church participation? How do I rate in both areas?
How Do I Become a Member?
The church is a group of called out believers that are organized to carry out the Great Commission. The study of how the church functions is a study of how Jesus led His disciples and how the New Testament church leaders and writers of the epistles instructed the churches what to do.
Membership in a New Testament church is clearly defined in the Bible.
a. You must be a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! (Acts 2:47, Colossians 1:1-2)
b. To be a member you must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:41-42)
c. You must be determined to live out your new life in Christ. (Ephesians 5:15, Matthew 18:15-17)
d. Members covenant together to love God and to serve Him. Together they want to fellowship and to honour and obey God. With this membership come great privileges but also responsibilities!
e. Membership in a local church is not permanent. A person must continue in the practice of the covenant and not return to the former way life before He was saved. (Matthew 18:15-20)
What are the characteristics of the type of church (a New Testament Church) that you should join?
a. Carrying out the Great Commission will be the main goal of this church both locally and around the world. (Acts 1:8)
b. There will be careful Bible preaching and teaching, caring for the flock, and not just a people pleasing ministry. (Acts 20:28-31, 2 Timothy 4:2-4)
c. There will be a marked separation from the world in attitudes and actions. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 1 John 2:15, Titus 2:13-14)
d. The Word of God will be central to everything, believed, preached, practiced, and not handled lightly. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, Acts 24:14, Luke 24:25)
e. Discipleship will be a primary ministry as new believers are taught and trained and God's people are carried on to a ministry that God would have them do. (IITimothy 2:1-3)
f. They will practice Biblical baptism of believers only, by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 8:36-38)
g. They will desire to meet together to encourage each other and to worship the Lord Jesus. (Hebrews 10:25)
How Do I Get Active?
Jesus said if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17) Being in the church is a greater blessing if you are also in a ministry. There are many ways to get plugged in and active in a church.
What is your role in the church?
a. Come and learn all that you can so you can grow and mature in your new life in Christ Jesus.
b. Get involved, participate don't just be a hearer. (James 1:22-25)
c. Learn so you can help and teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
d. Everyone can be in a ministry. Here are some ministry ideas.
i. Teaching a Sunday School Class or helping another person teach it.
ii. Going out soul-winning regularly with other believers.
iii. Helping the pastor with secretarial tasks like sending out birthday cards, etc.
iv. Start up a Bible study at your workplace during lunch.
v. Correspond with missionaries to encourage them and pray for them.
vi. Singing special music and/or sing in the choir or play an instrument.
vii. Holding Bible clubs and/or studies in your home.
viii. Visiting people who are sick and in the hospital.
ix. Helping in the children's ministry; a puppet ministry, etc.
x. Picking up folks who need a lift to church.
xi. Ministering to older folks by mowing their grass, or repairing their homes.
What ministries could I be involved in?
Personal study time:
Reading: The covenant is an important part of any church. Forming and agreeing to operate under a church covenant is important as it spells out the purpose and mission of the church and the unity with which the mission will be followed. Read the church covenant below and make any comments in the section provided.
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment, to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to seek God's help in abstaining from all drugs, drink, and practices which bring unwarranted harm to the body or jeopardize our own or another's faith.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, if possible, unite with a church of like faith where we can carry out the articles of this confession and the spirit of this covenant.